CHARGERS: For Polk, last cut is the hardest

Chargers release veteran LB as they pare roster to 53

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 30, 2008 9:30 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Chargers coach Norv Turner says there are no easy cuts when trimming the roster to meet the NFL's mandatory 53-player limit. Yet clearly it's harder to break the news to an established veteran than to a rookie free-agent hopeful.

Turner had the difficult task Saturday of informing veteran linebacker Carlos Polk that he didn't make the team. Polk was one of 20 players released by the Chargers, who also placed tight end Scott Chandler on injured reserve with a toe injury.

Only defensive tackle Jamal Williams and long snapper David Binn have been in the organization longer than the 31-year-old Polk, whose primary role was as a key special teams contributor.

"When you have a veteran player like Carlos Polk who has been here and been a big part for us, those are tough," Turner said. "We knew we were going to have some tough cuts at the end. We have young talented players that are the future of this team and can contribute right now and can do things for us in the kicking game and do things for us in special situations on offense and defense."

Turner cited Polk's injury history as one of the factors ---- Polk suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in November last season ---- and also said it was hard to envision a scenario in which Polk would have been one of the team's 45 active players on game days.

Center Nick Hardwick won't be one of the 45 active players when the Chargers open the regular season against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7, but he is on the 53-man roster as he continues his recovery from offseason foot surgery.

Hardwick spent training camp on the physically unable to perform list and would have had to miss the first six games of the season if he wasn't removed from the list by Saturday.

"We think Nick can be ready in a lot less time than that," Turner said.

Turner declined to give a timetable for Hardwick's return, but said he was impressed by Hardwick's recent improvements.

"He's been running pain-free," Turner said. "He started doing some change-of-direction type running, so he's making progress.

"If he wasn't making that progress ---- I'm not just saying that ---– we would have left him on PUP."

Chandler injured a toe in the final minute of the Chargers' preseason finale against San Francisco on Friday night. Turner said Chandler, chosen in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft, will be evaluated by a specialist in the middle of next week.

Other than Polk, the list of players released included two San Diego State products ---- linebacker Antwan Applewhite and guard Brandyn Dombrowski ---- and former University of San Diego star Eric Bakhtiari, who was trying to make the team as a linebacker.

Also released were safety Tra Battle, who had two interceptions against the 49ers on Friday; punt returner Mark Jones, who has played four NFL seasons; and running back Marcus Thomas, the team's fifth-round pick out of Texas-El Paso.

Cornerback DeJuan Tribble, a sixth-round pick from Boston College, and offensive tackle Corey Clark, a seventh-round pick from Texas A&M, both made the team.

The Chargers did have one undrafted free agent make the roster: fullback Mike Tolbert of Coastal Carolina.

"Being an undrafted rookie free agent, it's obviously going to be hard to make any team," Tolbert said, "but to come in and make a team that's predicted to go to the Super Bowl is even tougher. It's unexplainable."

Tolbert said he knew he was on the right track when star running back LaDainian Tomlinson complimented him early in training camp. It also didn't hurt Tolbert' s chances that the Chargers had a need at fullback after releasing veteran Lorenzo Neal in the offseason and with Andrew Pinnock recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Chargers notes

Starting ILB Stephen Cooper on Saturday began serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's steroids and related substances policy. Cooper is eligible to return to the Chargers on Sept. 29. ... In addition to TE Scott Chandler (toe), reserve C Cory Withrow (hamstring) suffered an injury in Friday's preseason game against San Francisco. ... The Chargers can sign up to eight players to the practice squad on Sunday.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.