Judging by the boos LaDainian Tomlinson heard in the playoffs, Chargers fans weren’t always thrilled with his production or usage this year.
In an interview with XX Sports Radio in San Diego, Tomlinson admitted he wasn’t in love with his role either.
“I wasn’t happy. No one is going to be happy with the least amount of touches in my career. I don’t know any running back that would be happy with that. Absolutely I wasn’t happy with not touching the ball as much as I thought I would,” Tomlinson said.
Tomlinson has repeatedly said that he’s no longer asked to carry the ball 350 times with 50-75 catches, and that he did the best with what he had. But no one brings up the obvious: Norv Turner would have loved to give him the ball that much if Tomlinson’s play warranted it.
Tomlinson received 223 carries with the Chargers during the regular season. If he didn’t like that role, he’s likely to be very disappointed with the offers he gets after San Diego inevitably cuts him.
But he’s such a classy guy, just ask him.
He needs to shut up. He was terrible this year and awful during the playoff game. That offense would be nearly unstoppable if they had a solid running game.
Tomlinson needs to realize that he isn’t what he used to be. He should have been cut last off season.
This is a clear case of ther “one yard touchdown disease”. A coach creates this by giving letting a running back get all those easy one yard scores. After a while, he has to score them all. Come Wed. he sees his TD stats and it overinflates his ego.
See Emmitt Smith in his later years.
Its sad to see a Hall of Fame RB nearing the end of the line. Coming from a guy who won 2 Fantasy Football leagues when he was in his prime, it does suck to see. But thats reality.
Reality is, Tomlinson is pretty much done. he doesnt have the burst he used to to get past that first wave of defenders and make people miss. I also hate his crybaby nonsense. His team had a great season. Rivers has come into his own as one of the elite QB’s in the league. Vincent Jackson is a force and Gates was great. So why wouldnt this team be a pass first offense, especially with a greatly diminished Tomlinson running for 3 yards a carry? Hes going to be severely dissapointed this offseason. No one will sign him to be a starter
in other news Chargers weren’t happy with Tomlinsons 3 yard avg … the wheels have finally fallen off .. weather Tomlinson wants to admit it or not
I didn’t like my role this year either. I thought I would get much more playing time.
Shut up LT. The Chargers need a new running back, pure and simple.
It’s all about winning huh LT….He’ll never carry over 225 again so quit your crying!
Is this guy serious? I wasnt happy about LT’s role either. He played way too much. Sproles should be the one complaining.
Is there ANY athlete in the world that is more in love with themselves than this clown? Ladanian, move on. You SUCK and your carries and your yardage reflect your diminished skills. The people of San Diego and the rest of the NFL don’t care about what you have to say about yourself. We came to our conclusions based on what you did, or didnt do, on the field.
Should of come to New Orleans in the offseason instead of resigning with those choke artists. Rivers is an “average” QB and will never win a Super Bowl. Thanks for Brees BTW
I wasn’t happy with not touching the ball as much as I thought I would,” Tomlinson said.
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say what?? how about turner gave him TOO MANY TOUCHES?
he had 15 touches, 12 running and 3 passes caught for a total of 24 yards or just about one yard and a half per touch in last week’s loss to the jets. ruining each of those drives everytime he had touched the ball.
This guy is such a bum. I can’t stand listening to people kiss his butt. Oh he is just so classy! He is a whiny little child that needs to be put in the corner. Hey Tomlinson YOU SUCK RETIRE YOU LOSER. Nice of the San Diego fans to show their true colors and abandon a fading super star… What do you expect from a town like San Diego though….
Nobody ever said he was smart.
I don’t get the love affair people have with this guy. He could flat out play; but he’s a prima donna/half-retard that doesn’t realize he’s lost a step. How annoying is that?
My Father once told me that it is when others say how good you are that you can take notice. The ones that always talk about how good they are are the ones that do not measure up and they know it.
This guy has been nothing for years now and all he is is full of excuses for the reasons why. Shut up and let your fans remember you with some class rather than make your self out to be a jerk which you are proving to be every time you open your mouth.
Remember the first 7-10 years of his career? Before he started talking to the media and such? He was great and I was a huge fan of his. Then he opened his mouth and started whining, bitchin and moaning. Now he just needs to go away. No one likes him anymore and he sucks.
LT needs to realize that he is no longer the player he thinks he is….get over it LT…your old and washed up….it happens
Tomlinson is younger than Thomas Jones but people are already saying he’s done? Anyone consider that Norv Turner sucks ass, the O line hasn’t been great, and the team has made the switch to Rivers becoming the true leader for the Chargers. LT can still produce when you look at his best years he had a lot of touches yet this year he had his carries drop off by about 100 and he only caught 20 passes. I realize that RBs are supposedly done at 30, but Thomas Jones at 31 this year had 1400 yards and 14 TDs. While I don’t think LT is a top 10RB anymore I still say that where ever he ends up their roster just got a little better.
he sure doesnt have it now. major pay and role cut or gone.
they need a coupla new rb. let them compete till one gets hurt or stands out.
