Cover your ears, San Diego.
Five days after LaDainian Tomlinson announced his retirement from the NFL as a member of the Chargers, the (former) running back admits there was only one team he would have considered playing for in 2012.
Hint: It's not the franchise that just treated L.T. to a touching, let's-get-closure ceremony at Chargers Park.
Debate: 2001 NFL Draft re-do
LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees and Mike Vick all went in the 2001 draft. How would you rank them in a draft re-do? **More ...**
"The only team I really gave a thought to was the Broncos, because of Peyton (Manning)," Tomlinson told Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego on Saturday. "We talked. (Agent) Tom (Condon) talked with them ... It made me pause a little (and think), 'Was this what I really want to do?' ... I said, 'They got Peyton, they have a good defense already; they went deep in the playoffs with Tim Tebow, what are they going to do with Peyton?' I seriously thought about it."
L.T. said he would have retired with the Chargers after the 2009 season if they had won a Super Bowl. He thought he'd get there with the New York Jets. No dice.
"That was the only reason I considered Denver," he said. "At the same time, I thought, 'How much is a Super Bowl ring really going to do for you at this point?' Because it's not with the team I really wanted to do it with."
"It's not as bad as being a Raider," he said, "but almost."