Titans running back LenDale White, always a tireless worker and student of the game, was slightly annoyed following yesterday's loss to the New York Jets. It's only natural to be upset after your team loses its first game of the season, but that's not really the issue here. The issue, of course, is that White was so upset with his lacking of playing time -- he had one carry -- that he openly admitted to not paying attention on the sidelines, and, pretty much, not caring. But, hey, don't take my word for it, take LenDale's:
"I only played three plays, so I couldn't really tell you what happened (in the loss to the Jets), I have no idea. I wasn't paying attention so I didn't care." "I don't know if I had gotten the ball 30 times if we'd have won the game or not," said White.Believe it or not, this is a guy playing for a team that's 10-1!
"I would like to be involved more, or if I'm not involved I'd like somebody to tell me what's going on." "Coming into these games, you expect to get certain carries or certain things going on, or at least that's what they tell you. Then you get in these games and just randomly play three plays," White added.
"I wish somebody would let me know what's going on before I go out there." "I mean three plays, I don't know what you want me to do with three plays. I don't know what three plays is helping me do."
I can't imagine what type of handful he would be if he were playing for a team that wasn't among the best in the NFL. I mean, if he were on a 5-6 team, or, better yet, the Lions, would he just mail it in and not even show up on game days?
Following his rant about only being involved in three plays, a reporter asked White if he discussed his lack of playing time with the coaching staff, to which he responded, "I ain't got no conversation for nobody, you know. I don't care. If they have something to tell me, if they need to tell me I'm not going to play then they should tell me, you know?"
You know what? With such a sunny disposition I'm shocked that this guy's stock dropped from possible top-10 pick to middle of the second round during the 2006 draft.
Titans head coach Jeff Fisher has to be loving this.
For the season, White is averaging 3.8 yards per carry, and has been held to under 3-yards per carry in six of the Titans 11 games.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-24-2008 @ 11:18AM
lendale is selfish said...
lendale is a selfish me first player. Who says BS like that? Get a clue Lendale!
There is no I in Team so shut ur fat ass trap!
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11-24-2008 @ 3:46PM
Come Dance Wit ME No. 2 said...
First off, saying Lendale is selfish is ridiculous. They work as a TEAM at the running back position. The reason Chris Johnson is successful is not his speed, but Lendale opening up the holes for him, thats if you know anything about football. Next, I would be mad too if all I have as a duo is three chances to make something happen in a game that we are losing. I would want to make plays for my team too. Don't say he isn't good, because he has had runs just like Chris Johnson and way more touchdowns. Get your facts straight before you get on a blog talking out the side of your neck.
11-24-2008 @ 12:12PM
August West said...
Here's the postscript to this story: LenDale was called into Fisher's office the calmed down and came back singing a very different tune:
"We lost one game, the world's not going to end," running back LenDale White said. "That's how I look at it. We can all be mad and have our faces down and pout about it and not live your life now. But it's one game. You lose one game, that does not mean you can't make it to the playoffs, that doesn't mean you're going to go on a six-game losing streak, that does not mean anything like that. It's one game. You regroup, you come back next week, you've got a short week this week, and you just get ready to fight."
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcsouth/0-6-158/This-time--Titans-can-t-overcome-spotty-play.html
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11-24-2008 @ 1:45PM
Paul said...
He must think he is the only player in the league who can run it in from one yard out.
Chris Johnson just climed higher up the charts again, as White won't be with this team next year...
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11-24-2008 @ 4:01PM
Come Dance Wit ME No. 2 said...
And you, someone who obviously knows nothing about football! Do you really think they are going to get rid of White because he said that? Did he say that he didn't want to be part of the team? No he didn't, he said he wanted more chances to make plays for his team like HE HAD WHEN WE WERE WINNING!!! Yeah, its called a competitive spirit as well as emotion which he has a lot of and which makes him successful. Even Mr. Prime Time, Deion Sanders himself says that Lendale needs the ball more to loosen up the defense, and leave them vulnerable for Chris Johnson to make the big play. And you better believe that he is the ONLY running back in the NFL that will not be denied when close to the goal line. Please, learn the game of football before making an idiotic statement.
11-24-2008 @ 1:02PM
ladytitan said...
I think lendale is correct
we sat in the stands watching the game go to hell
like fisher was trying to throw the game
we thought lendale had gotten hurt
hell we are like him what in the hell was going on .
they were throwing the damn ball to chris , he's not a receiver
i love my team but i think they threw the game not taking anything away from the jets they played good but what in the hell was the coaches thinking
JMO too many players and coaches have men crushes on number 4 no matter what team he is on
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11-24-2008 @ 4:01PM
Come Dance Wit ME No. 2 said...
I definitely agree Lady Titan, I am thinking whats going on too. Ok, so we HAD to win the past two games passing. We didn't have to win it passing this game. We honestly needed Lendale to get a couple chances to power through to the linebackers and loosen them up a little bit. That way, CJ could have made the big play when it counted. And our defense played the best we could with having to be on the field for 40 minutes as running the ball wasn't a big part of our game plan. And I will not blame it on jeff, but on mike heimerdinger this game. All I know is that there are only two opponents left that have the opportunity of beating us if WE dont play our A game, which is steelers and colts. But we could play our B game against everyone else and still win. But hey, at least we lost to the second best team in the AFC, because if we meet them in the playoffs, believe that will be beaten.
11-24-2008 @ 2:19PM
stephen page said...
well we very sorry your team has lost becuse new york jet is good unbeat player there reall beat tenn that is why jets preety hard over power on team i beliveit is beween new york ganits and new york jets is future subway superbowl future for both team is undergoing full power player no team naver beat by new york gants and new york jets !
