Charger stars such as Rodney Harrison

The No. 2 tight end over the last four years has been Brandon Manumaleuna. However, the big-bodied blocker signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason. His role will now be filled by seven-year veteran Kris Wilson and newcomer Randy McMichael.

Wilson assumes Manumaleuna's mantle as the best blocking tight end on the roster. A former fullback, Wilson (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) will spend some time lined up in the backfield, serving as Philip Rivers' personal protector in obvious passing situations.

Wilson has shown he can make an impact as a receiver, as well. Last season, he scored a touchdown in San Diego's dramatic come-from-behind win over the New York Giants. He also found the end zone in the Chargers' playoff loss to the New York Jets.

Sharing snaps with Wilson will be Randy McMichael. A prolific receiver, Phillip Rivers  caught at least 34 passes in seven of his eight seasons, the lone exception coming two years ago when he missed 12 games with a foot injury. He caught at least 60 balls every year from 2004 to 2006 and should help the Chargers present some dangerous two-tight end sets.

If there was any question about how much the Chargers value Antonio Gates, it was answered emphatically when the team signed him to a five-year, $36 million deal that makes him the highest paid tight end in the NFL.

Gates is coming off one of his finest seasons, catching 79 balls for a career-high 1,157 yards and eight TDs. The asterisk, of course, is that Gates' huge receiving stats coincided with Vincent Jackson's breakout season. One of the reasons Gates was so successful was that No. 83 was able to draw defenders outside of the hashes and deep down the field, giving Gates more room to operate.

With Jackson out for at least three games and likely more, the dynamic will change. Will Gates' numbers decline because of the extra attention? Or will they increase now that he is the unquestioned No. 1 weapon on offense?

Regardless, Gates has averaged over 972 yards and nine touchdowns over the last six seasons, so it's safe

Earlier this month, New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson said he was not offended by the comments made by Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates, his former mates in San Diego.

Now he has told the Los Angeles Times that upon further review he is sort of offended.

"I thought they were my guys," said Tomlinson who believed the team made a decision to build around Rivers. "People always say, and my family has said it to me, that you know who your real friends are when you're at your lowest point and you don't have a job or whatever. And guys, they said what they felt, whether they were taking shots at me or really just saying what they felt needed to be said."

Tomlinson, 31, left San Diego after putting up Hall of Fame numbers but Rivers said "maybe it was a little bit of relief. Maybe it's a feeling of, 'I can do a little more without wondering what he thinks.' "

Gates said "sometimes you would get the sense that people felt bigger than the team. Not to say it was an issue, but we know it's not an issue for sure now."

Tomlinson was not offended by the team Darren Sproles unloading him saying he had seen the same thing happen to former Charger stars such as Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau and Drew Brees. He puts the blame on general manager A.J. Smith.

"It was a business thing. It would be hurtful if that organization didn't have a track record of doing that," the running back said. "That would be hurtful. But when you've seen it time and time again with guys that you've played with, and you see them leave town and you wonder why.