San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said in a radio interview Monday that he wasn't happy with his role this season. The franchise's all-time leading rusher also said that he wants to return to San Diego, but he will not take a pay cut to do so.
"It's never been about the money," Tomlinson said on 1090-AM in San Diego. "I love the game of football. It's all about being happy. Being happy and enjoying playing. That's the most important part to me. Also being happy and chasing that Super Bowl."
Changes in offensive philosophy, namely the reduction of running plays called by Chargers coach Norv Turner to emphasize the passing game, made this season frustrating for Tomlinson, who rushed for 730 yards on 223 carries, the least productive season of his nine-year NFL career. He had never rushed for fewer than 1,100 yards until this season.
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith was in a similar situation at the end of his probable Hall of Fame career. He joined Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk and Steve Mariucci on the NFL Network set on Radio Row on Wednesday to offer some advice to Tomlinson.
"He's at the stage of his career where production is down, cash value is high," Smith said. "Now at the end of the day, if they come to you and say that they want to restructure something, go ahead and do it. Unless you want to go somewhere else and play."
Tomlinson is still under contract with the Chargers for another two years, so it would take a trade or being waived to alter his whereabouts in 2010. Last year, he agreed to restructure the final three years of his deal and take a pay cut. He said Monday that he won't take another in order to stay with the Chargers.
Smith finished his career on a two-year run with the Arizona Cardinals after signing a deal in 2003. Smith struggled with injuries during his first season with the Cardinals, but he rallied for nine touchdowns to close his career in 2004.
Smith said that as long as Tomlinson still can play, he should.
"L.T. is probably thinking like, I can still do this," Smith said. "(He is probably thinking) they are not giving me enough carries, they are throwing the ball a lot. So therefore my production has diminished and they are trying to tell me that I am getting old and I am saying that I am not getting old, I am just not having the opportunity. That is what he is going through. I kind of went through the same thing to some degree.
"I went to Arizona to prove that I could continue to play but also to make sure that if I did not want to play anymore, football was completely out of my system."
Tomlinson, who believes he has a 1,500-yard season still left in him, was asked Monday about where he thought he'd be next season.
"I'm not really sure," he said. "I can see a lot of things. … I just kind of leave it open. … I spent a lot of years here and still enjoy football a lot and enjoy being around the guys in the locker room.
"I want a championship," he added, "and I'm going to chase it."
The only question now is, will it be in San Diego?
