Tami Roman Writes an Open Letter to Her Cast Mates

After this week’s episode of Basketball Wives aired, much of the same sentiments were echoed about Tami…that she’s ghetto, loud, and a bully. She wanted to take a moment to explain herself and to also offer insight about the heavily edited scenes on the show. Although Tami is one of my favorites, she did annoy me a lil’ bit this last episode BUT if something took place that we weren’t able to see, I guess I ‘get’ why she’d be so mad.
Please take a moment to check out her read and post your thoughts!

I usually don’t blog, but I felt a need to address a few things…
Keisha:
To be clear, upon meeting you, I asked you respectfully to discuss anything you had to say about me…WITH ME. I wasn’t confrontational nor was I argumentative. Of course that part was edited out of the show; however you, Royce and Kenya know what I said. When you spoke to Evelyn about me; it wasn’t what you said, but the fact that you said it. I don’t walk around with boxing gloves on and I don’t fight everyone I meet. I just feel you should’ve been a real woman and brought your concerns “directly” to me. I can assure you that if you had our dealings with each other might not be so rocky.
Do me a favor, don’t be such a liar and manipulator. I know you have friends in high “Executive Producer” places, but let’s keep this all the way real. When I met you, I approached you in a friendly manner and I did not have any issues with you what so ever. Everyone in this situation knows I was told you were Caucasian, so when I met you that is why I asked you. In that same conversation (which was edited out), upon hearing your answer, I said that I thought you were mixed but wasn’t sure of what it was – to be exact, my verbiage was, “I knew there was something else in you.” I wish you had been woman enough to ask me if I thought you were denying your “black” side and I would have cleared that right up for you. On the contrary, my saying that I thought you were mixed with something was in fact ACKNOWLEDGING that you may be of African American decent. I am a product of mixed heritage and identify myself as a black woman also. I NEVER said you weren’t “black” enough… that is a flat out lie! I would NEVER try to belittle someone for that and I don’t appreciate you implying that I would.
FYI- You know that I was joking when I made the comment “You can be in the building, but I don’t need your opinion.” In fact, you can hear me and Royce laughing in the scene. Don’t take yourself so seriously and think that I care that much because I don’t. On another note, I didn’t know you at the time nor was I familiar with your dance style, so I didn’t need your opinion.
The charity event was a nice event and I was happy to be invited for such a worthy cause. However, any concerns you had with our etiquette should have been addressed when you invited us and not at the venue. Once again, you didn’t deal with things that were bothering you, which is NOT a problem with us, but a serious problem with you. If you speak on things when they happen, then all parties are clear and you can have an open dialogue about them also known as “communication”…I’m just saying.
Jennifer:
I am proud of you and what you are doing with Lucid, but you know I wasn’t invited to your launch party. You also know that I will not attend an event that I’m not personally invited to. I don’t rely on or care what the producers of the show want to happen- simply if the person does not invite me, I do not attend. My manager Shauna attended because you sent her a text the night of the event. In case you have selective memory, we had a discussion about this at your apartment in Miami and you apologized for being too busy and didn’t remember to send out proper invitations. However, despite what you said at your apartment, I heard your real feelings on this episode…”Anyone who’s important is here” comment is truly how you felt, so maybe you didn’t forget to send invites and maybe you were being fake with your apology. At this point, I’m not sure of anything regarding my relationship with you. I simply want us all to remember to be truthful.
Kenya:
Kenya, I was offended by how you came to the meeting. I really didn’t think it was professional at all. However I do congratulate you on shooting your music video. No matter what people have to say about it, you did it. Getting it in the can is the hardest battle so kudos to you.
Evelyn:
Stop saying everybody is a cool chick LMAO!
Royce:
I thought that we were real friends, but I personally feel that your position on this is stepping over bounds. As a friend, I would expect you to have a neutral position and not try to defend a grown woman who doesn’t deserve it. You can be friends with both of us without voicing your opinion on the matter because truthfully you weren’t there to witness ANY of it firsthand. You are watching the edited version and basing your so-called “non bias” opinion on that OR you are taking Keisha’s version of what happened and coming at me sideways. There have been PLENTY of times when I haven’t agreed with things you have done or said and I addressed those things with you in private out of respect for you. I don’t bring my concerns to anyone but you and I definitely don’t discuss how I may feel about certain situations with the other girls. As far as they know, I have always had your back even when you were wrong.
Additionally, there have also been plenty of times when people have voiced their opinion of you around me. First thing I say, as your friend is, “Royce is my friend and I don’t want to get involved.” I would have appreciated you taking the same position. I choose not to get involved with things that don’t pertain to me out of loyalty to the people I call friends. I feel saddened that you couldn’t reciprocate.
We view “real” friendship differently and thus we may not be real friends…
Sidebar:
I am NOT a bully. People don’t understand that Keisha is NOT innocent in this matter and she does a great deal of lip boxing behind the scenes. I am not going to try and be respectful when I have been disrespected numerous times…off camera. If you are bold enough to talk behind my back, then you should be grown enough to handle the repercussions of your actions and words. The editors have done a wonderful job of putting my outbursts on the show but not showing the full chain of events. My outbursts are real, but they are also driven by something which is conveniently being edited out when it comes to Keisha. Wish I had an executive producer in my pocket…I’m just saying

