Special teams standout Kassim Osgood agreed to a four-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Friday. Osgood was one of the AFC's most dominant special teams players last season until he tore a pectoral muscle Dec. 4. At the time, he was leading the Chargers with 19 tackles on special teams. He finished second behind Hanik Milligan, who had 21 and was voted to the AFC Pro Bowl squad as the conference's top special teams performer.

Drew Brees let the secret slip -- the San Diego Chargers would like to sign him to a long-term deal. Brees was discussing his shoulder surgery and rehab during a conference call with San Diego reporters on Wednesday when he was asked if the team had told him anything about his future. "They want to pursue me long-term," Brees said from Birmingham, Ala. "I know that's something that for the next few months everybody's going to be working on. As far as what's going on up to this point, it's not much, just the very beginning stages. I know they want me long-term and I want to be here long-term." General manager A.J. Smith, who's always tightlipped about player transactions, at first refused to confirm that he or anyone else from the front office told Brees that. "We don't have any comment on our business until we're complete with our business," Smith told The Associated Press. Brees' agent, Tom Condon, said he hadn't heard from the Chargers. "I know that Drew told me that, but I've had no conversations with the Chargers," Condon said.

Shawne Merriman's relentless style of play made an immediate mark in the NFL, earning him The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The San Diego linebacker, known as "Lights Out" for his hard hits and aggressive demeanor, received 28? votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He easily beat Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who got 16?. All the players receiving votes played linebacker in some form this season. Behind Merriman and Tatupu were Odell Thurman of Cincinnati with four votes and DaMarcus Ware of Dallas with one. While all of them were standouts, Merriman showed the most explosiveness and made more spotlight-grabbing plays. As anyone with the nickname "Lights Out" would expect. After being picked 12th in the draft out of Maryland, Merriman had a shaky start with the Chargers when his agent held him out of offseason workouts until he signed a contract. Despite fears of protracted negotiations, he missed only a week of training camp before signing a deal potentially worth $15.73 million, with $9 million guaranteed.

Shawne Merriman's relentless style of play made an immediate mark in the NFL, earning him The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The San Diego linebacker, known as "Lights Out" for his hard hits and aggressive demeanor, received 28? votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He easily beat Seattle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who got 16?. All the players receiving votes played linebacker in some form this season. Behind Merriman and Tatupu were Odell Thurman of Cincinnati with four votes and DaMarcus Ware of Dallas with one. While all of them were standouts, Merriman showed the most explosiveness and made more spotlight-grabbing plays. As anyone with the nickname "Lights Out" would expect.

Chargers quarterback Drew Brees has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and plans to have surgery as quickly as possible. Brees dislocated the shoulder in Saturday's home loss to the Denver Broncos. The team suspected then that he had a torn labrum, which was confirmed during an MRI on Sunday. The fifth-year pro plans to get a second opinion from noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. "Obviously I'd like to get this thing operated on as soon as possible," Brees said Monday. "We're all very optimistic. The doctors are very optimistic, saying that this is something that they've seen before, done before, It shouldn't be a big deal." Brees anticipates a four-month rehab.

San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees has a dislocated right shoulder, coach Marty Schottenheimer said after the Chargers' 23-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Schottenheimer said Brees will undergo tests on his labrum and might need surgery. Brees dropped back to pass from his end zone late in the second quarter and was blindsided on a blitz by safety John Lynch. Brees fumbled and was hit again while going for the ball, which was recovered by Denver's Sam Brandon at the 1-yard line. Tatum Bell scored on the next play to give the Broncos a 14-0 lead. Brees was examined on the sideline, then was taken to the locker room. He was replaced by Philip Rivers, who finished the game for the Chargers. Brees left immediately after the game and did not talk to reporters. Although the Chargers already had been eliminated from the playoffs, coach Marty Schottenheimer didn't plan to use Rivers, a second-year pro, unless Brees got hurt. Rivers had been in for one play this season, taking a knee to end a 48-10 win over Buffalo on Nov. 20.