The pencil-necked geeks are out in full force trying to call LaDainian Tomlinson out for being injured in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. You knew they would take any opportunity to blast the San Diego Chargers.
Tomlinson had no business trying to stay in the game, because he was never going to make the type of big play that the explosive Darren Sproles made at the end of the first half.
Nobody, and I mean nobody, who knows the Chargers would be stupid enough to call Tomlinson soft for coming out of that game. This is a guy who finished three straight seasons injured. When you’re a running back and you play through separated shoulder, cracked ribs, and a groin pull to end three separate seasons it doesn’t matter what some pocket-protecting, pennyloafer-wearing, 24 inch vertical-posessing, freckly-faced nerd with a laptop says about you. You are a leader on the field and respected in the locker room.
It was LT that called all the Chargers to a “players only” meeting when the team was 5 – 5 and challenged each man to buy into to what Norv Turner was selling. The team proceeded to win eight straight games before barely losing to the Patriots. This guy is not a great leader?
- B/R Ticket Guide
Yeah right…go buy another pair of Dockers you six flat 40-running water boy. You don’t know anything about team sports.
Any athlete that has to make explosive moves and has had a leg injury knows damn well you need to sit down and let your very capable backups take over for you. Michael Turner and Darren Sproles did a whole lot more than LT would have done if he had stayed in the game.
I’m sorry, but when Tedy Bruschi runs you down when you’re supposed to be the best running back in the game, it's time to take a seat, buddy.
The previous time LT had Bruschi (and Mike Vrabel) one-on-one in the open field, he easily evaded those guys and took it to the house. Antonio Gates should have taken a seat when Bruschi was able to cover him in the red zone. Hell, your grandmother in her prime had enough speed to beat Tedy Bruschi one-on-one.
And what’s this I hear about Deion Sanders trying to call out Tomlinson for not finishing the game?
This guy is a complete jackass for that one. If I remember correctly, ‘ol Neon Deion made a comeback with the Ravens and was a complete scrub because a turf toe injury robbed him of his explosiveness (which is why he retired in the first place.) Now he wants to criticize LT for stepping aside?
I’m not going call anyone stupid, but...yeah, I am.
I’m still laughing at the vision of Marvin Harrison running by Sanders so fast that he was in the end zone for a 14 yard (or so) TD while Neon Deion was still in his stance, and I am NOT exaggerating. That would have never happened before Sanders was robbed of his speed.
All this LT was “sulking on the sideline” nonsense is just silly. He was just on the sideline. Was LT suddenly supposed to become Richard Simmons in a football helmet? Because you know he had the tights.
Come on.
Where were all of these idiots when Marvin Harrison was sitting on the bench after he was removed from the Colts’ Divisional Round battle with the Chargers? He wasn’t effective, so the coach sat him down. LT was smart enough to know when to have a seat, because he trusts his teammates.
So you bagel and cream cheese-eating, Apple iPhone-programming, tighty whitie-sporting, “no girls allowed” t-shirt-wearing, Klingon face-painting, Optimus Prime hero-worshiping, chess playing chump who went to the movies 12:00 AM on a Wednesday just to see the Star Wars trailer...stop pretending like you know the first thing about toughness and go back to your Thunder Cats DVD.
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10 months ago
I think you are missing the point. Per MY article, I am not doubting that he should not have played. However, I am doubting his leadership, or lack there of. He sat on the sideline showing no emotion, almost as if he did not care what the outcome of the game was. I want to see some more emotion and helping his teammates get fired up and win. We all get that he was hurt and Turner could probably do better, that does not mean he had to sit and sulk.
10 months ago
I would like to hear T.O.'s thoughts of L.T. showing his feminine side on the sidelines during the game. And of course, I would bring the Kleenex.
10 months ago
Paul, you keep accusing people of missing the point when they are not. While you are only questioning LT's leadership many people are questioning his tougness as well. Ian's article deals with both issues, making excellent points re LT's leadership
You keep harping on the fact that you want to see more emotion from him but that is not who he is. He leads by example and with the expectations he places on himself and his teammates. Those expectations include playing hurt (which he has done many times) if at all possible.
