Antoine Cason signed with San Diego for $12M.

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SAN DIEGO — Antoine Cason will report to work this morning as an NFL player. A rich one at that.

The Chargers signed Cason, a cornerback selected in the first round of the NFL draft in April, to a five-year, $12 million contract late Thursday. He will be in uniform for this morning's practice, the first full-squad workout of training camp.

"I had faith it was going to happen," Cason told the Star on Thursday night, shortly before signing his contract at Chargers Park. "It was important to me that I be there (today), and my agent, Ron Slavin, knew that. We just got it done. We got the best possible deal."

Cason's contract is the richest rookie deal ever given to a former Arizona Wildcat. Cornerback Chris McAlister signed a four-year, $7.1million contract with the Ravens in 1999. Tailback Trung Canidate signed a five-year, $5.75million deal with the Rams a year later.

Cason's pact includes nearly $6million in guaranteed money, the bulk of it coming in the form of a signing bonus. He is expected to play at nickelback, alongside cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer, in certain passing situations. Cason also figures to back up both starters.

Thursday's signing ended a tense few days for Cason, the 27th overall pick. He did not report with the rest of the Chargers' rookies Monday, intent on holding out until a deal was done. Tuesday brought news that San Diego general manager A.J. Smith had made his final offer; however, the sides continued to negotiate until a deal was struck. Cason learned of the pending agreement Thursday afternoon and traveled to the team's headquarters around dinnertime to finalize the deal.

Cason said the holdout "didn't weigh on me at all," in part because he tried to stay out of the negotiating process. Cason's agent kept him informed, he said, but spared him most of the details.

"I've been saying the whole time: I play football," he said. Contracts "are not my field of work, so I stayed out of it. I knew if I handled all the things I could control, everything would take care of itself."

Cason had 253 tackles, forced five fumbles and recovered another one from 2004 to 2007. He ranks fourth in UA history with 15 interceptions.

Cason said the good news has not quite registered yet.

"I guess that will come when I hit the field," he said. "Right now, I'm still doing what I've been doing the last few days, and that's sitting around."