San Diego Chargers restricted free agents Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill did not sign their one-year tenders on Monday, which will likely result in the team reducing the tender amounts to 110% of the players' 2009 base salary.

The reductions would save the Chargers over $5.1 million dollars in base salary, but it will also result in Jackson and McNeill saying "see ya in November", writes Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"By letting a deadline pass Monday night, Chargers offensive stars Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill forfeited more than $2.5 million each and signaled to the team that it will be without their services for a long time.

As in, see you around the holidays."

Considering Jackson's off-field troubles, and the number of key players looking for long-term contracts on the horizon, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith's reluctance to sign the wide receiver to a long-term contract is understandable.

But how can they not make every effort to keep Marcus McNeill?

Despite his two Pro Bowls during his first two seasons in the league, I'm not so sure McNeill is in the same elite class of tackles as Ryan Clady, Joe Thomas, or Jake Long, but he's very, very good, and players of his skill-level deserve to be well-compensated for the services they provide.

After investing $98.25 million dollars in Phillip Rivers, including over $38 million in guarantees, spending 60% of that amount to protect Rivers' blindside is a worthwhile investment.