Chargers Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson
“It’s great to be back in this room. Obviously I want to thank theorganization and Dean Spanos for me being back. It’s great to beback. My heart has always been with San Diego and I’m happy to beback. I love these guys on this team and never really thought I wasgoing to leave. I’m happy to be doing this right now. I’ll open it upto any questions that you all may have.”
How tough has this whole process been?
“It was kind of tough, I think more so for my family because I hadto answer their questions a lot of the time. Any time something wentacross the screen I had to answer their questions, but I stillmaintained the belief that I would remain a Charger. They drafted mehere. I’ve been here for eight years and loved every minute of it. Ijust couldn’t see myself putting on another uniform. That Chargeruniform, that 21 with the bolt on the side of my helmet, that’s prettyspecial. You really can’t replace that. I’m just happy to be puttingthat helmet on again.”
Can you talk about your relationship with Dean Spanos and how that has evolved?
“It’s just kind of happened over the years of knowing Dean and hiswife and family, going out to dinner and playing golf, just hanging outa little bit and getting to know each other beyond the business part ofit, as friends. Obviously I have a lot of respect for him. Relationshipbuilds over time. That relationship is something that has built andit’s been a strong one. I appreciate that friendship.”
Do you feel appreciated by the Chargers after this process?
“Absolutely. It’s a two-way street. We’ve always said that this isthe part you don’t like, the business part of it. Obviously A.J.(Smith) has been criticized as well as myself about some of the thingsthat we both have gone through, but that’s a part of the business. Ihold no hard feelings to anyone. I respect A.J. for the job he hasdone, the job he’s continuing to do for this team and I’m going to tryto do the best job I can for this team on the field. That’s the waywe’re going to handle it. When we win a championship, everybody isgoing to be happy.”
Realistically, how close are the Chargers to winning a championship?
“I think we’re very close. Obviously over the past two years we’vebeen hampered a little bit by injuries. That’s been the unlucky part ofit. I’ve got to figure that it’s our time. I’ve got to figure that thisis not going to continue to happen to us where we get so close and getinjured and really hurt ourselves in that way where we can’t be at fullstrength. When we’re at full strength, we’re a tough team to dealwith. I think everyone has seen that in the past. I’m looking forwardto being at full strength with this team.”
Did you at any point feel like you were close to leaving San Diego?
“I don’t know if there really was. From my standpoint, I remainedoptimistic about it. At the same time, I knew that it was a businessand guys sometimes go other places. For that reason, I kept it in theback of my mind that I might have to. At the same time, I had to thinkthat something would happen. As we kept continuing to talk about it, Ibecame more optimistic that I would be here. I kind of figuredsomething would get done and it did.”
How involved was Dean Spanos in these talks?
“I’m not sure at all. I know when we first started going throughthese talks, Dean called me and said he wanted to talk about a coupleof things. I left it at that. At the end, he called and said, ‘We’regood.’ I was happy to hear those words from him, that ‘we’re good’, andI knew I was going to remain a Charger.”
Were you pleased with how little information leaked during the negotiation period and was that done at your suggestion?
“Yeah, for me, I’m a pretty private person. I think thisorganization is the same way. You want to keep everything inhouse. Obviously we had a great relationship through eight years. Weboth kind of felt like the best way to do it was within us, two partiesworking this out. Then if anything was to happen the media would knowlater. We just felt like it was the respectable thing to do, to dealwith business between us two.”
Is there anything in this deal that assures us we won’t be going through a similar scenario a year from now?
“Let’s just worry about this year. This is something thatobviously you deal with sometimes, but I don’t think it will be. That’snot something that I’m worried about. I don’t believe this is somethingwe’ll be going through next year.”
Do you have any guaranteed money out in the future?
“I can’t answer that just because I actually haven’t signed the contract yet. We have agreed but I can’t answer that right now.”
Besides football, what are some of the other reasons why you really wanted to stay in San Diego?
“I think the most obvious is I’ve got a house here and my familyreally enjoys being here. We’ve been a part of the community for solong. Our foundation does so much stuff here to help so many people. Ijust really didn’t want to turn our back on the people in the communityand all the things we’ve built here so far.”
Did you ever feel like the Chargers were turning their back on you during the process?
“No, again, I understand the business side of it. I didn’t feellike they were turning their back on me, but I felt like they needed tomake business decisions as any organization does. I never felt likethey were turning their backs on me. Of course there are times when youwonder if you’re going to be here. I never felt like they were turningtheir back on me. They had given me eight years, great years. Theydrafted me and gave me the opportunity. Not at all did I feel like theywere turning their back on me.”
If you’re healthy, how close can you be to the LT we’ve seen the last eight years?
“I think I will continue to be a very explosive player. You guyssaw me last year where I was banged up all year, played with a hurt toeand obviously with the groin injury. I’ll be back to full strength andto being the LT that you guys are used to seeing.”
Did A.J. Smith explain to you the thought process inrestructuring your deal and were you satisfied with his plan for thefuture?
“Absolutely. It’s to win, to get players here to help us wingames. I’ve never been a selfish guy. The more guys we can have here tohelp us win…I’m all about winning championships. We’ve come so close sofar but haven’t done it yet. I’ve always said when I first got to SanDiego that I wanted to be a part of something special and help bringchampionships to this organization and to this city. That’s how Iremain.”
Can you remain as explosive as you were in 2006?
