Ladainian Tomlinson School q what Did Phoebe Promise to Give Chandler if He Never Smoke Again

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LaDainian Tomlinson, whose number the San Diego Chargers will retire Sun, is the fifth-leading rusher in NFL history. Only two players—Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith—have scored more touchdowns, and Tomlinson remains the only thespian in professional football history to notice the stop zone more than than 30 times in a unmarried flavor.

The former Chargers and New York Jets running back was a two-fourth dimension rushing leader, a three-fourth dimension start-team All-Pro, a v-fourth dimension Pro Bowler and the league'southward MVP in 2006. He'due south a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and is likely to be a beginning-ballot Hall of Famer in 2017.

And yet when Tomlinson looks dorsum on his career, he can't help but encounter a void.

"I kind of view information technology as close but no cigar," Tomlinson told Bleacher Report.

"And there's a lot of different reasons for that," he added. "I certainly think during my tenure we probably had the best team two or three of those seasons. It's just unfortunate for united states that injuries happened to primal players, bad mistakes were made at the stop of games, bad management decisions [were fabricated] at sure times. And so I would just say we had great teams; obviously I was the goad on those teams, and the captain. Merely it was close only no cigar."

Even in the ultimate squad sport, that explanation exemplifies how much of a squad thespian Tomlinson was. When asked to reflect on his career, his first idea was that during his nine years with the Bolts and two years with the Jets,he never won or even participated in a Super Bowl.

"That was one matter that he always strove for," his female parent, Loreane, told B/R, "so I think it was hard on him. I think it's still something that he thinks about."

It's a brunt Tomlinson may carry for the rest of his life, and information technology's something we may well attach permanently to his legacy. And to understand why that'south happening, you lot have to realize simply how ascendant he was.

I of a kind

It took a second, more direct question to get a feel for how Tomlinson looks back on his career independent of team results. And it turns out what he'south virtually proud of individually is also what makes him particularly special.

"The rapid pace that I scored touchdowns," said Tomlinson when asked what gives him the most pride. "Because the game is about scoring; you have to score to win. And I always prided myself on getting in the cease zone any style I could—catching information technology, running it, fifty-fifty if I had to throw information technology."

Tomlinson, who scored 100 touchdowns faster than any histrion in NFL history, carried a Chargers team that won a franchise-record 14 games by scoring a tape 31 times in 2006 (nobody else has scored more 28).

Well-nigh touchdowns in a single season, NFL history
Player	Year	TDs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson	2006	31
two. Shaun Alexander	2005	28
3. Priest Holmes	2003	27
4. Marshall Faulk	2000	26
v. Emmitt Smith	1995	25
Pro Football Reference

And allow's not forget that he too threw seven touchdown passes, which ranks 2d to simply Walter Payton among mod NFL backs. In fact, he completed eight of his 12 career passes for 143 yards, which would make him the highest-rated passer in NFL history if he qualified.

That'southward something else Tomlinson was: versatile. It'southward an overused word. Probably a cliche, often a crutch. But when pertaining to Tomlinson, it couldn't exist more apt.

"What LaDainian was able to do in the passing game on a consistent basis is really one of the things that doesn't get plenty attention," said Tomlinson'due south former Chargers teammate and longtime pal, Lorenzo Neal, noting that Tomlinson's ability to contribute significantly as both a receiver and a runner is what separates him from other great backs he blocked for (Eddie George, Corey Dillon, Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott, to name a few).

Near receptions among halfbacks (Super Bowl era)
Role player	Seasons	Catches
one. Marshall Faulk	12	767
2. LaDainain Tomlinson	11	624
3. Marcus Allen	16	587
four. Tiki Barber	10	586
5. Roger Craig	xi	566
Pro Football Reference

"On 3rd-and-5, you lot could throw him a screen, you could throw him an angle route, a corner route," added Neal, who served as Tomlinson's fullback between 2003 and 2007. "He could run any road that could take over a game because he was not just a chain-mover, just he was a game-changer at the running back position."

Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp, whose Oakland Raiders were Tomlinson'due south AFC West whipping boys during the final iv years of Sapp's career, called Tomlinson "one of the greatest running backs that always touched the football."

Which might explicate why he touched it then often.

Tomlinson finished his career with 624 catches, which ranks 2nd to only Marshall Faulk amid halfbacks, and he also ranks in the tiptop ten in that field with 4,772 receiving yards. He's tied for most touches in a unmarried game with 48, and no histrion this century has touched the ball more often in an xi-year span than he did during his career.

In a sense, that enabled Tomlinson to transcend the decaying running back position.

Held to a quarterback-type standard?

Tomlinson was and then adept that, despite not playing a premium position, he was "the guy." You heard "Peyton Manning and the Colts," you heard "Tom Brady and the Patriots" and, with all due respect to Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, you heard "LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers."

NFL all-fourth dimension yardage leaders
Player	Yards	Super Bowls
ane. Jerry Rice	23,540	3
2. Emmitt Smith	21,579	iii
3. Walter Payton	21,264	1
4. Marshall Faulk	nineteen,154	ane
five. LaDainian Tomlinson	18,456	0
6. Barry Sanders	18,190	0
7. Marcus Allen	17,654	1
Pro Football Reference

"If yous had the assignment of No. 21, you lot didn't sleep very well that week," said Sapp. "And after the game, y'all understood why."

In that respect, information technology's fair to wonder if Tomlinson is now somewhat of a victim of his own success.

"When you lot talk virtually running backs, 50.T. and Barry Sanders are the two guys that people talk about not winning the big one," said Neal, who now works equally a sports radio host and television receiver annotator in the Bay Expanse. "That goes to show you what kind of weight those guys had on their shoulders.L.T. is one of the few running backs that is beingness judged by Super Bowls like a quarterback."

If indeed we're judging Tomlinson for a lack of squad success the way we practise Dan Marino and Fran Tarkenton, information technology might actually be an honor. And while he isn't totally convinced that's happening to him, he understands why some onlookers might agree it against him.

"Because I was the captain and the confront of the franchise, people do look at me as more of a quarterback in terms of not winning a championship," admitted the 36-year-former. "And hey, that'due south the way it is. I wish I would take won one...or two."

Still, he rightly points out that in an era in which teams pass about sixty percent of the time, even a superstar dorsum has his limitations.

"At that place's and so much out of a running dorsum'south control," he explained. "We don't take the ball every play. Sometimes there'south naught we can do. Nosotros're blocking or we're running a route and at that place'due south nix we tin can do. And even when we are getting the ball, we withal need everybody else to exist involved and everybody else to help make that run piece of work. Whereas with quarterbacks, that ball is in their paw. There's a cliche in football that when that ball is in your hands y'all accept the life of everybody else on this team in your hands, and it'southward true."

Meanwhile, Sapp is determined that a lack of championships should have no impact on Tomlinson'southward legacy.

"I don't think running backs being judged for winning championships," he exclaimed. "Considering you're not going to tell me Barry Sanders is not one of the greatest running backs of all time because he didn't win a championship, are y'all?Let's give the quarterbacks that, because they get way too much glory and way too much blame. Merely let's not judge our running backs on championship rings. That's just giddy."

One-time foe Warren Sapp has nothing only respect for Tomlinson. Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

But shouldn't rings at least factor in to some degree? Would Sapp take go simply the 70th first-ballot Hall of Famer in pro football game history (not including the lease class) had he non won Super Basin XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

"Let's just say I'grand happy we don't have to take that conversation," he said.

Why didn't he win?

It'south true, Tomlinson never led the Chargers to a Super Bowl. But this isn't boxing or golf, and it's important to consider how brusque a running dorsum'due south shelf life is.

He played nine seasons in San Diego, missing only iii of a possible 144 regular-flavour games. During that stretch, the Chargers posted an 84-60 record, ranking sixth in football, and Tomlinson led them to the playoffs five times in a half-dozen-year span in his prime.

