NFL

The San Diego Chargers have released the face of the franchise, RB LaDainian Tomlinson. The Bolts are off the hook for his $2 million bonus and $3M in salary and will dramatically overhaul their backfield this spring. Darren Sproles is a restricted free agent who will command nearly $7M to retain and 32-year-old No. 3 back Michael Bennett is due a $1.25M salary.

While LT’s release may seem like a sad ending to a Hall of Fame Chargers career, he didn’t make it smooth by ripping the franchise and refusing to take a pay cut despite obviously declining skills. Tomlinson averaged 3.3 YPC last year and turns 31 in June.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

New Orleans: ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Len Pasquarelli report that the New Orleans Saints will not use the franchise tag on free agent Darren Sharper. “He’ll be a free agent,” Schefter said Monday, after NFL.com’s Steve Wyche reported last week that Sharper would be tagged.

The franchise deadline is Thursday. New Orleans’ decision may hinge on its ability to sign Sharper to a cheaper deal and/or confidence in Usama Young and 2009 first-round pick Malcolm Jenkins, who are both candidates to take over at free safety.

Green Bay: Packers beat writer Greg Bedard expects restricted free agent FS Nick Collins to hold out “for real” this offseason. This is assuming the Green Bay Packers don’t sign Collins long term, and instead extend him a restricted free agent tender. Aside from his play, obviously elite with 13 INTs over the last two years, Collins has no leverage other than his ability to hold out. Collins is only 26 and has earned a top contract for a safety, so it would be nice to see GM Ted Thompson step up in this case.

Carolina: An NFL executive told SI’s Peter King that he will be “surprised” if Julius Peppers gets $10 million a year in free agency. For comparison, Jared Allen makes over $12M annually. If the exec is right, Peppers may have to settle for a below-market deal despite the forthcoming uncapped year. The development would be a major disappointment for Peppers, who Carolina previously offered to make the NFL’s richest defender.

Buffalo: Newsday’s Bob Glauber reports that the Bengals will not sign free agent Terrell Owens this offseason. Glauber interestingly adds that Cincinnati Bengals “regrets” signing Laveranues Coles last offseason, and won’t repeat the mistake of going after a wide receiver in career decline. Owens has not been linked to any other teams to this point.

2010 NFL Draft: NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has Carlos Dunlap of Florida rated No. 4 among defensive ends for the 2010 NFL Draft. Mayock has USF’s Jason Pierre-Paul first, Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan second, Michigan’s Brandon Graham third, and USC’s Everson Griffen fifth. Dunlap was hailed as a top-ten pick immediately after he declared early for the draft, but his stock has slipped since pleading no contest to a DUI charge on December 1. Dunlap’s play-to-play effort is also in question.