Should Tomlinson be taking heat?
Let's hope Sunday's AFC Championship doesn't wind up as LaDainian Tomlinson's most indelible playoff moment. Let's hope this of Hall of Fame player can erase the image of him sitting with his parka hood up, visor on, sitting stoically on the bench. (Wouldn't it be easier to watch at night with it off?). Let's also let the next few weeks play out before judging on his inability to play Sunday. Because there are already questions.
Deion Sanders, speaking on the NFL Network, summed up what many teammates and fans are thinking - unfairly or not.
"You understand what T.O overcame to get back in the game, what Plaxico Burress goes through each week, and what Philip Rivers went through to play. LT told us he was close to 100%. The problem is, when you tell me that, I have expectations, and when you don't meet those expectations, you open yourself for us to try to guess. Now what's the problem? You're a big-time player. And big-time players must play in big time games.I know a lot of people will give LT a pass and say we don't know what happened. As a teammate, as fans looking on, it must be a surgery for him to get a pass on this one. I hope he comes up with something in the offseason, nothing severe, but a surgery for him to get a pass on this one."
Deion is right that expectations were key here. I waited to write this post until the morning to see if more information was available. And wouldn't you know, Tomlinson says he has a sprained MCL. This column indicates the injury was diagnosed last week, and that the "hyperextension" and "90% healthy" public talk were smokescreens. Either the Chargers violated injury reporting procedures or they are covering up now. The Kansas City Star and Charger Nation are wondering what happened.
We take acts of incredible toughness for granted in the NFL. We expect T.O. to return in weeks from a severe ankle sprain. Antonio Gates plays two games with a dislocated toe, and Philip Rivers plays with a sprained MCL and partially torn ACL, and we wonder why he didn't play better. It's difficult to criticize LaDainian Tomlinson for another disappointing January, but the image of his frozen Sunday will be tough to shake. Let's just hope he gets another chance to erase it.
Comments
It looked as if LT was a scared child who was pouting.
For all the free good-press this guy has and all the accolades, he sure acts like an ass on the sidelines, so sitting there vs. the undefeated Pats in the AFC title game cinched what should now be a poor rep.
There were two things that really grinded my gears: 1. the Chargers went out of their way to tell the media it was "a coach's decision".
And we always howl when a QB isn't accountable! Yo, sounds like LT2 is hiding behind a press release.
If they did lie about his injury, then he should not have been the major part of that lie saying he was close to 100 percent.
2. LT spent all week representing in interviews and saying how New England dissed his team last year but this is the chance of a lifetime and he'll play even if he has to shoot up with painkillers.
That, guys, is what makes him both a liar and a pussy.
You go out, you play. You play hurt. You wrap the knee with f-ing duct tape if you have to.
You stand up like a man for your own decisions and shortcomimgs. You don't pout. You don't duck criticism. And most of all, you don't beat a drum like a warrior and then fold like a coward.
Prove me wrong, LT. Prove me wrong.
Posted by: CoachThumper | January 21, 2008 04:48 PM
Honestly, LT could have been thinking "We're playing a team that's 17-0. Every week lately some team looks like they have the chance to win, and the Patriots still come out on top. I can play this game, possibly ruin my knee and career, all to lose anyway, or sit this one out and try again next year. Not to mention if I can't play in the Super Bowl and we lose, who will really remember that I gave all my effort to win a game that wasn't even the title."
Yea, it might be selfish, but it was just one game, and it wasn't the big one. Burress and TO were different, they didn't have knee injuries, if it was Tomlinson's ankle he probably would've gave it a better effort.
Posted by: Realistic | January 21, 2008 05:00 PM
Who ever made the comment of being able to play 1 week @ 100% after having his leg hyper-extended. is smoking crack. Unless of course it was really minor to the point just short of calling it hyper. The few plays he was in there he did nothing to show that he should not be in there the next play. Remember Willis Reed the title game. It was very apparent he was trying to play on one leg dragging his leg and Chamberlin up the court. He hit the first two shots for the Knicks the rest is history. LT lost hie heart and seemed like he wanted no part of NE. if he wasn't " 100%" percent
Posted by: H hudson | January 21, 2008 05:21 PM
Realistic, I don't know how you can say "if it was Tomlinson's ankle he probably would've gave it a better effort"! As much as I dislike T.O. I have to respect him for what he did in the SuperBowl and I definitely respect Burress for playing through the injury he has. LT2 deciding to "sit this one out" shows that he's selfish and is not a team player. It doesn't matter whether it was his knee or ankle, he still should have given it more than two series to show he was at least willing to give it a try. Sure he might have been at less than 100%, but at least give it a shot.
Posted by: CdnFan | January 21, 2008 05:53 PM
This is likely to be the beginning of the end for LT.
A leg injury like this one which was generally assumed to not be a big deal keeping him out of the biggest game of his life, will be a precursor to him running tentatively next season. See Alexander, Shaun. This is the problem with backs who have been healthy for such a stretch, they can't play through an injury. Look for a disappointing '08 season including some missed games from LT, followed by the dreaded age 30 season in '09. If you thought SA had a abrupt end, check out LT's....
Posted by: TC | January 21, 2008 06:01 PM
get off your ass and support your team!
Posted by: derek | January 21, 2008 06:52 PM
I think this really depends on who decided LT2 would sit. Was it Turner or LT2 himself? This reminds me a lot of when Brandon Marshall got injured and Shanahan finally told him to get on the field or else. It was his first time being injured too and Marshall was a bit tentative. I respect LT2 for trying to play but it still doesn't make sense to be likely to play and then come out of the game after a couple plays. Somebody wasn't telling the truth there. I think San Diego could have at least used LT2 as a decoy. But who really knows?
Posted by: Jacyln | January 21, 2008 06:58 PM