There is no doubt in my mind the guy could still play, but Ladainan Tomlinson chose to sign a one day contract and retire as a San Diego Charger.

L. T. probably had a few years left in him where he could be a productive back for someone.  With the applause he received a few weeks back at an event at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium to honor the late Charger great Junior Seau, my hope was the Chargers would bring him back for less money and let him finish those last few years here where it all began.
But Tomlinson was smart and took into consideration his health and family and chose to go out while he was in decent health and very much a fan favorite; not only in San Diego but the entire NFL.
A debate began in San Diego recently about who was the most popular Charger of all time and L.T. was right there, along side Seau, Fouts, Winslow, ALworth, Lincoln, Lowe. All were very good players during the era’s they performed.
But it just may be this small running back from Texas Christian who would win the award as he won the hearts of Charger fans when he came in the league in 2000.
One thing for sure, L.T. went out on his terms, in San Diego, and before he was an NFL running back has been. Although not perfect, Tomlinson was a classy player on and off the field and certainly will go down in Charger history as the best running back to wear the Bolt uniforms

If you think there is no sense of urgency in the San Diego
Charger camp, think again. The Chargers have signed all seven of their 2012
draft picks and although they have lost key offensive personnel to free agency
in wide receiver Anthony Jackson and fullback Mike Tolbert, AJ Smith has
reloaded with key free agent signings like former Saints wide receiver Robert
Meacham  and former Denver wide out Eddie
Royal from the Broncos.

More importantly the
Bolts will not have top players holding out when training camp begins in July.
After failing to make the playoffs for the second year in a row in the 2011
season, many San Diegan’s were calling for Charger general manager AJ Smith and
head coach Norv Turner’s heads. Smith has responded with his best off season
yet as general manager of the Chargers and may have landed the best defensive
player in the draft in first round pick and 18^th overall, Melvin
Ingram, an outside linebacker from South Carolina. And for the first time since
I can remember, all draft picks are signed in May, are in off season camp
and will be ready to roll when regular training camp arrives in July.

I hated to see Jackson go but filling Tolbert’s void may be
far more challenging. Not only was Tolbert a great change of pace at running
back spilling Ryan Mathews in key situations, Tolbert also was a key special
teams player for a very much improved special teams group in the 2011 season.
Bolt special teams were horrible in 2010 and cost the Chargers a trip to the
playoff party.

The Charger draft had great balance although Ingram is the
key player. Kendall Reyes the defensive end from Connecticut was the Chargers
second round pick and 49^th player overall and is lauded as a quick
and versatile defender especially for his 6’4” 300 pound frame. LSU safety
Brandon Taylor was the captain on the Tigers physical defense and will be a
fantastic fit in the safety position alongside Eric Weddle.

It is Ingram who excites the Charger brass. Possibly the
most exciting defensive player since the late Junior Seau, Ingram is quick
fast, versatile and athletic enough that he could run the ball on offense if he
had to.

With the key retirement of offensive center Kris Dielman, AJ
went out and drafted the best center in college football in Michigan’s David
Molk, a 6’1” 290 pound 7^th round pick. Molk may be thrown into the
fire immediately but his intelligence and work ethic will certainly give him an
excellent chance to excel

Robert Meacham, Eddie Royal and Roscoe Parrish all were free
agent signings to fill the void left at wide receiver with the departing of
Jackson. Parrish and Royal are also outstanding return men.

AJ Smith has put together a very talented group for Norv
Turner and his staff to compete with in 2012. I have not always agreed with
what Smith has done even though he was once alongside the late Charger GM John
Butler who I knew and loved and thought was the best general manager San Diego
has ever had. To Smith’s credit he rose to the challenged and put together his
best off season since taking over for Butler.

As always, the Bolts will be exciting on offense but
defensively, this team may be dangerous and certainly will be much improved off
of last year’s disappointing team. The Chargers are much better on paper. The
key? Can it transfer to on field performance.