A Brave New World

By BlueandGold BoltTalk Contributor After an offseason of change, a retooled Charger team and fanbase look forward On February 22nd, 2010, Dean Spanos met with LaDainian Tomlinson to let him know that the Chargers were releasing him. It was nearly 9 years after the team selected him in the 2001 NFL draft, beginning what may be the team’s greatest decade. LT’s domination of the NFL, as well as the hearts of all San Diego fans, served as the face of a resurgent Charger franchise. The nine years of his tenure saw the team achieve 5 playoff appearances and 5 AFC West Championships, one of the best cumulative records in football, national recognition, and a 13-game winning streak against the arch-rival Oakland Raiders that has yet to end. It was an era that began under player-beloved Mike Riley, and ended under fan-hated Norv Turner. The year 2001 saw Ryan Leaf tear Charger fans’ hearts asunder; the year 2009 saw Philip Rivers tear NFL defenses asunder. It began with General Manage...