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Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner has added former NFL standout Kevin Ross as a secondary coach and Jeff Hurd as the team’s new strength and conditioning coach. Both have agreed to two-year contracts.
2007 NFL FREE AGENCY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q – When can players start being signed in the 2007 free agency signing period?
A – Beginning at 12:01 AM ET on Friday, March 2.
Q -- What are the categories of free agency?
A -- Players are either "restricted" or "unrestricted" free agents. Within the categories are also "transition" and "franchise" players.
Q -- What is the time period for free agency signings this year?
A -- For restricted free agents, from March 2 to April 20; for unrestricted free agents, from March 2 to July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later); and for franchise players, from March 2 through the 10th week of the season (November 13).
Q -- What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?
A -- Players become restricted free agents when they complete three accrued seasons and their contract expires. Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons with an expired contract.
Q -- What constitutes an "accrued season?"
A -- Six or more regular-season games on a club's active/inactive, reserved-injured or "physically unable to perform" lists.
Q -- Other than accrued seasons, what determines a restricted free agent?
A -- He has received a "qualifying" offer (a salary level predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 20. If the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because it has the "right of first refusal." If the old club does not match the offer, it can possibly receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed, the player’s rights revert to his old club after April 20.
Q -- What determines an unrestricted free agent?
A – A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no compensation owed to his old club, through July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). On July 23, his rights revert to his old club if it made a "tender" offer (110 percent of last year's salary) to him by June 1. His old club then has until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (November 13) to sign him. If he does not sign by November 13, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by June 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.
Q -- What determines a transition player?
A -- A club can designate one transition player (or one franchise player) in any given year. No transition players were named this year. The player’s club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.
Q -- What determines a franchise player?
A -- A club can designate one franchise player (or one transition player) in any given year. The salary level offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is. An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 20, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season -- whichever of the three is greater. If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.
Q -- Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designations on a player? If so, can it then use them on other players?
A -- A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designations and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent either immediately or when his contract expires. The club cannot name a new franchise or transition player that year. It can name a new franchise or transition player the next year.
Q – What is the salary cap for 2007?
A – The salary cap is $109.0 million per club.
San Diego Chargers allocate five players to the NFL Europa League:
T.J. Cottrell, TE, Buffalo State, Frankfurt
Brett Elliott, QB, Linfield College, Rhein
Gabe Franklin, CB, Boise State, Cologne
Kurt Kahui, LB, San Diego State, Amsterdam
Tony Pape, T, Michigan, Amsterdam
Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner has structured his staff to include two secondary coaches and has added former Bills and Jets secondary coach Bill Bradley to coach alongside fellow secondary coach Brian Stewart. Bradley signed a two-year contract with the Chargers.
Four Chargers enroll in programs at Kellogg, Stanford & Wharton Business Schools.
Luis Castillo, Shaun Phillips, Keenan McCardell and Aaron Shea all are taking advantage of a NFL-NFLPA initiative to assist players in preparing for their post-playing careers. They are among 116 players who have enrolled in the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program.
Player enrollment criteria include level of education, professional business experience, interest in starting, owning, or managing a business, and leadership and community involvement. Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, players may be reimbursed for up to $15,000 this year for education expenses at an accredited institution of higher learning.
Last year, 112 NFL players participated at the four business schools. In the program’s first season (2005), 66 players participated at Harvard Business School and the Wharton School.
Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Luis Castillo
Shaun Phillips
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Aaron Shea
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Keenan McCardell
Following are brief descriptions of the executive education programs offered at each business school:
The Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University (April 1-4)
The Kellogg program focuses on developing and selling a brand and evaluating franchise opportunities. This program provides a foundation for recognizing sound marketing plans and preparing players to ask key questions when analyzing opportunities.
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (March 4-7)
The Stanford program seeks to broaden a player’s understanding of how to evaluate business opportunities in general and in the sports industry specifically. The program consists of lectures, case studies, and discussion groups to illustrate the broad opportunities in the sporting industry and other industries (including real estate, entertainment, and investment).