MissJia/[SOURCE]

I LOVE TAMIIIII SHES SO REAL 

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Nicki Minaj Shoots "Starship" on a Beach

Nicki Minaj shows off her super thickness on the beach while she shoots her hit "Starship". I must say damn Nicki!

According to All Hip Hop, Nicki eventually kicked her on again-off again boyfriend Scaff Beezy from the set.
Read more about that over at  All Hip-Hop



Read more:  Necole Bitchie.com 

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Oprah Interviews Bobbi Kristina

Monday Oprah owned The ratings as she sat down with Whitney’s daughter Bobbi Kristina and Whitney’s sister-in-law Pat Houston and brother Gary for an intimate interview conducted just days after Whitney’s Funeral. Bobby Kristina embodied strength as she spoke on her mom’s legacy and her final days with Whitney, while Pat was straight forward as she spoke on the drugs, Whitney’s last night out at club Tru Hollywood and if her sister was looking for love in all the wrong places. Pat also detailed the moment they found Whitney in the hotel room dead.

Check out excerpts from the interview and video below:

From Bobbi Kristina’s interview

On if she will Whitney’s legacyI have to carry on the legacy. We’re gonna do the singing thing. Some acting, some dancing. It’s a lot of pressure, but she prepared me for it.
On if it seems real to her that she’s gone
Sometimes, no. It’s so surreal that I still walk in the house, ‘Mom?’ … But I’ve accepted it.
On her last day with her mom
The very last day. I went to go get her. I said, ‘Come lay down with me.’ She stayed with me all night and all day, rubbing my head. I slept in her arms. All day, all night.
On if it’s anything she would like the world to know
That she literally is an angel. I saw her hurt. I saw her cry. We held each other through that. They don’t know who she was. Everything people are saying about her – all that negativity, it’s garbage. That’s not my mother. … In reality, I know who she was. Her family knows who she was.
On if she was an obedient child
I was a little rebellious but when it came down to it, I ran to mom.
On her favorite memory of Whitney 
On tour. Being who Whitney Houston is.
On when she realized her mom was THE Whitney Houston
I just saw her as mom. The first time I saw her as a worldwide icon was when we went on tour. And the funeral. … She made an impact not only on a few people. She made an impact on the world.
You just got that at the funeral? 
Yes, that’s when it hit me.

