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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 28, 2006
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Just FACTS:
LaDainian Tomlinson immediately became the starting running back with the Chargers and has started all but one game since. He has achieved immediate success in the NFL, rushing for over 1,200 yards and making over 50 receptions in each of his seven seasons. He has also proven to be effective as a passer, having completed eight career passes, seven of them for touchdowns and a career passer rating of 154.4.[14]
In 2003, he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and record 100 receptions in the same season.[15] He also reached his 50th career touchdown in his 4th season (60th game) and was elected to the Pro Bowl team in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Tomlinson also tied Lenny Moore's all-time record for consecutive games scoring a TD (18).
On October 16, 2005, in the Chargers' victory over the Oakland Raiders, LaDainian Tomlinson became the 7th player in NFL history to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown in the same game. Despite breaking his ribs towards the end of the 2005 season, LaDainian continued to play and finished the season with 1,462 rushing yards, 370 receiving yards, and a career high 20 touchdowns (18 rushing, 2 receiving). In 2005 he was nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award. Tomlinson placed third behind Tiki Barber and Shaun Alexander.
In the 2006 season, he set an NFL record by scoring 19 touchdowns in a span of 6 games, including a franchise record 4 touchdowns in games against the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos. He is the first to score three TDs in three straight games, and the first to have three games of four or more TDs in one season. He became the fastest player ever to score 100 touchdowns. On November 19, 2006, Tomlinson accomplished the milestone in 89 games with 102, beating the previous record of 93 games held by Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith. On Dec. 3, 2006, Tomlinson became the first running back to rush for at least 1,236 yards in his first six NFL seasons(he has now done so in his first seven years as well). On December 7, he was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month.[16]
He scored his 29th touchdown against the Denver Broncos in just 13 games (Alexander set the record in 16).[2] His 2 touchdown passes do not count toward this record because the NFL treats them in a separate category. With the first touchdown against Kansas City on December 17, he surpassed most points in a season by an NFL player; one which had stood for 46 years. Tomlinson would finish his record breaking season with 2,323 yards from scrimmage (combined rushing and receiving) and 31 touchdowns (28 rushing, 3 receiving).
On January 4, 2007, Tomlinson was awarded with the NFL AP Most Valuable Player Award for his record-breaking season. He was the runaway winner, receiving 44 of the 50 votes from a panel of nationwide sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Former teammate Drew Brees, now with New Orleans, received four votes and Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning received two votes. Tomlinson was also one of 9 Chargers players selected for the 2007 Pro Bowl and also a starting running back of the American Football Conference. He was also named AP Offensive Player of the Year and later named NBC Player of the Year. He was later named co-holder of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award alongside his aforementioned former teammate Drew Brees. On July 11, 2007, Tomlinson won the ESPY Awards for Male Athlete of the Year, Best Record-Breaking Performance and Best NFL Athlete, as well as the Hummer Like Nothing Else Award.
Tomlinson went on to rush for 123 yards, catch 2 passes for 64 yards, and score 2 touchdowns in the Chargers divisional playoff loss to the New England Patriots on January 14, 2007. After the game, he was upset at the Patriots and their head coach Bill Belichick for performing a victory dance that mocked fellow Charger Shawne Merriman on the center-field logo at Qualcomm Stadium.
On December 2, 2007 Tomlinson passed Walter Payton (110 career rushing TD's) on the all time rushing touchdown list, with his 111th career rushing TD, against the Kansas City Chiefs. A few days later, Tomlinson honored Payton by wearing his jersey during a press conference. Tomlinson led the league in rushing with a total of 1,474 rushing yards in 2007, becoming the first player since Edgerrin James in 2000, to win back-to-back rushing titles.[17] One week before,Tomlinson passed the 10,000 yard mark playing against the Baltimore Ravens.Less than 10 players have achieved this.
You wish your team had a player this great!
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 14, 2006
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There is no doubt that Tomlinson is a great runningback. However, it remains to be seen if he is a great player. I don't mean this as a flame and I know most of you Chargers fans won't like hearing it from a Patriots fan.
1) The victory dance - If Shawne Merriman doesn't like being mocked, he shouldn't be doing his sack dance. He does this on every sack and quarterback takedown, and it's showboating at it's worst form, especially in a losing game. Honestly, not a real good idea to taunt an opponent and give them the extra motivation to win. I understand Tomlinson being upset at losing the game, no great player is happy losing, but he went overboard spouting off to the media. I know you guys can't stand Belichick, but blaming him for the player's payback is a bit absurd.
