LaDainian Tomlinson stepped out of the tunnel and onto the grass and all at once it was 2006 again. Continue reading...
I was feeling like him returning to SD for such an emotional time for the city really helped wash over the bitterness. For me it did anyways. It was great to see him back in our colors even if only for one day. However, don't rule out the Steelers or Ravens for signing a veteran back-up
I differ in opinion, of some, on this, but LaDanian Tomlinson, like Junior Seau, Rodney Harrison, Lorenzo Neal and John Carney, among others, should NEVER have been cut loose from this team. His being there in such a difficult time in San Diego, with the reception he got from the Bolt faithful, shows that he is still loved in the city. I am of the mind to say fuck all of the talk about him being a cancer in the locker room. Those who speculate this have NO BASIS to say such. He is one of the greatest Chargers ever. The current General Manager and Head Coach have more to do with running a Hall Of Fame Running Back out of town than any of his critic's claims that his skills had diminished prior to his departure in 2010. All of you that hate L.T. now were the same ones who cheered him on in 2006, as well as before and after his history-making MVP season, of which he is the ONLY Charger to achieve this honor. EVER. NOBODY questioned his heart prior to 2006, yet some of you who own #21 Tomlinson jerseys STILL throw him under the bus for having no heart in 2007, in the playoffs, because "he couldn't go". Ever think that he just couldn't, or that he was working, at a lesser strength, under a dumbass Head Coach that was willing to get rid of a crucial Full Back, who broke his leg after Week 14, and missed the playoffs, who COULD have come back the next year, because, in HIS opinion, the position was obsolete? Last I remember, Norv's Offense had Daryl Johnston blocking for Emmitt Smith. In fact, and I quote from Wikipedia (go ahead and question the source if you will...), "Due mainly to Johnston's contributions, the NFL created the Full Back position in the Pro Bowl". Hate L.T. for sitting on the sidelines for not being able to go in playoffs. Hate him for not taking a pay cut to stay. Hate him for his Jets tattoo. Cool... ...then hate him on, and after, his induction day into Canton. Any of you that ever speak ill of L.T. again, DO NOT let me see you brag on him when he goes into the Hall Of Fame. If you do, I will call you out for being a hack, on EVERY issue, and everything you EVER say will be suspect...
^^^That post holds SO much water. I always point to the fact that LT did suit up and go on the field. Shortly after he took a helmet to the knee and that was it. Call it what you want, but the Pats clearly had a bounty on LT's knee, in my opinion. What was he supposed to do? Risk letting them break it? LT is the single greatest running back in franchise history and one of the best to ever do it on the NFL period. I'm honored to be able to say I bought so many of his jerseys since draft day always feeling a certain unexplained assurance that I'm watching one of the all-time greats not only do it, but do it with lightning bolts on his helmet and shoulders. It would've been nice to get a Super Bowl obviously but even though that wasn't accomplished, he made the Chargers football relevant again. He created new fans, too. Outside of the one thing he didn't accomplish, you can't ask for much more. We didn't have off field issues with him either. He was a class act for so long. Can't blame the guy for having frustrations after so long. When the Patriots disrespected us by doing the Lights Out dance on our logo after beating us, at least he was bold enough to speak up and stand up on what he felt by it. Seeing him in any other uniform is like seeing Emmitt Smith in a Cardinals jersey. It just ain't right. If he does retire then I think we need to give him the same honor as Emmitt and let him retire where he started and where he made his name.
Lots of opinions about LT. Fact is, he was not treated well by management prior to him leaving. Who knows if he was asked to restructure his contract or to start taking a lesser role? He left town, was pissed and who amongst us hasn't said some things we regretted to say when we've been pissed? You can't deny what he did in a Bolts uniform and for the city of San Diego.
Terrible post Plenty of basis as I've shown over and over again. Rivers and Gates suggested he was a cancer....I wan't making it up. You are also conveniently forgetting how he acted on the side-lines during those playoff games and it wasn't just speculation....do you remember when PR tried to approach him and he acted like a bitch and turned his back on him? It was more than just a sulking dude in a parka. His play was very interesting the last two years. When Norv opened up the offense he installed, LT didn't seem to pick up on it or care. The balls to the facemask wasn't just all deteriorating skills. Do you remember the time PR threw it hard to the back of his head as if to tell him he was fucking up the play? To the extent that the o-line was getting worse and the fullback sucked, I agree....but LT was not running with authority and his later shit talk about the o-line proves he was complaining in the worst way a pro-athlete can---half assing it! and his shit play in the Jets loss goes forgotten...even though he later* started loving football again and hitting closed holes hard--AS A JET! That's forgivable? Yep, all but the last two years as a Charger, greatest running back ever who just MAY have been injured too much to continue in the 07 playoffs. Benefit of the doubt that the quiet helmeted parka leader didn't quit? Fuck no! When he goes to the hall, first ballot, he deserves it but I'll remember his bullshit act that occurred WHILE he was on the team. The JETS tattoo has nothing to do with that. Fuck LT. Fuck him very very much *added edit
I'm not sure I understand the last few posts here...but mostly I'm wondering where you're coming from Sax. We agree about ownership, management, and quite a bit on coaching even if I'm willing to give Norv more credit than some without going to "Genius" levels with others.....so lets set those points aside. So what you basically said was...... You can't say those were some messed up things LT said on his way out the door about his team and his behavior in the locker-room was suspect based on what we know now.....and that his unwillingness to accept his aging and diminishing skills...as many great athletes have this problem....especially in relationship to their compensation.......probably had more to do with his departure than his words..... AND...... He was one of the best to ever do it in the league and certainly should be remembered as one of the best players to ever wear the Bolts? Can't do both huh?....cause the two have nothing to do with one another to me. This is nutty logic to me......and I guess I'm a hack then, cause I'm not going to ignore everything else.....and stick to just the greatness of the player....for which he will surely be enshrined one day......and it won't have anything to do with his greatness as a friend or teammate....but his greatness on the field. The honor is for what you do on the field....and there are no doubts in my mind.....there are some crappy dudes as men.....in the Hall...for being less than crappy as football players. Now that's not to say LT is a crappy dude, but.... We're to ignore what two other Bolts (Gates & Rivers) said about how he was acting in those latter years and how that affected the team chemistry? If what the 2 other best players on the team said is "no basis".....then what would be a basis? This is my problem with the "America: Love It or Leave It" crowd. You can love something without being blind to any faults or shortcomings....just like our spouses and significant others do for our behinds all the time.....unless some of you are perfect and beyond reproach. Criticizing isn't the same as hatin' or hypocrisy. Criticizing...especially if done through self-evaluation which is tougher....can often lead to improvement. In fact....this is often the only way many of us improve as individuals....I mean if we saw our faults easily....we'd probably change them. It's not an either or type of thing.....you can be a great spouse/significant other and still have faults.....America can be one of the great nations in the world....you can even think it's the best if you wish.....and still acknowledge her faults........and LT can be anywhere on a short list of top 5 greatest Chargers ever (Fouts, Seau, Winslow, Alworth could be argued)....even on top for many.......and still have shortcomings........and those faults don't have to have anything to do with him not being able to play at his best in the specific moments mentioned. It's not cognitive dissonance when you hold two or more positions in your head.......that can all go together......so if someone can help me understand why you can't be mindful of what's wrong while still loving what's right..... I'd be forever grateful!
