Chargers LB Merriman says Tomlinson feud needs to stop

Jan 26, 2009 - 8:02 PM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- San Diego Chargers All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman says the public feud between star running back LaDainian Tomlinson and general manager A.J. Smith needs to stop.

At issue is the future of Tomlinson, who posted a statement on his personal web site last week saying he wants to end his career with the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2001.

Smith responded by publicly mocking Tomlinson's statement verbatim the following day.

"My recommendation to (team president) Dean Spanos will be what's in the best interest of the team - both short and long term," Smith said. "That's my job. That's what Dean hired me to do."

On Monday, Merriman told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the situation is only hurting the team.

"That (stuff) doesn't help bring a Super Bowl to San Diego. And that (stuff) needs to stop, period. It needs to stop now," said Merriman, a three-time Pro Bowler who missed the final 15 games of last season following knee surgery.

Merriman also told the newspaper that he is dealing with similar issues, as his contract expires after 2009. Still, he wants the focus to be on the field.

"Going into next season, I want people talking about how we're going to rebound from getting ... bounced from the playoffs - not if LT is going to be there or if I'm going to be there," Merriman told the newspaper.

"We're a team, upstairs and downstairs, no matter what. This is a business, but if you address the situation publicly, now you have turmoil. They're going to make decisions upstairs. But we've got to be a team."

The issue has come up because Tomlinson, the face of the franchise, is inching closer to 30 years old - the age when the health and skills of most running backs traditionally decline.

Tomlinson, who is under contract through 2011, will turn 30 in June and is scheduled to count $8.8 million against the salary cap in 2009. The eight-year veteran has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons, which has added fuel to the fire.

He missed the Chargers' two playoff games with a torn adductor (groin) muscle and also sat out most of last year's AFC championship game vs. New England with a sprained MCL.

Spanos said last week that the Chargers "can't let our emotions taint our decisions," regarding Tomlinson's future.

Tomlinson surpassed 1,000 yards for the eighth consecutive season, but was held to a career-low 1,110 yards on 292 carries, also the fewest of his career.

The emergence of Darren Sproles is one reason the Chargers may feel Tomlinson is expendable, though Smith recently said he doesn't view the 5-6, 181-pound Sproles as an every-down back.

A pending free agent, Sproles rushed for 115 yards in the Chargers' 52-21 playoff-clinching victory over Denver. He added 105 yards in a 23-17 overtime win over Indianapolis in a wild card playoff game, but was held to 15 yards on 11 carries in the AFC championship game loss to Pittsburgh.