2) The visor game - Tomlinson sat on the bench, not speaking to teammates or offerirng little or no help to his teammates, his helmet on, visor down, apparently crying. Deion Sanders was quoted "If you are a big game superstar player, you DO NOT miss games like this. Unless it's a disasterous injury that requires major surgery or threatens your career, you take a pain shot and get your ass out there on the field" For the record, Plaxico Buress played the entire Superbowl with a similiar MCL sprain, a high ankle sprain, and possibly torn ligaments, and he caught the game winning touchdown.
Ok...I've proofed this a couple of times, and hopefully I've come across as unbiased as was my intention. I understand Tomlinson being frustrated, but he needs to be more careful how he expresses himself, both on the field and in the media afterwards. The media eats up stuff like this, and unfortunately seems to give more attention anything negative or controversial. That is the price to pay for being in the public eye.
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Reputation:90
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 12, 2007
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I do believe the Patriots went 18-1 including beating your team twice this past year without cheating....
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 28, 2006
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Alcoholica
Most of 'em look like they were hit by a truck.
Har har har....I guess so. So did ya watch the tape?
I couldn't believe I actually got a response from Freeman. Cool (my 15 min of fame)
If you read the article carefully, his headline doesn't "exactly" match what LaDainian Tomlinson said word for word on the Patriots taping thing. Sensationalism? I don't know?
I do know that I have the utmost respect for the press and Americas freedom thereof. As a senior citizen experiencing a lot of recent history first hand, I believe freedom of the press is largely responsible for the fall of communisum. At the same time there are a lot of problems created by said freedom. Seems every 3rd world country just has to watch the evening news to know what the good old USA is going to do next.
Good luck next season...Go Chargers
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 28, 2006
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Kingratt
1) The victory dance - If Shawne Merriman doesn't like being mocked, he shouldn't be doing his sack dance. He does this on every sack and quarterback takedown, and it's showboating at it's worst form, especially in a losing game. Honestly, not a real good idea to taunt an opponent and give them the extra motivation to win.
Senior citizen back atcha
I couldn't agree more. I hate dislike very much the showboating that has become the NFL. Shawne Merriman didn't start this nonsense, but he degrades himself and the team by doing so. He's a really good player and should act like he actually planned to sack the QB, and move on. I didn't like Junior Seau doing the fist thing either. Ickey Shuffle...same thing just nonsense. Terrell Owens. jeez. Chad Johnson. (well, he actually is funny) but still showboating.
So far I have never seen LaDainian Tomlinson do any showboating. He does a sort of roll the ball off his hand thing that does not appear to show-up anyone. He explained one time that his HS coach wouldn't allow any nonsense, but his team came up with that move and the coach was ok with it.
I think his coach was wise...
Go Chargers
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 29, 2006
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There is no need to bash LT. If he could of played in that AFC championship, he would have. LT knows what it's like to not make the playoffs and would not give up that opportunity unless he couldn't go because of injury. LT works out just as hard as any player. Anyone who has seen his "hill" knows what i'm talking about. Seriously, if LT would have been on the Giants or Jets, he would be one of the most famous running backs of all time. I mean look how famous Tiki Barber is and LT is definately better. He has over 300 carries in all 7 years he has played, he has rushed for over 1200 yards every year, including two 1600-yard and one 1800-yard campaigns, he the 100 catch season and has over 50 catches every year and he has double digit touchdowns every year including the 31 total touchdown year in 06'. He carried a team with a poor excuse for an offense and defense for many years, when Drew Brees was learning the offense, again when Philip Rivers was learning the offense, and when the defense was yet to be drafted. He's primetime.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 14, 2006
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Boltnut47,
The challenging thing for a great player like Tomlinson is that he needs to be aware that he is under constant scrutiny and the media is not always going to be his friend. I certainly understand defending his team and teammates, and would like to think his comments were out of frustration. He is a great runningback and deserves a ring to go with the records.
Unlike some bandwagon fans, I have been a Patriots fan long enough to remember when things weren't as good as they are now. Maybe not Tampa Bay bad, but still some very tough times. During those years, sometimes you had to cheer for another AFC team if you wan't to watch some football past December, and the Chargers were one of my other favorites. Air Coryell with Dan Fouts was some exciting football, and I will admit to rooting for the Chargers in Superbowl XXIX. I still remember seeing Stan Humphries sitting on the bench after being knocked out of the game.
Hopefully all this nonsense will blow over, and we can get back to playing football. I look forward to the Patriots/Chargers next year...it should be a battle. At least you guys got to keep your cool bolts on your helmets instead of the Flying Elvis we got stuck with.
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