LOS ANGELES—LaDainian Tomlinson was thrilled on Wednesday to be remaining with the San Diego Chargers even though his contract was restructured for less money.
The Chargers still have the 29-year-old Tomlinson under contract through 2011 but were able to get some much-needed salary cap relief through the renegotiation, the team said.
"My heart has always been with San Diego," Tomlinson told a news conference. "I'm happy to be back. I love these guys on this team. I never really thought I was going to leave."
Tomlinson is the NFL's 14th all-time leading ground gainer with 11,760 yards and the five-times Pro Bowler ranks second in rushing touchdowns with 126.
His production, however, was off sharply in 2008 when he rushed for a career-low 1,110 yards and scored just 11 touchdowns, the lowest number since his rookie year in 2001.
Sources told the San Diego Union-Tribune Tomlinson's 2009 salary of $6.725 million would stay the same and he would earn less over the final two seasons than he was scheduled to make under terms of the contract he signed in 2004.
Tomlinson said he felt no animosity toward the Chargers or general manager A.J. Smith.
"This is the part you don't like, the business part of it," he said. "Obviously, A.J. has been criticized as well as myself about some of the things that we both went through. But that's a part of the business.
"I hold no hard feelings to anyone. I respect A.J. for the job he has done, the job he is continuing to do for this team. And I'm going to try to do the best job I can for this team on the field.
"When we win the championship everybody is going to be happy."
Although San Diego won the AFC West in 2008, they were just 8-8 during an injury-riddled regular season. The Chargers ultimately advanced to the divisional playoffs and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers 35-24.
Tomlinson said the team was "very close" to a championship.
"Obviously, over the past two years we've been hampered a little bit by injuries," he said. "That's been the unlucky part of it. I've got to figure it's our time.
"When we're at full strength, we're a tough team to deal with."
