Former San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle had a nasty break-up with the only NFL team he has ever played for, but will get a fresh start now that he is joining the Baltimore Ravens, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Eric Weddle gets much needed change of scenery with the Baltimore Ravens
Weddle’s play dropped off significantly in 2015, but it’s possible that was a product of tension between the safety and the Chargers.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The deal is for four years and $26 million, which is a significant investment in a player who looked like age was catching up with him in 2015. There is also another $3 million available to Weddle through incentives, per Acee, which could push the total value of the deal to $29 million.
While that’s a pricy contract for a 31-year-old safety, the Ravens had to outbid the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers for his services.
Weddle was a second-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and played nine seasons for the Chargers, earning Pro Bowl nods in three of his last five years with the team. Contract disputes marred what should have been a happy ending to a long career with the team, and instead left bitter feelings on both ends, with the team even hitting the safety with petty fines in his final season in San Diego and placing him on injured reserve against his will.
With so much tension between the two sides, the 2015 season was an underwhelming one for Weddle after a great year in 2014. But at age 31, the Ravens can only hope that the 2015 season was a product of drama between Weddle and the Chargers, and he’ll be able to regain the form that made him worth a five-year, $40 million deal in 2011.
Weddle missed only seven games in nine seasons with the Chargers and racked up 19 interceptions, five forced fumbles and 6.5 sacks. He’s a jack of all trades type of safety who can be used in many different ways, although he’s more of a stop-gap at this point in his career.
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Sad End in San Diego: The Chargers’ lame punishment for Eric Weddle
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