Vincent Jackson to report to Chargers next week
Wide receiver Vincent Jackson will report to the San Diego Chargers next week and sign his contract tender, his agent said Thursday.
By reporting Oct. 29, Jackson will be able to serve a three-game, team-imposed suspension on the roster exempt list, then play in the final six games to accrue his sixth season toward unrestricted free agency.
Jackson and agent Neil Schwartz said earlier this fall that the receiver probably wouldn’t play this season.
“With the landscape of labor uncertainty, we wanted to create, at this point in time, certainty,” Schwartz told the Associated Press on Thursday.
Last week, the NFL Players Assn. recommended that Jackson and New England Patriots restricted free agent Logan Mankins report to their teams in time to gain an accrued season.
Jackson, who had two straight 1,000-yard seasons, will miss games against Tennessee, Houston and Denver while on the roster exempt list. He was put on the list on Aug. 20 in a hardball tactic by General Manager A.J. Smith.
Jackson will be eligible to return to the struggling Chargers for a game at Indianapolis on Nov. 28.
He will make about $240,000 rather than the $3.27 million he would have made had he signed his tender.
Harrison returns to practice
Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison resumed practicing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one day after threatening to retire because of the NFL’s stricter enforcement of dangerous hits.
Harrison was fined $75,0000 on Tuesday for a helmet hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, making him one of three NFL players fined at least $50,000 for flagrant hits last weekend. On Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell followed up the fines by releasing a memo emphasizing that significant penalties will be imposed upon players who strike an opponent in the head or neck in violation of existing rules.
Harrison, arguing the restrictions won’t allow him to play football as he’s always played it, met with Coach Mike Tomlin on Wednesday to discuss the changes. Tomlin decided to give Harrison a cooling-off day and sent him home from practice.
Harrison’s teammates didn’t take his threat to retire seriously, saying he enjoys playing too much to quit during the second season of a $51.2-million contract. Harrison agreed with that in a statement issued by the team.
“I have come to the decision that I cannot and will not let the league office stop me from playing the game that I love,” Harrison said.
NFL shows video on illegal hits
The NFL delivered its message about heavier punishment for illegal hits, including suspensions, directly to the 32 teams with a video spelling out what to avoid.
The video includes three tackles from last Sunday that led to huge fines, and warns players that even first-time offenders will immediately be subject to suspensions for delivering such flagrant hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.
“Illegal hits to the head of an opponent will not be tolerated,” NFL vice president of football operations Ray Anderson says in the video. “A player is accountable for what he hits. Illegal techniques must be removed from our game.”
NFLPA decertifies agent
The sports agent who admitted he paid college football players has been decertified by the NFL Players Assn.
Josh Luchs told Sports Illustrated he paid more than 30 players from 1990 to 1996. He said in the article he had left the business.
The union announced that its Committee on Agent Regulations and Discipline held a conference call Tuesday night and voted unanimously to revoke Luchs’ certification.
“Under the regulations, Luchs has the right to an expedited appeal to an arbitrator if he wishes to challenge the committee’s action,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “Meanwhile, the NFL and all of the clubs will be notified of the CARD Committee’s action.”
Etc.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin has a hamstring injury and was added to the team’s injury report…. Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark is out indefinitely because of a hand/wrist injury…. Miami Dolphins first-round draft pick Jared Odrick hurt his left foot in practice and is probably out for the season…. Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams missed practice because of an ankle injury…. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard sat out practice for the second consecutive day because of a concussion, increasing the chances that Trent Edwards or Todd Bouman will start at Kansas City…. The San Francisco 49ers are pushing back the expected opening date of their planned $1-billion stadium in Santa Clara. Team President Jed York said the stadium would not open until at least 2015 because of problems securing financing. The team had expected to open the stadium in 2014.