Antonio Gates finally reported to practice, but still faces a roster exempt suspension that will include the season opener. Originally it was reported that the Chargers could ask for the commissioner to revoke the roster exemption for them, but that does not appear to be the case.
“If there’s some development here that you all are reporting, and there is a hearing and the commissioner says he can come back to the San Diego Chargers for Dallas, I think that would be unbelievable,” [General Manager A.J.] Smith said. An NFL spokesman, though, said there doesn’t appear to be any way to reverse the process…
It looks like Gates will be out the first game. He has signed the $380k contract, so hopefully he has another great year and can get a better deal next year.
Re: He did the same thing in 2005, when he suspended star tight end Antonio Gates for Week 1 against Dallas after Gates held out in training camp for a new deal. The sides ultimately came to terms before the opener, but Smith upheld the suspension anyway.
Your statement implies something could have been done to allow Antonio Gates to play the 1st game of the season vs Dallas. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe you can “undo” a roster exempt suspension. Contrary to your writings: “but Smith upheld the suspension anyway.” Once Antonio Gates was placed on the roster exempt suspension, there was no way the suspension could be reversed. Not by A.J. Smith. Not by anybody else.
I wrote this in 2005.