After the season-ending knee injury suffered by former first round pick Melvin Ingram this week, the San Diego Chargers have wasted little time in finding someone to replace his role in their pass rush, signing Dwight Freeney to a two year deal.
The Chargers had also lost last season’s sack leader in Shaun Phillips, as the free agent signed with division rival Denver. That coupled with the loss of Ingram made the team desperate for a pass rush, and encouraged them to offer the money that Freeney wanted, someone that no other NFL team had been willing to do in the past three months.
The deal is reportedly for 2 years and $8.75 million which is more than the two year $8.5 million dollar deal that Osi Umenyiora signed with the Falcons earlier in the offseason. It also includes a number of performance bonuses clauses related to the number of sacks Freeney gets, which could raise its total value by another $4.6 million over the next two seasons if they are reached.
The Chargers are very familiar with Freeney. Newly appointed Chargers GM Tom Telesco was a member of the Colts’ personel department for 15 years before being named San Diego GM in January. New Chargers defensive co-ordinator John Pagano is the younger brother of Colts’ head coach Chuck Pagano.
Its been a long off-season for Dwight Freeney since being released by the Indianapolis Colts in February. The 33-year-old Freeney spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, earning seven trips to the Pro Bowl while becoming that franchise’s all-time leader in sacks with 107.5. His production dipped last season, with just 5 sacks, his lowest total since his injury shortened 2007 season.
Peyton Manning, Freeney’s former teammate in Indianapolis had publicly lobbied for Freeney to join the Broncos. Instead Freeney will now lineup for a division rival and will spend at least two games a season chasing down Manning in an attempt to add to his sack totals.
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