Ryan Mathews, who has been part of a committee approach in his first two seasons with the Chargers, is preparing for a bigger role in 2012. In the last two years, Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert have left San Diego, clearing the way for Mathews to get a majority of the carries. Mathews had 222 carries for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns last season, adding 50 receptions for 455 yards out of the backfield. "I personally think he's ready to take that next step," coach Norv Turner said. "That means, to me, the production goes way up, and he's more of the guy that is on the field most of the time. I think he's grown a lot in terms of understanding his responsibility when the ball is in his hand."

A San Diego restaurant opened by Junior Seau in 1996 has closed its doors two weeks after the NFL star's suicide. Trustees of Seau's estate say they made the decision to close Seau's The Restaurant in Mission Valley on Wednesday. The decision to close the restaurant was made to honor Seau's legacy. Trustees felt the restaurant's future profitability could be in question without Seau's leadership.

The home of NFL legend Junior Seau was burglarized last week, only five days after the former Chargers linebacker committed suicide inside the house, according to police. Someone reportedly forcibly entered the Oceanside home's garage through the doggy door at roughly 2 p.m. PT on May 7. The thief went through the cabinets before stealing a bicycle worth around $500 that was the property of a friend of Seau. Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest May 2 in a spare bedroom of his house, where his girlfriend discovered him.

Former Chargers stars Dan Fouts, Rodney Harrison, and LaDainian Tomlinson are scheduled to speak at a memorial service for Junior Seau on Friday evening at Qualcomm Stadium. Also scheduled to speak are former Chargers coach Bobby Ross and former NFL safety John Lynch.

County officials say the body of Junior Seau was released to his family this weekend after undergoing an autopsy. The North County Times reports researchers have expressed interest in studying Seau's brain, which might have suffered concussions during his long football career.

The Chargers have released outside linebacker Travis LaBoy. LaBoy joined the Chargers in 2011 as an unrestricted free agent. He played and started 14 games, finishing the season with 47 tackles and one sack.

The Hall of Fame career of LaDainian Tomlinson may be over. Tomlinson told Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter that he is "95 percent retired." The running back would only return to the game for the right situation and team.

The Chargers are interested in bringing back free-agent cornerback Drayton Florence, according to sources. Florence was cut loose by the Bills on Friday. San Diego has interest in the corner to add depth to the defensive backfield and step in at nickelback. Florence left the Chargers for the Jaguars as a free agent following the 2007 season. He played one season in Jacksonville before getting cut and landing Buffalo.

Former NFL great Junior Seau, who played most of his career at linebacker for the Chargers, has died. He was 43. "Everyone at the Chargers is in complete shock and disbelief right now. We ask everyone to stop what they're doing and send their prayers to Junior and his family," the team said in a statement. The San Diego Union Tribune reported a 911 call came from Seau's Oceanside home at 10 a.m. local time.

The Chargers have agreed to a one-year contract with offensive lineman Rex Hadnot. Hadnot spent the past two seasons with Arizona, starting all 16 games at right guard last season.