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Tomlinson says he's looking forward to finding a new team
There was no sense of melancholy in LaDainian Tomlinson's voice Monday after he was released by the Chargers.
"It was a longtime coming, but I knew it was coming," he said by phone to SI.com. "Now that it's official I can kind of look to the next step in my career and playing football for someone else."
The question is, for whom? Tomlinson was the public face of the Chargers for nine mostly remarkable seasons, during which he won two NFL rushing titles and one league MVP award. He broke the league record for touchdowns in a season, with 31 in 2006, and set or tied 28 franchise records.
But that's now in his rearview mirror. In front of him lies the unknown.
"The main thing for me now is to try to win a championship," said Tomlinson, who ranks second in league history with 138 rushing touchdowns, third with 153 combined scores and eighth in rushing yards with 12,490 yards. "That's my No. 1 goal. That's why I still work hard and train like I do, because I still believe there's a chance of winning that championship. So the next team I go to has to have a chance of winning a title. I can think of a few teams off the top of my head, but that's what my agent is for. I'm sure he's going to do some research, talk to some teams and present some options to me."
Tomlinson would not discuss potential landing spots, saying he wanted to be patient and prudent. Two contenders that need help at running back are Philadelphia and New England. Green Bay could be another.
"I do know that I would have to go to a team that has a [proven] quarterback," Tomlinson said. "A place where you know you have a chance to win because of the quarterback."
Tomlinson said he likely will hold a news conference on Wednesday in San Diego to thank the fans and the Chargers for the nine seasons they shared. His production declined in each of his final three seasons because of injuries, wear-and-tear and coach Norv Turner's desire to run the offense through ascending quarterback Philip Rivers, who is one of the game's top young players.
But Tomlinson still believes he has the ability to help a team win a championship. His desire to win a title was fanned during Super Bowl XLIV, as he watched former teammate Drew Brees lead the Saints to a 31-17 victory over the Colts to earn MVP honors. The two have spoken briefly since then and figure to have more substantive conversations when they get together in the next few weeks. (Do not take that as a sign that Tomlinson is headed to New Orleans; as he says, "Their backfield looks set.")
"I was sitting at my lake house [in Texas] watching the game with family and friends," Tomlinson said. "I was so excited for Drew, but at the same time it made me even more hungry to win a championship. I'd like to get things worked out early in free agency, but I want to take my time to make sure the next place is right for me."
Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated Followers of the NFL have long relied on Jim Trotter for his dogged reporting and astute insights. Trotter joined Sports Illustrated as a senior writer in September 2007. Before that he spent nearly 18 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune, where he climbed the ladder from preps reporter to lead NFL writer. He spent nine years covering the San Diego Chargers, who did not have a winning record or reach the playoffs in his first eight years on the beat. The team finally ended the drought in 2004, after which Trotter began covering the league at large. Trotter cites three stories as the most memorable of his SI career: a 2007 piece on the death of Sean Taylor because, "It allowed us to examine his life beyond the stereotypes that had been attached to him"; a 2011 feature on Tim Tebow and the Broncos, whose run to the playoffs was nearly as indescribable as it was improbable; and a 2012 piece on the remaking of the Raiders following the death of longtime patriarch Al Davis. Born in San Francisco, Trotter graduated from Howard University in 1986 with a degree in communications and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. In addition to his SI duties, Trotter has made appearances on numerous national media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, ESPN, NFL Network, and The Jim Rome Show. He also has been a guest on radio shows across the country. Trotter resides in San Diego.