From Pat’s Interview

Pat on how Bobbi Kristina is doing now
Bobbi Kristina “is taking it one day at a time. She’s staying between homes. … I see her every single day. Trying to give her some time. She’s grieving. She lost her mother. You have to give her some time to make adjustments.
On if she thinks Bobby Brown was the blame for introducing the Whitney to drugs
I don’t think that’s true. There was always so much outside interference, making it difficult for them to have a good relationship. You’re talking about two people who started out in the business very, very young.
On if she tried to get her help for the drugs
Without a doubt. In 2003, 2004, I had spoken to Bobby’s mother and other family members to intervene. We were always trying, but the choice was always theirs, and hers.
Did you think drugs would end up taking her?
The handwriting was kind of on the wall. I would be kidding myself to say otherwise.
On Whitney’s lifestyle being a risky one
I saw her chasing a dream. Looking for love in all the young places.
On why she decided to go with Whitney to the nightclub (Tru Hollywood)
I was concerned. I knew she wanted to have a good time. I wanted to make sure she was going to be OK.
On what happened that night at Tru Hollywood and if rumors are true that Whitney got into a fight with X-Factor’s Stacy Francis (Stacy told a tabloid that Whitney confronted her after she spoke to Ray J):
There have been lots of talk of a confrontation that she had. Well, there was, kind of. There were words back and forth between [Whitney] and a young lady I believe was on ‘The X Factor.’ She comes over, and she says hello, but you keep seeing her. Every corner that we go to, here she comes. Didn’t know her. She didn’t know her from Adam.
I don’t know what the initial conversation was. I just know that it didn’t feel right … I saw expressions. I saw tears … from the young lady. I said, ‘It’s time to go.’ [Whitney] did not want to leave. I said, ‘No.’
I didn’t hear the words [of the argument]. There was no physical fighting. I would never let that happen. And we headed out that door [....]I don’t know her, and I don’t have anything negative at all to say about her. I’m just saying what I saw. And she made herself present everywhere we were.
On the day Whitney died
I was working in my room and decided I needed to go pick up something pertaining to the party. Mary (Whitney’s assistant) checked on her before we left. She’d been asking for me all morning. … She called my phone twice. She hadn’t seen my face. Usually I go up and see her and that was one day I didn’t. [I headed down the hallway] and I hear screams. I kept walking very slow. A woman opened her door and said, ‘Is everything all right?’ I said ‘Dial 911.’
I knew something was wrong. I didn’t know what. I was just numb. I walked as I got closer and I turn the corner, Mary’s at the door and she’s screaming, ‘Oh my god.’ I told her to stop. ‘Calm down, please. I saw my brother, Ray (security guard), trying to revive her to the point of exhaustion. The paramedics were coming in at that point. I said, ‘Ray, let it go.’” … He was so out of breath. I felt so badly for him. Then I saw her. She had a peaceful look on her face. She had a peaceful look.
I know they had to pull her out of (the tub). [The Paramedics asked me to leave]. I just couldn’t do it. I said, ‘Don’t touch me, please.’ I couldn’t leave her. I could not leave her. I saw them cover her up and I knew that was it. I knew that that was it. Looking at her and watching that, I still could not believe it. I could not believe it. [Bobbi Kristina was down the hall]. I just had to keep my calm. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but I had to do it.”

Oprah interviewing Bobbi Kristina standing up gave the interview a different dynamic than if it was an actual sit-down, and although most viewers were tuning in to see if Bobbi Kris would be a complete wreck, she handled herself exceptionally well. Only Oprah could have conducted an interview like this…

WSHH |USA Today

via: Necole Bitchie.com 

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NBA Trade Deadline: Golden State trades Monta Ellis to Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut, Stephen Jackson

According to theStar.com

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—On an emotional evening that marked the end of leading scorer Monta Ellis’ time in Golden State, the stunned Warriors did the unexpected: They played with considerable hustle and emotion.

Nate Robinson, David Lee and Brandon Rush all scored 17 points for the Warriors, who managed to put aside the surprising five-player trade with Milwaukee by game time Tuesday night in beating the Sacramento Kings 115-89 for their third straight victory.

The Warriors traded Ellis, forward Ekpe Udoh and centre Kwame Brown to Milwaukee for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson in a deal agreed to before the game and announced shortly after it concluded.

Many of the Warriors mentioned the move demonstrates that the NBA is a business. Yet it was hardly business as usual in the locker room prior to the game. Coach Mark Jackson said the team laughed, cried and mourned the loss of three teammates for a short time before turning their attention to the game.

“It was emotionally draining for us,” Jackson said. “These were three guys we were attached to. It’s a business and we talked about it. It’s hard to see guys in this business go other places. This hurts.”

