LaDainian Tomlinson Staying in San Diego?

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Rumors of LaDainian Tomlinson leaving the San Diego Chargers are so far just that — rumors. But LT addressed the situation on his personal Web site — LaDainianTomlinson.com — this past week, saying:

“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 utmost 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.

That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence that LT will be returning to the Chargers. I believe he’ll be asked to take a pay cut in order to stay in San Diego. And I probably don’t need to tell you that won’t go over very well. The recently oft-injured LT is due base salaries of $6.725 million in 2009, $8 million in 2010, and $9.275 million in 2011. He has taken a good deal of punishment during his eight-year career and he’ll be 30 years old next season. A running back’s shelf life in the National Football League just isn’t that long. Look at how quickly Shaun Alexander went from MVP to unemployed. Shaun’s 31 and he can’t even find a team that wants him anymore. Sadly, a similar fate could await LT over the next couple years.

Source: LaDainianTomlinson.com, Photo: Newscom