Jeromey Clary, one of the most durable offensive lineman during the Bill Snyder era at Kansas State, was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft Sunday by the San Diego Chargers.

The two-time second team All-Big 12 performer and three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree was the 18th player taken in the sixth round and the 187th player selected overall in the draft.

Clary is the third K-Stater to be picked by the Chargers in the last five drafts and will join record-setting Wildcat running back Darren Sproles with in San Diego. Sproles was a fourth-round selection of the Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Overall, Clary is the sixth Wildcat to be drafted by San Diego and the fifth K-Stater to be taken by the franchise since 1994 and will follow in the footsteps of Sproles (2005), Ben Leber (2002), Damion McIntosh (2000) and Andre Coleman (1994).

The lone Wildcat to hear his name called during the two-day draft, Clary's selection marks the 14th straight year that Kansas State has had at least one player taken in NFL Draft. In all, 42 Wildcats have been taken in the NFL Draft since 1992, including Clary.

Kansas State's most consistent offensive lineman for the past two seasons, the Mansfield, Texas, native was named Kansas State's Offensive Lineman of the year in 2005, and the teams co-Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2005.

Clary, a December graduate, finished his career at K-State by making his 37th consecutive start in the Wildcats' season-ending victory over Missouri. Clary's 37 starts rank as the fifth-most by an offensive lineman during Bill Snyder's 17-year tenure in Manhattan.

Wide receiver Eric Parker agreed to a new five-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Thursday.

Parker, 26, had been under contract through this season, but that deal was torn up as part of the new pact that runs through 2010.

Parker was the team's third-leading receiver last season with 57 catches for 725 yards and three touchdowns. He also filled ina as a punt returner last season.

"Eric represents everything we want to see in a San Diego Charger," said General Manager A.J. Smith.

Ottawa native and unrestricted National football League free agent Aaron Shea agreed to a three-year deal with the San Diego Chargers on Friday.

Shea, a 1995 Ottawa Township High School graduate who played college football at the University of Michigan, spent the first six years of his pro career with the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland selected Shea in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 248-pound tight end has caught 97 passes for 851 yards and seven touchdowns in 65 games over his career.

Shea, who could not be reached for comment this weekend, now gets the opportunity to play with Chargers' All-Pro Antonio Gates.

"I'm looking forward to playing with Antonio, the best tight end in the game," Shea said in an interview with Chargers.com. "If you get two guys that can stretch the middle of the field like that, I think it will help the entire offense. I've played on the line of scrimmage, spent time at fullback and in an H-back role. I can block, play special teams or do whatever they need me to. I'm going to give it all I've got and hopefully help this team."

Shea will alson get the opportunity to play with former La Salle-Peru standout offensive lineman Mike Goff, and the chance live in a new environment.

"I grew up about 10 miles from Mike and hung out with him some in high school," Shea said. "I also played with Roman Oben in Cleveland and I'm excited to be around him again. It's always nice to have some familiar faces around.

"I'm also looking forward to a change of scenery. I've been in the midwest. I played at Michigan and spent six years in Cleveland. I need a little sunshine. I can't wait to work on my tan."

Most NFL talk recently has dealt with labor uncertainty. Not so for Jacques Cesaire.

Cesaire, the former Gardner High star, has been brimming with pride and joy since agreeing to a five-year contract with the San Diego Chargers last month.

“I’m pretty happy with the extension and to get that out of the way,” Cesaire, 25, said last week from his in-laws’ home in Connecticut where he and his wife, Jill, have been getting reacquainted with weather New England-style for the last six weeks.

If Cesaire had waited another year, he could have tested the market as an unrestricted free agent. Many are predicting a spending free-for-all next offseason if the league and players union can’t come to terms, but Cesaire saw no reason to wait and test the water.

Yes, he may have left some money on the table by forgoing free agency. But, no, money can’t buy everything.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere,” the 6-foot-2, 295-pound defensive end said. “I love the coaches, my teammates and the people in San Diego. My wife is comfortable there. So why wait?

“It got done quick, no big deal,” Cesaire added. He meant the negotiations and not the actual contract.

The money isn’t Brady-esque, but it’s darn good. Cesaire playfully brushed aside questions about the cash, but did admit to receiving a $1.5 million signing bonus.

A check on the NFL Players Association Web site revealed he’s also in line to pull down yearly salaries totaling $4.1 million starting with $500,000 this season and topping out at $1.2 million in the final year of the deal in 2010.

“I’m pretty happy with it,” Cesaire said. “If I do what I’m supposed to do and finish out my contract, I’ll never have to work a day in my life.”

Pretty heady stuff for a guy who made the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Central Connecticut State and was given $2,500 to sign on the dotted line.

It’s also worth noting as long as Cesaire produces he’ll likely be paid the agreed-upon figures. That’s in sharp contrast to many players who get an ego boost from signing mega-deals only to find they can’t collect a couple years later as the team looks to renegotiate to avoid a huge cap hit. (See Lawyer Milloy, perhaps Willie McGinest).

Cesaire’s decision was made easier by the fact the Chargers are a young, talented team that have championship potential. San Diego went 12-4 and won the AFC West in 2004, but slipped to 9-7 and missed the playoffs last season after losing three of their final four games.

While the Bolts played arguably the toughest schedule in football — they had four cross-country trips and 10 of their games were against playoff teams — Cesaire made no excuses for the end result.

“Every NFL team wants to win the Super Bowl, that’s what we play for,” Cesaire said. “So, yes, if you miss the Super Bowl it’s disappointing. But I just feel the year was a learning experience for a young team.”

It’s been a life-altering offseason in other ways, as well.

The Cesaires, who celebrated their first wedding anniversary Feb. 26, have been making frequent trips to Gardner to visit with friends and family, including Jacques’ 10-week-old niece, Samara, who was born Christmas Day.

Cesaire also experienced the finality of life in January when he served as a pallbearer at his friend’s funeral, 22-year-old Chris Graham having lost a courageous fight with an unyielding cancer.

The money and the accolades have increased with each NFL season, but Cesaire has never forgotten he’s from “a mill town like Gardner.” And he’ll never forget Graham, whose passing only reminded Cesaire how blessed he is.

“He’s fighting for his life, and I’m just living (a good) life,” Cesaire said. “The kid was so brave, and I looked up to him.”

Let the union and the owners engage in a stare-down. Cesaire would prefer to bask in the good fortune that has come his way.

According to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Drew Brees, a free agent from the San Diego Chargers, could be the next Minnesota Vikings quarterback. One reason it might happen, Hartman said, is that Fran Foley, the new vice president of player personnel for the Vikings, had a great relationship with Brees when both were with the Chargers.

The Vikings will likely to be looking for a new and young quarterback.

It wouldn't be a shock if Daunte Culpepper is released or traded by the team before it is forced to pay his $6 million bonus this month. If that happens, Brad Johnson, 37, will be the starting quarterback this year, unless the Vikings sign somebody like Brees.

And even if somebody like Brees is signed, Johnson will get a chance to beat him out on the basis of the great season he had last year.