LT - zeroice's Blog - Operation Sports

zeroice's Blog

Posted on March 12, 2009 at 03:09 PM.

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SAN DIEGO -- Chargers president Dean Spanos seemed to have the best perspective on the LaDainian Tomlinson saga.
"The alternative was just unthinkable. He belongs in San Diego," Spanos said after the Chargers and Tomlinson agreed to a reworked three-year contract late Tuesday.
L.T. feels the same way. That's because the alternative, of course, would have been for the star running back to be released had the sides not reached a deal. Even as talks dragged on and speculation mounted that the 2006 NFL MVP might be finished in San Diego, Tomlinson never envisioned joining another team.
Fantasy impact

Michael Fabiano says
that while LaDainian Tomlinson is still a productive fantasy running back, his days of being worthy of a high first-round draft pick are over. More ...

"I still maintained the belief that I would be a Charger," Tomlinson said at a news conference Wednesday. "They drafted me here, and I've been here for eight years and loved every minute of it, and I just couldn't see myself putting on another uniform.
"That Charger uniform, that 21, with the bolt on the side of my helmet, that's pretty special," said Tomlinson, who was dressed in a black T-shirt and tan shorts. "You really can't replace that. So I'm just happy to be putting that helmet on again."
Tomlinson said he's healthy after being slowed last season by toe and groin injuries, and he's eager to prove that he's still explosive. He also reiterated that he'd like to pursue Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing record of 18,355 yards.
Tomlinson knows he'll most likely be doing it with the Chargers.
"My heart has always been with San Diego, and I'm happy to be back," he said. "I love these guys on this team, and I never really thought I was going to leave."
Chargers center Nick Hardwick said he had been checking every day to see if there were any developments with Tomlinson.
"I'm pumped to have him back," Hardwick said. "He's a huge part of our team with the leadership in the locker room and everything he brings to us. It's more than what he does athletically. He's a good person to have around."
Hardwick tried not to think about L.T. wearing another team's uniform.
"It would be so gross," he said. "I was trying not to imagine. It would be like Emmitt Smith going to another team or when Joe Montana went to play for the Chiefs. They just looked funny in another uniform."