San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson has been suspended for three games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, as it relates to his second DUI conviction in as many years. This contributes to what's already been a tumultuous offseason for Jackson, who's also locked in a stalemate with the Chargers over his contract.
Jackson is a five-year veteran who would've been an unrestricted free agent under the old salary-cap system, but because the NFL's collective bargaining agreement is in its final season, Jackson (and dozens of other players) is instead a restricted free agent who doesn't want to play for the RFA tender the Chargers have offered him. Thus, Jackson has already threatened to hold out for 10 games, the maximum duration he could hold out and still accrue a year of service time upon his return. Chargers general manager A.J. Smith hasn't been sympathetic to these threats of Jackson's (and similar ones from starting left tackle Marcus McNeill), creating the possibility of Philip Rivers being without his best blind-side blocker and his best wideout for 2? months of the regular season.
In itself, this suspension -- which, given recent history, could very well be reduced to one or two games if Jackson behaves well and shows sufficient remorse -- might not affect Jackson's fantasy value much. It seems strange to say, but NFL rules actually allow Jackson to fulfill his suspension while he holds out. What the suspension does do, however, is increase the likelihood that Jackson won't blink on his contract demands, at least for the season's first three weeks, since he knows he won't be playing anyway. It also makes a trade -- about which rumors have been flying during the past week, rumors involving the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins, among others -- less likely. The bottom line: The Chargers are definitely going to be without Jackson to begin the year, and could still be without him for much longer, and
lvyunsI think it makes sense to drop him in our estimation a bit.
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