Who Says The Chargers Can't Sign Their Rookies On Time?

AJ Smith has certainly done his part to shed the image that the San Diego Chargers always have problems signing their rookies. Since the 2005 draft, the Chargers have been doing a better and better job of getting their draft picks in time for camp. This year, the Chargers have been particularly impressive getting their new players to agree to terms.

Anthony Waters, Paul Oliver, Scott Chandler, Legedu Naanee, and Brandon Siler have all agreed to four year deals. First round pick Craig Davis also signed today a five year deal.

The one player who remains unsigned at this point is second round pick Eric Weddle. Weddle's deal could be announced any time now, and will likely be wrapped up in time for the team's first full-squad training camp practice this Saturday.

So for those who berate the Chargers for being particularly inept at dealing with rookie contracts... what say you now?

Read: Chargers Agree To Terms With Five Draft Picks

UPDATE: Eric Weddle signed his deal, so now everybody is locked up!

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FEATURED COMMENT

Antonio Gates is easily one of the best tight ends to have ever played NFL football, but I doubt he would get into the Hall of Fame now if his career were to mysteriously end now. Why? Because, despite eye-popping numbers and video-highlight reels to die for, careers like Gates' are a microcosm of what's wrong with the modern corporate game and inherent problems trying to rate individual players in a team sport.

If Antonio had had a stellar college career as a tight end and retired tomorrow, he might make it in; but as someone who was UNdrafted yet enormously successful, his career makes the prognosticator industry look less than the Grand Pooba's they purport to be. Ditto for Gates' quick ascent to lofty numbers. Naysayers will mention Brees' lack of success with the deep pass, or L.T.'s phenominal success will be used as a "qualifier" against Gates' induction merit as he was "only a part" of a great offensive team. It's ironic, even foolish, but Gates needs to escape the "shadow" of L.T.'s iconic career to solidly define his own. Nowadays Jackson, Sproles, and others are getting more balls thrown to them too. So it will be, by offensive design, probably difficult for Gates to continue on with the pace of his earlier success; and that's assuming he can stay healthy. But whatever accolades may come his way eventually, he has been just fantastic to watch as a Charger.

Personally, I'd even rate him slightly above the great Kellen Winslow here, and Winslow's in the HoF. Winslow's career here also reiterates my earlier point; he was pivotal to the NFL to a large degree because his position was pivotal to the passing attack introduced to the NFL by Don Coryell and his staff. Yet, AMAZINGLY, relatively few folks are clamoring so much for Coryell's overdue induction into the HoF!? Coryell deserves to be there as much as anyone, period! But Don loved football and football players first and foremost, and never did the Corporate or media dance. Truth is, none are so blind as those that refuse to see.

Posted by Anonymous on "Is Antonio Gates Already A Hall Of Fame Player?"