Would be interested to know who you heard that from.
As I recall, the video of the "war room cam" clearly showed Buddy and not Whaley on the phone working the deal with the Rams that landed us EJ and Kiko.
Don't believe Rhinegold was released, just became a free agent and the Chargers signed him.
What was the point of the first link? Whaley was promoted in May, after the draft.