Chargers lock up safety Weddle on five-year, $40M contract

San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner believes Eric Weddle is on the verge of becoming an elite safety in the NFL.

The Chargers showed they mean it Wednesday, agreeing to a five-year, $40 million deal with Weddle, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported, citing a league source. Weddle will receive $19 million guaranteed and a $13 million signing bonus.

"I'm on cloud nine," Weddle told The San Diego Union-Tribune. "This is the team I love. I feel we have unfinished business. I want to prove I was worth this deal. When this deal is done, I will be one of the best safeties out there."

Weddle also drew interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals, according to his agent, David Canter.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

"There was a very deep market for his services," Canter said.

But after working through counterproposals Wednesday morning, the deal with the Chargers was set.

"It's exciting to think of Eric as being a Charger for his entire career," Turner said.

A starter on AFC West championship teams in 2008 and 2009, Weddle led the secondary in tackles with 72 last season as part of a defense that led the NFL in fewest yards allowed. He has started 48 of the last 51 games.

Weddle has yet to make a Pro Bowl, which Turner believes might be a reflection of his career total of six interceptions.

"He would get a lot more recognition," Turner said, "(but) he probably dropped about six interceptions last year. He's been working on that."

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith moved up 22 spots in the 2007 draft to select Weddle No. 38 overall out of Utah.

The safety became an unrestricted free agent for the first time this offseason.

"I just know with Eric he's on the verge of taking that next step," Turner said. "Lining up next to (safety) Bob Sanders (who joined the Chargers in March) will help him and bring out some of his strengths also.

"He's a guy that's gotten better every year," Turner said. "He's got great leadership skills. He's got great understanding not only of our defense but of what people are doing. He's got great range. We need to get him to where he catches the ball better."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chargers WR Jackson expected to sign tender, report to camp

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson will sign his franchise tender and report to training camp on time, According to a source.

After being designated with the franchise tag last year, a disgruntled Jackson opted to sit out much of the 2010 season after failing to reach a long-term agreement with the Chargers. Jackson skipped the first 10 games of the season, returning in Week 12. In five games, Jackson had 14 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns.

Jackson was one of 10 plaintiffs in the Brady et al v. National Football League et al antitrust case.

Follow Albert Breer on Twitter @albertbreer.

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Eli Manning's refusal to play gave Chargers a bargaining chip

When A.J. Smith thinks back on one of the biggest trades in NFL draft history, he doesn't harbor any regrets.

Seven years after the San Diego Chargers' general manager used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft on quarterback Eli Manning, who told the team in advance that he didn't want to play there, Smith says he still has no second thoughts about the pick and subsequent trade that landed Philip Rivers -- even if Manning won a Super Bowl first.

"He (Manning) was a value pick," Smith told the Sporting News. "He was a bar of gold."

Manning objected to the idea of playing for the Chargers and made that publicly known before the draft. The Sporting News reports that Smith, with Manning's advance ultimatum, also knew that the New York Giants wanted Manning. After the Giants selected Rivers with the fourth overall pick, the trade was made.

"He (Manning) was a Charger for 45 minutes," Smith said, "and that was too much time to be a Charger, in my opinion."

In the trade, the Chargers received a third-round pick in the 2004 draft (used on kicker Nate Kaeding), a first-round pick in 2005 (resulting in linebacker Shawne Merriman) and a fifth-round pick in 2005, which they traded for left tackle Roman Oben.

Both young quarterbacks have amassed impressive numbers. Manning is one of just three quarterbacks to throw for at least 3,000 yards every season from 2005 to 2010, joining brother older Peyton and New Orleans Saints signal-caller Drew Brees, who was the starter for the Chargers when Rivers was drafted.

Rivers finished the 2010 season with his third consecutive 4,000-yard campaign, and he's the only quarterback to have a passer rating above 100 in each of the last three seasons.

Despite Manning's victory in Super Bowl XLII, Smith has faith that Rivers -- who has led the Chargers to four AFC West championships -- will complete the Super Bowl drive as well.

"I believe with my heart and soul that he one day will lead the Chargers to a world championship," Smith said. "He's a great quarterback -- a phenomenal leader with great character, great work habits."

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NFL honors former Chargers DE as its Teacher of the Year

Former San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Burt Grossman has been honored as the 2011 NFL Teacher of the Year, an award that recognizes former NFL players who have become teachers.

Grossman, 44, who teaches at Hoover High in San Diego, was chosen by a panel of educators and civic leaders that includes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and will receive a $5,000 award. The NFL also will present a $5,000 grant to Hoover High School.

"Mr. Grossman has helped change the culture of our high school," Hoover High School vice principal Andreas Trakas wrote in his nominating essay. "Students who have issues both at home and school know that they have a connection with someone who cares and who can make a difference for them. ... I have seen Mr. Grossman use his unique and effective skills of communicating to students about 'raising their collective bar' personally, socially, as well as academically.

