The Seahawks have been talking with San Diego about acquiring unsigned wide receiver Vincent Jackson. So far it's just talk.
A Seahawks spokesman told The Associated Press on Friday that Seattle was granted permission by the Chargers to talk to the representatives for the Pro Bowl wide receiver and restricted free agent a couple of weeks ago.
But nothing has changed. There is apparently no deal imminent, Jackson's price tag remains high and he still has not reported to training camp because he is unhappy with being a restricted free agent in San Diego. He wants a multiyear contract, reportedly one worth more than $9 million annually.
The Chargers and Seahawks would have to work out a trade to get Jackson a new deal. They already have struck one trade this year. It brought backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to Seattle in April for draft picks.
Jackson's agents, Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod, did not return messages from The AP Friday night. Neither did Chargers general manager A.J. Smith nor coach Norv Turner.
Last week, the Chargers threatened to place Jackson and holdout left tackle Marcus McNeill on the roster exempt list if they hadn't signed their contract tenders by midnight Friday. Players placed on that list face a three-game suspension once they have signed.
Jackson, who is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season, already has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He pleaded guilty in February to his second DUI since 2006.
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But at 6-feet-5 he has the size that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll covets in his receivers.
Size at the position is the reason why former USC star and top-10 NFL pick Mike Williams, who is also 6-5, is returning to the NFL with the Seahawks and his old college coach this season after two years out of the league.
The 27-year-old Jackson is upset at being tendered a one-year contract as a restricted free agent, at just more than $3 million. When he didn't sign the offer by June 15, the Chargers were entitled to offer him his same salary as 2009, resulting in an amended offer of about $500,000.
If Jackson can't find a trade, he seems poised to sit out the Chargers' preseason and their first 10 games. He would then likely report for the final six games in order to accrue another season toward unrestricted free agency, per the league's collective bargaining agreement.
Seattle's interest in Jackson keeps with the promise and pattern Carroll has had since he arrived as coach and executive vice president in January: constantly seeking competition, from any avenue, to improve a team that is 9-23 in the last two seasons.
"We are going to keep competing to find out if we can upgrade the roster at all times," Carroll said Thursday. "It's the theme of the program. We are going to let it live."
