Tim Dwight will be Cut

[Smizzy]

By Jim Trotter

STAFF WRITER

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...22chargers.html

February 22, 2005

The Chargers have informed Tim Dwight that they will release him before March 15, the date on which the veteran wide receiver/returner is scheduled to receive a $100,000 roster bonus.

Dwight, part of the 2001 predraft trade that brought running back LaDainian Tomlinson to San Diego and landed quarterback Michael Vick in Atlanta, was slowed by injuries in three of his four seasons with the Chargers. He appeared in all 16 games only once, and missed a total of 17 games over the three other seasons.

His most productive year with the Chargers was 2002, his only season as a full-time starter. He caught 50 passes for 623 yards and two touchdowns, with 33 first downs, and had 12 carries for 108 yards and a score.

But over the three other seasons he averaged roughly 14 catches for 210 yards, with only two touchdowns, one rushing. He was used almost exclusively as a return specialist last season, in part because he could not practice most of the season because of toe and hamstring injuries. On most Sundays he had to take a pain-killing injection in his foot so he could play.

Still, he averaged 24.4 yards and scored one touchdown on 50 kickoff returns. It was the second-highest average of his career, trailing only his 27-yard average in 1998 as a rookie with Atlanta.

"Tim is a favorite of many special-teams coaches throughout the league, not to mention coaches who coached him in Atlanta, as well as San Diego," said Dwight's La Jolla-based agent, Jack Bechta. "There will be a good-sized market for him and we welcome the opportunity (to test it).

"Tim wants to play three, four years. The most important thing for Tim is to find the right fit in terms of offense and a team that needs a punt returner, because that's really his strength."

Dwight, who could not be reached for comment, ranked among the AFC leaders in punt returns in his first two seasons in San Diego, averaging 11.3 and 12.2 yards. But he attempted only three returns the past two seasons, with two resulting in fair catches and the other netting 6 yards.

Dwight, who turns 30 in July, came to San Diego as part of the trade in which the Chargers sent the first pick in the 2001 NFL draft to Atlanta for three draft choices and Dwight. The Chargers used the picks over the next two years to select Tomlinson, a two-time Pro Bowler, wide receiver Reche Caldwell and cornerback Tay Cody.

Dwight signed a five-year, $15 million deal before the 2002 season, and collected just over $8.5 million in the first three years of the deal, including an initial signing bonus of $5 million. He took a pay cut last offseason as part of a restructured contract, and has two years and just under $2.5 million in salary and bonuses due him on the final two years of the deal.

The Chargers essentially break even on the salary cap with the move.

General Manager A.J. Smith said last week that he hopes to add a big-play return man through the draft or free agency this offseason. Last year, Eric Parker was the primary punt returner. Jesse Chatman, Robb Butler and Michael Turner handled kick returns when Dwight was out.

This is a guy id like to sign to return kicks for us and play the slot.

[TomShane]

If we added Mason and Tim Dwight, I'd actually be VERY comfy with our receiving corps next year. Dwight would allow us to take Moss-gina off of kick returns, and he'd also give us a scary fast white-boy to go deep. NY loves fast white boys.