Chargers sign 12th overall pick RB Ryan Mathews

Aug 01, 2010

03:19 PM

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The San Diego Chargers signed first-round draft pick RB Ryan Mathews on Sunday.

ESPN and the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Mathews, the 12th overall selection, will receiver a $26.65 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. It is a five-year deal.

"We are excited to have Ryan here and ready to go," Chargers president Dean Spanos said. "Aside from his outstanding talents on the field, he's a class young man and the kind of player we're proud to add to our team."

Mathews had missed the start of Chargers training camp, which began on Friday.

He is expected to compete for the lead tailback job that became open when the Chargers cut LaDainian Tomlinson on February.

-- Sean Leahy

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About Sean Leahy

Sean Leahy is an NFL editor at USA TODAY and has written The Huddle since it launched in August 2008. He's been with USA TODAY since 2005 and on the NFL beat since 2006. More about Sean

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