The contract impasse between the Chargers and All-Pro safety Eric Weddle already seems personal.
But their handling of the situation seems clumsy at the moment, and could be an issue at a time they have a number of other deals in the works.
According to Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego, an already ugly situation took an uglier turn with the way the Chargers are handling Weddle’s absence from OTAs.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy reportedly told players last week to move on without Weddle, suggesting that a player shouldn’t let a contract issue override his loyalty to the team.
While McCoy wouldn’t elaborate when asked for comment, that comes across as a blatant pro-management approach to a veteran leader of the team seeking a new deal — one which might not go over so well in the locker room.
And even though Weddle’s 30, and plays a lot of snaps, the flip side is that he’s 30 and plays a lot of snaps. That’s generally considered a good thing, and a sign the guy is giving his full effort to the team.
Since 2011, he’s not only played practically every defensive play (98 percent), but nearly half their special teams plays as well (49 percent). So when he does show up, it doesn’t sound like he’s inclined to put his body at risk in the kicking game if the Chargers are unwilling to meet in the middle on the contract.
“He will play his final 16 games as a Charger as a free safety – nothing else,” agent David Canter said. “His going above and beyond for them is why they won’t give him a contract extension. . . .
“It’s blatantly obvious after me asking the team time and again to extend us that Eric isn’t wanted. So it’s time for Eric to move on [to] where he can win and is wanted.”
That’s the kind of heated response you expect when the team tells you they won’t negotiate until after the season. But it will be interesting to see how the current Chargers braintrust is able to keep a steady hand on the wheel when a respected veteran is being disrespected in a fairly obvious manner.