SAN DIEGO -- Kevin Burnett wasn't in a great mood Thursday afternoon.

The Chargers' newest linebacker had recently ended a disappointing telephone conversation, one that might have extended his stay in a nearby hotel.

Burnett has been living out of a suitcase while permanent housing is being arranged, a process that has been recently slowed by banking protocol and has frustrated the Chargers' lone free-agent acquisition to no end.

"Football's the same no matter where you're at," said Burnett, who grew up in Carson. "The game doesn't change. I'm from Southern California, so I'm familiar with the area, too. The only complications come with moving and trying to get your life situated again. That's the hard part."

Burnett's housing situation is an inconvenient start to what he hopes will be a prosperous period of his career. Burnett joined the Chargers after signing a two-year $5.5 million contract, with a reported $4 million in guarantees, after spending his first four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

His time in Dallas didn't go exactly as planned. He made just four starts in four seasons, recording 104 tackles and four sacks in that span. The inside linebacker became a role player, playing primarily on passing downs and on special teams.

"They pigeonholed me into a certain role. There's no doubt about that," Burnett said. "It was frustrating, which is why I'm looking forward to this fresh start."

He'll get one with the Chargers. The former second-round pick out of Tennessee will battle incumbents Tim Dobbins and Matt Wilhelm for a starting spot at inside linebacker.

"I'm ballplayer, and my job is to do whatever the team needs me to do," Burnett said. "That said, nobody wants to be a backup. I guarantee the other guys don't, either."

While the competition will heat up in training camp, he'll use this relaxed part of the offseason to assimilate into a tight-knit locker room. That process began in earnest this week, when the Chargers' voluntary workouts began.

"My pastor always says that you should always be what you've always been," he said. "I'm the new guy, but I'm just going to be myself, play solid defense and help this team win football games."

Burnett had the same goal with Dallas, but he didn't feel wanted by the team that drafted him.

"What other choice did I have but to leave?" Burnett said. "They brought in another linebacker and then they tried to sign me, which to me was a slap in the face. On top of that, they wanted me to sign the same kind of deal, and I wasn't willing to do that."

That forced him into the uncertain world of free agency, where teams often woo players without being completely candid. Burnett took visits to Houston and Oakland, but ultimately ended up in San Diego.

"I went into the process thinking, 'Don't be overly nice to me now,' " Burnett said. "I wanted teams to let me know exactly how it was going to be and what they were thinking. In some cases, that happened; in others, it didn't. The ultimate goal was to get planted as soon as possible, and I believe I ended up in a great spot."

Chargers notes

RB Darren Sproles is participating in the voluntary workouts, despite having yet to sign the one-year, $6.62 million tender that comes with the nonexclusive franchise tag applied by the team in February. … LB Shawne Merriman was at the facility on Thursday, but did not participate in the session. He has been working out and rehabbing his surgically repaired knee at the facility and on his own, but is expected to join the team workouts soon. Team officials have said he is progressing well and is in great physical shape.

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com.