Steve Silverman

The theory goes that at the end of every season, 31 of the 32 teams in Roger Goodell’s empire will be unhappy. There’s only one Super Bowl champion so everyone else will be disappointed.

The San Diego Chargers may not have been holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of last season, but general manager A.J. Smith and head coach Norv Turner had every reason to be feeling good. Their team started the season dropping three of its first four games and was just 5-5 after a mid-November loss at Jacksonville. Just when it appeared the Chargers had gone from elite AFC team to the kings of mediocrity, they reeled off six straight wins to close the regular season.

Wins over Tennessee (expected) and at Indianapolis (shocking) followed in the postseason and earned San Diego an AFC title game appearance at New England. Despite injuries to Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates on the offensive side, the Chargers trailed just 14-12 in the fourth quarter before dropping a 21-12 decision.

They may have fallen short of going to the Super Bowl, but Turner and Smith could sit back in a private moment and give each other a pat on the back.

But what of the 2008 season? Can the Chargers pick up from where they left off or will the terrain prove to be too treacherous?

Here’s the issue for the Chargers: Rivers had knee surgery; Gates had toe surgery; Tomlinson did not go under the knife but he has an MCL injury and center Nick Hardwick had foot surgery. On the defensive side, nose tackle Jamal Williams had arthroscopic surgery on both knees while stud OLB Shawne Merriman had knee surgery.

Start off with Tomlinson. On the sidelines for much of the playoff win over the Colts and the AFC title game loss to the Patriots, Tomlinson heard whispers. Supposed insiders thought Tomlinson could have been on the field more in both games, using whatever strength he had left to get the Chargers to the promised land.

But in his mind and heart, Tomlinson knew he didn’t have enough to help the team. Certainly not more than former No. 2 back Michael Turner (now in Atlanta). The thought that Tomlinson lacked the toughness or heart to play injured angered the running back to his core and spurred him to push himself even harder than usual during the offseason.

“I understand what was said and all it has done is motivate me,” Tomlinson said. “Any time in my life that I have heard criticism or been told I couldn’t do something it has only served to push me harder.”

Tomlinson has been the best all-around back in the NFL. He has won two consecutive rushing titles (1,474 yards with 15 rushing TDs last season) and is a superb receiver and blocker. He has looked extra sharp in training camp this season but he is a workhorse of a back who will undoubtedly dish out and take a ton of punishment this year. How well the MCL will hold up in the latter stages of the season will be determined. (Pay no attention to the “groin injury” listed on the NFL injury report. That’s merely poppycock designed to keep Tomlinson out of the preseason lineup.)

There are no questions about Rivers’ toughness, leadership ability or talent. After tearing his right ACL in the playoff win over the Colts, Rivers managed to play well against the Pats in the AFC championship game. He had surgery shortly after, but by gutting it out against the Pats he has won the admiration of the Chargers coaches and fans that will last until … the team’s next two-game losing streak.

In training camp, Rivers is wearing a brace to protect that right knee. That’s the only sign that Rivers is coming off an injury. His passes are sharp and accurate and he is leading the team with the ease of a Bob Costas segue on an Olympic broadcast. He has command and respect in the locker room.