Chargers, Gates Agree to Six-Year Deal

The Antonio Gates saga took another surprising turn Tuesday when the All-Pro tight end agreed to a six-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Despite getting the long-term deal he wanted, Gates still has to sit out the last two exhibition games and the opener against Dallas on Sept. 11, his punishment for missing a team-imposed deadline for reporting to training camp.

Financial details weren’t immediately available, but it appeared that Gates’ side had to make concessions. Gates wanted to be paid among the top tight ends in the league and was seeking a deal worth between $4 million and $5 million a season.

At one point, his agent reportedly was seeking a three-year deal, which would have allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent sooner. The Chargers balked at giving him the chance to do so.

The Chargers agreed Gates deserved to be paid more than the $380,000 minimum they were obligated to give him as a third-year pro, but because he had only one standout season, they weren’t going to pay him equal to Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has played in six Pro Bowls and has a seven-year, $31.5-million deal. Gates made his Pro Bowl debut last season.

“I think I got Antonio Gates money,” Gates said. “I think that was fair enough for me, and it’s a good situation for me to be here long-term.”

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Tim Rattay will be the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback for the season opener, reclaiming his job from No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith after only two exhibition games.

Coach Mike Nolan announced the decision at the conclusion of the 49ers’ first full practice after the death of offensive lineman Thomas Herrion, who collapsed in the locker room in Denver on Saturday night.

“I know how this works,” Smith said. “This is a team game. This isn’t all about me. I think the team wants to win now. We expect to win now, and as of right now, this looks like the right decision.”

Later Tuesday, Herrion was remembered at a memorial service in Mountain View, Calif. About 500 people attended the service, including NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, union head Gene Upshaw and all of Herrion’s teammates and coaches in San Francisco.

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Sean Landeta, the leading punter in NFL history, rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles after two years with the St. Louis Rams.

Landeta, 43, ranks first in the NFL with 1,367 career punts going into his 21st season. Last year he averaged 32.5 net yards a punt in 10 games with the Rams with an average return of 15.5 yards.

Dirk Johnson, the Eagles’ punter last year, has sat out all of training camp after surgery to repair a sports hernia.

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Viking Coach Mike Tice says running back Michael Bennett’s sore neck probably will keep him out of Minnesota’s opener against Tampa Bay on Sept. 11, but Bennett, however, said he should be ready to go by next weekend’s exhibition finale.

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New York Giant defensive end Michael Strahan experienced tightness in his rib cage after doing drills and left practice early. He also sat out the evening practice.... Jacksonville Jaguar cornerback Rashean Mathis signed a five-year contract extension through 2011.... The Green Bay Packers gave Coach Mike Sherman a two-year contract extension through the 2007 season.