When the San Diego Chargers began their offseason program this past week, much of the focus was on the players not present, as opposed to those in attendance.

The list of the Chargers’ remaining restricted free agents looms large. WRs Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson, LT Marcus McNeill and LB Shawne Merriman have yet to sign their tenders with the team.

Speaking to the San Diego Union-Tribune Sunday — just three days before the start of the Chargers’ mandatory minicamp — general manager A.J. Smith ramped up the rhetoric regarding what reporter Kevin Acee calls the Chargers’ “Big Four,” doing so in rather ominous fashion.

“I don’t know what they are thinking, and I have no idea when we’ll see them again or if we will ever see them again,” Smith said. “This I do know: the upcoming season will be on us very soon. Whoever we have as Chargers, we go with. I don’t spend much time speculating on who will be here or when they will be here.”

The deadline for players to sign their restricted free agent tenders is June 1. If a player does not sign by then, the team can extend the qualifying offer and thereby retain exclusive rights to the player.

Some more notes from Around the Web on a Sunday:

• Forbes magazine listed the ten highest paid coaches in professional sports, with Bill Belichick coming in second behind the Los Angeles Lakers’ Phil Jackson.

• Mike Holmgren is leaning towards voting against a regular-season OT rule change. Holmgren also spoke about DT Shaun Rogers‘ strong performance so far in the team’s offseason program, despite a looming suspension. Rogers was arrested on April 1 for attempting to board a plane with a loaded gun.

• The Bears will honor late defensive end Gaines Adams with a No. 99 helmet decal this season.

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