In your article, you supply a definition of leader from some dictionary. You find me a dictionary definition that says you are only a leader if you are flamboyent, emotional, or a ra ra cheerleader that helps teammates get fired up. You won't find it because it does not exist. Leadership comes in different varieties and not everyone is Shawn Merriman or Tony Gonzalez.
- Brian
from 10 months ago
I understand what you are saying but you also keep saying lead by example. Is his example sitting on the bench and sulking? I also never said being a RA RA guy on the sideline. He may not be able to walk. However, please take your helmet off. Show us some life. Take your hands out of your pockets. Get your teammates fired up. Talk to them, yell at them, PUMP THEM UP. Thats all I ask.
LT is a very outspoken player. People like to play it off like he is not. He is always giving the media material to write about in his press conferences. He does not shy away from making bold statements. Lets not play it off like LT is some quiet player we never hear from. He is not that.
Show me some EMOTION and LEADERSHIP since this is the biggest game of your career.
10 months ago
I actually think the talk about him is pretty stupid and I'm a Pats fan and have been critical of several Chargers this year for their "attitudes".
BUT...This is totally different. I'm sure it was killing him to have to sit on the sideline.
He loves loves loves football and I'm sure the final choice to have him sit wasn't entirely his to make either. He didn't give the Chargers the best chance to win so he was on the bench. (period)
As for him not being a cheerleader...Rivers pretty much has that one covered and it's just not LT's personality. I actually think him sitting there tormented for not being on the field might have helped motivate his teammates more than him yelling in their faces anyway.
This is just the media being the media. Just like the Brady leg thing being a conspiracy?? Give me a break...it's just the media making a story.
10 months ago
"Toughness isn't an issue" lol, That is precisely what it is!! The guy is soft plain and simple, his actions in the biggest game of his career PROVED that. Paul makes several very good points. If you can't suck it up and play in this game, you are weak PERIOD. You can candy-coat it all you want, the bottom line is he was perfectly capable of running the same as before he was injured(HE DOES NOT NEED SURGERY)..only it would HURT more to do so. Some players have the heart to do so, and some do not. LT CLEARLY does NOT! When you are in the playoffs there is no tomarrow, you can not teach that it is either in you or not. Is he a great RB..Yes, does he have the courage/heart to overcome adversity..NO! You can say he should have been more active on the sideline to inspire his teammates, and I agree he should have. No words of encouragement from him would have made half the impact to his teammates as seeing him in that huddle hurting and still fighting to win.
ShadyRaider
10 months ago
Not every player is a leader. RB's are not typically the leaders of the offense. That is one of the key roles a QB has. Guys, LT's trainer told him that it wasn't a good idea if he played. Should LT risk having an injury that could permanently affect his play? A QB can play with a leg injury. A RB can't. Guess what running backs RUN th ball. It is pretty hard to run with a knee injury. Tomlinson said that his decision was based on the fact that a 100% Turner was better than a 50% Tomlinson. He didn't feel he would be effective with the injury he was battling. He felt that he would be harming his team more playing than sitting out. That's it. Give him a break. Of course Tomlinson would have wanted to play in the AFC title game if he felt he could contribute to the team. Give it a rest. This is just ludicrous. Its Tomlinson's body and hes the only one who knows how he felt. What are you trying to say that you have a sixth sense and you can feel what other people are feeling.
10 months ago
Wow, this guy Philips really seems the need to stick up for his girlfriend, what with all the name-calling and no substance to back up his opinion. Great arguments, brainiac. All the name-calling to those picking on his floozy doesn't change the fact that "LT" might as well have been in Florida on Sunday and showed absolutely no motivation to see his team in the Superbowl. I hope that's as close as he ever gets - probably will be too since he's now on the downslope of his wasted career.
The fact of the matter is, we don't know what was wrong with "LT" - so far he nor the SD "Superchargers" have been men enough to tell us whether he had a torn ACL as his starting QB did, or whether it was just Philips' girlfriend's time of the month.
As for your argument that he played injured to close out regular seasons, did Philips ever fathom that maybe, just maybe, all "LT" cares about are individual records? We already know he'll pout to the media when he's not getting the carries he wants and he's never produced a thing in the post-season .
