Well…they did it. We all expected it and they did it. The San Diego Chargers released 30-year-old running back LaDainian Tomlinson last Tuesday.

The man who kept the electricity in the Chargers offense for the past eight years will be looking for a new home over the course of the next few weeks but he shouldn’t have to look too hard. There are a plethora of teams that should be willing to glance in L.T.’s direction for next season.

Before we get into where the 12,490-career rushing yards holder will end up, we should have a bit of objectivity on the subject. The man who leveled the playing field in the AFC West and once stepped into the end zone 31 times in a season, is no longer the same guy.

Last season Tomlinson’s rushing average dropped below 3.6 yards for the first time in his illustrious career and he also missed two games for the first time. Whoever gets him will not be getting a 24-year-old lightning bolt; they will be getting one of the best running backs to never win a Super bowl and guy who can play into a role and improve any team beyond where they are now.

So, where might the former TCU Horned Frog end up? Here are a couple of premature ideas.

Minnesota Vikings- The Viks are in limbo with quality back-up Chester Taylor with all indications pointing toward release and the chances of them picking up someone for less cash to supplement Adrian Peterson are good. They reportedly are also looking at Brian Westbrook, which could be nice for them, but imagine Bret Favre and L.T on the same squad. Two old guys with nothing to loose and everything to prove—could be nightmare for defensive coordinators.

San Francisco 49ers- Frank Gore is a stud. But, he has had problems with staying healthy and second on the depth chart, Glen Coffee, only averaged 2.7 yards per carry last season in his rookie year. While Coffee will get better and Gore will continue to be a threat, the Niners want to run, run, run the ball. A third ball carrier behind a growing quarterback like Alex Smith will allow more play-action and ball control. With Crabtree stretching the field and L.T., Gore and Coffee each having a unique style and different skill set, the Niners could and should move past Arizona in their division.

Houston Texans-Gary Kubiak has gotten plenty of looks at Tomlinson in his years in the AFC West and knows what he is capable of. Last season the Texans had zero rushers pass the 500-yard mark, that’s not going to be enough in the competitive AFC South. Adding Tomlinson would at least give them someone who can elevate the offense past the passing game. He could also help develop Steve Slaton and give a change of pace in the running game while also serving as a decoy for defenses. No matter how time and wear has taken him from the best to where he now, every player on defense will want to know where he’s at.

Kansas City Chiefs- We have to explore the idea that a division rival will want everything about the Chargers that’s stored in Tomlinson’s head. Not to mention his skill and possible mentoring of Jamaal Charles like he did with Atlanta super stud Michael Turner before he departed from the west coast. Having a guy who knows the NFL and how to run talking to Charles on the sidelines will go a long way. The Chiefs are kind of mess right now regarding personnel. They have a ton of young players who are expected to be great one day, but for now they need leadership and skill that can win them a few games and fill one of the most intimidating stadiums in the country. Having L.T. on the squad is invaluable and the Chief’s should realize that--he’s been running them over for almost a decade.

New York Giants- The Giants went to a Super Bowl based on their exemplary defense and running attack. Both of those clock controlling factors have limited the success New York can reach going into the future. Brandon Jacobs is the beast, Ahmad Bradshaw is the fast and pass catcher, and L.T. could be a complement to both those styles. When the Giants went from a three-man to a two-man backfield, they also went from 2,518 rushing yards to 1,837. This could be the best fit for Tomlinson. A place where all the rushing won’t be placed on his worn legs and there is still a chance to make a Super Bowl seems like a perfect fit for L.T.

Wherever he ends up he’ll do fine. He’s set records. He dodges everybody. And he will want to prove that his time being the best and being the classiest was well spent, but he’ll also want to prove that being old and being a role player doesn’t mean he won’t still strike fear in the helmets of linebackers for at least one more year.