Tomlinson's mouth still running

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson reiterated comments he made after Sunday's game, saying yesterday that he felt the Patriots didn't act with class after their victory.

"When you're a three-time Super Bowl champion, I just wouldn't think you would need to act that way," said Tomlinson, when asked if his feelings had changed. "But obviously that's the way they reacted to it and there's nothing we can do about it. My whole thing is just, you won the game and that was great. And we were obviously just going to congratulate them on going on, but when you start to further disrespect us, in my mind, you just don't do that.

"Not with athletes, anyway, because we're out competing, and what message do you want to send our kids? Is that the way you react after a win? In my opinion, that's not the way you react.

"I wasn't going to go over and do anything crazy. I was just going to tell the guy, 'Don't disrespect us on our field, you guys won the game, congratulations.' I think the Patriot guys kind of blew it up a little bit more by holding me back like I was going to attack the guy or something."

Tomlinson said he was set to approach cornerback Ellis Hobbs, whom he felt had taken the celebration too far. Tomlinson had said Sunday that the Patriots' showed "no class, and maybe it comes from the head coach."

Patriots defensive end Ty Warren said he understood why Tomlinson was upset with parts of the celebration but didn't agree with some of the comments.

"Some of the extra stuff we did after we won, we could have restrained from doing, I agree with that," Warren said. "But I don't agree with him saying that is the coach's fault. Coach [Bill ] Belichick doesn't condone that. I'm not jumping on [Tomlinson's] side, just being truthful. Some of the things we did could have been restrained, but anything that has to do with Bill, he's just out there celebrating with his kids, that's just emotions overflowing."

Tomlinson was asked about the possibility of being coached by Belichick in the Pro Bowl, which could happen if the Patriots lose the AFC Championship game.

"It will be pretty interesting," he said. "I don't know how that would go over, but obviously I probably wouldn't say two words to him. I definitely wouldn't. In the heat of the moment and competitive nature, sometimes you say things. I don't know if that's where they get it from, the coach or not.

"From my standpoint, Marty [ Schottenheimer] always tells us after the game to act like we've been there before. That's something that your coach always tells you. To me, if guys are acting like that, then it comes from top to bottom, in my opinion. Now I may be wrong.

"A lot of things that happened in the past and things that have been said, there's been a lot of stuff that's been going back and forth. It's been building, a little bit up to this point, the whole disrespect thing. It's not just something that happened yesterday. It's been building a little while."

When asked during his regular appearance on WEEI yesterday about Tomlinson's remarks, Belichick said only that he had respect for Tomlinson.

Safety Rodney Harrison, who has missed the two playoff games with a knee injury, was at the airport yesterday, set to return to New England after remaining at home with his wife, Erika. The couple had their second child last week.

Harrison's return to town doesn't necessarily mean he'll be ready to suit up for Sunday's AFC Championship game, although it's certainly a better sign than him remaining at home.

Harrison, who sprained his right medial collateral ligament in the season finale Dec. 31, has been declared out of the last two playoff games at the start of each week. The Patriots' next injury report will come out tomorrow afternoon.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Stephen Gostkowski became the first rookie to kick a game-winning field goal in the playoffs since the 1970 season, when Jim O'Brien booted a 32-yard field goal in Super Bowl V to give the Colts a 16-13 victory over Dallas. A game-winning field goal is defined a kick in the fourth quarter that provides the margin of victory. Gostkowski's game-winner was from 31 yards . . . After totaling 79 rushing yards on 14 carries in the first half -- as well as two catches for 64 yards -- Tomlinson ended up with only nine "touches" in the second half . . . Receiver Reche Caldwell played all but three of the Patriots' offensive snaps -- missing only the final three on which the Patriots were killing the clock and setting up their final field goal. Fellow receiver Jabar Gaffney played all but four . . . It was learned after the game that fullback Heath Evans, who missed parts of two practices last week with a shin injury, had spent considerable time in the hospital last week for an undisclosed illness. Tedy Bruschi cited his play as an example of courage . . . The Patriots arrived at Gillette Stadium around 5 a.m. yesterday, and players were given the day off . . . NFL Network will replay the Patriots-Chargers game tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@ globe.com.