Pouting in San Diego
 

L.T. proclaims he's "the best back"
Posted by Tom Curran on September 2, 2009 9:13 AM ET (PFT)

The fact that he has turned 30 doesn't mean LaDainian Tomlinson's too old to engage in a little "neener, neener, neener."

Speaking to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, Tomlinson flashed jealousy about a recent Sporting News article in which Jim Brown interviewed Adrian Peterson.


One question posed by Brown suggests that Tomlinson is overrated.

The article, in which Brown says he believes Peterson is "the most complete back he's seen in a long time," was given to Tomlinson by a Chargers staffer.

"I was sitting there reading it thinking, 'Wow,' " Tomlinson told Farmer. "The difference with me is you can put me out on that field and there will be nothing I can't do. I won't have to come off the field. Adrian has to come off sometimes on third down. Running routes, he's still not there yet. Great downhill runner, powerful, fast, all that stuff. . . .

"But anything on that field you want me to do -- throw it, block -- I can do it. That's what I pride myself on is not having any weaknesses. And that's what makes me the best back."

It's a predictable response from Tomlinson. In 2006, he was being touted as the heir apparent to Brown. Two injury-marred seasons later, and Brown's prodding Peterson to call L.T. overrated while they sip lemonade on the veranda.

Given the pride Tomlinson takes in his craft, making sure L.T. read all about it was, in the short-term, a wise motivational move by the Chargers.

But if it causes him to push too hard from September through December, leaving him used up and/or injured come the playoffs, the smarter move might have been to put the thing in a box marked "Do not open until Christmas."

Someone should tell LT he's 30.

Oh, and LT can do anything. Except play hurt.

FaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaFaF uck you, LT

Sincerely,
Darren Sproles

;)

^ or get his team to a Super Bowl... not that AP has... but LT has had a great team for awhile now... and sitting out in the playoffs doesn't seem to be the key to getting the chargers to the superbowl like he hoped it was...

Sproles is going to be starting for that team before long.

Buck and I have a bet, LJ vs LT...he's screwed.

The playing hurt issue is true to a degree. However, the fact is that he has had quite good back-ups behind him. Why play an even moderately injured valuable player when there are guys like Turner and Sproles that can be effective and at full strength? I don't know about all that being a "pussy" stuff really. It might be fun to make fun of the Chargers, but it isn't like he hasn't taken hits all the time. I certainly would not play Peterson when hurt to any substantial degree either. The truth is that LT is getting older. He has the chance to back up his words this year. These things are just media starting up crap to a very high degree. You can't expect the guy to say that he is over the hill and sucks. All the talk matters little. LT will get the chance to take the field and make it happen.

They will likely win the division without LT.

LT played behind shit and he was the only weapon and he got his. AP looks devestating now, but so did a shitload of other backs in the league when they broke in.

Good luck with that buddy.

The best RB in the league vs. a scrub.

LT preseason stats - 12 carries, 23 yards, long of 6

LJ preseason stats - 20 carries, 69 yards, long of 18

It's already beginning....

The bet was about LT, not AP.

neither of those is very good... actually...

Yeah, those are some kinda stats from both of them so far. If LT had the 8 more carries, odds are the suckage would be pretty equal.

Lets compare since 2005 shall we?

LT:

2005 - 339 Carries / 1462 Yards (4.3 Avg) / 18 TDs / 51 Receptions - 2 TDs
2006 - 348 Carries / 1815 Yards (5.2 Avg) / 28 TDs / 56 Receptions - 3 TDs
2007 - 315 Carries / 1474 Yards (4.7 Avg) / 15 TDs / 60 Receptions - 3 TDs
2008 - 292 Carries / 1110 Yards (3.8 Avg) / 11 TDs / 52 Receptions - 1 TD

LJ:

2005 - 336 Carries / 1750 Yards (5.2 Avg) / 20 TDs / 33 Receptions - 1 TD
2006 - 416 Carries / 1789 Yards (4.3 Avg) / 17 TDs / 41 Receptions - 2 TDs
2007 - 158 Carries / 559 Yards (3.5 Avg) / 3 TDs / 30 Receptions - 1 TD
2008 - 193 Carries / 874 Yards (4.5 Avg) / 5 TDs / 12 Receptions - 0 TDs

Its clear to see who is better.

Nope. LT barely avg 2 ypc. 8 more carries at that rate wouldn't even put him at 40 total rushing yds.

Living in the past is always fun.....

Basing whos better off of preseason numbers is even more fun.

Yeah...that was weak, Buck.

I understand that, but chances are with a long of only six yards that LT would break one decent run in eight carries to even it up. Still isn't good anyway.