"His ability to share his own personal experience in order to develop a connection with some of our most challenging students and building trust and support has been a benefit to our school and community. He has gone as far as taking one of our homeless football players into his home to live, and has helped him do a complete 180 degree turn; (the student) has now accepted a full athletic scholarship to the University of Arizona."

"We couldn’t be more proud of Burt and his success with the students at Hoover High School," said A.G. Spanos, the Chargers' executive vice president and executive officer. "As an organization, it’s always exciting to see former players make an impact in academics and help our future leaders of tomorrow achieve success."

Said Goodell: "Former NFL players who transition to careers in education are able to use the values they learned on the football field -- integrity, preparation and persistence -- and carry them over into the classroom. We honor these former NFL players for their dedication to the profession of teaching."

The NFL Teacher of the Year Award has been presented since 1990 as an opportunity for players to honor teachers who made huge impacts in their lives, and the program now invites school administrators to nominate former NFL players who have become educators.

Grossman will be in Washington this week for a panel discussion featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the value of teaching.

The Chargers took Grossman, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound lineman who played at the University of Pittsburgh, with the No. 8 overall selection in the 1989 draft. (Among those taken before him: Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders.) He registered 38 sacks in five seasons in San Diego -- 10 in both his first and second years -- and played for the Eagles in 1994 before retiring.

Among the 10 finalists for the award were former Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Troy Drayton (Forest Glen Middle School in Coral Springs, Fla.) and former Detroit Lions fullback Cory Schlesinger (Allen Park, Mich., High School).

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Chargers' Rivers shocked labor situation has come to this point

Philip Rivers, the San Diego Chargers' resident Pro Bowl passer and straight shooter, has had enough of the NFL lockout.

In Rivers' mind both the players and owners have everything to lose in the current stalemate, and he believes he echoes the sentiments of a majority of his helmet-wearing brethren.

"I'm about to reach my limit, I'm going stir crazy," Rivers told cbssports.com recently. "I think it's just unfortunate we've come to this. The game is at an all-time high. I'm not talking about revenue. I'm talking about popularity. We're essentially putting all of that at risk. I don't mean just players. I mean owners, everyone. I didn't think we'd ever be here. I'm still shocked we're at this point.

"I grew up loving football as a game and I still do. The business side of it never appealed to me but I can't be a hypocrite. The business side has been beneficial to me, but I always hated this part of it. It's not me. I don’t think it's a lot of players. Most players just want to get back to football."

Rivers has been a fixture this offseason at the Chargers' informal player-run practices, which are a small consolation to the real thing.

"When I see Chargers fans, many of them ask me the same question," Rivers told the website. "They say, 'We're playing football this year, right?' I tell them I really don't know and I'm getting a little worried.

"The bottom line is that I don't know what's going to happen. Players don't know if we're playing this year. As players we want to know but we don't. There's very little of this we can control. So you sit tight, work out and hope for the best. But I think every player in the league feels the way I do. We're all frustrated."

Rivers deals with it by working out, spending time with his family and planning this Saturday's Philip Rivers 5K Walk and Fun Run, which benefits his Rivers of Hope Foundation. The foundation works with foster care and adoption programs in San Diego County.

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Chargers LB English hopes second surgery fixes foot issues

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Chiefs clinch AFC West title with win over Titans, Chargers loss

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With Kansas City's greatest one-year turnaround came great reward.

Three hours after racing past Tennessee 34-14 Sunday, the Chiefs became AFC West champions when Cincinnati upended four-time defending champion San Diego.

Kansas City did what it needed to do and dominated Tennessee. Later, the Chiefs got a gift when Cincinnati upended San Diego, handing them the AFC West title. Take a look at the playoff picture. More ...

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The Chargers' loss gave Kansas City (10-5) its first division title since Dick Vermeil's 2003 Chiefs went 13-3. Kansas City's 10 wins in Todd Haley's second season as coach are six better than last year's 4-12 mark and match the total of the past three miserable seasons combined.

Minutes after beating the Titans, the Chiefs knew their playoff goal was oh, so close, and were in no mood to celebrate their historic turnaround.

"It just means we were just that bad last year," guard Brian Waters said. "Our goal is to get to the next part of the season."

They are there, although everyone around Arrowhead Stadium has been trying to avoid even saying the word "playoffs" all week. There was obvious pride in winning 10 games; in the Chiefs' first 50 years, five wins had been the biggest one-year improvement.

"It's a huge accomplishment," said quarterback Matt Cassel, who threw three touchdown passes in the first half against the Titans.

"It's a huge turnaround for us, being 4-12 and going through the year we did last year. I know there's a ton of adversity and all those things were very difficult to handle at times. But to be here with 10 wins on our season and one win away from a division championship -- I mean, it's remarkable to say the least."

