San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith hinted Friday that the team isn't likely to apply the franchise tag to receiver Vincent Jackson, but added that the move is still an option.
"Right now, I'm not real comfortable with what I see for a tag, but we haven't ruled it out yet because we have so much to do, and we have different levels of plans that we do with different scenarios," Smith said in an interview with XERPS-AM radio in San Diego
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Smith confirmed that Jackson, who is set to become a free agent, is the sole member of the Chargers who is being considered for the tag. NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora has reported that the team would have to pay around $14 million to apply the tag to Jackson for a second consecutive year.
Smith said the final decision would be made Monday, "but I can tell you right out front, it's highly unlikely, and every time I look at that situation, I don't like it, I still don't like it, but we'll see. We'll see where that goes."
Smith also addressed the status of defensive lineman Luis Castillo, who, according to Chargers director of public relations Bill Johnston, will be released before March 13.
"We're not going to bring him back at his present contract," Smith said. "So he will be out there in the market to have a new contract with us or another team, and we'll take it from there," Smith said.
