The Denver Broncos and the its fans know about the recently-retired LaDainian Tomlinson all too well after his nine-year romp through the AFC West, but there was slight chance he would have returned to the division this season ... with the Denver Broncos! That's what Tomlinson told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune recently, and why would one of the greatest running backs of all time have considered that? Peyton Manning, of course:

"The only team I really gave a thought to was the Broncos, because of Peyton," Tomlinson said Saturday, referring, of course, to Denver’s signing of quarterback Peyton Manning.

But, in the end, Tomlinson had always wanted to win a Super Bowl with the Chargers. With that not happening and the Broncos, well, being the Broncos, Tomlinson said goodbye to the gridiron. As Tomlinson said about wearing Broncos orange:

"[...] At the end of the day I was thinking, ‘I can’t do that.’ It’s not as bad as being a Raider -- but almost."

Nothing wrong with poking the Raiders there!