Cassel connected with Jamaal Charles for touchdowns on Kansas City's first two possessions and Eric Berry returned an interception 54 yards for another score as the Chiefs raced to a 31-7 halftime lead. Cassel hit 12 of his first 13 passes.

The Titans (6-9) spent much of the game dropping passes, missing arm tackles and piling up penalties while losing for the seventh time in eight games.

Dwayne Bowe had six catches for 153 yards, including a career-long 75-yard touchdown as the Chiefs remained unbeaten in seven home games.

The Chiefs had 327 of their 458 total yards and all but three of their points while rolling up a 31-7 halftime lead.

"The game got out of reach early," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "You've got to execute to near-perfection when you get down like we were and we just didn't do that."

A couple of times in the ragged second half, it seemed fights were about to break out. By the end of the third quarter, each team had three unnecessary roughness penalties.

"It's just two physical teams going at it," Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers said. "Wasn't nobody going to back down. So when you get two teams like that, stuff like that is going to happen."

The Titans, one of the league's most penalized teams, were flagged nine times for 74 yards, while the Chiefs uncharacteristically drew seven penalties for 84.

Chris Johnson, the fourth-leading rusher in the NFL, had only 58 yards on 14 carries for the Titans.

"It's always disappointing when you're not able to run the ball. Anytime you get down like we were, there's not much you can do," he said. "They were stacking the box. But that's not why I didn't have a big day. It's the number of touches that I had. When you go down by that many points, it's going to be hard to have a big day."

In his second game since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Dec. 8, Cassel was 24 for 34 for 314 yards and three TDs. He was not intercepted.

Kerry Collins, nearing the end of his 16th season, hit a career milestone that gave him little satisfaction. On his 53-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt in the second quarter, he became the 12th quarterback to go over 40,000 yards passing. He also connected with Jared Cook on a 22-yard touchdown pass and was 14 for 37 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

"There will be time for me to think about it and I understand it's an accomplishment," he said. "But the emotions are so bitter over today and the way the season has gone, it's just hard to feel good about it." Cassel was 4 for 4 on Kansas City's first possession, capping it with a screen pass to Charles that went 14 yards. After a Titans punt, Cassel was 6 for 7 in a 10-play, 61-yard drive. On second down from the 5, he tossed a perfectly timed fade pass to Charles in the corner of the zone for a 14-0 lead.

On Kansas City's next possession, Ryan Succop made a 35-yard field goal. He also kicked a 42-yarder in the third.

Bowe, whose hot-and-cold season has included a two-game stretch where he had only one catch, got behind the secondary on a third-and-19 play from the Kansas City 25. Hauling in Cassel's pass near the 50, he quickly changed direction and sprinted into the end zone for the 75-yard touchdown play.

With 22 seconds left in the half, Berry stepped in front of a receiver and weaved 54 yards into the end zone. The rookie safety broke two feeble attempts at arm tackles and avoided two more attempts before diving into the end zone for his first NFL touchdown and a 31-7 lead.

"That was awesome," he said. "The D-line got great pressure and I just came up with the ball. I think the pressure from the D-line forced the throw. Right after they got the pressure, they turned around and started blocking."

Notes: In the first quarter, Marc Mariani broke the Titans' franchise record for kickoff return yards of 1,317 set by Bobby Jancik in 1963. ... It was the seventh time this season a Chiefs opponent failed to score in the first quarter. ... Bowe and Charles are the Chiefs' third WR-RB combo to go over 1,000 yards receiving-running in a season. ... The announced crowd of 65,606 was the smallest of the year at Arrowhead. ... Thomas Jones fumbled in the fourth quarter, ending his streak of touches without a fumble at 862.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Chargers knocked out of playoff contention by Palmer's near-perfect game

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Report: Chargers would consider using franchise tag on Jackson

Would the San Diego Chargers consider keeping wide receiver Vincent Jackson after spending most of the season in a contract dispute?

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, yes, but most likely only for one more year.

The newspaper reported there remains almost no way the Chargers will sign Jackson to a long-term deal, but they would consider putting a franchise tag (likely worth approximately $10 million for one season) on him if such a designation remains part of the NFL's next collective bargaining agreement. The current labor deal expires March 4.

The team views Jackson, who has sought as much as $50 million for five seasons, as a risk because of his arrests for DUIs and driving with a suspended license. There is the potential for a long suspension from the NFL if he gets in more trouble off the field.

Jackson illustrated his value in this past Thursday night's victory over the San Francisco 49ers, catching three touchdown passes.

Jackson signed his contract tender for this season on Oct. 29 after Week 7. He missed the next three games because of a team-imposed suspension and being placed on the roster exempt list. By being eligible to play for the final six games (he missed one due to injury), he will accrue his sixth season toward free agency.

