There is no truth to rumors that the Chargers might trade linebacker Shawne Merriman, according to a report. "No truth to them. Just another bad rumor. @jbage12 Any more steam to Merriman to Saints rumors?," Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune wrote on his Twitter page.

The Chargers have landed the 12th pick from the Dolphins in a trade. San Diego used the pick to take Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews. Details on the trade are forthcoming.

A California safety agency investigating the fatal fall of a Chargers employee says more than a dozen viewing boxes at Qualcomm Stadium are unsafe and need protective barriers. The agency was investigating the Oct. 19 fall of Walt Daniels, who fell more than 20 feet from a coaches booth in the press box to stadium seats below. He died the next day.

LaDainian Tomlinson caused a stir last week when he said "everything was taken" from him in San Diego as the Chargers focused more on passing than running the football. He didn't back off those comments Thursday, but said it's now all in the past. "That was kind of my one time of speaking my piece and it being my opinion," Tomlinson said. "As a guy who gave so much to the organization for nine years, I felt like I could express my opinion. Now, I'm done with it and I really wish them the best -- until we play them."

Chargers running back Darren Sproles has signed his one-year, $7.2 million restricted free agent tender, according to a source. Sproles was San Diego's franchise player last season but the uncapped year prevented him from being a free agent because he didn't have six years of experience.

LaDainian Tomlinson said Thursday after a team workout that several factors led to his decreased production with the Chargers. "The things that happened in San Diego, everything was taken away from me," Tomlinson said. "There wasn't an emphasis on running the football anymore, my best fullback was gone, the linemen were pass blocking, and it was a passing quarterback and a passing coach. So, the situation's kind of misleading when you look on film." Tomlinson, who signed a two-year contract worth about $5.2 million with the Jets last month, has a point about the Chargers' offensive focus. He no longer was the center of San Diego's attack the last few seasons. Instead, coach Norv Turner increasingly allowed quarterback Philip Rivers to throw the ball down the field. Tomlinson, the eighth-leading rusher in NFL history, was cut in February after nine seasons in San Diego and a career-low 730 rushing yards and 3.3 yards per carry in 2009. There was speculation after the 2008 season that the Chargers might try to trade or even release Tomlinson, and he said he was unhappy with the team after last season. "To be honest with you, I felt like last year was going to be my last year in San Diego," Tomlinson said. "After the problems we had the previous year with the organization, I knew it was time to leave. The transition wasn't as hard because I kind of prepared myself for it, and I was ready to kind of move on to something else."

The Chargers? only acquisitions this offseason have involved claiming a running back off the scrap heap and bringing in two free-agent cornerbacks. ?We?re always looking, and nothing hit us,? General Manager A.J. Smith said this week when asked about not signing any unrestricted free agents yet again. ?I know that?s a disappointment for a lot of people.? Smith was quiet on most of his plans, but he could not deny the obvious. ?We?re in the market for running backs,? Smith said. ?Even I will not dance around the issue and have fun with the facts.?