LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers exchanged words as they walked to the sidelines on sunday. ?We (were) just talking about a play,? Tomlinson said of his sideline tiff with Rivers. ?That's the penalty sometimes in a situation like that, you know, it appears to be like we're arguing. It wasn't really arguing. It's just competitive talk sometimes. It's the things you get into sometimes with two guys trying to get on the same page.?

The New England Patriots reportedly used LaDainian Tomlinson's comments earlier this week as motivation. But Tomlinson said last night he did not regret saying, ?The Patriots live by the rule, 'If you're not cheating you're not trying.' ? Said Tomlinson: ?If you take it personally, then there must be a problem. Everyone knows I was kind of joking.? Tomlinson was limited to his worst numbers in five career games against the Patriots ? 43 yards on 18 carries. Tomlinson entered last night averaging 5.5 yards a carry and 137 yards a game in his four career games against the Patriots.

Bill Belichick's "genius" is often credited for winning games and Super Bowls for the Patriots. This time, the players won one for their coach and demonstrated they don't need to spy on the opposition to succeed. "After everything that went on this week, we wanted to do our best for him," said Tom Brady, who threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns as New England routed San Diego 38-14 Sunday night.

Two sites ? one on Chula Vista's bayfront and the other on rolling open land on the city's east side ? are emerging as the leading candidates for a Chargers stadium in South County that could cost as much as $1 billion. The Chargers paid $220,000 to the design firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners to rank four locations in Chula Vista. The firm, based in New York, evaluated size, availability, parking potential, transportation access, environmental concerns and commercial development prospects.

Antonio Gates did not practice on Wednesday because of a back injury and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at New England. Gates had 107 yards and 1 touchdown in last Sunday's win versus the Bears.

Chargers' running back LaDainian Tomlinson is among those not surprised by allegations the Patriots used a camera to steal signs. ?I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, ?If you?re not cheatin, you?re not trying,? ? Tomlinson told reporters with a hearty laugh in San Diego yesterday. ?I mean, I think that?s the way they live off that statement. You keep hearing the different stories of people complaining about stuff that they do. So I?m not surprised.? Tomlinson mentioned the Dolphins and Jets and how ?they got a hold of a playbook or something.?

The Chargers didn't look like world-beaters. Against Rex Grossman and the bumbling Bears, they didn't have to. LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers finally took control of a sloppy season opener, with the reigning NFL MVP throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another in a 14-3 win over the defending NFC champion Bears. With expectations high for both teams, it was far from the marquee matchup that hyped-up fans expected. And if it was a Super Bowl preview, well, imagine how bad the ratings would be.

Shawne Merriman doesn't want to get drawn into a verbal exchange with the Bears. The defending NFC champions haven't been shy about goading Merriman in advance of Sunday's season opener at Qualcomm Stadium. "I would like to say a bunch of things," Merriman said Friday. "And that starts all the way to the top and all the way to the bottom. Things have been directed at me and toward my team. But for the sake of this team and what we're trying to accomplish, I haven't said anything. I don't know how long that can last, but I still keep trying."

Brian Urlacher rolled his eyes and then exhaled as if to say he wanted no part of a conversation about San Diego's Shawne Merriman. But the Bears linebacker couldn't dance around the subject long. Merriman's outrageous "Lights Out" bunny hop to celebrate a sack, a routine Merriman has vowed to tone down this season, indeed gets underneath Urlacher's skin. "The thing is, if you're going to do it, do it all the time," Urlacher said. "Do it when you make a bad play too. You'll never see me doing any stupid [stuff] like that after a play. The only thing I'll do is get a little happy with my teammates."

Nike at first wanted to use New England as the defense LaDainian Tomlinson carved up in his commercial that debuted last month. Tomlinson told them, ?No. Don't use New England or anyone like that.? But when he showed up for his Nike commercial shoot in May, he could only bury his head in his hands. ?They had Chicago jerseys,? he recalled yesterday, shaking his head and smiling.