Jackson and his agent said at one point that the receiver wouldn't play at all this season because of his unhappiness at not getting a long-term deal. Counting the six games and the Chargers' Week 10 bye, Jackson will 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.

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Chargers will stay in San Diego for at least one more season

SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers say they will play in San Diego in 2011.

Beyond that is anyone's guess.

The team told Mayor Jerry Sanders on Wednesday that it will not exercise its 2011 escape clause. The announcement came amid recent speculation that the Chargers could be headed to Los Angeles.

"We decided to make it now, especially given all the rumors that have circulated over the last week or so about Los Angeles," Chargers spokesman Mark Fabiani said. "It seemed to be the right time to do it."

Last week, a report that sports and entertainment powerhouse Anschutz Entertainment Group was buying 35 percent of the team fueled rumors the Chargers would move if AEG succeeds in building a stadium it has proposed for downtown Los Angeles. Fabiani denied the report. He said Wednesday that no offers are pending or imminent.

The Chargers recently announced that owner Alex Spanos is looking to sell a minority stake to help with estate planning. The 87-year-old Spanos, a billionaire developer who lives in the northern California city of Stockton, revealed two years ago that he suffers from dementia.

Spanos and his wife, Faye, own 36 percent of the Chargers. Their four children, including Dean, the team president, each own 15 percent. Two minority owners control the other 4 percent. Fabiani has said the Spanos family will continue to hold a controlling majority stake.

The Chargers declined to make Dean Spanos available for comment.

Embroiled in a contentious search for a new stadium since 2002, the Chargers have long been rumored as a possible tenant if a new stadium is built in Los Angeles. The team began play in 1960 as the Los Angeles Chargers of the AFL. After attracting small crowds at the Coliseum, it moved to San Diego before the 1961 season.

"We don't have a crystal ball," Fabiani said, "so we cannot predict what will happen beyond the next year, year and a half. We understand that people would love us to make a forever commitment, but we also hope people understand that in their own lives or their own business, no one would reasonably ask someone to make a commitment so far down the road. That's not how the world works. We also hope people understand we are doing everything we reasonably can do. To say otherwise would not be responsible. It would not be honest."

Between Feb. 1 and April 30 of each year through 2020, the Chargers can announce their intentions to leave if they pay off the bonds used to expand Qualcomm Stadium in 1997. That figure is currently around $26 million.

The Chargers are exploring building a $750 million stadium on a downtown parcel east of Petco Park, the home of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. That site has been described as the last, best chance to make something work in the county. The Chargers eventually could seek hundreds of millions of dollars in public assistance.

The Chargers are determining whether or not a measure can be placed on the ballot in 2012.

"Obviously if we get something on the ballot in 2012, we'll be playing here in 2012," Fabiani said.

"If at the end of 2011, there's no support for a financing plan from city leaders, obviously at that point we'd have to look at other options. Again, you're asking me to predict something I can't predict. We just don't know," Fabiani said.

Los Angeles has been without the NFL since the Raiders and Rams moved after the 1994 season.

"The L.A. thing has a life of its own," Fabiani added. "We can't control what goes on in L.A. They're going to do whatever. They're not going to do it because of us. We're going to be one of the two or three teams that will be part of this story. We hope fans recognize that to build a stadium anywhere in California is an extraordinarily difficult thing to do."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Chargers continue to pick up steam with easy victory over host Colts

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning blamed himself for the Colts' mistakes. The Chargers took credit for forcing him into them.

Either way, it was the same lousy result for Indianapolis' suddenly struggling quarterback.

San Diego intercepted him four times, returning two for scores, and handed Indianapolis its worst home loss of the Manning era, 36-14, on Sunday.

"The defense was awesome," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. "Getting two defensive touchdowns was obviously huge, and they played well all night."

Sunday's game fit right into this rivalry's recent trend.

San Diego (6-5) has beaten Manning's Colts five times in six games, including twice in the playoffs. Three years ago, the Chargers picked off Manning six times -- the most in his career. For the first time in Manning's 13 NFL seasons, he has thrown a combined seven interceptions in back-to-back weeks.

Colts fans were so incredulous at the poor play that they headed for the exits with about 10 minutes left.

But the Chargers had plenty of work still to do. The team that ruined Indy's quest for perfection in 2005 and dethroned the defending Super Bowl champs in the 2007 playoffs ended the NFL's longest run of consecutive 12-win seasons at seven. Plus, San Diego climbed over the .500 mark for the first time all season and kept pace in the AFC West race, one game behind Kansas City.

Imagine that.

"At 2-5, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel," Rivers said. "We've got a group of resilient guys, tough guys that really play together and really believe in one another. We weren't going to let this thing get away from us. Now, we're right here in the hunt."

While the Chargers are primed to make a playoff run, Indy's struggles have raised red flags.

