Three-Year Deal with NFL's Chargers

One of two Liberians playing in the NFL played both safety and cornerback during four up-and-down seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

From News Service Reports
 

San Diego, March 6- Safety Bhawoh Jue, one of two Liberians playing in the National Football League, the NFL has signed a three-year contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Jue is expected to compete for the starting job at free safety, where the AFC West champion Chargers could have an opening. Jerry Wilson, who started there the last two seasons, is an unrestricted free agent.

"Man, I've been waiting to get rid of my parka," joked Jue, who had been an unrestricted free agent.

"What's appealing is the opportunity for a starting job," said Jue, a backup at both free and strong safety last year. "I've been kind of a backup the first four years of my career, and at this point I'm ready for a fair shot at competing for a starting job."

San Diego was the first team Jue visited. He said St. Louis and the New York Jets also were interested.

Financial terms of the contract which was signed last Thursday, were not immediately available.

Jue played both safety and cornerback during four up-and-down seasons with the Packers.

Jue was drafted in the third round in 2001 and was the ninth pick by Green Bay Packers. His parents fled war-ravaged Liberia when he was still a baby.
 

He started the last seven games of his rookie season after strong safety LeRoy Butler's career-ending shoulder injury.

In 2002, bothered by leg, hernia and chronic groin injuries, he went on season-ending injured reserve just five weeks into the season.

In 2003, he gave up game-winning touchdown passes at home against Philadelphia and Kansas City as a fill-in cornerback. He then became infamous in Green Bay as one of the dime backs who gave up a shocking 28-yard completion from Donovan McNabb to Freddie Mitchell on fourth-and-26 late in regulation in a divisional playoff game at Philadelphia. The Eagles tied the game, then won 20-17 in overtime.

Jue made four starts last season and played in all 16 regular-season games. He had 34 tackles, one interception and five deflections. He also played a significant role on special teams, with 11 tackles.

"I can't tell you why a starting position never came my way, but I'm still hunting one down, though," he said.

Jue joined the Chargers one day after the division rival Oakland Raiders added receiver Randy Moss in a trade with Minnesota.

"He's dangerous," said Jue, who will continue to face Moss twice a season. "With Moss on one side and Jerry Porter on the other side, they'll be a vertical team. Playing against a great player like that, you pretty much have to step your game up. I'm not saying I know him all that well in terms of how to defend him, but playing against him gave me a little bit of experience as to what he likes to do."

Jue came out of Penn State. Jue grew up in metro Washington, D.C., but was born in Liberia. Another Liberian, Thomas Tapeh, plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tapeh was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round out of the the University of Minnesota last spring. The sturdy and muscular 6-foot-1 243-pounder is being paid $230,000 this year and is scheduled to make $1.38 million over the next four years. Tapeh, a running back was placed on injured reserve after dislocating his hip in Philadelphia's loss to St. Louis last year.

The Associated Press and the San Diego Tribune contributed to this report