McNeill, Smith meet at Chargers Park
Erstwhile left tackle Marcus McNeill requested and was granted an audience with Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith on Wednesday, several sources said.
However, as Chargers fans await a miracle and word their 6-foot-7, 336-pound two-time Pro Bowler is back protecting Philip Rivers, the results of the meeting appear to have been negligible.
McNeill parked in front of the building, went upstairs and met alone with Smith.
Sources said the meeting produced nothing tangible, certainly not a movement toward the long-term deal McNeill desires.
The meeting, according to sources, was requested by McNeill so both sides could get a clearer understanding of where they stood. It was also a statement to the team that McNeill is in lock-step with his agent.
McNeill, a two-time Pro Bowler at left tackle, has not reported to camp and is unlikely to sign his one-year contract tender any time soon.
Neither McNeill’s agent, Alvin Keels, nor Smith would confirm the meeting.
“I wish you would listen to me,” Smith said when asked about McNeill’s visit. “As I’ve said before, I’m done talking about Marcus McNeill until he returns. If he does return, I would be more than happy to talk about him.”
McNeill and receiver Vincent Jackson were scheduled to be unrestricted free agents this past offseason, but the fact 2010 is the final year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and owners means that the requirement to be unrestricted rose from four years of service to six. Jackson has played five seasons, McNeill four.
Jackson and McNeill were given the highest possible tenders for a restricted free agent, $3.268 million to Jackson and $3.168 million to McNeill.
The Chargers informed the players and their agents they would reduce the tenders to 110 percent of their 2009 salary if they did not sign by June 15. When the players did not, McNeill's new tender was $630,000 and Jackson's was $583,000.
McNeill and Jackson stayed away from Chargers Park all offseason and are sitting out camp, unhappy the team has not given them long-term deals and not wanting to risk injury. Both are said by those close to them to be committed to staying out, perhaps for the entire season.
The players received letters last week informing them of the Chargers’ intentions to place them on the Roster Exempt List if they did not sign by this Friday. Being on the list requires a player to miss three games after he signs. He can practice with his team but not play until those three games have passed.
Many Chargers players knew about the meeting, as word spread throughout the building that McNeill was there. Also, a few teammates remain in contact with McNeill. They had been hopeful the meeting was going to produce progress.
For now, the Chargers go ahead with Brandyn Dombrowski, Tra Thomas and Tyronne Green as their left tackles.
A day after Green took all the first-team snaps at the position, he sat with an ankle injury that will almost certainly keep him out of Saturday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Head coach Norv Turner said Dombrowski will start Saturday.
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This is good news. It shows he obviously wants to play if he flies out here for a face to face meeting as opposed to a phone call.