SAN DIEGO — Disgruntled Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson signed his contact tender with the San Diego Chargers on Friday.
He’s not eligible to play in the next three games, though, because of a team-imposed suspension.
By reporting now, he can serve his three games on the roster exempt list — he was placed there in a hardball move by general manager A.J. Smith — and then play in the final six games to accrue his sixth season toward unrestricted free agency. Coming off two straight 1,000-yard seasons, he’ll be available beginning with a game at Indianapolis on Nov. 28.
Counting the six games he plays and the bye week, he’ll earn $240,058 rather than the $3,268,000 he would have made had he signed his tender as a restricted free agent before the season.
Jackson, who stayed away for so long because he was unhappy he hasn’t gotten a long-term deal, declined to speak with reporters.
In a statement issued by the team, he said: “It feels good to be with my teammates. I’ve missed football more than you can imagine. Right now I’m just looking forward to being able to practice and get back on the field. My only concern is doing whatever I can to contribute and help the team win. The future will take care of itself.”
Smith didn’t return calls seeking comment.
Smith has used the roster exempt list three times in an attempt to end contract stalemates. He put left tackle Marcus McNeill on the roster exempt list at the same time as Jackson. Smith used the same tactic on tight end Antonio Gates in 2005. Gates missed the opener, a close loss to the Dallas Cowboys that contributed to the Chargers missing the playoffs that year.
Jackson’s original five-year contract expired after last season. But because this is an uncapped year, he would have needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent.
Unhappy over not receiving long-term deals in the offseason, Jackson and McNeill refused to sign their tenders as restricted free agents. Since they hadn’t signed by June 15, the Chargers were entitled to offer them 110 percent of their 2009 salaries, essentially cutting $2.5 million off the tenders.
McNeill reported on Sept. 25. He served his three-game suspension and then agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2015 worth $48.5 million, with $24.5 million guaranteed.
San Diego’s unwillingness to sign Jackson to a long-term deal is believed to stem from the player’s off-field issues. He was suspended for the season’s first three games by the NFL after pleading guilty in February to his second DUI since 2006. That suspension was essentially moot since Jackson hadn’t reported.
Hours before San Diego’s playoff loss against the New York Jets on Jan. 17, Jackson was handcuffed briefly and had his car impounded following a traffic stop. Jackson was pulled over near team headquarters for playing loud music, then cited for driving with a suspended license and expired tags.
He had to catch a ride to the game with quarterback Philip Rivers. Jackson drew a 15-yard penalty for kicking the red challenge flag thrown onto the field by Jets coach Rex Ryan, one of three personal fouls called against the Chargers during the embarrassing 17-14 loss.
