After 13 years in San Diego, Junior Seau is to the Chargers what Tony Gwynn was to the Padres. And while I respect Dean Spanos, Marty Schottenheimer and the Chargers organization, giving Seau the opportunity to seek a trade is absurd.

If the Chargers are crazy enough to put Seau on the trading block, then they're going to ask for the world in return. Which means one of two things will happen: Another team (like the Denver Broncos or Oakland Raiders) will snatch him up and give up something to get him. Or, since it's a foregone conclusion that Seau will be leaving San Diego, teams will wait it out until June when the Chargers decide they can't afford him and have to let him go.

I understand salary-cap implications, but there comes a time when it has to be about more than just business. Seau is not only one of the Chargers' best players; he's also one of the most popular guys in the locker room. And no amount of money can account for the intangibles an experienced veteran brings to a team.

Veteran players help teams win championships -- you don't win with just young guys. You need a good mix of youth and veteran leadership. The Chargers will lose their best and most experienced player in Seau.

At 34, Seau may not be a youngster, but he's still in great shape. Even at 80 percent, Seau is still better than most linebackers in the league. And with the exception of maybe Ray Lewis, his energy level surpasses everyone in the league. He's given his heart and soul to the Chargers since the day he arrived.

For the most part, the salary cap is effective. But it's situations like this that are the exceptions -- it can't always be about the money.

This will be a bad mistake that will backfire for the Chargers. This will only light a fire under Seau. And I wouldn't be surprised if he stays in the AFC West.

Former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury is an analyst on "NFL 2Night," broadcasts on "The Dan Patrick Show" on ESPN Radio and contributes each week to ESPN.com during the NFL season.