Best records in NFL between 2004 and 2009
	Record	Playoff wins	Super Bowls
ane. Indianapolis Colts	77-19	7	i
2. New England Patriots	73-23	8	1
3. San Diego Chargers	67-29	3	0
4. Pittsburgh Steelers	65-31	eight	2
Pro Football Reference

Unfortunately, he and his team consistently fell short in January. And information technology didn't help that major injuries hit Tomlinson in back-to-back postseasons.

In 2007—the only year his Chargers fabricated an AFC Championship Game—he suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee in the 2d half of San Diego'due south divisional-round victory over the Colts. As a result, he was able to play only four early snaps the following week in a loss to the Patriots, which unfairly drew a barrage of criticism.

"A lot of people came downwards hard on me because I couldn't play 6 days after on a sprained MCL," said Tomlinson, defending himself virtually a decade afterward. "No running dorsum can do that! But people came downwardly hard on me. So I understand that it was a dissimilar standard with me because I was the face of the franchise. But a lot of that stuff is out of my control. Then when they say you never won a title, you're right. That'due south a fair signal. But at the same time, there's a lot more to it."

An injured Tomlinson was criticized heavily for watching from the sideline with his helmet on during a playoff loss to New England. Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

In that location was also a lot more than to it in 2008, when Tomlinson in one case over again suffered a poorly timed injury by partially tearing his groin in the regular-season finale. He was able to rush for 25 yards on five carries in the Wild Bill of fare Game against Indianapolis before aggravating the injury and—although the Chargers held on and won—he wasn't able to arrange up the post-obit week in a divisional-round loss to the Steelers.

It wasn't just injuries. Before those two snake-bitten Januaries, the Chargers began to plant a reputation as January busts by going one-and-done in the 2006 playoffs, despite the fact they posted the league'south best tape during the regular flavour.

In that case, Tomlinson was healthy for the team's divisional-round loss to the Patriots, but it'south hard to pin the loss on him considering his production. In fact, he had 143 yards from scrimmage on 16 first-half touches, and San Diego led 14-10 at halftime. But rather strangely, he touched the ball just ten times in the 2d half as New England came dorsum to win, 24-21.

To this day, Neal wonders what could have been had San Diego caput double-decker Marty Schottenheimer not gone away from Tomlinson down the stretch in that game. The manner he sees it, had the coaching staff kept riding its MVP running back, we'd be talking about Peyton Manning's Super Bowl-less resume instead of Tomlinson'south. That's considering he thinks the Chargers would have beaten eventual Super Bowl champion Indy the next week.

"LaDainian was absolutely dominating that game, and we had already beaten Indy that year," said Neal. "That's a game where the coaches should accept rode LaDainian. He never came out publicly and said anything, but I know LaDainian better than a lot of people and I know he was gear up for that. And that was a twelvemonth that we would accept won the Super Bowl and Peyton Manning probably wouldn't take."

Neal and Tomlinson were backfield mates for almost of LaDainian's prime. Denis Poroy/Associated Press/Associated Press

None of this is to say Tomlinson wasn't a culprit in San Diego's playoff failures. He averaged only three.1 yards per carry on 26 attempts in a 2004 upset loss to the Jets in the Wild Card Game and had only 24 yards on 12 attempts in another first-round loss to the Jets in 2009.

When he couldn't beat 'em, he joined 'em, but Tomlinson failed to rush for more than 82 yards in three playoff games with Gang Greenish in 2010. In the end, despite the injuries and questionable coaching calls, he won half of the 10 playoff games he participated in. But he averaged just 3.6 yards per bear and scored merely seven combined touchdowns.

Lowest YPAs amongst RBs with 100 playoff attempts since 2000
Role player	Playoff rushes	Yards per attempt
Jerome Bettis	113	three.16
Jamal Lewis	130	iii.28
Shaun Alexander	169	3.34
LaDainian Tomlinson	131	3.57
Willis McGahee	111	3.68
Pro Football Reference

It wasn't enough, and he knows it.