“Absolutely, with the opportunities. That was a special year, nodoubt. Will I rush for 1,800 yards again? Who knows. I think it’spossible, definitely. That’s yet to be seen. I think with the sameopportunities, it can happen.”
How would you describe your emotions today?
“It’s relief, knowing where I’m going to be playing footballat. That was my whole focus. That’s very important. It lifts a bigweight off my shoulders and everybody else around you, to know whereyou’re going to lace them up at.”
When you signed your contract in 2004, did you know that this day would likely come?
“I know history tells us that usually you do restructure sometimeslater into your contract. Sometimes you don’t get to. You end upgetting released or traded or what have you. I was just happy that Ihad the opportunity to restructure my contract rather than be releasedor traded.”
What was your wife’s reaction to the news?
“She was happy. I could just tell. She probably read every commentthat each of you had written. I used to tell here to stop readingit. She said, ‘No, it’s not bothering me,’ but I knew it was. It wasjust a relief from here after it was done. I knew that she was excitedthat we were going to remain in San Diego. She loves it here and shereally didn’t want to move anywhere.”
Do you have any regrets about the statement you made on your website in January and the reaction that came out of that?
“No. At that time I was starting to get a lot of notes from fanssaying, ‘Don’t leave,’ and ‘How could you turn your back on us?’ I justwanted to let them know that I was going to do everything I could toremain a Charger. My heart is here and I’m going to do everythingpossible to be here. That was my whole point in making that statement.”
Do you think you have to prove you can stay healthy through a full season and postseason?
“Absolutely. I feel like I do have to prove I can stay healthy.I’ve always felt like I needed to prove something. When I first cameinto the league, I wanted to prove that I could play in this league andthat I could be dominant. I know I can do that. Going on 30 (yearsold), I want to prove that I can stay healthy a full season and stillbe that dominant player. Honestly, I haven’t had any serious injurieswith surgeries. I don’t see why I can’t continue to be a dominantplayer.”
Is there something you can do during the offseason to help prevent injuries?
“I think you become smarter. You learn how to work in a differentway. You still maintain working hard, but you do it in a differentway. Not as much pounding in the offseason, kind of save myself alittle more for the season and gearing up for training camp and goingthrough the season. Before, I used to start off just going 100 milesper hour, and sometimes it wore me down. I was in such good shape whenI got to training camp that I really had nothing to work for. ObviouslyI think some of that will change, but most of it is going to stay thesame.”
Can you talk about your recent comments about EmmittSmith’s career rushing record and why for the first time you discussedmaking a run at him?
“I think that’s something that I’ve just kind of got a new fire ofsaying, ‘Why not?’ If we’re winning and winning championships, I dowant to play as long as I can and walk away with all the records. Thatwould be a heck of a challenge and I’m up for challenges. I’m certainlygoing to try to do it.”
Now that the contract negotiations are done, when do youstart negotiations with Norv Turner about returning the halfback option?
“We just got through talking about that to be honest withyou. Norv has told me that, I don’t want to give it away to all theteams out there, but you’d better watch out. It’s going to be in.”
What is your message to the fans that admire you?
“I just appreciate their support, for coming to the stadium withtheir 21 jerseys on and just the Charger jersey period and supportingthis team. I appreciate that. I look forward to many more years ofexciting football and winning. I just believe that we’re going to walkoff with that Lombardi Trophy and we’re going to have the craziestparty in this city that we’ve ever had.”
You’ve previously said the Smith record wasn’t that important to you. What’s changed?
“I think for so long I blocked it out. It was so far out there,but reevaluating where I’m at in my career now, I think it’sreachable. I guess I just kind of got the sense of, ‘Why not?’ Whyshould I at the end of my career look back and say, ‘I was this closeto Emmitt’s record. Why didn’t I continue to play and try to get it?’ Idon’t want to have that regret. I don’t want to have any regrets when Ileave this game. I guess that’s kind of what’s changed.”
Did you feel like you were shortchanged last year whenpeople wrote things about your decline when you were actually battlinginjuries?
“No, you play the hand you’re dealt. For me, it’s good because Iget to prove what I’m worth again. I get to prove to people, and that’sthe way it’s always been for me. I’ve always enjoyed doing that. I getto do it once again.”
How do you feel physically right now?
“I feel great physically. I’ve started back working out. This weekwas the first week where I’ve actually starting cutting and all kindsof things. It feels really good. It’s really good to be feeling strongagain.”
Have you negotiated any incentives into your contract for passing Emmitt Smith?
“No I haven’t. I think sometimes the outside endorsements, you cannegotiate with that as well, with the Nikes and the Gatorade and whathave you. I think the Chargers are paying me enough money. I’m good.”
Was money much of a factor in this process?
“To me, I thought being fair was what I was looking for. Not toreally try to break the bank or do anything crazy, but just to befair. That was all that I was looking for. The Chargers have alwaysbeen that, so I really didn’t think they wouldn’t be fair. When it camedown to it they were.”
Do you think the comments your mother made on the radio last week were a factor in this?
“I really don’t know. The funny thing, I didn’t know my mom hadsaid that. Sometimes you can’t tell Mom to be quiet. My mom has her ownopinion, and rightfully so. I’m her son. If I would have told hersomething, she probably would have given me a backhand or something. Ijust acted like I didn’t see it.”
What did she say when the deal was done last night?
“She was just excited. She has so much Chargers stuff in herhouse, I don’t know how that would have gone over, getting rid of allthat stuff.”
