NFL 2010 Offseason

[Hooch]

No. 21 is done in San Diego: Chargers release LT

After nine mostly brilliant seasons, LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) was cut loose by the San Diego Chargers.

Slowed by injuries and age, Tomlinson would have been paid more to produce less in a Chargers offense that was turning toward the passing game, and on Monday one of the NFL’s best running backs was officially released.

“I told him that in the 26 years that I’ve been in this business, it was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” team president Dean Spanos told The Associated Press. “I’m not close to a lot of the players, but there’s a handful that I’ve been close with, and he’s probably the closest. It was really difficult to tell him. But out of respect, I wanted to tell him earlier rather than later.”