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Feb. 25-28; April 1-4)
The Wharton program focuses on a broad range of business topics, including financial analysis, entrepreneurship, real estate development, stock market investing, negotiation skills, risk management, and community reinvestment. Attendees work on directed as well as individual real estate, entrepreneurial and personal finance projects during the month between the program’s two sessions
Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner has structured his staff to include two secondary coaches and has added former Bills and Jets secondary coach Bill Bradley to coach alongside fellow secondary coach Brian Stewart. Bradley signed a two-year contract with the Chargers.
San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips signed a new contract with the team today.
In his first day on the job, Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner made a big splash Monday night by announcing that he’s hired former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to coach his linebackers. Rivera was in San Diego last Friday interviewing for the head coaching job with the Chargers. He landed a position with Bolts, Monday although it wasn’t the one that he originally sought out.
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson -- “I am very excited to work with Norv. We have a great relationship. Norv is a perfect fit for our team. He will know exactly what to do with our team.”
Chargers DT Jamal Williams -- “It’s going to be exciting for all of us. He’s going to give a lot of energy to the players. I’m looking forward to having him back again in San Diego.”
Chargers QB Philip Rivers -- “I am excited about Coach Turner and what he will bring to our team. In a brief visit with him today, I left excited. I’m anxious to begin working with him to bring a championship to San Diego.”
Former Dallas QB Troy Aikman -- “I would say that everyone knows that we’re pretty close friends. I paid him the highest honor that I could last year when I asked him to present me in the Hall of Fame. He had a tremendous impact on my career. I think he’s an outstanding football coach. I think circumstances have kept him from having more success at some of the places he’s been. I anticipate that he’s going to be a great fit for the San Diego Chargers. I got to believe that Philip Rivers is awfully excited about the hiring and also LaDainian Tomlinson. I think that if you look at Norv over the years and what he’s been able to do for quarterbacks and what he’s meant to a number of quarterbacks, not just myself but Brad Johnson and Trent Green just to name a couple is a testament to his abilities. He’s also done a heck of a job with some running backs. He has had a number of guys who have had rushing titles…last year Frank Gore winning the NFC rushing title. I think it will be business as usual for the Chargers offense.”
Former Washington QB Brad Johnson -- On what Norv brings to the Chargers - “Norv is a very hands-on coach. He’s very approachable and communicates great with all the players and on an individual basis. He’ll have these guys ready on game day. He finds a way to make you better as a player. It’s an awesome opportunity for everyone in the organization.”
On what Norv will provide for Philip Rivers -- “The good thing for Philip is that he’s already used to the system in a sense with the terminology and the number digits. Philip is a smart guy so he will pick up on it quick. Norv will get you back quick on your drop. He’ll make you decisive and get the ball down the field. He has a great feel for the game. Some of these guys are copycat coaches. Norv has a great feel for it.”
49ers QB Trent Dilfer - “I think it was a great hire by the Chargers. He’s going to do a great job as the head football coach there. He’s got experience and has proven that he can do a good job. Now that he has inherited a good football team and a good front office, the sky is the limit.
“Norv is great to play for because he’s a very good teacher of football. He’s not arrogant in his approach to the game. He’s constantly evolving and learning, which you can’t say about a lot of coaches. On game day, he can flat out call plays. He knows what it takes to win. He knows what it takes to develop personnel and get the most out of people. All of those things together, he’s one of the finest football coaches I’ve ever been around.
“I would say that I learned more with Norv last year than in my previous 12 years in the league. The Chargers’ gain is the 49ers’ loss. San Diego is getting a great guy and a great coach.”
The San Diego Chargers have selected offensive mastermind Norv Turner as the team’s new head coach. A veteran of 22 NFL seasons in the coaching ranks, Turner becomes the 14th head coach in team history.
The team also announce that they they’ve hired veteran NFL defensive strategist Ted Cottrell to be the team’s defensive coordinator.
Special interview with Chargers broadcaster Hank Bauer at 40,000 feet discussing the Pro Bowl.