SD Union - Tomlinson to be highest paid RB

[21dave]

Tomlinson to be highest-paid RB

By Jim Trotter

STAFF WRITER

August 12, 2004

CARSON – The Chargers made no progress with unsigned rookie quarterback Philip Rivers yesterday, but sources close to the situation said the team is closing in on a contract extension with LaDainian Tomlinson that would make him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

Tomlinson declined comment when contacted last night, but sources said the sides all but agreed in principle after Tomlinson met with club President Dean Spanos yesterday afternoon.

All that remains is to finalize the language of the contract, which is believed to exceed the $50 million, eight-year deal that Clinton Portis signed with the Washington Redskins this offseason.

Tomlinson's existing contract runs through the 2005 season and calls for him to earn $5.5 million this year and $6.5 million next year. The potential new deal will tie him to the team through 2011, sources said.

The Chargers approached Tomlinson about an extension late in the offseason, but it wasn't until recently that the pace of negotiations accelerated. Finalizing a deal with their most productive and most popular player would be huge for the team because it would help change the negative culture that surrounded recent negotiations with marquee players.

By renegotiating Tomlinson's deal with two years to go, the Chargers can make a case that they indeed intend to take care of their franchise players. The fact that Tomlinson has said for some time that he wants to be a Charger for life – despite the organization's struggles – helped talks progress swiftly.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040812/news_1s12lt.html

[jbooma]

lets see sign a rb that still has years left, but don't sign your new qb, what a smart franchise :doh: