LaDainian Tomlinson has weathered the proverbial storm. For the first month of the offseason, the discussion was whether his employer, the San Diego Chargers, would trade or release him. And after the team franchised Darren Sproles, the speculation intensified.
Talk of moving of LdT would've been considered blasphemous a couple years ago, but after he suffered through two injury-plagued seasons, it's become commonplace. Still, a week into free agency, the two sides seem to have smoothed things over and if Tomlinson is willing to restructure his contract, he'll be back for 2009.
"I am optimistic (a restructure) will happen," Tomlinson told reporters in Texas. "But again, I'm realistic about certain things, and I understand it is a business. Sometimes business decisions are made that are out of our control. But my heart wants to stay in San Diego."The five-time Pro Bowler also adds: "People say I lost a step, and I had 1,200 yards with a hurt toe the whole year," Tomlinson said. "If that's lost a step, then it is, but I think next year we'll be able to tell a lot."
That's a fine point, but one that merits some qualification. While I don't disagree that LdT might've been unfairly criticized given his production, it's all relative. Running backs, as I've written ad nauseam, are pretty easy to replace. Knowing that, it doesn't make much sense to pay one, say, $6.7 million when you can get two guys for that -- or less (a perfect example: Sproles and Michael Turner were 4th- and 5th-rounders, respectively, and their rookie deals were the team a fraction of LdT's contract).
That's not to say that Tomlinson's overrated -- he rushed for fewer than 1,300 yards just twice in his eight-year career, and also has a 4.4 yards-per-carry average over that time. Not too shabby. In fact, his 11,760 rushing yards has him thinking about Emmitt Smith's record.
"I think anything is realistic. Emmitt is obviously somebody I've looked up to for a long time. I think that's one of the things for me: Before I never really thought about it, but now the more I get closer to it . . . I don't want to finish up and say, 'Why didn't I try to get it?' "First up: re-working his contract.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-05-2009 @ 10:45PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I used to be a big LT fan. Then in Jan 2007, the chargers lost to the Pats in the playoffs and I think we got a look at the real person: a prima donna and a whiner.
All of the 2007 season he griped and moaned about Rivers. When it came to the playoffs, Rivers showed up and LT was a non-factor. In 2008 he refused to sit with his injury, yet he was getting ankle tackled and would run for the sidelines if facing a defender. Again, he was a non-factor in the playoffs.
Overall, LT has not helped the team to a Super Bowl. He has made a lot of commotion the past 2+ seasons crying and griping though. He's not a team a player - that's become obvious - and personally I don't think he adds anything to the Chargers.
Had they traded him at the end of the 2007 season and kept Turner I think even with their lousy D the Chargers would have had a better record. And the extra picks from the LT trade would have put them in a great position with a new DE or Inside LB (something they haven't had since Edwards left the team).
It's sad to see a team held hostage by one selfish player and a community in love with the myth of the man's continued greatness. Over 7 seasons and no one SB. He can't blame Rivers anymore, so now he's (and idiots in San Diego/the media) blame his line. The same line that allowed an immobile statue like Rivers to throw for 4k yards is blamed for LT's slide into obscurity.
Like Emmitt, LT will stick around too long and embarrass himself - not because it will help a team but because it will pad his stats.
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3-05-2009 @ 10:59PM
PacoGerte said...
LdT is not your average back. He's a lock for the HOF, and his career highlights are as good or better than anyone else's. His vision and accelleration are better than any back I've ever seen. He just needs a o-line that can keep him from multiple hits from behind the line. He's got at least two excellent years left in him.
San Diego's biggest issue is their incompetent head coach.
Expect a-holes like YouFaceTheTick to add comments about what a selfish head-case he is, but they are now and are usually always wrong. Parroting some idiot beat-writers' lame opinions must be a full-time job for these folks. But most of us know what a stand-up honest guy LdT is. For instance, the charity he started in his rookie year up to the present surpasses in both dollar amount and time given any other by an NFL player.
I can't wait to see him healthy and productive, and we can only hope that Norv stops calling off-tackles to the right on 3rd and 15.
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3-07-2009 @ 1:42AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I've watched LT his entire career. He used to run hard. He used to break ankle tackles. He always ran behind a wretched line. The Brees years the Chargers O-line was awful and yet Brees and LT still put up numbers. Now as a busted up back, he's got the ability to still eek out a few 1000 yard seasons but just about any back can do that today. That's only 63 yards a game.
As for LT's charity...I honestly don't care. I don't watch Football because I care if a player gives X dollars to the community. It means nothing to me. He's an entertainer and that's it. When he ceases to be entertaining, then he can go on his way.
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