Yes, the Colts (6-5) are still tied with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead, but they've lost three of four and the rash of injuries has taken a major toll on the offense. Manning played again without receiver Austin Collie, without running back Joseph Addai and without starting tight ends Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge, and it showed.

Coach Jim Caldwell blamed the miscues -- five turnovers in all -- on a combination of factors, including poor pass protection and a nonexistent running game. Indy netted only 24 yards rushing against the Chargers' No. 1 ranked defense.

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And Manning wasn't himself, either. He finished 31 of 48 for 285 with two TDs and the third four-interception game of his career. The last came in San Diego in November 2007.

"San Diego did a good job," Manning said. "Offensively, we didn't do a real good job. I didn't do a real good job. Everybody needs to play better, I need to play better, our execution needs to improve."

Manning is ready to move to the head of the line after this debacle.

After throwing a 5-yard TD pass to Jacob Tamme on the Colts' opening drive and watching San Diego counter with a 28-yard field goal, Manning tried to connect with Reggie Wayne by fitting a pass between three defenders.

Not good.

Kevin Burnett made a leaping catch and sprinted 29 yards to give the Chargers a 10-7 lead.

"Poor decision," Manning said. "That's something I have to avoid. So poor throw, poor decision."

Stephen Cooper picked off Manning again early in the second quarter, setting up a 33-yard field goal that made it 13-7, and Manning got the Colts back into it when he connected with Blair White on a 6-yard TD pass to make it 16-14 with 22 seconds left in the half.

After that, nothing went right for the Colts.

Kaeding opened the second half with a 30-yard field goal, and Eric Weddle picked off Manning and returned it 41 yards for a TD to make it 26-14. Fans booed, thinking Weddle shoved Wayne to the ground before the ball arrived. Wayne and Manning complained to the officials.

"It was a bad call, plain and simple," Caldwell said. "I don't know how to dance around it any other way."

But the Chargers refused to let Manning make one of his patented comebacks.

Mike Tolbert scored on a 3-yard run with 11:26 to go, sealing the victory, and Kaeding added his fifth field goal of the night to close it out. Tolbert carried 26 times for 103 yards with one TD.

Rivers was 19 of 23 for 185 yards with no touchdowns and, unlike Manning, no interceptions.

"I think all of our guys understand now that you've got to protect the ball," coach Norv Turner said. "You've got to be sound in the kicking game and we can't give up big plays on defense."

They gave up nothing Sunday night.

Notes: San Diego WR Vincent Jackson's season debut was a short one. He strained a calf muscle on the Chargers' opening series and did not return. Turner said he did not expect Jackson to miss a lot of time. ... Tolbert also left during the first half with what appeared to be a left hand injury. ... The banged-up Colts took a couple of more hits Sunday. Wayne was shaken up with 2:45 left, and starting cornerback Kelvin Hayden also was hurt in the closing minutes. Both players left walked off the field without help. ... It was Indy's most lopsided home loss since a 31-3 rout by Seattle on Sept. 14, 1997. Indy had won 19 of its last 20 home games, the only loss coming after the Colts pulled their starters against the New York Jets last December.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Texans can't slow Rivers as he rallies Chargers with cast of backups

HOUSTON -- Philip Rivers picked apart the Houston Texans' porous pass defense, even without some of his favorite receivers.

The NFL's leading passer threw four touchdowns on Sunday, and the San Diego Chargers earned their first road win of the season in beating the Houston Texans 29-23.

Chargers-texans

The Chargers (4-5) were missing tight end Antonio Gates (torn plantar fascia) and wide receiver Malcom Floyd (hamstring) to injuries. They're also awaiting the return of Vincent Jackson, who signed his contract tender on Oct. 29 and has one game left on a team-imposed suspension.

Rivers didn't miss any of them on Sunday, using eight different receivers in completing 17 of 23 passes for 295 yards. Rookie Seyi Ajirotutu and backup tight end Randy McMichael caught two touchdowns apiece.

"I usually don't get to throw Tutu a ton of balls, or Randy for that matter, because practice reps are so valuable," he said. "If something is up for tight ends, Gates usually takes it. The last week or two, I was able to throw those guys a lot more balls than I have in the past and it certainly paid off."

The Chargers (4-5) head into their bye week on their first two-game winning streak of the season.

Ajirotutu just moved up to the active roster on Oct. 23, when linebacker Kion Wilson went on injured reserve. The undrafted rookie out of Fresno State clutched the game ball in the locker room after catching four passes for 111 yards.

"I'm going to hold onto this for a while," he said. "I'll probably let it go after the bye week. I'm just glad I was able to get it. There was a lot of people that helped contribute to this win and I'm just glad I was able to get one."

Arian Foster rushed 27 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Houston (4-4), which has lost three of its past four home games.

"You've got to protect your home turf," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. "Obviously, we haven't done that."

This time, Houston failed on two fourth down plays in the second half to blow a 23-14 lead.

