Just today, this afternoon, Chargers’ aging running back LaDainian Tomlinson was released by the team. Tomlinson has recently declined over the years since his record-breaking season in 2006 where he won the MVP for his season-performance of 1,815 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. L.T. figured this trade was coming for the past month.

“It was a longtime coming, but I knew it was coming,” Tomlinson told SI.com. “Now that it’s official I can kind of look to the next step in my career and playing football for someone else.”

One team that has definitely been rumored are the Kansas City Chiefs, who are in a need of a running back since Larry Johnson left. Chiefs could use a tandem of Jamaal Charles and him. Other teams are like the Texans, Lions, Jaguars, 49ers, and Vikings. We’ll see as the offseason moves on. L.T. has given it all he has got in his past nine years as a Charger.

“This is a part of the business that I hate, and it’s particularly hard when you’re dealing with someone I consider a friend,” Chargers president Dean Spanos said in a statement. “Change involving great players is never easy. I respect L.T. as much or more than any player I’ve ever known. And no one appreciates his contributions to this organization more than I do. That is why this is such a difficult announcement for me to make.”

All the Chargers players, faculty, and staff will miss him. He is truly the best Charger in the past decade and possibly the best running back this decade as well. He had his worst season during 2009 where he only ran for 700 rushing yards, a career-low and the first time he has never hit the 1,000-yard mark. But there is one thing he has never failed at: getting ten touchdowns a year. Another thing is that he brought his heart, motivation, determination, and all his energy in each game.

“He was one of the greatest players and people that I’ve ever had a chance to be around and he will be missed,” Shawne Merriman said.

Now L.T. is going to think about his future. Retirement is the last thing he wants to do most probably right now. Bunch of teams will be considering him.

“The main thing for me now is to try to win a championship,” Tomlinson said to SI. com, when asked about the future. “That’s my No. 1 goal. That’s why I still work hard and train like I do, because I still believe there’s a chance of winning that championship. So the next team I go to has to have a chance of winning a title. I can think of a few teams off the top of my head, but that’s what my agent is for. I’m sure he’s going to do some research, talk to some teams and present some options to me.”

L.T. will certainly be missed by the Chargers. He still probably has a good two-to-three years, maybe more, left in him. I think next season is where he will be back. He will create havoc next season. It’ll be like Marcus Allen with the Chiefs in the later years.

Tomlinson still has it. Don’t ever doubt him.

By Josh Dhani