If Tomlinson Was 'Close to 100%' Why Did He Only Have Two Carries?

Rotoworld.com's Gregg Rosenthal asks a question we were probably all thinking Sunday afternoon: should Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson be taking some heat for spending most of the AFC Championship game on the bench with a balky knee?

By all accounts, LdT is one of the nicest guys in football, and he's never had much of an injury history. It's probably unfair to question his desire to play in the conference finals. But juxtaposed against quarterback Philip Rivers' gutty performance, it's kind of hard to ignore. Whatever, the NFL Network's Deion Sanders had some thoughts on the situation (courtesy of Pancake Blocks):

"You understand what T.O overcame to get back in the game, what Plaxico Burress goes through each week, and what Philip Rivers went through to play. LT told us he was close to 100%. The problem is, when you tell me that, I have expectaions, and when you don't meet those expectations, you open yourself for us to try to guess. Now what's the problem? You're a big-time player. And big-time players must play in big time games.

I know a lot of people will give LT a pass and say we don't know what happened. As a teammate, as fans looking on, it must be a surgery for him to get a pass on this one. I hope he comes up with something in the offseason, nothing severe, but a surgery for him to get a pass on this one."

You know, I agree with Sanders. I'm in no position to determine how severe an injury must be before it's okay to sit out, but given the context -- that Tomlinson said he was nearly 100% ... and then he only had two carries -- I think it raises some legitimate questions.

Of course, LdT could've just been blowing smoke in the days leading up to the game (it wouldn't be the first time a team exaggerated an injury one way or the other), and that's what is sounds like. As Rosenthal mentions, this could be a potential injury-report violation, but the NFL enforces that rule about as often as Tom Brady has a three-interception game. And until commissioner Roger Goodell cracks down on the practice, don't expect anything to change.

In the meantime, Tomlinson will have to spend the off-season answering questions about why he didn't play, which to me, seems like deterrent enough.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-23-2008 @ 5:51PM

PartMule said...

To question LT is RIDICULOUS. I'm in complete shock. The idiots musta got out of The White House and now running the sports media and blogosphere.

1-24-2008 @ 5:05AM

Michael from san diego said...

I have "BAD NEWS" for Charger fans, LT will not be in San Diego next year. It is ovious he does not like working with "BIG MOUTH" rookie Rivers and I dont believe he is in favor with Norv turner. If LT was hurt then thats one thing, but dont you think he is in self preservation mode, otherwise why wouldnt you give a 100% in the biggest game in your career. If LT would have worsen his condition then stocks go down, I hope I am wrong however after looking at some rants and heated conversations on the sidelines between "BIG MOUTH" and LT you cant exclude this possibility. Put yourself in LT,s position, look at what the super intelligent Chargers upper management did to Drew Brees.....................need I say more

4-01-2008 @ 11:21PM

George B Vieto said...

LaDainian Tomlinson may not have the high threshold of pain that Phillip Rivers has. LaDainian was thinking long term career and his figured that getting a more serious injury at the championship game wasn't worth the risk.

1-21-2008 @ 11:51AM

Gary said...

Are you saying that the Chargers just might be...cheaters?! Say it isn't so? I thought the Patriots were the only team who bended the rules/made pacts with Satan.

1-21-2008 @ 1:51PM

Chieffan said...

LT is a whiner all the way from his classlees comments, tothrowing a fit on the side lines when things are not going his way! He is a crybaby all the way around. Oh by the way I loved it when our 4-12 team kicked that SD butt on their own turf!

1-21-2008 @ 2:15PM

Cosmonaut said...

There's something up with L.T. And it seems like the CBS broadcasting crew sidestepped it completely.

1-21-2008 @ 2:18PM

bet the super bowl said...

It's obvious LT was really hurt. Who sits it AFC Championship game?

Greg said...

It is said that LT suffered a sprained MCL and Wilfork and Seau popped the same knee on his first carry of the game. Happy now?

