SAN DIEGO • Antonio Gates has caught plenty of big passes for the San Diego Chargers, and on Wednesday he hauled in the biggest contract ever given to an NFL tight end.
Gates agreed to a $36,175,000, five-year contract extension, with $20.4 million guaranteed, according to a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the figures weren't released. The deal averages $7,235,000 per season from 2011-15.
Gates blossomed from a rookie free agent in 2003 to a three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler.
With three other San Diego star players unhappy about their contracts, talks with Gates apparently intensified this week. Gates and other veterans are due to report to training camp today, with the first full-squad practice Friday.
"I've been blessed my whole career to be with one team," Gates said in a statement. "It's always good to get it out of the way. The goal is to win a championship. We all are human and it becomes a distraction even though you might not want it to be. It's always great to be able to go ahead and do what you need to do and get it out of the way."
It wasn't clear whether getting Gates' deal done would lead to new deals for restricted free agents Marcus McNeill, Vincent Jackson and Shawne Merriman.
McNeill, the left tackle who protects quarterback Philip Rivers' blind side, and Jackson, a Pro Bowl wide receiver with two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, are unhappy that they haven't been given long-term deals and are expected to hold out through training camp and the season's first 10 games. They are expected to return for the final six games to accrue another season toward unrestricted free agency.
Jackson and McNeill were tendered one-year deals at just more than $3 million each. When they didn't sign the offers by June 15, the Chargers were entitled to offer them their same salaries as 2009, resulting in a loss of about $2.5 million each.
Merriman hasn't signed his tender for $3,269,000, but the outside linebacker was due a 10 percent raise anyway, which would put his 2010 pay at approximately the tender amount. Still, he hasn't said when he'll report.
These negotiations between Gates and the Chargers went much more smoothly than in 2005.
Gates held out during training camp that year, leading general manager A.J. Smith to take the extreme measure of placing him on the roster exempt list in an attempt to break the impasse, automatically triggering a three-game suspension. Gates missed the final two exhibition games and the season opener, which the Chargers lost.
Gates dumped the agent who represented him then and hired Tom Condon.
Smith said in a statement that Gates' work ethic and desire are unmatched. Smith didn't return calls seeking further comment.
Since his rookie season, Gates leads tight ends in touchdown catches with 59. He ranks second in yards, 6,223, and third in catches, 479.
