Getty ImagesKevin Acee of the Union-Tribune San Diego reports that free agent running back Mike Tolbert and the Chargers “seem ready to separate” after intense contract negotiations this week that ultimately went nowhere.
Tolbert is asking for more money than the Chargers offered, and he is scheduled to visit an undisclosed team on Saturday morning. San Diego has been in contact with another free agent running back, Jackie Battle, who would be a significant downgrade from Tolbert.
On Twitter, Acee indicated that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers have interest in Tolbert.
Acee believes Pittsburgh is the favorite to sign him.
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Go get paid. AJ is to cheap.
This would be a great pickup for Pittsburgh.
Jerome Bettis 2.0
Hello New Orleans
Thats exactly what I was gonna say troy.. great fit for the player and the team.
Sign him. Dump Mendenhall
Would love to see him in Black and Gold!
So far I can’t see why PM wouldn’t be leaning toward Denver. Only legitimate team in division was SD and the are choking so far. Lose Tolbert & VJ. Meachem=unproven #1, gates major foot problems, Floyd always hurt, lost LT McNeill.
Dang right dontarelli. GO STEELERS!!!
“Go get paid. AJ is to cheap.”
Haters gonna hate. Chargers always spend to the cap. AJ has been doing work this offseason. Team is much improved even with the loss of VJ. I love what Tolbert brings to the team, but the Chargers have other needs for the money he is demanding.
Aj smith has got to go. Tolbert is better than Mathews
This would be an AWESOME pick up
Would LOVE this.
The Steelers? We don’t have the money to sign anyone beyond our own free agents and vet minimum players.
And they still insist on keeping AJ Smith around.
I am not hating Tolbert produces and should be paid. I used to like the chargers but they have a horrible coach and let go of good players.
Tolbert would look pretty mean wearing black and yellow.
Bummer man I prefer Tolbert over Matthews. Oh well we need to get going on the D. Offense is looking pretty good.
Tolbert is a nice change of pace, but Mathews is a far superior back with a much bigger upside. You’re straight delusional if you think otherwise, or haven’t actually watched either guy run in the Chargers offense.
Ryan Mathews is now the no. 1 overall fantasy pick in the fall!
does this mean mendenhall is gone? interesting.
The history of the Steeler Nation. Watch it here……
http://youreinsteelercountry.com/index.php/videos/48/85/steeler-nation-part-1
Steeler Country Video of the week
Chargers are done.
great kid and RB, he would be a top candidate for the free agent signing of the year just like Sproles was last year for NO. AJ Smith has a habit of letting those get away (see Turner, Brees) Meanwhile back in SD Mathews goes down in game two for the year and they are stuck with Jackie and a parade of FA brought back into the league and no real running game. AJ blames injuries for the fourth year in a row and Norv gets fired. seen it all before!
I say line him up at FB or dual hb with Mendy and see what happens…
Tolbert has done well in the Charger offense but he’s had some mental mistakes also that wasn’t great. He’s not a true FB or RB so the signing of McClain makes more sense because he can get in there and block for Mathews. Similar to LT/LoNeal…maybe this is that version 2.0. You know never know.
I love this dude’s game, but I find it kind of strange the Panthers are looking at him?… Tolbert could be a starter in Detroit, Miami, Indy, etc…
Deangelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Cam Newton, and Mike Tolbert on the same team just wouldn’t be fair.
Please not the Steelers! I don’t want to have to hate you!
Why are my Panthers in the discussion? We have Johnathan Stewart as our bulked up north-south running back, he is just in shape version of Tolbert. The only thing i can think of is that it removes incentive for Newton to keep doing those goal line dives for a TD(which is the only thing that makes me chring,watching him) but Stewart should be doing all the dirty inside the five yard line. Maybe as a fullback?
Would love this pick up for the steelers but if it’s money he is after then I don’t see how the steelers could afford him and worry about signing there draft picks, I hope it works out we sure could use him. GO STEELERS !!!!
“Tolbert is asking for more money than the Chargers offered.”
No way, say it ain’t so.
Big Blue Wants YOU !!!
We would have the cap space if we release Mendenhall. I really wouldn’t miss him.
Despite their lack of salary cap space was really hoping the Giants would find a way to show some interest in this guy. He’d fit right in, both on the field and in the locker room. He’ll do the same in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are getting a good one.
glen1904 said:
Mar 17, 2012 1:24 AM
“great kid and RB, he would be a top candidate for the free agent signing of the year just like Sproles was last year for NO. AJ Smith has a habit of letting those get away (see Turner, Brees) Meanwhile back in SD Mathews goes down in game two for the year and they are stuck with Jackie and a parade of FA brought back into the league and no real running game. AJ blames injuries for the fourth year in a row and Norv gets fired. seen it all before!”
—
The Chargers did offer Brees a contract, he chose to sign with the Saints. Besides, there was no guarantee that Brees would come back from that injury, plus the Chargers already had Rivers on the roster. Rivers never would have been drafted by the Chargers if Brees had shown signs of being a starting QB earlier in his career.
If you are going to blame the Chargers for not re-signing Brees, then you need to blame the other 30 teams in the league for not signing him as well.
As for Turner, he hasn’t exactly been able to stay healthy for the Falcons. I would have loved to have seen him stay with the Chargers, but there is no way that vast majority Charger nation and ownership would have put up with AJ getting rid of LT. I was for keeping Turner and getting rid of LT.
As for Tolbert, I don’t like his running style, he gets his bell rung too many times for my liking. I won’t be surprised if he is forced from games due to hits to the old noggin.
Talk about a perfect match
Ryan Mathews is going to have a huge year if he can stay healthy.
bring him to pittsburg
@kingbeason
I find it strange that the Panthers are mentioned, too. If they want him, it will not be as a FB, because their offense no longer uses a FB.
That would be a great combo Mendenhall and Tolbert or even Redman and Tolbert as the fullback. Steelers need to get a deal done with Wallace before they sign any other free agents though.