1-21-2008 @ 3:47PM

Jim Hagan said...

Having played football High school, college and US Navy) for 14 years total, I understand the "team effort" concept very well. I must say this; as his team mate I would have felt a thorough sense of disappointment when my big play maker would not make the sacrifice the rest of us were making. LT did not "ride for the brand" as it was said in the early west." Sacrifice is what football is about. It is a game of sacrifice and we are all expected to give for the benefit of the whole. I could never play on the same team as LT and have any amount of confidence for a "team" victory. LT...you better come up with something real good for this one because you have broken the cardinal rule. Your teammates will never look upon you the same way if you don't. You owe an apology to your comrades!

1-21-2008 @ 3:58PM

Deechi said...

I'd be pretty surprised if his teammates didn't know what was up with LT. Since we haven't really heard anything frmo his teammates, about being "let down" I'd say its pretty safe that he had a reason to sit out.

1-21-2008 @ 5:45PM

Richiemac said...

L.T. might be a great guy to those who know him best, but my observations are that when SD wins he is all smiles, and when they lose, he pouts and stamps his feet i.e. the last time the Patriots beat them in SD. I truly believe he knew they had no chance to beat the Pats so he didn't play, besides it was to cold for him. He was upset because when the Pats won in SD they danced on the field and just happened to be on their LOGO???? He acted like an immature spoiled brat. He never complained when Merriman danced on the logo of opposing teams.[Double standard you think???]
Richiemac

1-21-2008 @ 5:05PM

angryguy77 said...

I cna't believe this guy is being ripped for this. Do you really think that if he could have gone that he would have sit on the bench. This is lame. These teams hate each other and I can't imagin him sitting out on his own. That would be like brady not wanting to play the colts. Lets not jump the gun here and wait to see what the situation really was.

1-21-2008 @ 5:10PM

Richiemac, will you have the same things to say when moss has a melt down? He may not this season, but it will happen. Even if what you say is true, your team has a guy famous for taking plays off. And at least he has never run anyone over with his care on purpose. NE fans are automatically disqualified from making statements about the character of players on other teams. You have on of the biggest all time thugs on your roster who is only a man when he wins.

1-21-2008 @ 5:49PM

charles said...

Did you not hear LT...his knee was hit on the first play, which made it impossible for him to "explode" on subsequent plays. Maybe Neon Deon needs an LT stiff arm to straighten out his thinking!

1-21-2008 @ 5:22PM

Richiemac,I loved it when the Titans tight end came across and decleated Merriman! I thought it served him right for his lights out dance!

1-21-2008 @ 8:14PM

Angryguy77. I will sit and read what you have to say and defend your right to say it, but don't you try to take away my right to how his demonstration impressed me. And as far as the Patriots being thugs, the way I see it is all football players are thugs in their own way. Besides the topic of conversation was LT so how in hell does Moss fit into the picture on this blog????? And one other thing, what right do you have to disqualify anyone from giving their opinion on any given situation???
Jealousy seems to run rampart in the football world if one is not a Patriot Fan. I somtimes find it difficult to understand the hate that I read on some of these blogs, and please DON'T GIVE ME ANY CRAP ABOUT CHEATING, THAT IS GETTING PRETTY REDUNDANT. We Patriot fans will live to see the Patriots lose and rest assured we will accept it well. You see we are used the Patriots losing but we never gave up on them. I have been a fan since the first day they stepped on the field, and saw many losing seasons. So now I find it difficult to understand why so many people resent the fact that we are basking in the glory of success. So I part with this to all of you Patriot Haters.
"EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT"

1-21-2008 @ 6:56PM

chris said...

LT proved the kind of man he is. When his team needed him he sat on the bench with his visor on so nobody could see him cry. When they needed him, he couldn't even root them on. When they lost, he wouldn't even shake hands with anyone.
He's an ASS!!!