Chargers Release Tomlinson After Nine Hall of Fame Worthy Seasons
Not that we necessarily care too, too much, but anytime one of the game's great players for nearly a decade is released by the team that drafted him, it's worth noting. Tomlinson of course has been in serious decline the past two seasons. This past season, he looked like a total shell of himself, and if you ask me, his presence detracted from the team's chances to maximize the talent on the offensive side of the ball.
Still, you have to tip your cap to LT for what he was able to do in San Diego. That was a fairly hapless franchise before he and Drew Brees were drafted nearly a decade ago. Tomlinson will almost surely be a 1st ballot of Hall of Famer five years after he decides to hang it up for good.
Speaking of that - do you think this is the end for LT in the NFL? Or do you think he'll sign somewhere else and play several more years before riding into the sunset? And finally, if you do think he's not done, do you think he may still have a year or two of surprisingly productive football left in him as he maybe tries to prove the Chargers wrong for letting him go?
almost 2 years ago
Michael Bean
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LT
had a bunch of injuries that turn into nagging injuries. He messed his toe up last year and I think he tore a ligament in his ankle this year. I think I remember him having a ligament problem in the pelvis area too. They rode him hard early and it may be taking it’s toll.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Even if he's healthy
he may have to take a salary cut to land a good job. How will this effect Willie Parker’s marketability, if at all?
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Feb 22, 2010 5:14 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, he'll definitely take a pay cut if he wants to play
I would think that LT is more desirable than Parker.
For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 22, 2010 5:16 PM EST up reply actions
It’s hard to tell after a situation like this. Sometimes you have the situations where a guy goes somewhere else and does nothing (Franco in Seattle, Emmitt in Arizona, Tony Dorsett in Denver). Then you have the guys like Ottis Anderson and Ernest Byner who ended up being very productive for SB winners. Maybe he could go to Washington and rejuvenate his career (because, you know, any RB can get 1200 yards in Shanahan’s system ;)).
For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 22, 2010 5:15 PM EST reply actions
I don’t think SD is going to regret cutting him, but I think he has a productive year left in him. I’d pay him twice what I’d pay Parker. He’ll sell some jerseys and tickets, he can catch the ball in a Kevin Faulk role if he wants to, and it’s possible he could be a very productive back if he stayed around 200 carries. He’s a shell of his former self, but that’s still better than a lot of backs.
charity standing orders
Agreed
He could be a quality role player for another 4-5 years if he wanted to. He’d be a better pickup than Fred Taylor was for the Pats, IMO.
For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 22, 2010 9:58 PM EST up reply actions
Definitely
I like the idea of Mendenhall, LT, MM. As long as we are not predictable with which back we put in on third down. However, isn’t LT a below average blocker?
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Feb 23, 2010 8:56 AM EST up reply actions
Not sure about his blocking
I don’t think he’s had to block much in his career, but from what I hear, good blocking is more about wanting to than anything else.
For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 23, 2010 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
Actually I think you're totally Faulking wrong-
Just kidding…I couldn’t resist myself…..
BUT: I think LT would be more productive than Kevin Faulk and could very well approach Marshall Faulk-like numbers IF he were in the right system. Shanahancould very well provide that system, especially with Portis developing a tendency for being injured. The two of them might actuallycompliment each other, given Portis’ hard-nosed running style.
Forgive me if I offended you BMF. I was really just couldn’t resist trying to be the pun-ny guy there…
Portis and LT in the same back field? That is one ancient back field that is very injury prone. The Redskins need to draft a young back and have him be a back up next year behind portis and possibly take over by the end of the year in a dual back system. Just my opinion
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Feb 23, 2010 8:59 AM EST up reply actions
I think he's got a few good years left in him.
If he lands with the right team. I don’t see him as a feature back anywhere, but I think he’d make a good supplement to someone. I dunno why, but i have a nagging feeling that he’s gonna wind up in New England, a la Corey Dillon. No evidence to justify it, just a hunch.
why not?
8 straight 1,000+yd seasons, a league MVP and only Emmitt Smith has more rushing TD’s in league history. I’d say he’s a hall of famer. You could name guys better than him, but not many…
uh, yeah
I’m serious. He’ll be a 1st ballot HOFer. Best running back this past decade, hands down.
Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)
by Michael Bean on Feb 23, 2010 1:06 AM EST up reply actions
Definitely first-ballot
More yards than Jim Brown over the first nine years of their careers. Enough said.
Golf is a contact sport. Football is a collision sport.
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Feb 23, 2010 7:45 AM EST up reply actions
Huh?
He is 8th all time in rushing yards. Only two guys average more yards per game above him: the greatest ever Barry Sanders and Eric DIckerson. He is 7th all time in rush yards per game.
He is 2nd in all time rushing TDs. Behind only Emmitt Smith by 26 TDs, but that is 16 seasons for Emmitt and 9 for Tomlinson. In other words LT averages 15.3 TDs per year to Emmitt’s 10.9.
Of all the RBs above him on the all time rushing list NONE of them have as many receptions as he does and only Walter Payton has more rec yards (in 4 more seasons).
His yards per attempt is higher than Emmitt Smith’s, Curtis Martins, and Jerome Bettis’s and about equal with Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, and Eric Dickerson.
He holds the record for rushing TDs in a single season with 28.
His 2006 season ranks 18th in all time single season rushing yards.
How is he not 1st ballot beside your bias opinion?
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Feb 23, 2010 9:16 AM EST up reply actions
Zing!!!
Had to rub it in Johnny :)
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 23, 2010 9:26 AM EST up reply actions
The talk radio in Philly is blowing up over him.
They know Westbrook is done and everyone’s bugging out to bring LT in to replace him. That wouldn’t be a bad move for the Eagles. This might be one of those rare times that the Philly fans actually know what’s good for them.