Explain to me exactly what it is that makes you think LJ is going to have a better season than LT. I'm pretty sure we've had this bet the last 2 years running and you haven't even come close.

LT is at 100% health going into the season, which he wasn't last year.

The guy has one "down" season, where he still puts up over 1000 yards, 10 Rushing TDs, and 50 receptions.

If it were anybody else in the league, that would have been considered a solid season.

I hate how everyone compares LT to his monstrous 2006 season. That will never happen again, that shouldn't be the standard which he is compared too.

I think people are under-estimating LT. The guy had over 1100 yds, 13 TD's and 50+ catches on a bad toe and missing some games. I'll take it. I like LT enough to draft him at the bottom of the 2nd round last night. Speaking of Sproles, he is the next Michael Turner. San Diego is the new Denver when it comes to finding good backs.

He's a better running back. Who will receive more carries.

He was a better running back last year, too.

he cant play with a sore toenail.

Pretty funny man.

For the vast knowledge of football you supposedly have, this is completely idiotic.

This is a stupid argument to even get involved in, but what the hell, I've gotten into enough stupid arguments, so what's one more.

If Tomlinson got 8 more carries, it isn't unreasonable to think he could potentially break off an 18 yard run in one of those.

Or you could take one carry for 18 yards away from LJ, and his numbers would be 19 carries for 51 yards, just barely 2.5 ypc.

But we are talking about preseason and minimal carries.

So, like I say, it's a stupid ****ing argument.

Yeah, whatever, they're all fighting for second place. By the time Peterson is done, he'll probably have re-written the record book.

Barry Sanders was the best and didn't have to brag on himself.

Either way, LT is already a top 20 RB of all time. LJ's lucky hes even in the conversation.

I don't care about LJ. If Tomlinson is only a top 20 RB of all time, that's pretty disappointing, considering how he started.

Yeah, well I was going to go with top 10, but I didn't want people to think I was too much of a homer.

Hes 14th all time in Rush Yards and 2nd All Time in Rush TDs.

If he has another 1000 Yard season, he'll be at 7th all time Rushing Yards.

Gayle Sayers still made the HOF.

You are extremely biased. LT is on his last legs. Anyone can see that.

And?

LJ in his best days couldn't carry Tomlinson's jockstrap in his best days.

They are both on the decline, and I'd still take Tomlinson over LJ every ****ing day.

I actually agree with this.

Hate to break it to you, but Larry Johnson is less than 5 months younger than LT. LJ was beat to the ground at Penn State, and he was for a couple years in KC.

If you want to talk wear and tear, they are equal for both guys.

Not to mention the Chiefs Offensive Line isn't going to do shit for LJ. At least the Chargers O-Line can keep Tomlinson somewhat protected.

You know that is not true. Not even close.

You are really flying off the handle here. You have a man crush on LT and hate the fact he is going the way of the Dodo.

SPROLES IN 09!

LOL, I am the one who has a man crush?

How can you even dispute the fact that LJ has been run into the ground?

You are the biggest LJ apologist on this board, if not the entire internet.

It isn't unreasonable. But just making assumptions on what you think he may possibly break one out doesn't explain the rate LT was going at.

"Well he was rushing for only under 3 ypc, but hey he's LT which means he's automatically due to bust one out for a huge gain if given 8 more carries."

I could easily say he gets 8 more carries and gets stuffed on almost every run, bringing his average down even lower. Same principle.

I have a man crush too, but LT has been run into the ground a lot more. This is undisputed fact. LJ had one heavy carry season and that was it.

Even Chargers fans know LT is done:

Not true, Tomlinson is a giant pussy.

Really? You are trying to convince me by posting the opinion of one Chargers fan from somewhere on the internet? You didn't even post a link to where you got that from? I'm sure wherever you found it, the ratio is at least 5:1 saying that LT has still got it.

And I'm sure they've thought that over the past couple of years too, and he still ends up not being there when the team really needs him.

One is all I need.

What makes that guy more qualified than me? Are you going to post a link or what?

I'm not trying to convince you, Buck.

I'm sure you will be convinced about two months from now when Sproles is your team's leading rusher.

Observe as Chargers fans prepare for the inevitable:

You are off your rocker.

I guess we'll see. This year I'm not going to go easy on your sig.

Are you stupid?

"Franchise Role" doesn't mean hes our Franchise RB. He got Franchise tagged. You are unbelievable.

This is gonna be fun. :)

I'm not saying that because he's Tomlinson that he will break off an 18 yard run.

I'm saying it's not unreasonable to think it's possible.
Your scenario is also not unreasonable.

LJ was averaging just about the same as Tomlinson until he got that 18 yard run, which was about his 15th or 16th carry this preseaosn.

