NFL's Chargers Flee Fires for Arizona

They left town because of the wildfires that chased many in the organization out of their homes, fouled the air and left Sunday's scheduled home game against the Houston Texans in doubt.

Their superstar running back knows his home survived the firestorm. Their general manager hasn't heard if he'll have a house to come home to.

While they spent Monday taking care of their families, it was time to get back to business.

"We need to get ready to play football," said general manager A.J. Smith, who evacuated his home and doesn't know if it's still standing.

The Chargers will practice at the Arizona Cardinals' headquarters in Tempe on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They packed for any eventuality, since the NFL and the Chargers are still debating what to do about Sunday's game.

Qualcomm Stadium is being used as an evacuation center. An estimated 10,000 people were there on Tuesday, under smoky skies.

"Our attitude is, we're going to practice for three days, and give us a buzz and let us know where we're going," Smith said as the Chargers lined up at their headquarters to board buses to the airport. "Wherever it is, or whatever day it is, we'll do the best we can to get a victory against Houston. That's where it's at."

The Cardinals have a bye Sunday, and their stadium, located in Glendale, is scheduled to host a motorcycle show Friday through Sunday afternoon.

Qualcomm Stadium general manager Erik Stover said the building can be ready to host an NFL game by Sunday, but it all depends on when the fires are contained.

"The longer it goes, the less likely," Stover said. "We're an evacuation site until we're no longer needed."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been meeting with Chargers president Dean Spanos and others. Goodell said the options include playing the game in Los Angeles, at Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium -- the Cardinals' former home -- at Texas Stadium in Dallas or Reliant Stadium, the Texans' home field.

The precedent for playing at Reliant Stadium would be the New Orleans Saints playing a "home" game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands after Hurricane Katrina. That move was later criticized.

Regardless, flying to Arizona is a drill familiar to 15 players on the active roster.

Four years ago to the week, the Chargers were forced to move a Monday night game against Miami -- and Junior Seau's much-anticipated homecoming -- to Tempe on short notice because of deadly wildfires. As it is now, Qualcomm was being used as an evacuation center and the air quality was awful.

"It's a little weird," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "It wasn't expected. Two times in my career. You're just thankful you haven't lost a house. This is the closest I've come to losing one, though. It was burning on my property line."

Tomlinson and his wife had to flee their suburban home early Monday.

Some 46 players, coaches and staff members had to evacuate, including coach Norv Turner and quarterback Philip Rivers.

AP Football Writer Dave Goldberg in Philadelphia contributed to this story.