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.