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Franklinnoble · 01-20-2004, 01:39 PM

San Diego
April, 2005

The bloodletting was swift, and was completed before the draft. High-dollar salaries were simply cut or traded - no attempt to re-negotiate was made, as no one was expected to re-sign with a 1-15 team without a reasonable bonus.

DE Marceullus Wiley, LB Donnie Edwards, and S Kwamie Lassiter were sent to Arizona for their 1st round pick in 2006. WR David Boston, QB's Tim Rattay and Josh McCown, DE's Ray Lee Johnson and Adrian Dingle, and C Cory Raymer were all cut.

Most surprising was the trade of LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson was in the last year of his deal, and scheduled to make $2 million in 2005. The Chargers couldn't re-sign him anyway, so he was sent to Tennessee in exchange for RB Christopher Brown and their second round pick in 2006. Brown had two years left on his contract and was scheduled to make under half a million each year.

In another cost-cutting move, WR Reche Caldwell was also traded to Tennessee, along with the Chargers 2nd, 3rd, and 5th round picks, in exchange for WR Tyrone Calico. Calico was a superior talent, but more importantly, had two years left on a low-salary deal, while Caldwell was in the last year of his contract.

The Chargers did not sign a single free agent prior to the draft, and they traded every remaining draft pick to Arizona and Detroit for future picks. It had already been decided that things couldn't get any worse than 1-15, even with nothing but more undrafted rookies on the roster.

Franklin pondered the roster moves as he watched the draft day coverage on ESPN. They were certain to lose more of their fan base, and the stadium deal looked doomed. His only hope was to make enough money until a new stadium was built - either in San Diego, or elsewhere.

01-20-2004, 01:39 PM	#15
Franklinnoble Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Placerville, CA	San Diego April, 2005 The bloodletting was swift, and was completed before the draft. High-dollar salaries were simply cut or traded - no attempt to re-negotiate was made, as no one was expected to re-sign with a 1-15 team without a reasonable bonus. DE Marceullus Wiley, LB Donnie Edwards, and S Kwamie Lassiter were sent to Arizona for their 1st round pick in 2006. WR David Boston, QB's Tim Rattay and Josh McCown, DE's Ray Lee Johnson and Adrian Dingle, and C Cory Raymer were all cut. Most surprising was the trade of LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson was in the last year of his deal, and scheduled to make $2 million in 2005. The Chargers couldn't re-sign him anyway, so he was sent to Tennessee in exchange for RB Christopher Brown and their second round pick in 2006. Brown had two years left on his contract and was scheduled to make under half a million each year. In another cost-cutting move, WR Reche Caldwell was also traded to Tennessee, along with the Chargers 2nd, 3rd, and 5th round picks, in exchange for WR Tyrone Calico. Calico was a superior talent, but more importantly, had two years left on a low-salary deal, while Caldwell was in the last year of his contract. The Chargers did not sign a single free agent prior to the draft, and they traded every remaining draft pick to Arizona and Detroit for future picks. It had already been decided that things couldn't get any worse than 1-15, even with nothing but more undrafted rookies on the roster. Franklin pondered the roster moves as he watched the draft day coverage on ESPN. They were certain to lose more of their fan base, and the stadium deal looked doomed. His only hope was to make enough money until a new stadium was built - either in San Diego, or elsewhere.