San Diego Chargers unsigned wide receiver Vincent Jackson

In Jackson's case, those "additional restrictions" could loom large, as the Chargers could still place him on a "roster exempt" list for three games after he signs under certain circumstances, keeping him without pay and without earning any service time toward an accrued season in that span. A player must be on a team's active, inactive, IR or PUP list for at least six regular-season games to earn an accrued season toward free agency, which is why many surmised Jackson would sign his $583,000 tender in Week 10.

According to the Roster Exemption rules in the CBA, if Jackson Phillip Rivers does not report to the Chargers by at least the day before their fourth preseason game, then, whenever he does sign, he could still be placed on the roster exempt list for an additional three games -- without pay. The Chargers, who have lowered his tender already and are locked in a bitter feud with the Pro Bowl receiver, would have to notify Jackson and the NFL Players Union of their intent to place him on roster exempt at least five days prior to the team's second preseason game

 

Turner is a run-first coach. Look at the Chargers' last five regular season games and the three playoff games in 2007.

 

The Bolts averaged 176 yards per game on the ground and 159 through the air in the last five games of the 2007 regular season.

 

When they faced stiffer competition that could stuff the run in the 2007 playoffs, they new San Diego Chargers jerseys turned to the air attack, passed for 267 yards per game, and ran for 90 yards per game.

Earlier in the season, however, the Chargers could not run the ball at all. They were stuffed at every turn, until LaDainian Tomlinson finally got his legs back in those last five or six games of the season.

 

Just like in 2007, when the Chargers found out they couldn't run the ball last season, Norv Antonio Gates commanded Philip Rivers to chuck it all over the field. This time, however, LT never got his legs under him.

 

That, like Buddy Ryan (yes, Rex Ryan's daddy) preached, is Darren Sproles not the key to winning against playoff teams and Turner knows it.