The divorce between the Chargers and Manti Te’o became official this week when the linebacker reached terms with the Saints on a contract through 2018.
Te’o, taken 38th overall after the Chargers moved up to get him in the 2013 NFL draft, represented the first bold play of the Spanos-Telesco front office.
The investment went bust, as did a big contract the same front office issued the other projected starter at inside linebacker, Donald Butler, the following offseason.
Te’o, waylaid by repeated injuries to his lower legs, missed 47 percent of the team’s starts over his four-year tenure.