WACO, Texas — LaDainian Tomlinson wants to break Emmitt Smith's rushing record, and he wants to do it in a San Diego Chargers uniform.

The Chargers have been negotiating with Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, about restructuring Tomlinson's deal. He is scheduled to make $6.7 million in 2009, while counting $8.8 million against the salary cap.

The Chargers, who have placed the franchise tag on Tomlinson's backup, Darren Sproles, could release Tomlinson if they can't reach an agreement with his agent.

"I am optimistic (a restructure) will happen," Tomlinson said. "But again, I'm realistic about certain things, and I understand, it is a business. Sometimes business decisions are made that are out of our control. But my heart wants to stay in San Diego."

Tomlinson, 29, was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday along with former Dallas Mavericks standout Rolando Blackman and former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. Also inducted: Bill Bradley, Abe Lemons (posthumous), Kyle Rote Jr. and Steve Worster.

Tomlinson, a Waco University and TCU product, is headed toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has 11,760 yards in his eight seasons, 6,595 behind Smith's NFL record.

"I think anything is realistic," Tomlinson said of the record. "Emmitt is obviously somebody I've looked up to for a long time. I think that's one of the things for me: Before, I never really thought about it, but now the more I get closer to it, and the more I talk to him, I don't want to finish up and say, 'Why didn't I try to get it?' "

Tomlinson has averaged 1,470 yards per season, meaning he likely would need another five seasons to break Smith's record. Tomlinson told ESPN last year he didn't anticipate playing after his current contract expires at the end of the 2011 season.

"I feel I'll probably play more," Tomlinson said Wednesday. "I'm not going to say I'm going to stop playing after this contract. I always said I would never finish before that. ... I've got a lot (left) in me."

Tomlinson had one of his worst seasons statistically last season, with 1,236 yards, 3.6 yards per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns. But a sore big toe hampered him most of the season. It is that, he insists, and not old age that slowed him last season.

"People say I lost a step, and I had 1,200 yards with a hurt toe the whole year," said Tomlinson, who had never missed a game because of injury until a strained groin kept him out of the divisional playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. "If that's lost a step, then it is, but I think next year we'll be able to tell a lot."

Whether that's in San Diego remains to be seen. Tomlinson said he is hoping a decision will come soon.

"I don't think there's any question I would love to (finish in San Diego)," Tomlinson said. "It would be really special to do what Walter Payton did. He's obviously somebody I admired as a young man and inspired to be like that. Obviously going after Emmitt's record, it would be great to do it in the same uniform."