CHARGERS: Singular vision: Tomlinson has done it all, but he craves a ring

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 3, 2008 11:14 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- LaDainian Tomlinson can boast of producing more records than The Beatles. He's already ensured of being remembered as one of football's all-time great players, and he has done more charity work before the age of 30 than most people do in a lifetime.

But all is not well in Tomlinson's world. That ring finger of his remains empty, and he hopes to rectify the situation in February with a shiny Super Bowl ring.

That is the sole objective for Tomlinson in the the 2008 season, which commences on Sunday with the Chargers hosting the Carolina Panthers.

"Just one goal ---- to win a championship," Tomlinson said earlier this week. "That's the one goal I have. That's the only thing you are going to hear me talk about all year."

Oh, sure, Tomlinson will end up discussing other matters. It's impossible not to when you are an athlete of his stature.

Tomlinson enters the season ranked 18th on the all-time rushing list with 10,650 yards ---- O.J. Simpson is among the running backs he should pass this fall ---- and seventh on the career touchdowns list with 129.

But the most important number to Tomlinson is that big zero under titles won. Entering his eighth NFL season, he worries about finishing his career without winning a championship.

The 29-year-old Tomlinson stops short of saying this season would feel empty without it ending in a Super Bowl title. But he also knows the Chargers are among the favorites and that they won't always be so well positioned.

"I wouldn't say (it would be) an incomplete season, but it's definitely a major goal," Tomlinson said. "Now if it didn't happen the rest of my time with the Chargers, obviously I would think it would be an incomplete career for me to not be able to win a championship ---- especially with the talent and the group we have here."

The abundance of talented players, led by Tomlinson, is the reason why the Chargers are a trendy pick to be the AFC representative in February's Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

The Chargers boast star players all over the gridiron and have made the playoffs three of the last four campaigns. They advanced to last season's AFC Championship Game and gave a valiant effort before losing to the New England Patriots despite quarterback Philip Rivers (knee), tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and Tomlinson (knee) all battling injuries.

They look back at the experience two ways. On one hand, they were knocking on the door of a Super Bowl, and an opportunity got away. On the other hand, they know how difficult reaching the AFC title game was after a dreadful 1-3 start.

"When you look at the way we started and the things we struggled with early and some of the things we fought through, and some of the injuries, I think it was an incredibly courageous performance," defensive end Luis Castillo said. "I think it showed a lot of heart and determination from our team and our coaching staff.

"But we always felt we could do that and we could overcome obstacles. This year, we'll face obstacles and we realize that. We know the most important thing is to stay together and we'll be fine."

The Chargers routinely talk of getting off to a fast start this season. Last year's bad opening stretch included an embarrassing home loss to Kansas City that prompted Chargers fans to serenade coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith with chants for former coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Tomlinson is one of many players who point to complacency as a prime reason for the slow start. He said too many players thought "things are going to be so easy" after the previous season's 14-2 campaign.

Rivers noticed the same thing and thought many of his teammates were thinking too far ahead last season. So when asked whether anything less than reaching the Super Bowl this season will feel like a disappointment, he answers cautiously.

"Certainly, we'd be disappointed if we're not (in the Super Bowl), but we're going to be disappointed too if we don't beat Carolina and disappointed if we don't beat Denver (in Week 2)," Rivers said. "I know it's old coach talk, but you have to take them one at a time. I think we found that out last year. All the hype last year, and we start off 1-3. We kind of had to regroup and say, 'Let's go now. All those goals we had, we can throw them out the window if we don't start winning.'

"Certainly, we know that's the goal. You can kind of tuck that away and put it in the bottom drawer and worry about everything else right now. Hopefully we'll be able to pull that out and battle for it down the stretch."

Turner also tries to downplay what lies ahead for the Chargers. Those rampant early-season sentiments of how "the Chargers can't win with Norv" dissipated as the team's playoff run intensified. Turner good-naturedly pointed out recently that the derisive phrases can quickly return with another bumpy start.

But the veteran coach also knows that Super Bowl rings aren't handed out in September.

"I know what this league is about and I know every week it is a dogfight and it is a battle," Turner said. "It is the NFL, and you have to get ready to play for an entire season."

So the Chargers claim to be ready as one of the franchise's most anticipated seasons nears the opening kickoff. And Tomlinson is among the players waiting to see how the campaign plays out.

"I'm just excited with the kind of team we have," he said, "and the opportunity we have to do something special."

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.

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