Chargers general manager A.J. Smith wanted to return from the NFL scouting combine with a wealth of knowledge about potential draftees and two crucial tasks crossed off his offseason to-do list.

The first, applying a franchise tag to running back Darren Sproles, happened before he left for Indianapolis. But Smith will be coming home Tuesday with one important mission left unaccomplished.

As of Monday evening, the Chargers and representatives for LaDainian Tomlinson had not come to terms on a contract renegotiation for the superstar running back.

The two sides met Sunday at the combine, but the content of those talks has not been disclosed by either party. Calls to Smith and Tom Condon, Tomlinson's agent, were not returned on Monday.

Tomlinson's renegotiation seemed to be a relatively simple procedure, given that the Chargers expressed a desire to re-sign the future Hall of Famer and Tomlinson stated that he'd like to stay in San Diego.

Tomlinson, scheduled to make roughly $6.7 million and count $8.8 million against the 2009 salary cap, was expected to take a lower base salary in an incentive-laden deal that would allow him to recoup most, if not all lost funds with performance.

Unique rules in the 2009 cap, however, make the situation a bit more complicated. As the final season of the current NFL collective bargaining agreement, 2010 stands as an uncapped period. Because of this, the CBA states that any incentive Tomlinson reached in 2009 would count against that season's salary cap. In a normal year, certain incentives would count against the following season's cap.

That could put a cramp in contract talks, with Tomlinson seeking a respectable salary and the Chargers wanting cap flexibility. Should talks break down, Tomlinson will likely be released.

The issue will probably come to a conclusion by Thursday, when Smith will meet with the media to discuss offseason plans and announce which players have been cut.