February 15th, 2011 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
The Chargers have placed their franchise tag on wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who held out last season to end up playing in just half the season. He was designated a “non-exclusive” franchise player, meaning he can negotiate with other teams once a new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon between the owners and players.
If he signs elsewhere and the Chargers do not match his offer, they will receive two first-round draft picks from the team that signs him. If he signs his tender instead of negotiating a long-term deal, he will be paid the average of the top five receivers in the league. “Vincent has been a valuable contributor to our team,” general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement announcing the move. “We want him to be a Charger.”
Jackson finally signed his tender on October 29th. He was placed on the roster exempt list in a hardball move by Smith and had to sit out for three weeks after signing. The 28-year-old Jackson finished last season with 14 receptions, 248 yards and three touchdowns in five games.
Jackson’s original five-year contract expired after the 2009 season, but because 2010 was an uncapped year, he needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent.
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