Chargers make sure that Osgood and Polk stay put

By J.E.  |   Wednesday, February 01, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

San Diego Chargers
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The San Diego Chargers have been busy ensuring that their special teams unit remains one of the best in the NFL by working out new contracts with Kassim Osgood and Carlos Polk. Both players would have become unrestricted free agents in March.

Osgood, a 3-year veteran out of San Diego State, has blossomed into one of the premier special teams players in the league. In 2005, he recorded 19 tackles before suffering a torn muscle in Week 13. Despite missing the final four weeks of the season, Osgood earned the Chargers' special teams Player of the Year award. In addition, he finished second in Pro Bowl balloting behind teammate Hanik Milligan.

Osgood's signing might come as a surprise to many people. It was no secret that Osgood was disappointed at not being given a bigger role as a backup receiver and being dropped to the fifth spot on the depth chart. He has 30 career catches for 607 yards and 4 touchdowns, but only had 2 catches for 21 yards in 2005. This lack of playing time at wide receiver might have been a contributing factor that prompted Osgood to say in November that he was "…going to be somewhere else next season." But he's now locked into a brand-new 4-year deal with the Chargers, which looks to be beneficial to both sides.

Polk's one-year deal comes despite the fact that he has spent most of the last two seasons on injured reserve. In fact, he hasn't seen significant game action since 2003, when he had 16 special teams tackles and was named co-Player of the Year by teammates.

Through 38 career games in the NFL, the Chargers' front office has seen enough of Polk to know that the former Nebraska standout can have a significant impact on the club when he is healthy. That's why they're willing to roll the dice on another year and wager that Polk won't show any lingering effects from either his shoulder injury or his Achilles injury.
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