Tomlinson. Will. Be. Back.

First, my sincerest apologies. I've been a little busy the last month or so after the Super Bowl, so I haven't posted on my blog in quite some time.

But this is quite a time to write a new post.

Kevin Acee's lead should be simple. Actually, it is.

"It is finished."

That's short and sweet. It's very concise. It's all that is needed really to weigh the gravity of what so many associated with the San Diego Chargers (fans, players and front office types alike) are feeling right now.

Tomlinson will be back in San Diego. General manager A.J. Smith averts a public relations disaster. Chargers fans don't have to go out and buy Knowshon Moreno jerseys--at least not yet.

As a fan, I feel relief. Relief for the franchise. Relief for LT--who really wanted to stay in San Diego. Relief that a whole contingent of fans won't spend the entire offseason in a backlash against what could have been a nuclear disaster for Smith.

I was one of those that was ready to move on. Tomlinson is getting up there in age. He hasn't been around when the Chargers have bolted into the playoffs the last two years. He just came off his worst season statisically.

I was ready to see LT not in a Chargers uniform come fall camp.

But that sigh you just heard--that was the sigh of millions in southern California holding their breath to see whether or not Tomlinson stays or if they start protesting in front of Smith's house.

Statistically, this may not have been the most important thing for San Diego to do. Smith could have traded Tomlinson and gotten draft picks. He could have simply cut him and save cap to resign more crucial players like quarterback Philip Rivers and linebacker Shawn Merriman.

But LT means more to the organization and to the community than just mere stats--than just wins and losses.

LT is the Chargers. The Chargers are LT. He is the franchise. He is the epitome of hard work and paying your dues so that you can get to the level where you are now.

San Diego would not be where it is if it wasn't for Tomlinson, and the fans realized that. The fans felt that Tomlinson earned a little more respect than just getting shipped out of San Diego.

And in a business where loyalty seems to be forgotten, Smith and LT were finally loyal--to each other, to the franchise and to the fans.

LT always wanted to be loyal. He always wanted to stay in San Diego. Tomlinson was so loyal that he'll be taking pay cuts so that the franchise can try to keep Rivers and Merriman in town longer than LT's career will last.

If anything, LT staying in San Diego really shouldn't have been in doubt. If Smith was willing to work with Tomlinson (which he apparently was) and try to keep him in San Diego, then I'm sure LT was all for it.

LT isn't Terrell Owens. He's not a problem like Edgerrin James. He doesn't bring distractions like Tony Romo.

If anything, LT is showed that he cared about San Diego and the Chargers, and at the end of the day, that's why Chargers fans would have cried foul if Tomlinson was let go.

It is finished. Tomlinson will be back. Chargers fans can rejoice.