L.T. and the Chargers agreed to a renegotiated deal that gives the team salary cap relief. The Chargers confirmed the agreement Tuesday night. Financial terms weren't immediately available for the three-year contract.

Tomlinson was slowed during the regular season with a toe injury, then hurt his groin in the season finale. He was forced out of an overtime playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts and sat out against the Steelers, the first game he'd missed due to injury in his brilliant eight-year career.

It was the second straight year his postseason was cut short by injury. That, coupled with the fact Tomlinson turns 30 this summer, raised questions about how long he would be a Charger. The team said it needed salary cap relief in order to sign other players to contract extensions, and it zeroed in on Tomlinson's deal.

While his 1,110 yards rushing were the lowest of his brilliant eight-year career, Tomlinson still finished fourth in the AFC and 10th in the NFL.

The new deal came three weeks after the Chargers put the non-exclusive franchise tag on Darren Sproles, virtually assuring the speedy little running back/returner will be back next season. If Sproles and the Chargers don't negotiate a long-term deal, he'll make $6.62 million next year.

Tomlinson was voted the NFL MVP in 2006, when he set league records with 31 touchdowns - 28 rushing - and 186 points. He also won the first of two straight league rushing titles with a career-high 1,815 yards.