"A lot of things take to go right," said Tomlinson. "And I understand that it didn't go right."

Beyond that, there were macro factors at play. For instance, despite the fact they won 14 games, the Chargers abruptly fired Schottenheimer later Tomlinson's MVP season in 2006. His replacement, Norv Turner, took the offense in a management that many of the players were displeased with.

DENIS POROY/Associated Press

"Simply being honest, since Marty left, (with) the focus of running the football the manner information technology was, every single year, it has dropped," Tomlinson said when looking dorsum on the coaching change at his goodbye press conference 3 years later, per the San Diego Union-Tribune. "For me, I look at the numbers. Did I get one-time the year after I won the MVP? I don't think and then. What almost a couple years afterward? I certainly don't call back so."

Today, he still wonders what might have been hadSchottenheimer kept his job.

"I call back it'south natural to wonder," he said. "Considering so much is involved in winning and building a team, and then that when you're able to take a team that you tin win with and make it to the playoffs every single year, then you endeavour to keep that together. Considering there's a synergy in that location, there's a chemistry. All of that stuff is real in football. I think the change sent the system in a different way, and the energy started to alter. Clearly from the beginning yous could run into that we only weren't getting the same results."

On paper, the transition didn't price Tomlinson a tremendous amount of piece of work, but his carries did drop moderately in each of Turner'due south first three seasons. Turner also seemed to pay less attention to his star running back in the crimson zone.

Tomlinson runs as a percentage of Chargers crimson-zone plays
Year	Coach	Rate (%)
2004	Schottenheimer	46.ane
2005	Schottenheimer	41.5
2006	Schottenheimer	47.seven
2007	Turner	34.ii
2008	Turner	33.ane
2009	Turner	30.v
Pro Football Reference

"Marty Schottenheimer should have never been fired," said Neal. "He took the team to xiv-two and you fire him? Schottenheimer knew the heartbeat of a team that was built on being physical. And you had a guy in LaDainian controlling information technology. And then Norv being the coach that he is—an offensive guy who is a passing guru—he decided to make that transition to a predominant passing team. And it really stifled the Chargers."

Finally, Tomlinson picked a bad time and identify to become the leader of a very skillful team that sometimes lacked elite play at the quarterback position. Once again, this is a quarterback-driven era, and the Chargers constantly institute themselves going toe-to-toe in big moments with Manning'southward Colts, Brady's Patriots and Ben Roethlisberger's Steelers.

During Tomlinson's short prime (they're all short in the land of running backs), the AFC was stacked. That's not his fault, nor were his injuries or the questionable decisions made by his bosses. But he couldn't overcome that, and his legacy will bear it.

Don't forget most LaDainian Tomlinson

As time takes its price on our ability to call back his many seemingly unforgettable regular-season feats, Tomlinson is at risk of fading at least marginally from our memories. Those who were lucky enough to watch him in his prime number might know better, but Super Bowl and playoff moments are the key artifacts of consciousness that football fans of future generations will seek.

Accounts of those events volition hardly ever include Tomlinson, but solace can exist found in the fact Super Bowl tales also continue to and e'er will omit offensive greats such equally Sanders, Eric Dickerson, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell, Dan Fouts and Warren Moon.

Information technology's also worth considering that Tomlinson won't beg for your buzz. He spent the bulk of his career in the country's No. 28-ranked media market, which was fitting for a man who always lacked the blowing often associated with football game stardom.

"He'southward not the type that desires attention," said Loreane of her son, who famously declined an opportunity to announced on the cover of Madden 08. "As far as recognition, I judge it'due south simply a way of life for u.s.a. to allow someone else to requite you your accolades."

Even at present, while he remains in the public center as an analyst at NFL Network, Tomlinson lives a pocket-sized life. Outside of running some charitable foundations, a San Diego-based pet resort and a preparatory academy for student-athletes who aspire to play at a collegiate level, he spends five days per calendar week as a proud soccer dad at home inWestlake, Texas, making breakfast for his 5-twelvemonth-one-time son and four-year-old daughter.

