AJ FEELEY traded to Chargers (1 Viewer)

[Maurile Tremblay]

I'm just speculating here, but I don't think Feeley was an important part of the deal. I think the Chargers realized that Lemon had no future in SD because his playing style doesn't fit their offense (he's a great athlete with a strong arm who can improvise, but the SD offense is a timing-based offense that emphasizes quick reads), so they traded him for a draft pick. I suspect that Feeley was just a throw-in (since the Dolphins would have cut him anyway to make room for Lemon).

Adam Schefter agrees with me:

Chargers' biggest QB move to come this winter

By Adam Schefter

NFL Analyst

No team will have a busier offseason at quarterback than the San Diego Chargers.

Starting quarterback Drew Brees wants a long-term contract. Backup quarterback Philip Rivers wants playing time. And the Chargers aren't concerned with what third-string quarterback A.J. Feeley wants, but San Diego doesn't want his $3.5 million base salary on its books.

All together, three moves can, and probably will, be made.

It's important to point out the Chargers are scheduled to be roughly $25 million under the salary cap in 2006, so they can afford to do whatever they want with Brees. They can franchise him, which might cost close to $11 million, or they can negotiate a long-term deal, which would be friendlier against their 2006 cap. But to date, there still have been zero long-term contract talks between the Chargers and Brees.

Rivers' situation is the most intriguing one. Should San Diego trade the former No. 4 overall pick of the 2004 draft, it would have to accelerate about $10 million worth of bonuses against its cap. But with San Diego so far under the salary cap, this would be the offseason to make a deal. Especially if another team steps forward with an enticing enough package. But now that seems like the only way San Diego is going to trade Rivers -- to somebody willing to surrender sufficient draft picks in compensation.

Otherwise, San Diego easily can afford to carry Rivers' $615,000 base salary for the 2006 season. Not only can it carry it, but it would be cheap to do.

Feeley probably shouldn't get used to staying in San Diego too long.

When the Chargers traded quarterback Cleo Lemon to Miami, what San Diego really wanted back was the Dolphins' sixth-round pick, not another quarterback. It's as if Feeley was the throw-in to complement the sixth-rounder.

Plus, over the next three seasons, Feeley is scheduled to make $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008. San Diego does not intend to pay that much to Feeley, nor does it even know if it wants Feeley around beyond this season.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

John Clayton agrees with me as well. From ESPN Insider:"Don't read too much into the A.J. Feeley deal as far as the Chargers' future thinking about whether to keep Drew Brees and Philip Rivers. The key to the trade from the Chargers standpoint was getting a sixth-round choice from the Miami Dolphins."

 

[Donnybrook]

Chargers' biggest QB move Plus, over the next three seasons, Feeley is scheduled to make $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008. San Diego does not intend to pay that much to Feeley, nor does it even know if it wants Feeley around beyond this season.

How much was/is Feeley's signing bounus and how much will each team be responsible for?

 

[Bri]

Chargers' biggest QB move Plus, over the next three seasons, Feeley is scheduled to make $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008.  San Diego does not intend to pay that much to Feeley, nor does it even know if it wants Feeley around beyond this season.

How much was/is Feeley's signing bounus and how much will each team be responsible for?

I'm 99% certain any signing bonus is "eaten" by the team that signed him to it and not traded with the player. Occasionally, rarely, they can work out some deal with this but the only time I can recall that was with the Texans and they had special rules for that whole expansion draft time period.

 

[Donnybrook]

Chargers' biggest QB move Plus, over the next three seasons, Feeley is scheduled to make $3.5 million next season, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008.  San Diego does not intend to pay that much to Feeley, nor does it even know if it wants Feeley around beyond this season.

How much was/is Feeley's signing bounus and how much will each team be responsible for?

I'm 99% certain any signing bonus is "eaten" by the team that signed him to it and not traded with the player. Occasionally, rarely, they can work out some deal with this but the only time I can recall that was with the Texans and they had special rules for that whole expansion draft time period.

Correct Bri. According to Benmaller.com, Chargers are only responsible for Feeley base salary this year.

No one in the Chargers organization has said A.J. Feeley will be promoted ahead of Phillip Rivers late in the year should Drew Brees go down; in fact, the odds favor Rivers getting the nod because of his familiarity with the offense and his talent. But Feeley's presence gives the team options, something Smith values as much as draft choices. A personnel chief with another team called the acquisition of Feeley "brilliant," primarily because there is no downside for San Diego. Financially, the Chargers are responsible for only $349,412 of Feeley's base salary this season. He's scheduled to earn $3.5 million next year, but there isn't a team that would pay him that amount to be a backup. So come the offseason, Feeley will take a pay cut or take a hike, simple as that.

Posted October 21, by Ben Maller