This is just fuel to the ire

SAN DIEGO - Already on record as calling the Patriots classless, Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson yesterday ratcheted up his enmity for Bill Belichick & Co. after learning that the NFL is investigating whether the Patriots spied on the Jets in Sunday's victory at the Meadowlands.

"I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, 'If you're not cheating, you're not trying,' " Tomlinson said at the Chargers practice facility yesterday.

Tomlinson, whose Chargers play the Patriots Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, suggested that this is the latest in a series of events that has raised questions about the integrity of Belichick's team.

"I'm not surprised because you keep hearing different stories of people complaining about stuff they do," Tomlinson said.

Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman also expressed little surprise at the allegations.

"It happens in football," he said. "I don't know what teams do it or how it happens, but I'm pretty sure it happens if someone is looking to gain an edge. I don't look at it as the right thing to do."

Merriman added jokingly, "They probably have a camera in my locker."

In last season's playoffs, many San Diego players were livid at what they considered a disrespectful celebration by Patriots players after New England's 24-21 victory over the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

"They showed no class at all," Tomlinson told reporters at the time.

Asked if he still considers the Patriots classless, Tomlinson said, "I guess I'm at the point where it really doesn't matter how I feel about them. I just want to beat them."

Tomlinson left little doubt, however, that he has neither forgotten nor forgiven the celebration. Nor have some of his teammates.

"How I look at that, I don't forget things," Merriman said. "You never forget. But it doesn't add any motivation to play any harder after what they did last year. I was going to play hard in the first place."

Respect for Harrison

Merriman has little love for the Patriots, but he seems to have a place in his heart for Rodney Harrison. They share the distinction of drawing four-game suspensions for violating the NFL's policy on banned substances. Merriman led the NFL last season with 17 sacks and made the Pro Bowl despite sitting out Weeks 8 through 11 after he tested positive for a banned substance.

Chargers fullback Andrew Pinnock also received a four-game suspension in 2004, and defensive end Luis Castillo tested positive for steroids during the NFL scouting combine in 2005.

Merriman apologized last year for his positive test but attributed it to unwittingly ingesting a tainted nutritional supplement. Yesterday, he praised Harrison for acknowledging his violation. Harrison will not be eligible to play until the Patriots face the Browns Oct. 7 in Foxborough.

"I don't know him personally, but I hear he is a great person," Merriman said. "He made a mistake and came out front on it and you can only respect the man for that. I just hope for the day when everybody, including him, moves past it so I can start watching him play again. I've enjoyed watching him play for a lot of years."

Their Maine man

A new linchpin in the Chargers defense grew up in Wareham, Mass., and starred at the University of Maine. Stephen Cooper, stepping in at inside linebacker for the retired Randall Godfrey, entered the season as one of the few question marks on a team stacked with returning starters. Emerging as a regular for the first time in his five-year career, Cooper led the defense with eight tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in San Diego's 14-3 victory Sunday over the Bears. "This is the last step for me as an NFL football player, being a starter and showing everybody I can play this game," Cooper said. He is scrambling to find 40 tickets for Sunday's game in Foxborough for family and friends . . . Sunday's game also will be a homecoming for San Diego defensive end Jacques Cesaire, who played at Gardner (Mass.) High School and Southern Connecticut State . . . The Patriots offensive line may draw some extra motivation from a new Nike commercial in which Merriman flattens an actor playing a Patriot quarterback. Merriman failed to sack Tom Brady in last January's divisional playoff game. "He's very smart and knows how to stay away from guys like myself," Merriman said.