ognito to take a pay cut in restructuring the fin

[huangjian123]

If Antonio Gates is on his way back to the Los Angeles Chargers Youth Ryan Jensen Jersey , general manager Tom Telesco isn’t talking about it.

Telesco has a whole lot more to say about the players already settled in Orange County as the Chargers attempt to build on their encouraging relocation season with the start of training camp Saturday.

Telesco repeatedly declined to confirm almost anything Thursday about a potential reunion with the 38-year-old Gates, the star tight end and top receiver in franchise history. The Chargers bade a public farewell to Gates in April, but those plans appear to be changing after tight end Hunter Henry’s subsequent season-ending knee injury during offseason workouts in May.

Gates’ agent, Tom Condon, told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday that he is ”actively negotiating” with the Chargers for Gates’ return for a 16th season with his only NFL franchise.

”I’ve got nothing new for you,” Telesco said. ”But if we ever do anything, I’ll let you know.”

Telesco praised the tight ends already on his roster, including new signee Vernon Green and young backups Braedon Bowman and Sean Culkin. The GM also acknowledged he is confident in Gates’ ability to keep playing if he chooses.

Gates caught only 30 passes for 316 yards last season in his lowest totals since his rookie season, but much of that decline was attributable to the stellar play of Henry, who became a key target for Philip Rivers in the Bolts’ high-powered offense.

Aside from Gates’ future, Telesco and the Chargers are heading into training camp with far fewer variables and obstacles than they had last season. The franchise combined its complicated relocation from San Diego with the arrival of a new coaching staff led by Anthony Lynn, leading to a training camp and a September that was particularly draining to the players, coaches and front office.

”Going into training camp right now, it feels completely different than last year,” Telesco said. ”It wasn’t something I really realized Authentic Lamar Jackson Jersey , I think, until the last couple of weeks. Last year as we were relocating … there was so much work that people were doing at this time last year that we’re not doing right now. At the time, we say, `Hey, this is business as usual. There aren’t that many distractions.’ But as I was coming into work this week and thinking about all the stuff we were doing at this time last year, yeah, it’s a little more stability right now.”

Indeed, the Chargers appear to be in their most stable position in several years. The front office and top coaches are all returning, and their roster underwent remarkably little turnover in the offseason after the Bolts just missed the playoffs at 9-7.

The contrast is stark with last July, when everyone associated with the Chargers was still moving 90 miles north to their new homes and settling in the area while trying to put together a football team. The Chargers started 0-4 before their 9-3 finish.

”Even though you have that football mentality that nothing is going to affect us – (and) it really didn’t feel like it did – but when you look back, yeah, it was unique, to say the least,” Telesco said. ”And that’s all done now. This is home.”

Telesco expects a strong start to camp with coordinators Ken Whisenhunt and Gus Bradley both returning for Lynn.

The Chargers replaced starting safety Tre Boston with promising first-round pick Derwin James, but the rest of the defense returns with remarkable continuity – and promising cornerback Jason Verrett is back at full strength after losing most of the past two seasons to injury. The offense added veteran center Mike Pouncey M.J. Stewart Buccaneers Jersey , but Gates and Henry are the only significant losses from a unit that finished fourth in the league last season with 376.6 yards per game and led the league in yards passing.

Telesco is particularly interested in the progress of receiver Mike Williams. The seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft missed training camp with a back injury and played in only 10 games, catching 11 passes.

”We’re looking for him to step up and contribute this year,” Telesco said. ”It’s why we took him. He had, relatively, a full offseason program this summer, which is really important for every young player, but especially a receiver. It’ll be a big training camp. It’s his first. He’s like a rookie.”

—

Police took veteran NFL guard Richie Incognito to a mental hospital after he allegedly threw weights and tennis balls at gym employees and another patron and told officers the government is spying on him, according to a report released Thursday.

Boca Raton police say a patron at Life Time Athletic, Mark O’Brien, told officers James Brown and Dave Rosenthal he was jogging on the outdoor track when he saw Incognito acting angry. O’Brien said he tried to calm Incognito, but as he walked away, the former Buffalo Bill threw a tennis ball at his foot, tried to run him over with a weighted pushing sled and then threw two weights – one into the pool and another at him, which missed. He said Incognito, 34 http://www.philadelphiaeaglesteamonlines.com/markus-wheaton-jersey , then cursed at him, telling him to get out of his ”playground.”

O’Brien called 911 and in a recording released Thursday a voice identified as Incognito’s can be heard in the background yelling and cursing at him. He told the dispatcher Incognito, who was dressed in shorts and no shirt, was trying to hit him as they talked. He told the dispatcher the 6-foot-4, 322-pound Incognito is ”huge” but a ”little overweight.”

O’Brien told The Associated Press on Thursday that Incognito also ripped apart a boxing mannequin and slammed his knee into its head, and feared Incognito might do the same to him. He said he didn’t know Incognito, who also played for the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins, where he was suspended in 2013 for the racial bullying of a teammate, Jonathan Martin.

”I can fully appreciate and understand people going through tough times and mental illness but his behavior was irrational. I hope he gets help,” O’Brien said.

Officer Brown wrote that when he and Rosenthal arrived at the gym, a staff member handed them Incognito’s concealed weapons permit and told them he had thrown objects at the staff. No gun was found on Incognito and it is unexplained why the employee would have his permit.

Brown said that when he approached Incognito, he said he was under contract for the National Security Agency, a top U.S. spy agency, and that another patron was wearing headphones nearby.

”I’m running NSA class level 3 documents through my phone,” Incognito told Brown Customized Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys , saying he couldn’t have anyone with Bluetooth capability near him.

Brown said that when he asked Incognito why the government would be watching him, he replied that Brown didn’t have a high enough security clearance to discuss it with him.

He said Incognito’s hands were shaking and he would suddenly jump and move without warning. Incognito told the officers he was taking a dietary supplement and denied thrown objects at people.

Brown said that when he told Incognito he was worried he was going to hurt himself or others, Incognito yelled at a woman in the pool to call the FBI.

Brown and Rosenthal took Incognito into custody under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows for people to be hospitalized for 72 hours if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others.

Incognito’s lawyer, Mark Schamel, did not immediately return an email Thursday seeking comment. Incognito has not been charged with a crime as police say in his mental condition he could not form intent.

Incognito announced earlier this year that he was retiring from football after 11 seasons, the last three with Buffalo. The Bills released him from their reserved/retired list Monday, leaving open the possibility he could sign with another team.

He has been on a downward spiral for much of this offseason.

His closest friend on the Bills, center Eric Wood, is being forced into retirement after being diagnosed with a career-ending neck injury in January.

The Bills also asked Incognito to take a pay cut in restructuring the final year of his contract. Incognito initially backed the agreement by posting a note on Twitter saying he was ”thrilled to be returning this season and fired up to get back to work with my Buffalo Bills brothers.” However, he had a change of heart weeks later and abruptly fired agent David Dunn in a post on Twitter.

—

Wawrow reported from Buffalo, New York. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

.
_________________
huangjian123