McMichael's second TD catch cut the lead to 23-21 with 5:55 left in the third quarter, and the Chargers stuffed Foster on fourth-and-1 from the 17 early in the final quarter.

Rookie Kareem Jackson has taken much of the blame for the Texans' 32nd-ranked pass defense, but he intercepted Rivers' pass to Ajirotutu near midfield with about 12 minutes left.

Rivers atoned on the next possession, throwing over Jackson for a 28-yard touchdown pass to Ajirotutu with 5:23 left. Mike Tolbert jumped over the pile for a 2-point conversion to give San Diego a 29-23 lead.

Rivers said last week that the Texans' secondary was vulnerable to deep passes. When the Chargers tried big plays on Sunday, Rivers said they clicked as well as they did in practice.

"A couple of things came up just how we drew them up," he said.

Rivers has 2,944 yards passing this season.

"He can make any throw," San Diego coach Norv Turner said. "He understands what we're doing. He makes a lot of guys look like real good players, and we got some young guys that are going to be good players."

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The Texans had a chance for the go-ahead score in the final minutes, but the usually sure-handed Andre Johnson made a costly mistake.

On second down, Johnson couldn't handle Matt Schaub's pass, and the ball ricocheted off his knee and into the hands of safety Paul Oliver. Officials upheld the interception after a replay review, and Rivers kneeled down to run out the clock.

"No matter what happened during the game before that play, we still had a chance to win that game," Johnson said. "I thought I had it. My knee came up, the ball hit off my knee, and the guy picked it off."

The Chargers improved to 4-0 against the Texans after starting the game with the kind of special teams blunders that have hurt them all season.

Oliver caught the opening kickoff and inexplicably stepped out of bounds at the San Diego 4. Texans linebacker Stanford Keglar then deflected Mike Scifres' punt, and Houston recovered at the Chargers 8.

It was the fifth San Diego punt blocked or deflected this season, and Foster scored on the next snap.

Ajirotutu then sprinted past Jackson on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Rivers, the eighth reception covering more than 40 yards this season against Houston's secondary.

Notes: Rivers' other four-touchdown game came in a 41-24 win over Tampa Bay in December 2008. ... The Texans' defense faced a top-five offense for the fifth time this season. ... McMichael had the first two-touchdown game of his career. ... Foster scored multiple touchdowns for the fourth time this season.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Chargers TE Gates holding out hope that he'll play vs. Texans

Logic dictates that Antonio Gates finally will miss an NFL game for the first time when his San Diego Chargers meet the Houston Texans on Sunday.

The All-Pro tight end is listed as doubtful on the Chargers' injury report. No player with that designation has played in a game for San Diego this season.

But Gates isn't ready to rule himself out just yet.

"I know it sounds like a tape recorder," Gates told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday. "We just have to wait to see how I feel."

The Union-Tribune reported Saturday that Gates was "walking pretty good" as the Chargers prepared for their scheduled walkthrough.

Gates has never missed a game in eight NFL seasons, but injuries to his feet and ankle have put his status in doubt as the Chargers prepare for a key AFC game in Houston. Gates sprained the plantar fascia in his right foot during last weekend's 33-25 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans. He previously had been playing through turf toe and a sprained ankle.

Gates' status was a game-time decision in Week 7 against the New England Patriots, but he eventually suited up and caught a touchdown pass. Last Sunday, he dominated the Titans, hauling in five passes for 123 yards and the go-ahead TD.

Gates leads the NFL with nine TD receptions this season. He has 40 catches for 663 yards, both team highs.

Gates was in so much pain Monday that a team trainer drove him on a cart to his car. He acknowleged that if he does play against the Texans, he won't know for sure until shortly before kickoff.

"Sunday morning may be an understatement this time," Gates told the Union-Tribune. "It might be an hour before the game now (although a decision must be made 90 minutes before kickoff). I know it's going to be tougher (to make a decision) than it was last week."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Home games for Lions, Chargers will be blacked out Sunday

Two NFL teams announced local television blackouts for Sunday's games.

Neither the Detroit Lions' game against the Washington Redskins, nor the San Diego Chargers' meeting with the Tennessee Titans will be shown in their respective home markets.

A Lions spokesman said 8,500 tickets remained available as of Thursday afternoon. The Lions had sold out their first two home games this season.

The Chargers announced that more 8,000 general tickets and club seats were available. This will be San Diego's third blackout in four games this season.

The NFL's long-standing policy requires all games not sold out 72 hours before kickoff to be blacked out in the local market. This includes all signals within a 75-mile radius of the stadium and those areas whose television signal reaches within that 75-mile zone. The league's policy affects all telecasts, including cable and satellite.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Disgruntled Chargers WR Jackson to report Oct. 29, agent says

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson will report to the San Diego Chargers next week and sign his contract tender, his agent said Thursday.

