The San Diego Chargers placed the non-exclusive franchise tag Tuesday on wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who missed the first 10 games last season in a nasty contract dispute. Jackson, a Pro Bowler in 2009, can negotiate with other teams. If he receives an offer, the Chargers can either match the other club's offer or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation. "There's some thought process that there might not be a franchise tag, but we'll wait and see," general manager A.J. Smith said, referring to speculation that the franchise tag might disappear whenever the NFL and the players' union agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. "It is our intention for him to return in '11." Jackson, a 6-foot-5 receiver who had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2008 and 2009, will receive a one-year tender at the average of the top five salaries among receivers last year, expected to be between $10 million and $11 million. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6124670