Like everyone on the Warriors, forward Dorell Wright didn’t see the trade coming. An eight-year veteran, Wright said Thursday’s trade deadline is predictably a time of speculation and there are always numerous rumours, but the deal surprised him.

“I was stunned,” said Wright, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds. “I took it hard. It was three guys I was close to as friends. You hear rumours every year, but most of the time they aren’t true. I’ve never been a part of something like this happening right before a game.”

Although it stunned the Warriors, they didn’t play like it, receiving strong contributions from practically all 10 players who were in uniform. Charles Jenkins had 15 points and Klay Thompson scored 14 for Golden State, which shot 50 per cent, made 12-of-24 3-pointers, committed just seven turnovers, and had six block shots.

“Obviously we were more tuned into what they had going on in their locker room than ours,” Kings forward Chuck Hayes said. “So we deserved it. We deserved to get our butts kicked.”

Despite the loss of its top scorer and a key reserve, the Warriors pulled away in the second half for an easy victory. Ahead by 11 points after three quarters, Golden State extended it to 21 points by midway through the fourth.

DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who lost their second straight home game. Tyreke Evans had 16 points, Isaiah Thomas scored 15 and Francisco Garcia added 11. It was the fourth of nine straight home games for Sacramento, the longest homestand in franchise history.

“We thought because they didn’t have Monta Ellis and stuff, we thought it was going to be easy on ourselves,” Evans said. “I thought we just stopped playing. They just got whatever they wanted.”

Drafted out of high school as a second-round pick in 2005 by Golden State, Ellis became one of the NBA’s most dangerous open-court players and has averaged 19.6 points in seven seasons. But the Warriors made the playoffs just once with him.

Ellis spoke in the visitor’s locker room before the game and didn’t seem upset regarding the trade, which came in the same week he was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 20.5 points, 7.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds last week in leading the Warriors to a 3-1 record.

Ellis exchanged goodbyes with stunned teammates, then quickly left the arena for the unexpected quick return trip to Oakland with Udoh, who appeared shocked after learning of the trade on a locker room TV.

“It’s not a bad thing, man,” Ellis said. “Not at all. We are going to another team to do the same thing we love to do. I’m riding back home with him (Udoh).”

The Warriors get a quality centre, but also one who is injury prone and may not even play this season. Bogut, picked first overall by Milwaukee in the 2005 draft, hasn’t played since injuring his left ankle in a Jan. 25 game. He has played in only 12 games this year and missed a combined 76 games in the previous three seasons.

The traded players will receive a quick opportunity to play against their ex-teams when the Bucks visit Golden State on Friday evening. Because the trade hadn’t officially been completed, Jackson refused to speculate on how the new players would be utilized and what the trade might do to his team’s chances of making the playoffs.

“Monta was our leading scorer, the heart and soul of our team,” Lee said. “It was tough to see him go. This is business and there is no way to sugar coat this. That’s the way it goes down in this league.”

Golden State was also without its other starting guard, Stephen Curry, who has had a bothersome right ankle injury for much of the season. Curry started and played 10 scoreless minutes Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers before leaving the game for good with ankle problems.

“I’m fed up with it. I’m not able to produce,” said Curry, who was unclear about when he might play again. “I have to let it heal. What that means I don’t know yet.”

With Ellis gone and Curry not dressing, Robinson made his first start of the season. He had 15 points at the half, when the Warriors had a 54-49 lead. Cousins scored 15 points for the Kings.

Wright scored 11 points in the third quarter, when the Warriors outscored the Kings 30-24 to assume an 84-73 lead.

