Deadlines Loom For Chargers

The day is quickly approaching for the San Diego Chargers, the day the Chargers will be forced to publicly declare what their intentions are with the greatest runningback their franchise has ever possessed, LaDainian Tomlinson.

February 19th is the day all teams must announce their franchise player. Of course the Chargers don't and won't need to franchise Tomlinson, but if they do put that tag on Darren Sproles, which most think will happen, then it will only add to the speculation of what's going to happen to LT.  Would the Chargers dare go into next season with 2 high-paid runningbacks?  Would this be a move for the Chargers to try and get Tomlinson to renegotiate his contract to keep him in San Diego or just the opposite, a move that signals his days are numbered?  No one outside of the Chargers management knows for sure, but most everyone can agree that Charger fans are greatly anticipating whatever decision is made in regrards to Tomlinson and regardless of what that move is, it will likely polarize many a Charger fan ... some want LT to go, others can't bear the thought of Tomlinson playing anywhere but for San Diego.

What is also of interest, to me, is how this entire process is going to 'shake out'.  If there have been lines drawn in the sand already or not, if egos and money are factoring in or if there is any actual dialogue between the Chargers and Tomlinson to work something out that is in the best interest of both parties.

I think most everyone that has followed this story since the end of the season knows the situation... if the Chargers cut Tomlinson by Feb. 26th he will likely get picked up by another team and not make nearly the amount of money he once was as a Charger.  The Chargers will likely get little or very poor trade value for LT because other teams know the Chargers situation and surely won't offer to pick up LT's hefty contract and offer up high draft picks or proven players.  So if the Chargers cut Tomlinson this month, both parties walk away with neither side essentially gaining anything.

I still contend, that if both the Chargers are sincere in their wishes to keep Tomlinson in a Charger uniform for his entire career and Tomlinson is sincere in his desire to end his career in San Diego, then both parties need to sit down and make a deal that both sides can benefit from.  Now if one of the sides plays hard ball... like the Chargers not offering a fair contract or LT not wanting to renegotiate or with minimal reductions... it would show that clearly one side was not truly sincere in their public statements and in either case, it is a lose-lose situation for us Charger fans.