San Diego Chargers Receive 5th Rd. Compensatory Pick, Release WR Demetrius Byrd

by John Gennaro on Mar 22, 2010 3:46 PM PDT in San Diego Chargers News

The Chargers were awarded a compensatory fifth-round draft selection (168 overall) in next month’s NFL Draft, the NFL announced today, as compensation for losing free agents last season.

Under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. Last year the team lost defensive end Igor Olshansky and guard Mike Goff and signed linebacker Kevin Burnett in free agency.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.

A total of 32 compensatory choices in the 2010 NFL Draft were awarded to 19 teams.

The Chargers also have released wide receiver Demetrius Byrd. Byrd was a seventh-round choice out of Louisiana State in the 2009 NFL Draft who suffered major injuries in a car accident just days prior to the draft. Despite the injuries, the Chargers selected him and generously extended him a contract for the season.

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Late Byrd

I dont even believe in God, but I’ll say a prayer for you mate.

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 3:49 PM PDT reply actions

So much for my hopes

For Byrd to make a miraculous recovery, I guess the chargers don’t see that happening for him in the near future. Sad story for him, I wish him the best

by Herbs.n.Sm!les on Mar 22, 2010 3:53 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Huh.

I did not see this coming.

by CaDuck on Mar 22, 2010 4:02 PM PDT reply actions

Seems like on odd time

To make that move. Maybe they are related? They know they are going to get an extra player in the draft and they don’t see room on the roster for Byrd.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 22, 2010 4:11 PM PDT reply actions

iirc, the preseason roster limit is 80 players. There’s an initial cut down to 75 around the beginning of September then the second round of cuts down to the regular season 53 man limit near the end of preseason.

Not sure what the exact number is, but we probably have under 60 players under contract right now (53 from last season, minus a couple guys, plus a couple guys, plus the guys that were on IR and so didn’t count as part of the 53). I don’t see any reason why they should be worrying about roster limits at this point in the year.

by cowbell on Mar 22, 2010 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions

There doesn't seem to be a real reason on the timing, so it's probably not related.

This is a really busy offseason for them. They’ve had to evaluate and release Tomlinson, deal Whitehurst, preform other roster evaluations/tenders and possibly try to move players like Merriman and Sproles. I’m sure evaluating a 7th round pick whose been on the PUP list all year (and probably next year as well) is pretty low on their to-do list.

They probably just now got around to evaluate him physically, discuss his progression, his possible future with the team, etc. and decided against any further investment in him at this time.

I love my team of historically talented underachievers.

by DoubleViking on Mar 22, 2010 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Is what it is

They probably just realized he wasn’t sufficiently recovered to participate in off season work and decided to part ways. It was always a gamble on their part that he would recover enough to make a go at the NFL.

Good luck to Byrd, I hope he makes a full recovery and finds success in whatever path he takes.

by CABurrito on Mar 22, 2010 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

Not too shabby.

That’s a sweet deal, and since AJ is so mafioso, I see this as even more ammo for a possible trade-up to get a second first-rounder. Spiller AND Mt. Cody??

Bummer for Byrd, I concur with Herbs of a miracle recovery. It was a character move for Smith to pick him up, but hopefully he can get some touches somewhere. If he sticks around, I’ll be a Byrd fan wherever he goes.

"Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow."- Zappa

by QuesaDiaz on Mar 22, 2010 4:24 PM PDT reply actions

Sorry, but it really wasn't a "character move" by AJ to draft Byrd.

It was purely a “if he recovers, I’ll get a pre-accident 2nd round player for a 7th round pick” move. It was a good gamble, but it didn’t work out this time. Whether he was cut because they weren’t satisfied with his recovery time, other factors or a combination we’ll probably never know. Shame though, especially since my brother ran into him at Dave and Busters a couple of weeks ago.

Anyway, good news on the 5th round compensatory. Especially since everyone believed it would likely be a 6th.

I love my team of historically talented underachievers.

by DoubleViking on Mar 22, 2010 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Technically

This is not more ammo to trade up since compensatory picks can not be traded by rule. However, it gives you more flexibility to trade your other pick in that round.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 22, 2010 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Do you guys think this might have anything to do with it?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/22/twitter-page-might-have-prompted-chargers-to-clip-byrds-wings/

by tomahawk44 on Mar 22, 2010 6:58 PM PDT reply actions

I think they would’ve fined him before releasing him if it was just about a tweet.

"When they come for me I'll be sitting at my desk, with a gun in my hand wearing a bullet-proof vest, singing 'My, my, my, how the time does fly when you know you're going to die by the end of the night.'" - Catch 22

by John Gennaro on Mar 22, 2010 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions

HAHA

Naw you fine your star players, scrubs get cut. I would hesitate to fire anyone at my job at the bottom of the totem pole. Thats just how it is, you have to keep your head down and shut up until you’ve actually done something.

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

* wouldnt

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 7:33 PM PDT up reply actions

We were just discussing how the timing was very strange

I wouldnt doubt it. I dont even know why these guys tweet at all there’s no way it can actually be a good thing.

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Sucks to think

That one dumb tweet could have cost him 300K

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

It didn't.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/jdrsg
http://twitter.com/Demetrius_Byrd/status/10905095181

Additionally, if this utterly absurd story were true then Philips, Merriman, Cromartie and Osgood would have been fired long ago.

I love my team of historically talented underachievers.

by DoubleViking on Mar 22, 2010 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I dont think its a absurd story

You comparing Byrd to SP, Lights, Cro, and Osgood seems more absurd to me.

Lets assume saying something about gays could get someone cut, just because another member of the team did something identical doesnt mean they would be cut as well.

Basically by suggestion each player would garner the same repercussions is informal fallacy.
What you wish to convey is.
If 1 equals A, and 2 equals A, then 1 and 2 are equal. And this is flawed reasoning.

by Foilhat on Mar 22, 2010 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions