Melvin Gordon’s frustration beginning to show for Chargers

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Melvin Gordon has been frustrated for a long time.

First, over a holdout for a contract extension that was not successful and then over his slow start once he returned to the Los Angeles Chargers.

But the running back did two things last Sunday that he considers inexcusable. He fumbled at the goal line against Tennessee, costing his team a chance at a win, and he let his emotions show.

When Gordon’s fumble allowed the Titans to hang on for a 23-20 victory, the frustration of the past four months finally boiled over. Gordon covered his face with a towel on the sideline and broke down. On Monday he refused to admit if he had been crying.

“One thing I hate most about Sunday is I let you all see me sweat,” Gordon said. “You’re never supposed to let them see you sweat or show emotion out there.”

Gordon’s return was supposed to provide another playmaker for the Chargers offense. Instead, it has been one of many struggles for a team that has lost three straight and is 2-5 going into Sunday’s game at Chicago.

When asked if he would have held out if given a chance to do it again, Gordon said he didn’t know if he could answer that.

“I know I won’t miss another training camp again. I can tell you that,” he said. “If I was to go back, I can’t say. With the running back thing and all, we want to get paid.

That’s tough.”

But Gordon also realizes that holding out for two months has put him more under the microscope not only with fans, but with prospective employers next season.

Gordon is averaging just 2.25 yards per carry with his longest gain in 36 carries going for 7 yards. He doesn’t appear to be close to the running back who made the Pro Bowl last season and has more than 1,200 scrimmage yards each of the past three years.