Tomlinson keeps decorated merely isn't flashy. Peter Larsen/Getty Images

When he commutes to Los Angeles to appear on NFL Network on Sundays and Mondays, he isn't in your face. He doesn't sound convinced that his long-term futurity is in media. He'll never be a Michael Irvin or a Deion Sanders, which might further suppress his Q Score.

"My persona being more humble, I'm not going to be brash or try to stand up out among the oversupply," said Tomlinson. "I'm the blazon of guy who will simply fit right into a crowd, and that's the mode I've ever been. So I think that has a lot to exercise with why there's non a lot of hype around me."

For those concerned with Tomlinson'south profile, information technology'southward a less-than-ideal combination. No memorable performances in monumental games mixed with a quiet demeanor. Out of sight, out of mind. It's the blazon of formula that can atomic number 82 national NFL correspondents to suggest that the fifth-about prolific rusher in NFL history might not even be Hall of Fame-worthy.

And it'due south a big reason Neal thinks his former teammate is already tragically underrated.

"No question," he said when asked if that's the instance, noting that legends such equally Smith and Sanders benefited greatly from playing in larger, more than geographically beneficial markets. "Just look at the numbers. I think when yous await at that along with what he did with sometimes non having a great offensive line and not having a strong supporting bandage backside him his starting time couple years in the league, no question."

Happy catastrophe anyway

One day, we may view Tomlinson's days in Jets light-green the aforementioned way we look at Joe Montana in the Chiefs cherry, gilded and white or Emmitt Smith in Cardinals red, white and blackness. It doesn't feel right, because Tomlinson'southward name is synonymous with Chargers football game.

But despite the fact he didn't go any closer to the championship he was chasing in New York, he doesn't regret spending the concluding 2 years of his career at that place.

He thought he notwithstanding had something left when the Chargers released him following the 2009 flavor, and he was able to prove it past racking up 1,282 yards from scrimmage while averaging a solid iv.2 yards per carry as the lead back for the Jets in 2010.

"I didn't want to go out like that in San Diego, being injured those last couple years and non performing the way I wanted to perform," recalled Tomlinson. "People were thinking I was done at that fourth dimension, so I had a lot to show, non merely to everybody else only to myself. I knew what I withal could do so let'due south prove that your trunk can hold up fifty-fifty at 30 years former. It re-energized me, because I was and so determined to show what I could still do."

Tomlinson doesn't regret finishing his career in New York, where he felt he had something to prove. Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Of course, Tomlinson didn't choose to leave San Diego in the start place. Just equally he noted, his career trajectory had been thrown off grade several years earlier, he was fighting injuries forth with Mother Nature, and he had a contentious relationship with then-general manager A.J. Smith. So the timing might accept been right, and he had what he calls "a neat two years" in New York.

Tomlinson once said he'd have a hard time retiring as a Charger and then long as Smith was still running the forepart role. He eventually came to his senses and signed a ceremonial contract in order to retire with the team in 2012, just months before Smith and Turner were fired anyway. Now, it's all water under the Coronado Span.

"My human relationship with the Spanos family never wavered," he said. "It's always been strong. At the time, I obviously didn't agree with some of the decisions. But knowing Dean, he lets the people that he put in identify run the team and make decisions, for the most function. Information technology'south a new regime there and I've gotten to know both Tom [Telesco] and Mike [McCoy]. They're certainly great guys."

He besides noted that the tough breakup and those sour memories don't take abroad from how he feels well-nigh the guys he played with and the team's accomplishments.

"Team-wise, nosotros experienced some slap-up success during that time," he said. "We dominated our segmentation time and fourth dimension again and we dominated our biggest rival, the Oakland Raiders, for about six or 7 years directly. So we accomplished some wonderful things. We were relevant, and I'm really proud of that."

On Lord's day, some of the those teammates will have a chance to honor their longtime leader as Tomlinson's number is retired for the third time in his 36 years: University High School in Waco, Texas; Texas Christian University; and now Qualcomm Stadium.