The real "LT" would have been on the field no matter what, even if he needed to inject an 8-ball to do it. This "LT-lite" is yet another San Diego softy who folds under the pressure of a big game. Philips knows this too, which is why he can only lob 30 insults to people he doesn't know in a single article. Now we can name at least two lame-ass losers in San Diego.
See you at Noah's the next time you're picking up your shmere, Philips.
10 months ago
Look, I realize Tomlinson has no real obligation to be a "cheerleader" or "flamboyant," but is pretending to be ALIVE too much to ask? Or how about some applause or lending advice to Sproles and Turner?
Fact is, I didn't see any sign of life in Tomlinson. This is the same guy who called out players, coaches, etc. He's staged press conferences in which he called the Pats "classless" and "cheaters" and so on. Now he sulks under his helmet nearly the entire game and some of you (Charger fans I assume) are giving him a free pass.
I recognize he's had an excellent track record when it comes to on and off the field behavior. He is a great leader but he wasn't in the AFC Championship. Once everyone acknowledges this we can all move on.
I've seen a lot of talk over the last couple seasons from this Chargers team and no follow through. No one is on a mission to attack the Bolts 24/7, but you got to admit there has been a distinct timeline of random trash-talk and team issues. We thought Tomlinson was above all this but he proves us wrong. He had no excuse for pouting during the AFC Championship. All he had to do was take his helmet off once or clap. That's it!
I see "LT" above agrees with me.
10 months ago
Make no mistake, if it's not about LT, LT isn't interested.
10 months ago
I'd like to start calling him Ladainian Tomlinson now. He has done nothing to deserve the nickname "LT". Lawrence Taylor is LT. Tomlinson has to wait in line for something else. QBs don't hurt their knees? Do we have to drag out the Carson Palmer/Van Oelhoffen hit? If anything, Rivers was at a much greater risk of injuring his knee on Sunday as his ACL was already partially torn. Tomlinson how could Tomlinson not know what condition he was by pregame? What's the point of going out there for 3 plays, as you're just crippling the team more than you can help it. Ladainian is a whiner, plain and simple. He's completely self-centred, and would probably only get excited about the win if it was him running in the game-winning TD in over-time. I like Tomlinson or Rivers, but I have to say that I respect Rivers a small amount know for the fact that he tried that game. As for Marvin Harrison, he had to get pulled against San Diego to keep him from playing. His situation is different however, as he hadn't played in eleven weeks, so he was hurting the team more by being rusty and out of action. And you're going to rip on Bruschi and Vrabel eh? Well, Vrabel is going to the Pro-Bowl this year, so obviously he's at least a competant linebacker. And the last time "he had Bruschi (and Vrabel) one-on-one in the open field" he ended up going for 43 yards on 18 carries. Yep, those are some superstar stats right there.
10 months ago
The Giants' LT as some of you may not be aware of was a CRACK MONSTER in gear. He played under the influence of an illegal narcotic and admitted so. He was hitting the pipe at half time.
We all have our opinions, but to question the intestinal fortitude of the games premier running back, a player with character, and off the field maturity is nothing but sheer speculation without any facts. All these assumptions, presumptions, and projecting that permeates many of the comments posted already are nothing more than hearsay and rumors. What you think and what you know are not always what is true.
Whatever your opinion is of LT, trust me on this....he will return with a vengance, his offensive will too, and so will the Chargers. They know how close they came and to add injury to insult main stream media is questioning the integrity of LT, and by extension the Chargers themselves. So, I look forward to next season and the come back of LT, Rivers, Gates, and Lorenzo Neal!
peace
10 months ago
John, did you see anything more than the 3-4 10 5 second clips of LT sitting on the bench? No you didn't. Nobody did. So you dont really know what he was doing on the sideline do you? No you dont. No one writing on this list does.
And anyone who thinks that a RUNNING BACK that routinely touches the ball over 300 times a year, plays through cracked ribs and a pulled groin, and has only missed ONE game in 7 seasons is not tough (i.e., Shady Raider, LT, and Bryan) is simply an idiot who knows nothing about football. plain and simple.
Brian
2 months ago
So have any of you ever played in the NFL?
Oh, thats right, none of you have therefore you have no clue what it is like.
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