In the past 20 years, the San Diego Chargers have made their fair share of blunders in player personnel and drafting to give even the most die hard of fans a splitting headache. Unless it's handled quickly, the entire LaDainian Tomlinson saga could be headed that way.Tomlinson has stated he is looking to remain a Charger and end his Hall of Fame career with the club. Despite his sentiment, rumors continue to churn about a potential trade or outright release of the star running back.Recent comments from All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman in the news directed to Chargers' general manager AJ Smith look to have started things in the right direction but there is plenty of time for the Chargers to screw it up before draft day."That [stuff] doesn't help bring a Super Bowl to San Diego," Merriman told the San Diego Union-Tribune and appeared in the paper on Monday. "And that [stuff] needs to stop, period. It needs to stop now." Smith reached out to LT directly in a phone conversation on Monday night. In which Smith told reporters he had a 10-minute conversation with his star running back hoping to clear the air.Not being privy to that conversation but it seems to me that it would take more than 10 minutes to bring some sort of resolution to this drama. I'm hoping the message back-and-forth was clear and concise and getting the ball rolling to lock up Tomlinson to a long-term contract.The Chargers owe the 29-year-old Tomlinson at least that. He has brought respect back to San Diego after years of drama dating back to the Bobby Ross/Bobby Bethard fiasco of the mid-90s, squashing any momentum made by the team's appearance in Super Bowl XXIX.After the all-too early termination of head coach Marty Schottenheimer in 2007 and Merriman's own off-the-field troubles with performance enhancing drugs, the mighty Chargers need some good will. San Diego loves its football team and are great fans and deserve to be along the entire drive from draft to induction in the NFL Hall of Fame with this stand out running back.
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Article comments
1 - Axion
"After the all-too early termination of head coach Marty Schottenheimer in 2007"
False. If Marty's supporting cast were not hired away as head coaches, then you might have something there. When he violated the owner's wishes to avoid the appearance of nepotism by trying to bring in another Schottenheimer, it was precisely the right time to let him go.
2 - pelonis paul
the charger current roster
1) lots of good players
2) an unqualifed head coach
3) and a 100% jerk gm.
4) and an owner that doesnt seem to know
how to correct things up.
3 - Raul Salgado
The chargers would be fools to let LT go!! When people think of the chargers they automatically think LT, he's a very big part of this team and should remain in this team until the end of his career. He's brought a lot to this organization. He deserves the respect and a spot in this team!!!
4 - Brian Blank
All interesting comments
@pelonis Mike Shanahan would have been a great fit! Norv is not a head coach. Him and Wade Phillips should both be barred from HC jobs.
@Raul...that's what I said about Junior Seau and he was more of the face of the franchise and city than LT is right now.