Dielman spurns Hawks, remains Charger

Offensive lineman Kris Dielman had a night to sleep on a future with the Seahawks on Friday.

Problem was he couldn't sleep as he considered leaving the San Diego Chargers.

So on Saturday morning Dielman told his agent to get a deal done with the Chargers. That's just what happened. Dielman, a guard, will re-sign with San Diego for a six-year deal that will pay him $39 million, according to a source close to the deal. It's believed that at least $17 million will be paid in the first two years of the contract.

"This morning my agent called me with some good news," Dielman told The Associated Press. "I told him, 'Get me out of here, man. Get me home, back to sunny San Diego.' "

Dielman had flown to Seattle on Friday on a private jet provided by the Seahawks. He returned in a coach seat on Alaska Airlines.

The deal kept together the Chargers' top offensive unit, which helped lead them to a 14-2 record, best in the NFL.

The Seahawks targeted Dielman as a priority in free agency, looking at him to play left guard between tackle Walter Jones and center Chris Spencer. The Seahawks' offer may have been higher than what San Diego agreed to pay, and Seattle's pitch made the decision very hard for Dielman, who decided he wanted to be back in San Diego.

The Seahawks were seeking an upgrade at guard, a position that spiked in value this offseason. Last year Steve Hutchinson set a new high-water mark with a seven-year, $49 million contract. Eric Steinbach and Derrick Dockery each agreed to similarly large deals Friday. Steinbach signed with Cleveland, where he may move to tackle; Dockery went to Buffalo.

But the bottom line for Dielman turned out not to be the contract total, but the destination, which is why he headed back to San Diego on Saturday.

Dielman had said all along that he would like to return to block for LaDainian Tomlinson. Dielman's agent and the Chargers had last spoken in November. Smith had said the team wanted to see what kind of offers the 310-pounder would get from other teams.

"I want to stay here," Dielman said Wednesday. "They gave me my opportunity. I want to be loyal. But they've had a year to do it."

Dielman joined the Chargers in 2003 as an undrafted defensive lineman from Indiana.

Notes

• DE Patrick Kerney was scheduled to arrive in Seattle on Saturday after spending the first day of free agency in Denver. Kerney is an unrestricted free agent after opting out of his contract in Atlanta. He played only nine games last season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.

• S Deon Grant, an unrestricted free agent from Jacksonville, is scheduled to visit Seattle on Tuesday, according to the Florida Times-Union.

• WR Darrell Jackson was at Seahawks headquarters on Thursday and Friday, talking with coaches and undergoing treatment for his injured toe.

It's not uncommon for players to make offseason appearances in Kirkland. Jackson's appearance was notable because his absence from offseason workouts has been a sticking point the past two years.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com. The Associated Press contributed to this article.