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Rihanna wearing Trapstar Bobble Beanie Hat and Acne Vintage Destroyed Denim Jacket

Singer Rihanna was seen leaving her Manhattan hotel in-route to Emilio’s Ballato Restaurant in the East Village. She was spotted wearing a black and red Trapstar Bobble beanie hat ($40) and an Acne Fever denim over-sized destroyed denim jacket ($495).

 via Upscale Hype

See pics below

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Photos x Article: Drake does GQ + Dishes Out His Opinion on Past Promiscuity

                              Check out  more pics from Drake's cover shot for "GQ" and  deets from his interview 

Drake (along with actors Dave Franco & James Lassiter on 2 other covers) covers the latest issue of GQ magazine for its first ever STYLE BIBLE.  And he's revealing a number of interesting things from music to sex. Drake shows what rules to break when it comes to unleashing the power of your own power suit. And also shares his feelings on women, today’s generation of rappers, and influences for his music.  Here are the highlights:- via theybf.com

On the new generation of rappers...
“Rap now is just being young an fly and having your shit together. The mood of rap has changed.”

On finding influences for his songwriting...
“I’m trying to find the same feelings that I had for women when I had very little going on, which is tough. When I was in my mom’s house, I had nowhere to go, no real obligations. My girlfriend at the time, if she was mad at me, my day was all fucked-up. I didn’t have anything else. And that made for some of the best music, I think, to date. Records where I felt small. ...It’s really difficult for me to find something that makes me feel small.”

On past promiscuity...
“There’s just a time where it was like, just getting pussy. Where I was in that sort of ‘I’m young, I’m going to disconnect from my emotions and just do what everyone else tells me I should do and just a be a rapper and have my fun.’ And for me as a person, it just doesn’t work. The seconds after a man reaches climax, that’s the realest moment of your life. If I don’t want you next to me in that fifteen, twenty seconds, then there’s something wrong.”

On his bad boy persona...
“I’m mischievous, but I’m calculated.”

Read the full article here.  The issue hits stands March 20th.

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Jada Pinkett Smith Offers ‘Burn’ Music Video Sneak Peek

via:  Necole Bitchie.com 
Last year, Jada Pinkett Smith put her music career with her band ‘Wicked Wisdom’ on hold to help launch the career of her daughter, Willow. She’s now ready to make a return with a new song she dedicated to her husband Will Smith titled ‘Burn’.

She shared the song passionate and sensual song with her facebook fans on Valentine’s Day and has revealed that there will be a music video to accompany it.

Check out the sneak peek below, plus pics of her with her band Wicked Wisdom:

Listen to ‘Burn’

The full music video drops March 20th.

via Facebook

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Mike D’Antoni’s exit shows the Knicks are as much of a mess as ever

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Knicks had gone 2-8 since Carmelo Anthony’s return from an injury, losing the last six in a row to fall out of a playoff spot. Something had to give.

According to NationalPost.com
Everybody, hold off on your trade rumours. The NBA world now focuses its eyes on New York City. Mike D’Antoni has resigned as coach of the New York Knicks. Assistant Mike Woodson takes over. The Knicks had gone 2-8 since Carmelo Anthony’s return from an injury, losing the last six in a row to fall out of a playoff spot. Something had to give.

Let’s hold off on the comparisons between the Knicks and Toronto Maple Leafs (self-proclaimed centres of their respective sports, a promising start that seemed destined to end a long period of losing submarined by a complete unraveling and, now, a coach that has lost his job) and look at the state of the Knicks. In short: what a fascinating mess.

This story will unfold over the next few days — the New York media will make sure of that — but the first report, from Yahoo!’s Adrian Wojnarowski, laid out the following facts: owner James Dolan was a key figure in the decision, as he did not agree with D’Antoni on the direction of the team; Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire, Baron Davis and Jeremy Lin are not happy about the decision; and D’Antoni and Anthony had frequently clashed since the forward arrived in New York in February 2011 — a trade that was reportedly orchestrated primarily by Dolan over the protestations of others.

Based on that, anybody can see there were three principle figures involved here: Dolan, Anthony and D’Antoni, and it was two against one. Not that Anthony necessarily campaigned for D’Antoni’s exit, but his butting heads with the coach indicated this was not going to be a happy marriage. D’Antoni’s offence required the ball in the hands of the point guard; Woodson’s will call for plenty of isolation plays. (Cut to Joe Johnson nodding).

Everybody will take their sides here, with most taking D’Antoni’s. It is true that once Anthony arrived, he never had much of a chance. Anthony was armed with a three-year, US$65-million contract to play for a coach whose whole ethos is contradicted by his presence. The move caused D’Antoni’s chief ally within the organization, team president Donnie Walsh, to step down.

