SAN DIEGO (FNN Media) — The San Diego Chargers like having Vincent Jackson on their squad, but may not be willing to use the franchise tag on him for a second straight season.
G.M. A.J. Smith is “extremely reluctant” to use the tag on the veteran wide receiver for financial reasons according to NBC San Diego’s Michael Gehiken.
Under rules of the tag, Jackson would earn 120 percent of his 2011 salary or the average salary of the top five highest paid players at his position–whichever number is greater.
The tag number for receivers this year is $9.6 million. However, 120 percent of Jackson’s 2011 salary would be $13.68 million.
That figure is off-putting to Smith who allegedly feels the team has too many other needs to address to spend so much on a single position.
Teams have roughly two weeks to use their franchise tags.
It is also conceivable that the two sides reach a new contract before the free agency period begins. The 29-year-old reportedly wants to remain in Southern California and the Chargers are trying hard to get a new deal done.
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