The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... To the surprise of only a few who thought perhaps A.J. Smith had something up his sleeve, the Chargers will not place the franchise tag on Jackson. The window to do has closed, and now Jackson is headed for free agency.

Diehards Line:According to Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee, there are believed to be at least six teams interested in the services of the wide receiver whose average per catch over the past four seasons is tops in the NFL among those with more than 152 receptions. The Chargers also remain in the mix for Jackson, who missed 11 games in 2010 and still has 201 receptions for 3,619 yards over the past four seasons. Free agency opens on March 13. Jackson is expected to get between $10-12 million per year on a five-year deal.