It is impossible to say how this will work out. It seems a borderline crazy move to commit to one of your team’s players at the expense of all of the others, unless that one player is LeBron James and that team is his former Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks have some very good players beyond Anthony, who, yes, is very good himself.

The takeout here, however, is that Dolan remains and forever will be an awful owner. He sat by while Isiah Thomas torched the franchise, rightfully hired Donnie Walsh to clear out some of Thomas’s mistakes, and when the lure of resurrecting the team was not enough to lure LeBron James, Walsh started to take power back from Walsh. Say what you want about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, but at least he has the guts to list himself as the general manager.

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Wiz Khalifa's 'Taylor Allderdice' Mixtape Features Amber Rose

By Marvin Van Buren

Wiz Khalifa recently got engaged to his girlfriend Amber Rose and when the Pittsburgh rapper dropped his new Taylor Allderdice mixtape on Tuesday night his fiancée was among the features on the project. Along with a verse from Rick Ross, Rose’s vocals can be heard on the single “Never Been Part 2,” a continuation of the track “Never Been” from Wiz’s Kush & Orange Juice mixtape.

Wiz Khalifa Collaborating With Cam'ron On 'O.N.I.F.C.'

The smooth production on “Never Been Part 2” compliments Rose’s sultry voice and makes her a standout on the track. The verses from Ross and Wiz are simple, but are also enthralling. “Never Been Part 2” captures the natural chemistry that the two rappers have in a seamless fashion.

Wiz has been very enthusiastic about this project, tweeting energetic posts about Taylor Allerdice leading up to its release and in the minutes that followed, when his fans overloaded DatPiff to download it. “If You’re In Bed #TaylorAllderdice Will Keep Your Bitch Ass In There,” he tweeted, adding “Turn Up #TaylorAllderdice” telling his fans to play his music louder.

“Never Been Part 2” is the first collaboration between Wiz and Amber Rose and it clearly demonstrates the chemistry between the charismatic couple.

Wiz broke the news of their engagement early this month, by tweeting, “She said yes!!!” after he proposed, confirming the engagement. During his last appearance on “RapFix Live,” Wiz alluded that the engagement might be coming soon, telling Sway, "It's gonna happen; my baby knows I love her. I'm committed and she's committed, so we're just gonna make it happen."- via Rapfix.mtv

Tracklist:
01. Amber Ice (Prod. By I.D. Labs Productions)
02. California (Prod. By Cardo)
03. Mia Wallace (Prod. By Dumont)
04. Guilty Conscience (Prod. By Sparky Banks)
05. Mary 3x (Prod. By Cardo)
06. O.N.I.F.C. (Prod. By Cardo & Sledgren)
07. Nameless (Feat. Chevy Woods) (Prod. By Dope Couture)

Check out his collab with his lady Amber Ross and the 'Boss" himself Ricky Rozay

08. Never Been Part II (Feat. Amber Rose & Rick Ross) (Prod. By Sledgren)

09. The Cruise (Prod. By Big Jerm)
10. Rowland (Feat. Smoke Dza) (Prod. By Big Jerm)
11. My Favorite Song (Feat. Juicy J) (Prod. By Rob Holladay)
12. T.A.P. (Feat. Juicy J) (Prod. By Spaceghostpurp)
13. The Code (Feat. Juicy J, Lola Monroe & Chevy Woods) (Prod. By Lex Luger)
14. The Grinder (Prod. By Jake One)
15. Brainstorm (Prod. By Cardo)
16. Number 16 (Prod. By Dumont)
17. Blindfolds (Feat. Juicy J) (Prod. By Harry Fraud)

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NFL Coverage Vincent Jackson gone; Nick Hardwick gets 3-year deal from Bolts

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers had more losses — including star wide receiver Vincent Jackson — than gains for much of the opening day of free agency. Jackson was quick to get out of town, signing a five-year, $55.55 million contract with Tampa Bay.