Did anyone else notice LT exiting the field in the playoffs with his shielded helmet on? He used to be the best, but now he is a third down back and is living in denial.
@ Big Stretch
Let me play the advocate of the devil, MAYBE Thomas Jones is still that good and an exception to the rule?
L.T to NEW ENGLAND.
doesnt like his role of OVERPAID HACK?
try being an underpaid one next year.
His role in the “Electric Slide” video?
@ Chapnasty2 -
He could be the exception…him and Ricky Williams, but considering this year was the first time in LT’s career that he didn’t reach 1000 yards I’m inclined to think he still has some gas in the tank. Something else to think about is that most times when a player gets hurt they might need almost a full season to get back to healthy…. ie. -Edge picked up 989 yards and 2 TDs the year after his knee injury the following year he had 1259 yards and 11TDs. Ronnie Brown the first year after injury 916 yards and 10 TDs last year thru 9 games 648 yards 8TDs…..
maybe I’m out of my mind, but i think LT is absolutely worth a roster spot……Detroit…Seattle…Oakland…Houston….
bad O-Line and no fullback….he hasnt been the same since Lorenzo Neal left
LT, the re-incarnation of Shaun Alexander.
All the freaking Chargers do it talk big and perform little. The guy clearly has lost a few steps – can’t produce when he gets the chance. Typical Chargers player.
On the bright side, he should have plenty of time in the future to practice that candyass, most-effeminate-in-history touchdown celebration he invented.
Not after scoring touchdowns, of course. Maybe just at home in the mirror.
LT is delusional. He just can’t grasp the fact that he is god awful.
It’s hard to believe how rapidly he declined.
The only other two guys that come to mind are Eddie George and Shaun Alexander, but when they hit the wall, they hit it hard.
He certainly needs to be mentioned among the all-timers, though…….
In the new pass happy league what can LT expect? The Norv Turner offense played great against the Jets. (?) Perhaps LT would have a better opportunity with another team?
GO STEELERS!
@ big
I agree but he needs to be in a support role and keep his mouth shut, kind of do what Chester Taylor has done since AP showed up. I’m not saying Chester Taylor was/is/or will ever be as good as LT was in his prime, but a smaller role where he could come in when a bigger back was tired and take advantage of a tired defense would be ideal.
It is sad and annoying to listen to LT talk these days. He needs to retire and salvage some dignity.
Maybe it was the line? There wasnt much room 2 run
look at sproles #s when lt was hurt.. 2.3 avg and a 2.6
hmmmm
A rare running back goes against the trend and plays well at 31. So we are supposed to expect them all to? I think Thomas Jones has shuffled around the league a bit and lost carries year after year because his teams were always trying to replace him. Now you may claim those teams were stupid, but regardless, he did not have the work load year after year that LT, George and SA had. Hence maybe that is why he had a good year at 31.
Or are you going to extend your logic and expect every QB to be able to play at a top 5 QB level at age 40 because we had one do it this year?
You used to see every few games LT break off runs of 71 yards. I recall seeing him get gains of that much by rushing and receiving in one afternoon. IF he still had it, he had enough touches to have those plays this year, no matter how often they passed or how bad you want to claim the O-line was. He would have had a couple gains or games where we’d still be talking about it on Wednesday.
Instead its Charles and Harrison doing it behind the all pro lines in Cleveland and KC and their stellar Offensive units.
LT = Has been
Merriman = Exposed Roid User
Gates = Best days behind him
Rivers = Elite only in San Diego County
Norv = In way over his head
Holy Cow! Did everyone just hear that Super Bowl window of opportunity slam shut? LOL!
As a huge Charger fan since the days of Dan Fouts and company – I am freakin tired of this little diva throwing his little tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. Sorry LT – there are other better players on the team that deserve the ball a lot more than you do. We fans are tired of watching you skip pre-season because you’re such a diva, we’re tired of watching you sit on the sideline lines during the playoffs because you’re such a diva with a hangnail, and we’re tired of hearing you freakin whine when you don’t get your way, you don’t get the ball handed to you enough, you don’t get the ball thrown at you enough, or somebody called you out in the press. Do us all a favor – take your ego, poor attitude, and your pathetic electric slide video and motor out of town… trust me, we’ll do just fine without you
@ Geaux Saints
You must be feeling really good about yourself. Who would’ve ever thought the day would come when Saints fans were talking shit about ANY team. Soak it in while you can, bitch.
I dont think its the line. Theres an obvious lack of speed in his runs. The last few years you could see him getting brought down from behind, something that never happened in his prime. Once he used to pass the first wave of tacklers, he was gone. Think back a few years ago to the opening night game in Oakland where he absolutely tore through the field.
