Chargers re-sign Drew Brees, Jerry Wilson

By Hugo Guzman  |   Monday, March 07, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

San Diego Chargers
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SAN DIEGO, California - Quarterback Drew Brees signed his 1 year franchise player tender with the San Diego Chargers. The team designated Brees as a franchise player on February 17, giving the Pro Bowl quarterback a salary of $8.078 million in 2005 - the average of the top five players at his position.

If Brees had signed with another team, the Chargers would have had the right to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. "I'm ecstatic to be here another year and to build on the momentum of last year," Brees said at a news conference. "I think I just scratched the surface as a player and the team is just scratching the surface."

Brees, 26, won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award after leading the Chargers to a 12-4 record and the AFC West title and passing for 3,159 yards and 27 TDs last season. He was 4-16 in his previous 20 starts.

A second-round pick in 2001, Brees started 27 games over his first 3 years with San Diego and threw for 29 TDs with 31 INTs. Those numbers convinced Chargers GM A.J. Smith to make a change at QB. With the first pick in the 2004 draft, Smith selected Eli Manning, who told the Chargers he did not want to play for them. Smith then traded Manning to the New York Giants in a deal for Philip Rivers, the fourth overall pick in the draft, and attempted to trade Brees.

However, Rivers was a holdout for most of training camp before signing a 6 year contract worth at least $40 million. That holdout enabled Brees to keep his starting job and he took full advantage, recording a quarterback rating of 104.8 - 2nd only to Peyton Manning of Indianapolis in the AFC - and earning a Pro Bowl selection.

The Chargers also re-signed safety Jerry Wilson and reserve center David Brandt to 2 year contracts. Wilson started all 16 games last season and recorded 75 tackles, 3 INTs and 4 passes defensed.
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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