But I agree with atrain. Somehow this has New England all over it. Wouldn’t that be ironic after what LT had to say about Belichick?
Golf is a contact sport. Football is a collision sport.
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Feb 22, 2010 7:01 PM EST reply actions
Philly would be a great fit for him. They hardly run the ball, and he’s still a good receiver out of the backfield.
For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 22, 2010 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
well, we're at least on his list
Tomlinson:
That’s my No. 1 goal. That’s why I still work hard and train like I do, because I still believe there’s a chance of winning that championship. So the next team I go to has to have a chance of winning a title. I can think of a few teams off the top of my head
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4936783
It’s funny how not a single person here mentioned it, while supposedly Philly is blowin’ up over snagging the former Charger. I don’t know… I think LT could maybe be a 2008 Mewelde Moore, but I can’t see much else anymore. He’d be a good change up, but at what price? I guess we’ll find out.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
if i was LT, i'd play for the vet minimum for the steelers only
i mean, he’s already set for life, why squibble over dollars and cents?
I guess the Steelers would take him for the league min right?
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
rec
"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight
by John Stephens on Feb 23, 2010 9:20 AM EST up reply actions
I'd take him for vet minimum but not much more
Not bc i doubt his talent even at his age and with his mileage, but because of the injuries… just not going to pay him — and keep a roster spot open for him — with that likelihood of injuries.
The Chargers made the right call — debated that today with a colleague. It’s always sad to see a great player put on a different uniform, and as a Steelers fan I feel for Chargers fans. It’s part of the league today but never easy for those of us who live for our football teams.
Best of luck to this future Hall of Famer regardless where he goes.
LT should be 1st ballot HoF
but even at vet min I don’t know if I would take him unless we couldn’t draft a decent back. If Mendenhall goes down you need someone who can take the reps and produce. I don’t know if LT can still do it.
I may be old but I... oh d*mn, I forgot what I was going to say.
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 22, 2010 11:33 PM EST reply actions
wow
sad thing but everyones seen it coming for quite some time. I doubt he’ll play for the pats like someone said earlier especially after that whole fight coming after the chargers playoff loss to the pats. For league minimum or whatever i’d definitely take a chance with him. He does have a lot of mileage but is still incredibly instinct and you never know maybe he has 1 or 2 decent years with another team.
Wish him the best and should be a 1st ballot HOF in my book.
A superbowl ring would help out with that though.
In Myron we Trust
by SteelTownKid08 on Feb 22, 2010 11:48 PM EST reply actions
LT is finished
Wake up. The guy has been mediocre the last two seasons. If it were any other running back he would’ve been relegated to a backup role or would have no chance of signing on with another team. He’s averaged 3.6 ypc over the last two seasons. He was no better than Larry Johnson last year.
Still, someone will take a chance on LT. He’ll probably accumulate about 1000 more career rushing yards and pass Bettis for 5th on the all time list. But he’s not cracking the top 3 of Emmitt, Payton and Barry Sanders. He is still easily a first ballot HOFer and anyone that thinks otherwise is crazy.
How about you wake up
Look at his Running yards before 2006, and then in 2007, 2008, 2009 all his numbers drop off right ? He’s washed up right? But heres the problem you don’t know how much his numbers dropping off is due to diminished skills or a change in philosophy. Yea thats right, 2007 was, wait for it….., Norv Turner’s first year as head coach of the Chargers. Norv Turner change the offense to a pass happy offense with less emphasis on the running game. The Chargers will never get anywhere with Norv because he doesn’t understand while passing game helps you win games in this league, you need some type of running threat to keep the defense honest to win the big game. Norv Turner took the fullback out of the offense….. like someone else we know …. Lorenzo neal was sealing blocks left and right for LT and that allowed LT to do his thing. Look it up if you think I’m lying. Give LT a full back and a smart coordinator and he can get 1200 yards again.
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 23, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
On the Money
You said it tannofsteel84, it’s all in the philosophy. Hopefully, we changed ours back to running a little more with emphasis. Not just to keep teams honest. We used to beat people down on the ground!!! We need to get back to that mentality. Mendenhall is too good to waste with our half-hearted efforts to just keep teams honest. Run with CONVICTION in our offensive game planning.
I keep hearing about LT being the "lightning" to Mendenhall's "thunder".
Mendy is about as “unthunderous” as it gets. He’s very shifty and uses that spin move a lot (too much perhaps). He usually doesn’t run too many guys over like The Bus used to. If anything, LT would be the thunder, although at his age, I’d say most of that is behind him.
how bout
LT will be the LCD to Mendy’s LED…. (TVs)
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 23, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
Cheap
If LT would take a serious paycut, I think the Steelers should try and get him. There’s still some tread on those tires in my opinion. Impact, think Impact.
free agency
Steelers really interested in Tomlinson? i also heard Carlos Dansby coming to pittsburgh? any truth to these rumors being put out their? If they sign Dansby than would Steelers cut Farrior?
by Christopher McCarthy on Feb 23, 2010 5:08 PM EST reply actions
Can't cut Farrior
Farrior is the defensive leader. There’s no way even a beast like Dansby usurps Farriors position unless Farrior is okay with it. They can take turns, but James would still be the “starter”.
"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods
by Steel Spike on Feb 23, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
if you guys don’t think that lt would be a way better 3rd down back than mm your crazy. The guy can block still has tread and is a beast at catching the football. if you use him strictly as a third down option and save his wheels he can still be a weapon not to mention this guy wants a title and is a competitor you can’t under value that he will shine if used wisely
by steelcityfootball on Feb 23, 2010 8:46 PM EST reply actions
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