Its just part of life. People get older and they slow down especially after taking a beating week in and week out on the NFL. The same thing will one day happen to Chris Johnson and A.P.
LT will absolutely go into the Hall of Fame as one of the best backs we have ever seen. His receiving skills and his running were incredible when he was at the top of his game. Right now, hes no longer a starter. Its hard and sad to let go but he is definitely hitting a wall
If the Chargers could do it over again they would have resigned Michael Turner and let Tomlinson walk.
Tomlinson was a great RB but he has been declining and this year its become obvious to everyone hes not near the same RB he was 7 years ago. It happens. Not to mention he seems to be at his worst when the stakes are at their highest. People wouldent be so down on him if he didnt bitch and complain after he stinks up the joint. He contributed ZILCH, ZERO , in the loss to the Jets. if the Chargers are going to make another run at it Tomlinson wont be in the mix. Maybe he can go to a bottom feeder and pad his stats. Thats all he has left at this point.
223 Carries for 730 yards. Here are all the RB’s who had less carries and more yards.
Kevin Smith, Laurence Maroney, Ahmad Bradshaw, Beanie Wells, Pierre Thomas, Cadillac Williams, Joseph Addai, Jerome Harrison, Michael Turner, Marion Barber (Yeah, Marion Barber), Deangelo Williams, Jamaal Charles, Jonathon Stewart.
Half of them not even part time starters! Half played minimal games, you get the idea.
He had 45 more yards than Felix Jones on only 116 carries.
Had be been given 331 carries, like Thomas Jones, he would have had about 1084 yards. In 15th for yardage in the league, over 920 yards less than Chris Johnson. 300 carries gives him 982. That 3.27 yards per carry is a killer.
Hang him up, he is done.
Most of you posters don’t know what you’re talking about. Has LT lost a step? Sure. But he’s still a very good back. You give him an O-line that can run block and he’d still put up top ten numbers. The Chargers’ line is terrible when it comes to run blocking. Doesn’t matter who you have back there.
Charger fans weren’t booing LT. They were booing the poor blocking and even poorer play calling.
Dude, what is it about you and your apparent dislike for LT? You go out of your way to slam him or purposely take comments out of context to try and make him look bad, If you know ANYTHING about football, you know that a running back gets into a rhythm with repeated touches. When the repetition of those touches is reduced, and the running game is only used as an occasional switch-up from the passing game, NOBODY is going to produce, especially when the formations telegraph a running play. Let’s face it…the running game went sideways when LoNeal was cut loose. ’06 and ’07…LT leads the NFL in rushing yards. 2008, LoNeal is let go, and the running game went with him. The o-line was never built to open running lanes like LoNeal did, hence, LT’s numbers suffer. Hardly his fault. This is why, if he is let go, and is signed by a team built for the running game, I GUARANTEE he’s good for at least 2 more years of 1200 yards easy. If you’d like to debate this, it would be my pleasure.
Big Stretch says
“maybe I’m out of my mind, but i think LT is absolutely worth a roster spot……Detroit…Seattle…Oakland…Houston….
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You’re DEFINITELY out of your mind.
With Fargas, Bush and McFadden, I’d say the Raiders don’t need this has been loser.
# Joe in Toronto, Canada says:
You’re DEFINITELY out of your mind.
With Fargas, Bush and McFadden, I’d say the Raiders don’t need this has been loser.
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Fargas, Bush and McFadden?
Murderers Row line-up u got there at 4-12 or 5-11 every year. I see everyone one of them walking into the HOF when they’re done playing.
They averaged a whopping 17 more yards a game.
LT had more TD’s than all three of them “winners” combined.
He may be a has been loser in ur eyes but that prolly cuz for the past 9 yrs he has PNWED the Faiders.
Im sure all you delusional Faider fans cant wait for him to get out of the division.
PWNES the Faiders. PWNES ‘em.
Having defended him there for what its worth, its time for him to go. I dont care about whether or not he whines or not. I want production and his time in SD is done. I dont think they’re gonna find a 1300yd guy with that OL. They become too pass happy and the OL skills have gone along that route as well.
If Marty were still coaching LT would still b getting 300 touches and the Chargers would still b losing in the playoffs. Its inevitable.
lol @ all these no nothing football fans.
“get LT out of there and put Sproles in”
Really? Sproles didn’t fair very well himself. In fact, the only RB that actually had a good avg running the ball was Tolbert, their FB that ran the ball only in mop up duty.
The Chargers have to fix their OL because releasing a runner just to replace him with a younger guy to get tackled behind the line of scrimmage isn’t going to do any good. The pass protection of SD wasn’t half bad, but the run blocking was AWFUL! No nastiness.
LT is still good for a few 1300 yd seasons with the burst he showed at the end of the season. He just won’t be flirting with 2000 anytime soon.
LT=Hall Of Famer
Shaun Alexander=not even in LT’s shadow