San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson saved the Chargers $2.25 million in salary-cap room after he restructured the final three years of his contract, a source confirmed yesterday, according to www.ESPN.com.

Tomlinson was scheduled to make $24 million over the final three years of his contract. Under the new deal, the Chargers gave him a $2.875 million signing bonus and lowered his base salary to $3.825 million, a source said. In so doing, Tomlinson was able to keep the 2009 payout of his contract at $6.725 million.

That $6.725 million payout number was important because Darren Sproles, his backup, was given the franchise designation and is scheduled to make a little more than $6.6 million this season. Under the revised contract, Tomlinson, who is the starter, is making the most money among the running backs.

In return for preserving his 2009 salary, Tomlinson reduced the overall payout of his three-year contract to $6.625 million, a $1.375 million savings. Tomlinson has a $2 million option bonus due after the season, which forces the team to make a decision if it wants to keep him for the 2010 season.

SCHEDULE

STEELERS, TITANS WILL OPEN 2009 SEASON

The Pittsburgh Steelers get their opening-night showcase as Super Bowl champions. The oldest rivalry in football has a first-week renewal in prime time. An old AFL-style doubleheader closes out the weekend.

That's how the NFL will begin the 2009 season, starting with as juicy a matchup as possible: Pittsburgh hosting the Tennessee Titans, who merely had the league's best record in 2008 and who beat the Steelers, 31-14, in the 15th game of the season.

Opening kickoff is Thursday night, Sept. 10 on NBC, which also gets the 178th meeting between the Bears and Packers, in Green Bay on Sunday night, Sept. 13.

The Monday night doubleheader on ESPN on Sept. 14 will feature Buffalo, with Terrell Owens, at New England. That game will be followed by San Diego at Oakland — all original AFL franchises.

BILLS

T.O. SKIPS BUFFALO'S VOLUNTARY PROGRAM

T.O. was a no-show yesterday for the start of the Bills' voluntary offseason conditioning program.

That didn't stop his new teammates from eagerly awaiting Terrell Owens' arrival — whenever that might occur — and even getting in a laugh or two.

"I'm really excited about meeting the guy," center Geoff Hangartner said. "I've heard he's a great teammate."

Hangartner, who signed with the Bills on Feb. 28, even got a joke in at Owens' expense, saying: "I'm pretty angry about it really. I figured all along I'd be like the big-name free-agent signing."

It's not clear whether Owens will attend the team's voluntary minicamps set to start in May.

BRONCOS

COACH SAYS CUTLER IS HIS STARTING QB

The Broncos may be listening to offers for disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler at the NFL owners meetings this week at Dana Point, Calif. If coach Josh McDaniels has his way, though, they'll try to work things out to keep Cutler in Denver.

"He's our quarterback. We can't predict the future. He's our quarterback, we want him to be our quarterback, we made that very clear to him and we hope he feels the same way," McDaniels told the NFL Network yesterday, a day before he speaks publicly about the feud for the first time.

Their relationship was strained when McDaniels failed to inform his Pro Bowl quarterback before trying to trade him for Matt Cassel, whom he tutored as New England's offensive coordinator last year. Cutler asked for a trade through his agent after two meetings failed to soothe his hurt feelings.