Holdout McCardell gets his way, dealt to Chargers for picks

Caldwell is San Diego's leading wideout, with 18 catches for 310 yards -- an average of 17.2 yards -- and three scores. Tight end Antonio Gates leads the team with 37 catches for 422 yards and three scores.

The last time a wideout led the Chargers in receiving was 2001, when Curtis Conway had 71 catches for 1,125 yards and six touchdowns. Star running back LaDainian Tomlinson led the Chargers in catches the last two years, including in 2003 when he caught 100 balls for 725 yards and four TDs.

Smith said the Chargers did not renegotiate McCardell's contract.

"That's already been resolved, that he'll honor the contract. The agent has said that to just about everybody in the last week or so," Smith said. "He just wants to move on and play football."

McCardell said in a statement that he's happy that the situation has been resolved.

"I also want to assure the Chargers that I have been working hard every day to stay in peak physical condition, and I am prepared to come in and make an immediate contribution," he said.

McCardell signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2002 and capped his first season in Gruden's offense by catching two touchdown passes in the Bucs' Super Bowl victory over the Oakland Raiders.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2003, finishing with 84 receptions for 1,174 yards and scoring a career-high eight TDs.

One of just 17 players in league history with more than 700 career receptions, McCardell was seeking a deal that would pay him the average for No. 1 receivers -- about $4.4 million.

In 12 seasons with three teams, McCardell has 724 receptions for 9,370 yards and 52 touchdowns.