Safety Eric Weddle reported to work with the Chargers for the first time this offseason on Tuesday and sounded like a man preparing to play his final year in San Diego.
Weddle didn’t take part in the team’s voluntary workouts in an effort to create leverage in talks for a new contract. The gambit hasn’t been a successful one with General Manager Tom Telesco saying the two sides have different opinions about what an extension for Weddle should look like.
Weddle met with the media at Chargers minicamp and read a statement that took issue with that characterization of the situation while also laying out his approach to the 2015 season and beyond.
“Contrary to what has recently been said by upper management, there has never been any financial numbers discussed and the Chargers have never put an offer on the table for us to consider,” Weddle said, via U-T San Diego. “It is obvious to me I am not part of this organization’s long-term plans. The NFL is a business, and I can accept that. I just wish the organization had been upfront with me from day one. That said, I have been working my tail off to prepare for the upcoming season, and I feel amazing. I am extremely excited about re-joining my teammates today and getting back to the practice field and working to bring a Super Bowl trophy to San Diego.”
“From a contract standpoint, if we do not agree to a multi-year extension before training camp, I have instructed my agent to not speak to the Chargers again. I will give this team everything I have this year and head to free agency in 2016. This will be the one and only time I will discuss my contract, and I look forward to discussing football.”
Weddle is set to make $7.5 million this season, which will be his final one as a member of the Chargers barring a serious change in the nature of talks between the two sides in the next few weeks.