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11-24-2008 @ 4:24PM
corey said...
stephen page said...
well we very sorry your team has lost becuse new york jet is good unbeat player there reall beat tenn that is why jets preety hard over power on team i beliveit is beween new york ganits and new york jets is future subway superbowl future for both team is undergoing full power player no team naver beat by new york gants and new york jets !
_________________________________________________
As a NYker I would love to see the Giants/Jets Superbowl... but after reading your incoherent post. I'm going to kill myself now. Please do us all a favor and dont write until you have completed the 3rd grade.
11-24-2008 @ 4:02PM
Come Dance Wit ME No. 2 said...
New York is great and everything but please, dont expect two new york teams to be in the superbowl because you would be very disappointed. If anything, it would be the Cowboys and the Titans if not New York in the Titans. Either way it goes, the only people in the AFC that can beat the titans is the Jets, but they couldn't do it twice. Its just not their year!
11-24-2008 @ 4:57PM
RMac said...
come dance with me.... ur name should be come talk to me looks like someone give Lendale's fat body to much credit and it looks like u need a friend to talk too.... and not randoms online
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11-24-2008 @ 5:22PM
Fred Burch said...
At least Lendale didn't fumble the game away. I'm from Detroit(58 year resident), so I've heard every possible excuse for loosing that there is. If there's ever a Joe Don Looney award for stupid smartass comments maybe Lendale White could be among a list of recipients. I now reside near Nashville and footballwise its as though I've died and gone to Heaven!!!!
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11-24-2008 @ 6:17PM
hinesward fan said...
if you know so much about football come dancewit me, why are you not coaching in the nfl pull your head out of your backside lendale is a crying like a little bitch so what he got three carries sounds like the most important thing is his pay check will cash, maybe they should have put vince young in. Ohh yeah the steelers will pound them with or without lendale cuz you can't soften up that linebacking core. The wheels are popping off the cart in tennessee, superbowl yeah right keep dreaming don't worry nascar seasons right around the corner
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11-24-2008 @ 8:07PM
Come Dance Wit ME No. 2 said...
You right about one thing, vince young should have been in, and will be in, and make your linebacker core biodegrade real quickly. Steelers are a joke, why are you even on this blog anyways talking about some damn steelers. Hines Ward's old ass is sorry anyways. And you can say what you want, but the Titans will be the superbowl champs, mark my words. Come dance wit me hoe, cant keep up!!
11-24-2008 @ 9:12PM
Smash and Dash said...
Our whole offense has changed. We used to run the ball even with 8 in the box. Lendale plugged 3 yards at a time while CJ was a 3rd down back. They swapped the two and BOTH of their stats have been severely hurt. Im not making any of it up, Just look up their stats the moment CJ started getting more carries (it happened after the KC game). Week 1-6 proves it. Then Mon nite vs Colts it started to change. Guess Fisher wanted to dazzle the TV audience. Whatever. Here's my quote and Im sticking to it, "We may be winning most games, but its NOT Titan football. Get back to it or we will be dissapointed in the post season".
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11-24-2008 @ 11:59PM
blake said...
Lendale White has proven he is a powerback, and what happened to everyone who watched him break a 80 yard touchdown run and cheered for him? So maybe he cant run the 40 in 4.2, but I believe he was leading the nfl in touchdowns and each game he scored points and those point were part of winning games! So weither he is running 80 yards or 1 yard, if he is scoring points we are winning games. How can you not atleast let him get out on the field and see what he is made of when we are 2 touchdowns behind and we know he has the chance he could get the first down we need or even find the hole and break another 80 yard run, its worth the try when we are so far behind and are trying to stay undefeated. What were the coaches thinking? Im not a coach or am I saying they dont know what Fisher and the other coaches are doing but I am asking what they were thinking? Nashville fans had something to look forward to each week with our team going undefeated, it felt like they just didnt care to try everything this week to win. Very weird situation.
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11-25-2008 @ 12:23AM
blake said...
Lendale ""SHOWCASE"" White is our man... Play him!!!
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11-26-2008 @ 12:56AM
tony said...
Come Dance Wit ME No. 2 this is for you
1 LenDale need to learn how to cut back sometimes and stop fellowing behind the guard (i think he is scare to get hit in open field). (Example) if the 4 hole is not there than fade to the 6 hole behind the tackle. one long TD (wow) after 2 years.
2 Lendale and Chris both are running backs(meaning they play the spot) so therefore they are not on the field at the same time.
3 If you have been watching all of their game. You would have notice that they use Chris to drove down the field M O S T of the time and Lendale for short yards (like in the red zone 10yds to goal or for short 1st down) thats way he has 11 td vs Chris 5 td(even my wife notice that)
4 I'm so glad that Young is bench. He needs to side down so LenDale can join him and talk about the 2006 Rose Bowl Championchip Game (USC vs Texas)
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12-23-2008 @ 5:55PM
titanskid said...
What the heaak you takin about
11-25-2008 @ 8:51AM
B said...
As a Titan season ticket holder, I am tickled to death to have both Lendale White and Chris Johnson in our backfield. Lendale's game has really picked up I think due to the competition brought about by the signing of Johnson. The one thing that I saw Sunday on Lendale's one carry: He was put in to gain a huge first down, but without any power ran straight up and lost yardage. As big as he is he needs to punish anyone daring to keep him from gaining a first down....especially on his own home field. Maybe that one play frustrated the coaches as much as it did everyone else.
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