"The San Diego Chargers understand now after he's gone," said Neal, who volition speak Sun, "they got to encounter something that doesn't come around ofttimes."

No. 21 volition never exist worn over again in San Diego. Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

And every bit wounds heal, even longtime rivals such equally poor Sapp—wholost each of the seven games he played confronting Tomlinson'south Chargers—tin can only shake their heads and pay respect to No. 21.

"Nosotros had a nightmare with him," said Sapp. "Vii-man front with this Hulk coming at us? 50.T. is a monster. Every down. The but other backs I played with who I'd categorize him with are Barry [Sanders] and Marshall [Faulk]. Because he was all 3 downs. Any time he touched information technology, he could be gone."

Sapp, of course, finished his career watching Tomlinson in awe from the wrong sideline, while running back Jamaal Charles of the division-rival Chiefs—who will be in San Diego for the occasion this weekend—spent the start two years of his superstar career watching Tomlinson exercise his thing.

"I try to [emulate] him, only it'due south definitely not like shooting fish in a barrel to do the things he does," said Charles. "He inspired me with the way he played while I was in college. I tried to do everything that reminds me of LaDainian Tomlinson. Only being in the same segmentation and playing him twice per yr is something I didn't want to do."

For an athlete, not a lot tops possessing that ability to instill a combination of fear and admiration in your opponents, and it's apparent Tomlinson has been doing that his entire life as a football role player.

"It'southward really a culmination of my entire life, in terms of the large picture," said Tomlinson of the accolade he'll receive Sunday. "I'yard talking about even playing Texas high schoolhouse football, going to TCU and and then starting my career. Because I wasn't highly recruited, I was like this sleeper guy. No 1 really knew virtually me, and in that location were always questions about my abilities. So now to look dorsum and take my number retired at every unmarried level that I've played—loftier school, college and now the NFL—information technology is truly amazing. It is heed-boggling to even think well-nigh where I am at this point and what I've washed on the football field."

Next finish, Canton

Exactly seven weeks subsequently Tomlinson was named NFL MVP in 2007, a car accident took the lives of his father and one-half-brother, a tragedy that the born-and-bred Texan unsurprisingly says had a tremendous bear upon on him.

At the fourth dimension, Tomlinson was troubled by a New York Times article—published only a few weeks before the accident—which contained what Tomlinson felt was an unfair depiction of his relationship with his male parent. He felt the highly publicized commodity portrayed him as a big star who was neglecting his impoverished dad, when in reality there was a lot more to the story.

"It really hurt me for a niggling while that that was out there similar that," he said. "Because only my closest family and friends knew the full story."

Tomlinson said he invited his father—who at times had struggled with drugs—to live with him in San Diego, but that Oliver Tomlinson wouldn't get out his mother'south home. Like many fathers, Oliver was stubborn, he notes, but the truth is LaDainian dedicated a big portion of his career to fulfilling his dad'southward dream.

"My father wanted to go to a Super Bowl, and I figured if I made information technology he would actually be smiling down on me," said Tomlinson. "He would non be there, but I knew that he would be with me in spirit."

It'south a shame he wasn't able to accomplish that, but for those—similar Tomlinson—who believe lost loved ones are watching over u.s., he will undoubtedly make his begetter proud when he's honored Sunday in San Diego.

And that won't be Oliver'southward last chance to smile down on his son, considering Tomlinson is widely expected to be a shoo-in when he becomes eligible for enshrinement in the Pro Football game Hall of Fame in 2017. And a Hall of Fame induction—especially on the get-go ballot—is really a essentially more extraordinary accomplishment than a Super Bowl victory.

"You tin can't aid but to think nearly it," Tomlinson said. "Like, 'Man, is that really gonna happen? What is that feeling gonna be like?' Because that's the ultimate. At that place is no higher elevation."

In Canton, Tomlinson might get his cigar after all.

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon

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Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2588556-ladainian-tomlinson-an-epic-and-misunderstood-hall-of-fame-career

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