The agent for Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson is denying reports that his client is demanding a five-year, $50 million contract. The San Diego Union-Tribune recently reported that Jackson and his representatives were looking for a deal in that neighborhood. "There's no truth to the report that we asked for $50 million over five years and $30 million guaranteed," agent Neil Schwartz told Pro Football Talk. "We only talked concepts with the Seahawks, and I specifically mentioned players like [Cowboys receiver] Roy Williams, [Bills receiver] Lee Evans, [Falcons receiver] Roddy White, who we represent, [Dolphins receiver] Brandon Marshall, and [Cardinals receiver] Larry Fitzgerald. No numbers were mentioned."

Disgruntled Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson said in an interview on NFL Network on Friday that he will "absolutely" sit out the entire 2010 season if he does not get a suitable long-term contract. "We're prepared for that," Jackson said in the interview. "The union comes and talks to us about the lockout possibly next year and I've been financially smart." Jackson says he wants to return, but won't without the right compensation.

Vincent Jackson's agent, Neil Schwartz, said Wednesday he isn't sure the San Diego Chargers really want to trade his client, despite granting the Seattle Seahawks permission to negotiate a deal with the Pro Bowl wide receiver. Schwartz reiterated that he has been granted permission to talk to only one team, the Seahawks, and league sources continue to say there hasn't been any progress and nothing is imminent.

Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson could miss as few as three weeks or as many as six, depending on whether or not he gets traded. Jackson was placed on the roster-exempt list by San Diego, a designation that carries a three-game suspension with it. He also has a league mandated three-game suspension for violating the substance abuse policy, which will be served beginning Week 1. According to an NFL spokesperson, if Jackson was traded and reported to his new club before the Sept. 4 deadline for final roster reduction, then his roster-exempt suspension would be served concurrently with the league-mandated suspension. He would then he eligible to play in Week 4.

Chargers tackle Tra Thomas, a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, has retired from the NFL. Thomas joined the Chargers in June, 2010 after 11 seasons and three Pro Bowls with the Eagles (1998-08) and one year with the Jaguars (2009).

The Seahawks are looking into the possibility of making a play for Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Seattle has been given permission to talk to the agents for unsigned Jackson, but those initial talks didn't do anything to resolve Jackson's current holdout. The Chargers plan to place Jackson on the roster exemption list at midnight eastern Friday if he doesn't report.

Ryan Mathews had an impressive debut in his first NFL preseason game. Mathews tried to keep his mind off his unofficial debut all day, then vomited in the locker room shortly before the game. ?Nerves,? he said afterward. Mathews ran nine times for 50 yards and caught one pass at the line of scrimmage, bowling through one tackle for a 7-yard gain. ?It was crazy at first,? Mathews said. ?My adrenaline was going.?

Shawne Merriman admitted his holdout did not accomplish his intended results. He wanted a new contract, or a guarantee he would not be traded and was unsuccessful on both fronts. "I didn't accomplish anything at all," Merriman said. "I always knew that I was wanted here, which was one of the biggest reasons for getting things sorted out. You hate to deal with the whole business part of it, but I'm so glad it's behind me and I can go out and play."

Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is concerned about the offense Mike Martz might be building in Chicago. San Diego and Chicago will play a preseason game on Saturday. "We went back and we watched Coach Martz's offense and things he had done in the past," Rivera said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "We looked at some [film] later on San Francisco stuff where they started to get explosive down the end of the 2008 season. "Really saw some things that were, I don't want to say scary, but it causes a little bit of concern because of how they attacked vertically." Rivera, who was the Bears defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2006, understands the danger of attacking the wide-open system. "If you're playing coverage, you got to be over the top of everybody because if the quarterback hits the guy running down the seam, it's going to be a big play," he said. "If you bring pressure, you got to make sure somebody is running with everybody else, or it's a big play. There is some concern because its an explosive offense."

San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman signed his one-year contract tender today and reported to training camp. To make room for Merriman on the active roster, the team released linebacker Ali Highsmith.