The Chargers also released left tackle Marcus McNeill due to a history of neck injuries and to clear cap space. There’s still a chance the Chargers could re-sign McNeill, a second-round draft pick in 2006 who played in two Pro Bowls. McNeill missed the final seven games of 2011 with a neck injury. McNeill had to pass a physical by Thursday to qualify for his $10 million salary.

The Chargers did sign veteran center Nick Hardwick to a three-year deal shortly before he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

Then, late Tuesday night, the Chargers agreed to a four-year deal with former New Orleans Saints wideout Robert Meachem. General manager A.J. Smith didn’t return calls seeking comment. Letting Jackson leave angered many fans, some of whom are still steamed that team president Dean Spanos kept coach Norv Turner and Smith after the Chargers missed the playoffs for the second straight year. Jackson was a Pro Bowler after catching 60 passes for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Chargers declined last week to use the franchise tag on Jackson, which would meant paying Jackson about $13.7 million next season. At the moment, the only wide receivers on San Diego’s roster are Malcom Floyd, who has been slowed by injuries, and Vincent Brown, who will be in his second season. Jackson’s departure was not unexpected.

The 6-foot-5 Jackson had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2008-09 before getting embroiled in a nasty contract spat that cost him much of the 2010 season. Jackson’s original five-year contract expired after the 2009 season. But because 2010 was an uncapped year, he would have needed six seasons to become an unrestricted free agent. Unhappy that he didn’t get a long-term deal, Jackson refused to sign a $3,268,000, one-year tender as a restricted free agent. He sat out the first seven games and then reported in time to serve a three-game suspension on the roster exempt list — he was placed there in a hardball move by Smith. He was on the active roster for the final six games to accrue a season toward unrestricted free agency. When Jackson hadn’t signed the tender by that June 15, the Chargers slashed their offer to 110 percent of his 2009 salary, or $583,000. Due to the games he missed, he made less than $300,000 in 2010. n his first game back, Jackson lasted only two plays before limping off the field with a strained right calf.
He missed the following game and finished the season with 14 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson had two DUIs and was cited for driving with a suspended license and expired tags on the morning of the Chargers’ playoff loss to the New York Jets [team stats] in January 2010. The Chargers placed the franchise tag on Jackson last season, when he earned some $11 million. Hardwick got what he wanted — the chance to finish his career with the San Diego Chargers. "It’s huge," said Hardwick, who’s entering his ninth season. "You just never know how it’s going to unfold. Both sides kept working really hard. It got to the point where everything looked good and we said, ’Let’s go with this.’ Ultimately, I’m very excited to be here. This is where I want to be. I want to finish it out here. That’d be a nice run." Tuesday’s move came less than two weeks after Hardwick’s good friend, four-time Pro Bowl left guard Kris Dielman, retired after nine seasons due to the effects of a concussion. It would have been a huge blow if Hardwick had left as a free agent. "That’s a lot of years of experience that would have been gone out the window," said Hardwick, who’s been to one Pro Bowl. "I’m just excited to be back, to keep growing. We’ve made some really good strides here the last few years, as far as our abilities on the offensive line. We need to take this thing to another level, to keep evolving as a line and a unit." The Chargers would like to re-sign left tackle Jared Gaither, who helped stabilize the line in the season’s final five games after he was waived by Kansas City. Gaither became an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday afternoon. "I’m just glad to be back and have a chance to work with Philip Rivers for the next several years and work with the guys on the line," Hardwick said. "We can make some pretty good waves. We have a lot of room for improvement. "It’s going to be exciting, and we’ll see how good we can get, and we have to get good in a hurry. We can’t flop around at the first of year. We have a lot of hard work ahead." The Chargers also released cornerback Dante Hughes, linebackers Everette Brown and Nate Triplett, and wide receiver Bryan Walters. San Diego tendered contract offers to restricted free agent Brandyn Dombrowski, an offensive lineman, and exclusive rights free agents Richard Goodman, a wide receiver, and Mike Windt, the long snapper, maintaining negotiating rights with the three players. Should Dombrowski receive a contract offer from another team, the Chargers will have a chance to match the offer. As exclusive rights free agents, Goodman and Windt cannot sign with another team.

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