http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20050807-9999-1s7nflcol.html
I would not be the least bit surprised if one of those teams was the Texans.
We need a TE, and we acquired an extra 3rd in next years draft. We have shown a willingness in the past to trade away extra picks for a player we beleive will help us.. explaining it away as, "getting something for nothing".. because we still retained our original picks.
I could definatly see us making the deal of our 1st and 3rd for Gates, and drafting an LT in the second.
So.. it may be worth keeping an eye on.. to see if Gates repeats his performance from last year.. and if the Chargers manage to sign him to a long term deal.
So, the Chargers clearly have all the leverage. They're holding a royal flush to Gates' pair of deuces. But the advantage could be short-lived.
If the sides fail to agree on a multiyear deal and Gates has another All-Pro season, two things could happen, neither of which would be particularly appealing to the Chargers.
First, they could lose Gates. Executives for two clubs privately acknowledged in recent weeks that they'd be willing to surrender first-and third-round draft picks the maximum compensation for a restricted free agent to acquire Gates. Their feeling is that Gates is young (25) and talented (he set a league record for tight ends with 13 touchdown catches last season) and lacks the wear and tear of other players his age because he did not play football in college.
I would not be the least bit surprised if one of those teams was the Texans.
We need a TE, and we acquired an extra 3rd in next years draft. We have shown a willingness in the past to trade away extra picks for a player we beleive will help us.. explaining it away as, "getting something for nothing".. because we still retained our original picks.
I could definatly see us making the deal of our 1st and 3rd for Gates, and drafting an LT in the second.
So.. it may be worth keeping an eye on.. to see if Gates repeats his performance from last year.. and if the Chargers manage to sign him to a long term deal.