Could Darren Sproles Force LaDainian Tomlinson Out of San Diego?

What a difference two games makes.

Only in the NFL can an undersized and underutilized player force questions about the future of a player who's had a Hall of Fame career.

According to Jason Whitlock, Darren Sproles' emergence in San Diego's last two games is enough for LaDainian Tomlinson to be forced out of his job with the Chargers.

Seriously, Jason?

Listen, I was angry with L.T. after the Colts game, too. But let's not be irresponsible. Sproles' body of work over the last two games was magnificent, but by no means should that signify the end of Tomlinson's career with the Chargers.

Darren Sproles proved a lot over the last two games. He proved he's shifty, swift, and elusive. He proved that at 5'6", he can be a feature back in this league. 

But he's not Tomlinson. Not close, and not yet.

L.T.'s recent issues with injuries may be a cause for concern, but they're not trade-block worthy. It's not to the point where they need to sever ties with the man who's been synonymous with Chargers football in favor of a guy with two good games.

No one's doubting Sproles' ability. And the fact that he hits the market in March has to be a concern for Chargers' fans that would love to keep him around. He's come in with the freshest of legs, and he's produced at the right time for San Diego.

Why wouldn't he be franchised and kept alongside Tomlinson? Unless he's reworked his contract, L.T. only counts as $6.725 million against the cap in 2009. That doesn't make it impossible to carry both players.

Now that Sproles has shown that he can be that guy if needed, imagine how much more he'll be utilized as a complement to LT in the future.

To even suggest that Tomlinson be shipped off to another team is an insult to the injuries he's sustained making that team a contender.

And now that San Diego has a quarterback who can win games on his own, Whitlock believes it's time to look towards a future without L.T.? Why can't L.T. have the benefit of being a Charger when the team finally has help around him?

This is a trade-happy NFL. It's a league chocked full of premature decisions and irrational dealings.

If L.T. is the warrior his fans say he is, maybe giving him a back like Sproles to take some of the pressure off will keep him fresh in the playoffs. Maybe I won't have to question his heart, too.

But in a league where legends are pushed out ahead of time in favor of everyone's favorite backup, maybe it is time to show some more respect.

Or did his years of greatness help everyone forget who the Chargers were before LaDainian arrived?