Ladainian Tomlinson

Bad franchises often repeat their mistakes, so it comes as no surprise the San Diego Chargers are a virtual lock to trade the top pick in the NFL draft sometime in the next 14 days. The Chargers are a bad franchise for a good reason. They haven't capitalized on their biggest personnel resource - first-round draft choices - during the past decade. In their past 10 drafts, the Chargers' first-round picks have produced two Pro Bowl players - running backs Natrone Means (drafted in 1993 with picks that included a first in 1994)

The Chicago Bears caught it all this season - injuries, a quarterback controversy, a tougher schedule and the dreaded Super Bowl jinx. When the defending NFC champions slipped to 1-3 yesterday with a bizarre 37-27 loss to the Detroit Lions, they were merely following a script that has afflicted several previous Super Bowl losers. Six of the past eight teams that lost the Super Bowl didn't reach the playoffs the next season. Roll call includes the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Some visuals just take getting used to. It was that way with Brett Favre in purple, or Donovan McNabb in burgundy. And it's that way with LaDainian Tomlinson in Jets green, a guy who for so long was synonymous with the Chargers. For Tomlinson, it isn't odd at all. He says he saw his road coming to an end in San Diego at least a couple of years ago. "I'm not going to say I wasn't happy, but I started to see my departure out of San Diego way before you guys did," he told a reporter during a break between training-camp practices.

Saturday's games LIONS@SAINTS LIONS -- Questionable: RB Kevin Jones (elbow); LB Nate Wayne (ankle). Probable: CB Dre' Bly (wrist); DE Cory Redding (illness); DT Shaun Rogers (shoulder). SAINTS -- Out: DE Darren Howard (knee). Questionable: C LeCharles Bentley (elbow); T Wayne Gandy (calf); WR Az-Zahir Hakim (hip); LB Sedrick Hodge (ankle); G Kendyl Jacox (knee); G Jermane Mayberry (elbow). JAGUARS@TEXANS JAGUARS -- Out: QB Byron Leftwich (ankle). Questionable: RB Rich Alexis (groin)

During yesterday's practice, several Ravens players were questioning middle linebacker Ray Lewis about whether there will be any changes to his much-anticipated pre-game dance, which is expected to return Sunday after a yearlong hiatus. Lewis' response: His attention has been on the moves of San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson and not his own. Chargers@Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m., chs. 13, 9, 97.9 FM Line: Chargers by 2 1/2

STEELERS (2-1) @CHARGERS (2-2) Time, TV, Line -- 9 p.m., Chs. 2, 7, Chargers by 3 Trends -- It's a stage made to order for the Steelers. They're 16-6 on Monday Night Football since the 1992 season, and they've won eight straight road games going back to last season. They've won three of their past four after a bye week, as well. Attractions -- The Chargers' offense was overwhelming the past two weeks in wins over the Giants and Patriots. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for a total of 326 in those games and Drew Brees passed for four touchdowns.

EAGLES (7-6) @ GIANTS (7-6) Time, TV -- 4:15 p.m., chs. 45, 5 Line -- Giants by 5 1/2 . Key stat -- Giants have won the past three meetings in the series. The buzz -- QB Eli Manning has shaken out of a slump, which should be enough for the Giants to stay alive in the NFC wild-card race. Eagles QB Jeff Garcia can't keep playing this well ... can he? CHIEFS (7-6) @ CHARGERS (11-2) Time, TV -- 8:15 p.m., chs. 11, 4 Line -- Chargers by 8 1/2 . Key stat -- Chargers are 6-0 at home. The buzz -- Chiefs RB Larry Johnson will have a harder time picking up yards than will Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who leads a hungry team that is closing in on home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Tomlinson not squeezed out Remember all that talk in September about how San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was the latest star ball-carrier to get used up like a tube of toothpaste that has been squeezed empty? After the first three games of the season, Tomlinson had a total of rushing 130 yards for an anemic 2.3-yard average and one measly touchdown. Well, as Mark Twain might have observed, reports of Mr. Tomlinson's demise were greatly exaggerated. In the past 10 games, LT has been a fantasy league superstar (and kept the Chargers alive in the playoff hunt)

1 AL only: Junior circuit only in tonight's baseball playoffs (all on TBS). First, it's the Pale Hose vs. Stinging Sea Creatures (6:07), then the Hub Nine vs. Seraphs (9:37). 2 Double shot: ESPN Classic presents two LTs in back-to-back 60 Minutes replays (9 p.m.) - Lawrence Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson. Only one can be LT. (BLT?) 3 Conference call: Loyola women's soccer opens conference play home against Iona (4:30 p.m.). Iona College? So what, I own a Buick. 4 Hawks on top: Can No. 1 River Hill be derailed in football?

As far as the Ravens are concerned, any talk about the Kansas City Chiefs' offense begins and ends with running back Larry Johnson. The Ravens have faced other quality backs this season, such as Pittsburgh's Willie Parker and Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson. They also handled the league's top runner and player in San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, thanks in part to the conservative approach of Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. But Larry Johnson is the prototype for big backs. He is that rare combination of power and speed who might someday scratch the surface of the group that includes Jim Brown and Earl Campbell.