Chargers May Get Trigger Date Delay
A task force assigned by City Hall to find ways to keep the Chargers from leaving San Diego is recommending that the city council approve the team’s request to delay the “trigger” date for renegotiating the Qualcomm Stadium lease.
The council is set to discuss the issue in early January.
The Chargers have asked that the trigger date be shifted from Dec. 1 to March 1. Members of the Citizens Task Force on Chargers Issues voted, 14-1, Monday night to back the request because it will allow the task force to finish its work.
Under the Chargers’ lease, the trigger -- which the team hasn’t activated yet -- opens a 60-day period when the team can notify the city that it has met certain salary conditions.
Once that occurs, the city has 90 days to renegotiate. If no settlement is reached, the team then has 18 months to field offers from other cities, although the city retains the right to match any offer.
Amid controversy about a ticket-guarantee plan that has cost taxpayers more than $20 million, relations between the Chargers and City Hall have soured. The council voted, 5-4, to reject a Charger request for discussions about the team’s future.
-- Tony Perry
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Oakland Raider cornerback Charles Woodson had surgery Tuesday to repair his fractured right fibula and will miss the regular-season finale against Kansas City. Woodson also could sit out the first two weeks of the playoffs.
Raider kicker Sebastian Janikowski pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving. Janikowski will be put on three years’ probation. He also was fined $1,292 and ordered to perform community service and enroll in a driving under the influence school.
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Two days after sustaining the fifth concussion of his career, Chicago quarterback Chris Chandler took most of the snaps at practice. But Coach Dick Jauron said he still plans to wait until later in the week to decide whether Chandler will start Sunday night’s season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.... Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden said he hasn’t decided who will start at quarterback in the Buccaneers’ regular-season finale if Brad Johnson is unable to play because of a severe lower back bruise. Shaun King struggled in Monday night’s 17-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and was replaced in the second half by Rob Johnson.... Minnesota Coach Mike Tice will return to the Vikings next year, although the team missed the playoffs this season. Owner Red McCombs told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Tice would return for the second year of his three-year contract.... The New England Patriots put tight end Daniel Graham, their first-round draft pick, on injured reserve because of injured ribs.