SAN DIEGO -- LaDainian Tomlinson said he thinks he has played his last game as a San Diego Charger.

The running back told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday that he has thought for a while he would be let go by the Chargers.

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His comments come after more than a month of saying he did not know what would happen.

The NFL's most valuable player in 2006 has two years remaining on his contract. He is due a $2 million roster bonus March 5 and would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010.

Tomlinson tells the newspaper he doesn't know when the Chargers will release him and that his agent, Tom Condon, might call the club to expedite the process.

Condon didn't immediately respond to a phone message from the AP.

A team spokesman, Scott Yoffe, declined to comment.

Tomlinson has become one of the most beloved athletes in San Diego history during a nine-year career but his production and speed have been decreasing.

Tomlinson had 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry this past season, all career lows. The lower numbers were due in part to the Chargers relying more on their high-octane passing game, as well as Tomlinson missing the second and third games with a sprained ankle.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

LaDainian Tomlinson told The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday what most people have speculated for months: He will not be a San Diego Charger next season.

"I’m not coming back," said Tomlinson, who added that he believes the Chargers will release him. "… I’ve accepted it."

Tomlinson is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, but he just finished the least productive season of his nine-year NFL career (730 yards on 223 carries). Last offseason, the 2006 NFL MVP agreed to restructure the final three years of his contract and take a pay cut, but he told a San Diego radio station Monday that he won’t do that again.

Tomlinson has two years remaining on his contract, and he is due a $2 million roster bonus March 5. He would be paid $5 million in total salary in 2010.

Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, said Thursday on NFL Network that "it would be sad" to see his client leave the Chargers.

"L.T. has been a great player, a great guy and a great friend for all of these years. And a Hall of Famer," Condon said. "It would be sad to have him depart and play for another team at the end of his career.

"Certainly he is still a high-quality football player. He keeps himself in tremendous condition. He's had a couple of injuries here in the past several years. Nevertheless, I expect him to be playing in the National Football League this year. And I think he will be a major part of somebody's offense."

Tomlinson told The Union-Tribune that he might have Condon call the Chargers to speed up what he believes to be his inevitable release.

"It’s mixed emotions," he said. "I’ve spent nine years of my life here, pretty much my youth. I gave the organization everything I have. I enjoyed the community. But there is a part I won't miss. The football part is fun. But the business part sucks. I won't miss that."

Chargers spokesman Scott Yoffe declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Tomlinson joined the Chargers in 2001 as a first-round draft pick out of TCU and has made five Pro Bowls in his nine NFL seasons. He ranks eighth on the league’s career rushing yards with 12,490 yards.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is why i think and hope the Chargers (my team) draft CJ Spiller-RB-Clemson

I'd like to see him and B West both call it careers and hang it up both playing for their respective teams. Both were 2 of the most versatile backs the NFL ever seen and carried both of their respective teams for some years. I know this thread has nothing to do with B West but needed to pay homage to a great player who is in the same boat as LT.

I never really thought Brian Westbrook was a very good tailback. It may be because the Eagles always passed it more than they ran it but for him to be as good as people say he is and only rushed for 1000+ yards two times in his career makes me question if he was/is a good tailback.

He did much more of his damage out of the backfield catching the ball then he did pounding the rock.

They got these offensive weapons a little to late for Westbrook. D Jax, Maclin, Celek and a Westbrook in his prime would bring a Super Bowl Parade to Broad Street.