But, again, it's a stupid ****ing argument, because 20 carries and 12 carries, respectively, is simply a ridulous sample size to measure with.

And you're a giant ****ing dumbass.

Whoa, LJ barely touched the field until his last year at Penn State, and even then he didn't carry the ball that much, he just had a record breaking ypc. At KC he rode the bench in his diaper for a few years, then broke out in 05'. Herm then tried to kill him in 07', which probably added 3 years onto his body.

To say they have the same mileage is crazy though.

LT knows how to block, so that automatically makes him a much better back then LJ.

Ok, you are right about the Penn State thing. For some reason I thought he was used more in College. I went to a Penn State bar every saturday his senior year, so I had a lot of exposure to him that year.

Go away and play with your bottle now you little crybaby

I found it amazing that he broke the ypc record that year. He must have had an amazing offensive line in front of him.

I got to watch LT play against Tulsa back in 00'. I could tell he was going to be special, and once he got to the NFL LT was lucky enough to get a coach that knew how to utilize him.

Who's crying?

I'm just pointing out that you are stupid mother****er, displaying my strong grasp of the obvious.

Oh my GOD the irony! ROFL

Man Crush!!!! Holy hell!!!
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GoChiefs would seriously spend the day cleaning and waxing LJ's car if he could go along with him to the clubs just once.

It's Man Crush + Bromance = some ungodly new fanboi evolution.

He'd polish the knob.

Nah, there's an old saying. "Never meet your heroes." I never want to meet LJ. Ever.

It was enough for me that he acknowledged me on his blog and gave a hat tip to WPI for making him the cover boy.

Are you afraid he would spit his gin and juice on you?

Every Charger fan I know says hes done and wanted to let him go over Turner. Plus the argument that LT is better because he produced more yds doesn't make sense. He touched the ball for 85% of their plays for a lot of years because he was all they had. LJ was used as RB which his title is. LT was used as QB/RB/WR/TE/FB because they had no one else shoulder the load. Now that they do, his numbers have declined to the point no one even talks about him anymore. Its all about Sproles if you walk down the street.

Best back?

He's not even the best LT.

I was going to post a picture of the LT, but then I got this:

It ain't easy being a noewb. :sulk:

I love the "hes not the real LT" argument.

Like a guy cant use his initials as a nickname.

It's about time for LT to head on to be the first homo in Canton.

LaT was a damn good back, but he's not in my top 10, and I think he's about done. Getting rid of "the burner" will prove to be a terrible mistake. I love Sproles, but he's just not an every down back. He's better than LaT though right now.

Oh, sorry about that. I wasn't trying to present a rational argument.

I was just making fun of him.

His uniform is on display in Canton. It's right next to Tom Brady's as the 2006 and 2007 MVPs.

LT wasn't even the most effective back on his team last year. Hell, Sproles is the better receiver at this point.

Sproles will only start because of injury. Your screwed because Diaper Boy is the most overrated RB in the past 5 years and LT's off year last year was better than LJ outside of a year or two. HOF vs overrated THUG? Who do you got?

I feel sorry for the SOB that bet you only to win and have you welch on the bet.

Season is here so I will let the numbers do the talking. As if LT's already hadn't.

I will say that everyone that is doubting him is just adding more fuel to the fire. Heck, someone in the Chargers front office gave him the article to read.

I have LT on my fantasy team. I hope he has 14 great games this year and two really shitty ones.

Bigger man-crush = GoChiefs

Better back in 09' = LJ

Darren Sproles>LT in 09'

LT is basically done. He will probably go down again, then realize Adrian Puh Puh Puh Peterson is the best back in the entire league!

Most teams would love to have "Tomlinson's bad year" he is declining because of his overall number of touches and age but he is good enough at every facet of the game to remain a valuable piece to have. He is today a better player than Larry Johnson but that isn't saying a whole lot which is why that argument is baffling.

He is a more complete back than Peterson but he isn't that kind of runner anymore. Also for Peterson and all the talk and records etc, he has to show he's durable. For a RB Tomlinson has been remarkably durable where Peterson's past points to durability problems.

Tomlinson is not a great back anymore, he's a good back that does all of the little things that help you win games.

Peterson is a great runner he just isn't nearly as polished in all facets of the game we'll see if that comes in time. Larry Johnson never learned those things.

LT was the best back in the NFL. Age happens to everyone Tomlinson. I wont ever say he is L.T thats will always be reserved for Lawrence Taylor.


Anyways, great back, but its Peterson's time.

I dont even know why the **** people are Discussing L.J in this league anymore. LJ had 2 good years and that was it. Hell, Priest more then that. lol

It's possible that LJ will exceed LT this year, but that's it. Anyone on here who thinks LJ is anywhere near the same level as LT overall is the definition of "homer".