By reporting Oct. 29, Jackson will be able to serve a three-game, team-imposed suspension on the roster exempt list, then play in the final six games to accrue his sixth season toward unrestricted free agency.

Jackson and his agent, Neil Schwartz, said earlier this fall that the receiver likely wouldn't play this season.

"With the landscape of labor uncertainty, we wanted to create, at this point in time, certainty," Schwartz told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Last week, the NFL Players Association recommended that Jackson and New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins, also a restricted free agent, report to their teams in time to gained an accrued season.

Jackson, a 6-foot-5 Pro Bowl receiver who had two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, will miss games against the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos while on the roster exempt list. He was placed on the list on Aug. 20 in a hardball tactic by Chargers general manager A.J. Smith.

Jackson will be eligible to return to the struggling Chargers for a Nov. 28 game at Indianapolis. Counting the six games he plays and the bye week, he'll earn $240,058 rather than the $3.268 million he would have made had he signed his tender as a restricted free agent before the season.

The Chargers (2-4) could use Jackson sooner than he'll be available. They might be without quarterback Philip Rivers' top two targets, tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and wideout Malcom Floyd (hamstring), because of injuries when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday. Gates and Floyd missed practice Thursday, as did wide receivers Legedu Naanee (hamstring) and Buster Davis (ribs).

If all four pass-catchers can't play, veteran Patrick Crayton and undrafted rookie Richard Goodman could be the first-team wideouts.

"My thoughts are exclusively on the Patriots," Chargers coach Norv Turner said when asked about Jackson reporting. "If Vincent reports, I'll be excited to see him."

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 during the offseason, Jackson and Chargers left tackle Marcus McNeill refused to sign their tenders. 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, who also had been placed on the roster exempt list by Smith, reported to the team Sept. 25. He served his three-game suspension and then last week agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $48.5 million, with $24.5 million guaranteed, through 2015.

The Chargers' unwillingness to sign Jackson to a long-term deal is believed to stem from the player's off-the-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.

Hours before a playoff loss to the New York Jets last season, 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.

Jackson had to catch a ride to the game with Chargers 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 17-14 loss.

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Last month, while Jackson was still within his three-game DUI suspension, the league and union brokered a deal under which the player could be traded and have six games worth of suspensions reduced to two.

The window for trading Jackson came and went without the Chargers moving him. Schwartz said he had deals in place with several teams, but that the Chargers were asking for "wholly unreasonable" compensation for another team to acquire Jackson.

Schwartz said another GM told him that Smith seemed to be "squatting" on Jackson.

Smith didn't return calls seeking comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rams not interested in trading for Chargers WR Jackson

Despite losing wide receiver Mark Clayton for the season with a knee injury, the St. Louis Rams aren't currently pursuing a trade for San Diego Chargers holdout Vincent Jackson, a league source told NFL.com's Steve Wyche on Tuesday.

Jackson, who still hasn't signed his tender, has been linked to possible trades to the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots.

The Rams, for one, plan to move in a different direction.

Clayton, who is scheduled for season-ending surgery on his right knee to repair a torn patellar tendon, was hurt early in Sunday's 44-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. He is the third Rams wide receiver to suffer a season-ending injury in 2010. Donnie Avery and Dominique Curry both suffered torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

With Clayton out, St. Louis' receiving corps was reduced to four players on the active roster -- Danny Amendola, Laurent Robinson, Brandon Gibson and rookie Mardy Gilyard -- with a combined 183 receptions and six touchdowns in 64 career NFL games.

Later Tuesday, the Rams promoted wide receiver Danario Alexander from the practice squad. Alexander was a star at the University of Missouri last season, but he wasn't drafted after undergoing a fourth operation on his left knee in February. When the Rams signed him in August, Alexander said he was still rehabilitating the knee.

Jackson is threatening to sit out the entire 2010 season with the Chargers. There is a possibility that he will sign his contract tender and report to the team by Week 10, because language in the current collective bargaining agreement could place him in the same situation next year.

Week 10 has meaning because being on a roster for at least six weeks virtually assures Jackson of an accrued season -- and unrestricted free agency or a franchise-type tag. That season gives him six in the NFL, and in any new CBA, players would need no more than that to earn unrestricted free agency.

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Jackson's current tender is around $600,000. He is seeking a long-term deal from the Chargers and an annual salary in the $8 million range.

In order for Jackson to be on the roster for six weeks, however, he must report before Week 8 (Oct. 31). That is because Jackson faces a three-game stint on the roster-exempt list whenever he does report, during which time he will not earn time toward an accrued season. He would be eligible to play and earn credit toward an accrued season beginning Week 12 at Indianapolis.

The Rams (2-3) host the San Diego Chargers (2-3) this weekend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chargers entering final contract talks with LT McNeill

Marcus McNeill expressed his desire for a new contract by holding out from the San Diego Chargers. Now that he has reported to the team and been activated from the roster-exempt list, it appears a deal is near completion.

