LT/Chargers doing battle

[Kevin Greene]

"I've tried to be the best professional, best player, best person in the community that this organization has ever seen, that's what I've always tried to do and will continue to do because that's who I am," Tomlinson said. "But to be treated like this, to me it just reaffirms my faith in God, to be honest with you. To let nothing bother me because of my faith in God and how far he has brought me. Because this is what man will do to you: Man will build you up and make you think that you're the greatest and that you're going to be here forever, and then man does this. Man crucifies you. ...

"I think it's ridiculous to be talking about trade and me not being here, that's just my personal opinion. I know every team has a right to make trades and all this stuff, but I just think it's ridiculous to be talking about this, to have this stuff in the media when this could be handled behind closed doors and in a professional way. Now I have people calling me, talking about this all the time; this has become a big story and I don't want this."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jim_trotter/01/14/tomlinson/index.html

[Kettle]

it wouldn't surprise me if he were traded. seems that setting the single season rushing td record has been a curse to the last two who set it. Alexander and Tomlinson have not been the same since they set the record. Especially Alexander. I hope a panther's rb never breaks the record.

[Towelboy]

sproles looks to be a capable back. i'm sure someone will pay big money to have tomlinson in their backfield. he would be NASTY in denver.

[Scrumtrilescent]

New England.

[scpanther22]

i say trade him....

[Boltergeist]

sproles looks to be a capable back. i'm sure someone will pay big money to have tomlinson in their backfield. he would be NASTY in denver.

I'm assuming that McNugget isn't keeping the zone scheme in Denver, so I wonder how that's gonna translate with their backs. And I'm guessing there's no way we'd trade him there unless it was a Herschel Walker deal.

Re: Sproles. The PIT game may have taken a little luster off of Sproles as an every downer. Him carrying the load may make him a little less dynamic in the other areas.

[Kevin Greene]

AJ Smith, "The Lord of No Rings", cracks me up. Can't believe the way this guy does business.

SILVER SLAMS “THE LORD OF NO RINGS”

Posted by Mike Florio on January 24, 2009, 12:42 p.m.

Well, it looks like Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports won’t be adding Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith to his alleged list of “smoke pot” buddies. [Editor’s note: We’re not suggesting that Silver or Smith smoke pot. Or crack.]

Silver blasted Smith in a Friday column focusing on Smith’s shoddy treatment of Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, whom Smith mocked on Thursday.

Silver suggests that owner Dean Spanos should get Smith (dubbed by a couple of local writers as “The Lord Of No Rings”) to put a sock in it.

We think Spanos should finish the job he started two years ago, when he clunked together the heads of Smith and former coach Marty Schottenheimer — and then only fired Schottenheimer.

A.J. MOCKS L.T.

Posted by Mike Florio on January 22, 2009, 12:20 p.m. EST

Things are gradually escalating in San Diego. And if we had any popcorn left after watching that slo-mo train wreck in Dallas, which is still unfolding nearly a month after 44-6, we’d have it ready.

On Wednesday, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson posted the following message on his personal web site: “I have been getting a lot of messages on my site regarding me leaving San Diego. I feel that I need to make it very clear that I have no intentions of leaving San Diego. San Diego is where my career started and where I’d like it to end. I have nothing but love and the upmost [sic] respect for this team, the players, and the Spanos Family. Me being traded is completely out of my hands. I have ABSOLUTELY no control in that decision making. All I can do is wait and see how it all plays out. As for now, I am a Charger and will be until I am told otherwise.”

Informed of the statement from L.T., Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith didn’t take the typical, “We respect LaDainian and everything he’s done for the organization” approach.

Instead, Smith mocked Tomlinson.

“My first reaction was we both have similar feelings,” Smith said, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I have no intentions of leaving San Diego. San Diego is where my GM career started and where I’d like it to end. I also have nothing but love and the utmost respect for this team, the players and the Spanos family. I have absolutely no control over how long I will be with the Chargers.”

Though on one hand we love it, on the other hand we suspect that one or more folks named Spanos are a tad uncomfortable with the remarks, which clearly were aimed at getting under L.T.’s skin.

Smith also addressed the broader question of what will happen with Tomlinson in 2009. “My recommendation to Dean Spanos will be what’s in the best interest of the team – both short and long term. That’s my job. That’s what Dean hired me to do.”

[thefuzz]

Way overblown situation by the media and LT.

He will either renegotiate his contract, retire, or be traded. It's that simple.

This should not be a shock to any RB when they hit the 30 mark.

[Paintballr]

Way overblown situation by the media and LT.

He will either renegotiate his contract, retire, or be traded. It's that simple.

This should not be a shock to any RB when they hit the 30 mark.

I know he has had some injuries past two seasons, but I can't see him retiring yet. Maybe one or two more seasons left in the tank but not yet.

[Kurb]

AJSmith is looking kinda like a douchebag.

[Boltergeist]

Smith could be on thinner ice. Much like a lot of the base thinks that one false move by Norv and the Chargers are Rivera's team, you could say the same for A.J. Randy Mueller could be called upon by Dean Spanos ... he's definitely got his ducks in a row for any possible shakeup.

[Mr. Scot]

I don't get the A J of the past few years. He'd looked like a pretty smart GM for a long time. Lately it seems like he shoots himself in the foot a lot (namely with Marty, and now LT).

[Boltergeist]

Way overblown situation by the media and LT.

Kevin Acee agrees with you

[Boltergeist]

AJ reaches out and touches LT