It was not supposed to end like this.
After nine years and two All-Pro selections it looks like Eric Weddle has played his final game in a Chargers uniform. The Bolts put their defensive captain on season-ending Injured Reserve with a groin injury.
Weddle's contract expires after the season and it's unlikely he'll be brought back for a 10th year in San Diego (or wherever the team plays in 2016). Weddle was injured in Thursday night's overtime loss to the Raiders and will not be available for Sunday's season finale in Denver so the team put him on IR to free up a roster spot.
However, the situation is getting very messy very fast. Weddle's agent, David Canter, took to Twitter to lob a barrage of angry tweets at the Chargers. Canter says the team fined Weddle $10,000 for leaving the locker room during halftime of their season finale against the Dolphins. Weddle was watching his daughter perform in a halftime show of what could have been the final NFL game every played at Qualcomm Stadium.
On Monday Chargers head coach Mike McCoy confirmed the fine of his Pro Bowl safety.
"We have a policy here," said McCoy. "The situation took place two weeks ago in our stadium so yes we did fine him."
McCoy says it was not his decision to level the fine, it's simply the way the organization approaches any player who does not stay with the team during halftime.
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"There are certain things we have to do as a football at halftime and make adjustments and things like that," said McCoy, "so that's why we did that."
Weddle, who established himself as a fan favorite in San Diego, finished 2015 with 55 tackles and, for the first time in his career, no interceptions. While his stats took a measurable dip his impact on the secondary (and defense as a whole) is not really measured in numbers. Weddle was the guy who put young players in the right spots on the field. It's not a stretch to say the San Diego defense would have been much worse this season without him around.
In the off-season Weddle publicly voiced his frustration over not receiving an offer for a contract extension from the franchise. The Chargers likely wanted to see how a 30-year-old safety would hold up physically under the grind of playing such a taxing position.
Canter also hinted on Twitter that it might be difficult for the Chargers to sign his clients in the future, writing: "They (the Chargers) will be at the bottom of the list in how we approach free agency."
There had been hope that the two parties could reconcile but after this fining incident that now seems like an impossibility.
In an interview with the Associated Press Canter also stated the players who are on injured reserve will not be allowed to join the team on the plane to Denver for the season finale, something that, to my knowledge, has never happened before. That means Weddle won't even be able to watch his team mates in person for the final time.
Canter saysthey will file a grievance with the NFL Players Association.
Joining Weddle on the injured list are safety and special teams captain Darrell Stuckey (knee), tight end Ladarius Green (ankle) and nose tackle Sean Lissemore (shoulder).
The Chargers signed tight end Sean McGrath and safety Matt Daniels from the practice squad and added offensive guards Craig Watts and Michael Huey to the practice squad.