McNeill, a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, and the Chargers are expected to go over final negotiating points Tuesday, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, meaning an agreement likely is close.

Chargers director of public relations Bill Johnston suggested Tuesday that the two sides were close.

"Nearing 5-yr deal for Marcus McNeill," Johnston tweeted. "Team always said to 73 & 83: sign tender, go to work & we'll see how it goes. It went well for Mac."

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith disputed an ESPN report that an agreement had been reached Monday.

"That's not the case," Smith told The Union-Tribune. "If there is something to report, we'll let you know."

McNeill, a restricted free agent this offseason, rejected a one-year, $3.168 million tender offer from the Chargers, then skipped training camp, all four preseason games and the first two regular-season contests. The Chargers reduced their offer to $630,000, then placed the fifth-year pro on the roster-exempt list, meaning he was required to sit out three games after signing the tender.

McNeill signed the tender Sept. 25 and practiced with the team while he couldn't play. The Chargers added him to their active roster Monday and released cornerback Fred Bennett and safety C.J. Spillman.

According to The Union-Tribune, McNeill will work with the first-team offense in practice starting Wednesday and likely will start in Sunday's game at St. Louis.

The Chargers still have one holdout player. Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson still hasn't signed his tender, and various reports have linked him to possible trades to the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots.

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Raiders QB Gradkowski exits vs. Chargers with shoulder injury

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski made a surprise, brief return at the start of the second half after being knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury.

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Gradkowski was hit hard by San Diego's Shaun Phillips on a pass play in the final minute of the first quarter Sunday. The play was originally ruled a fumble. The Raiders challenged and it was changed to an incomplete pass.

Gradkowski went to the locker room and was replaced by former starter Jason Campbell. The Raiders originally said Gradkowski would not return but he came out to start the second half. He threw two incompletions on one drive and then was replaced again by Campbell.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Raiders get first win over Chargers since 2003

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Michael Bush ran 3 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:39 remaining and Tyvon Branch returned a fumble 64 yards for a score as the Oakland Raiders snapped a 13-game losing streak against the San Diego Chargers with a 35-27 victory Sunday over their AFC West rivals.

All it took to end the seven-year drought for the Raiders (2-3) was two blocked two punts, two long touchdown drives in the second half led by backup quarterback Jason Campbell and the big play at the end by Branch and Michael Huff.

This was Oakland's first win over San Diego (2-3) since September 2003 -- which was the second longest active streak to Buffalo's 14-game losing streak to New England.

With the Chargers driving for the potential go-ahead score, a blitzing Huff hit Rivers just before his arm went forward, knocking the ball loose. Branch picked up the ball and raced 64 yards for
the score to make 35-27 with 58 seconds left.

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Report: Patriots talk to Chargers about Mankins-Jackson trade

The New England Patriots have two issues: They need a big-play wide receiver after trading Randy Moss, and Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins hasn't budged in his contract holdout.

The team has tried to resolve both problems by holding preliminary talks with the Chargers about a deal that would send Mankins to San Diego and bring wide receiver Vincent Jackson to Foxborough, Comcast SportsNet New England reported Thursday, citing a source.

La Canfora: Week 10 returns likely Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson vow to sit out until they receive new contracts. However, a labor issue could change that stance, Jason La Canfora writes. More ...

Jackson was a Pro Bowl alternate last season and, like Mankins, is holding out because he wants a long-term deal, not the restricted free-agent tender he was offered. Unlike Mankins, Jackson was placed on the roster-exempt list by the Chargers, meaning he must sit out three games if he signs or is traded.

Mankins' agent rejected the idea of the Patriots and Chargers making the deal for a simple reason: Neither player has signed a contract.

Frank Bauer told the Boston Herald: "Somebody can call me tomorrow and say, 'You've been traded to Cincinnati,' and I can say, 'No, no, no, no. You got to have a contract.'"

Bauer called the speculation "totally insane,” then added: "But who knows? The Patriots do strange things. … Until it all (shakes out), you don’t know. But ... that’s totally ludicrous.”

The San Diego Union-Tribune confirmed that trade talks have been held, but it termed the chances of a deal happening as "highly unlikely." The newspaper reported that the Chargers' asking price for Jackson is a first- and a second-round pick, but the Patriots might not be willing to meet that price.

Comcast SportsNet New England reported that, according to a media source in San Diego, the Chargers are not interested in dealing for Mankins.

Mankins hadn't missed a game in his NFL career before the holdout and is considered a premium guard. However, the Chargers are set at the position with veteran Kris Dielman and second-year pro Louis Vasquez.

If the Patriots were to land Jackson, he would be a younger replacement for 33-year-old Moss, who was dealt to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. Jackson, 27, has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and, at 6-foot-5, provides quarterbacks with a big target.

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