What was up with Tomlinson yesterday? I realize he was hurt, but why wasn't he more animated and encouraging on the sidelines to his team? He just...sat there. Under the blanket. And didn't move AT ALL. That kind of behavior doesn't exactly scream "team leader" to me. What was up with that?
L.T. is a fair weather guy. As long as things are going well, he's a leader. Soon as they hit a bump in the road... Well, as my grandpa (really old George) used to say, he's like fly shit on a window. First little breeeze comes along and he's gone. I think every player on the Chargers went into that game thinking they could win it except for L.T.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Old Bob @ Jan 21 2008, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>L.T. is a fair weather guy. As long as things are going well, he's a leader. Soon as they hit a bump in the road... Well, as my grandpa (really old George) used to say, he's like fly shit on a window. First little breeeze comes along and he's gone. I think every player on the Chargers went into that game thinking they could win it except for L.T.</div> I think you're an idiot. LT is the reason why they won 8 in a row before losing to Indiana. His players only meeting that he called and led was the reason for the turn around, ask any Charger that. There is no excuse for him not cheering his troops on, but you calling him a fair weather guy is stupid. A fair weather guy? Really, was he a fair-weather guy when he gutted it out those terrible seasons where San Diego went no where? Tomlinson is the most humble guy in the league and one of the toughest. He's never missed a game in his career and for the SD fans to call him out, hell...for anyone to call him out yesterday is complete bullshit. You ask anybody on the Chargers and they'll tell you that if you question his leadership, you're an idiot. Then again, the idiotic post did come from a damn Raider fan.
Hey Bob, I agree with you. The camera seemed to move to LT between every play. He just stood there with his helmet on the entire game. When the audience finally got a whiff of why he wasn't on the field, they said it was a "coach's decision". <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Tomlinson, who suffered a hyperextended left knee in last week's win over Indianapolis, got hit on the same knee on the first play of the AFC Championship Game and said he sprained the medial collateral ligament. The Chargers announced he could have returned to the game, but Tomlinson said that wasn't the case. Coach Norv Turner confirmed that after the game. Meanwhile, QB Philip Rivers confirmed he has a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in addition to a sprained MCL. Rivers said he "probably'' would need surgery.</div> It seems Rivers was willing to put his career on the line for the Chargers, but LT went out with a slightly less serious injury. I mean, why couldn't Tomlinson at least take his damn helmet off and talk to his guys, perhaps even cheer them on? Not in his contract, apparently.
I thought it was pretty weird too. I don't blame him for sitting out, because as a running back, if your knees are shot, then there really isn't much you can do. Also, Micheal Turner was doing a great job running the ball anyways. I just find it weird how LT basically sat on the bench the entire game instead of cheering on his teammates. It was pretty weird seeing him on the bench with his helmet, and his visor on the entire time. It sort of seemed like he was telling everyone to F off and that he wanted to be alone, or at least that was just my impression
I think he was pissed because Turner wasnt letting him play....I think he wanted to be out there and thought he could go but the coach decided they had a better chance without him....i can see why that would upset him, but he didnt handle it very well....
I don't agree with Bob calling LT a fair weather guy at all, because that is so far from the god damn truth. I don't agree with LT not supporting his team and I can't justify it. There are many reasons why he chose to sit on the bench, but questioning his leadership shouldn't come into the equation at all. After all he's done for SD, there is no room to question his leadership. Who knows, maybe the cameras didn't catch LT cheering on his boys? Maybe LT was pissed off that he couldn't play? Maybe he was in an emotional state and that's why he kept on his visor. It was the biggest game of his career to date and he couldn't get out on the field, if his eyes teared up just talking about the Super Bowl and what it meant to him (a lot of personal meaning to him), then what do you think he was feeling when Norv and the doctors told him he was done? Whatever the reason, I'm not justifying it, but I'm not questioning his leadership. It's completely different for LT compared to Rivers, though. When a RB can't push off with his legs to generate speed and power, when a RB can't cut because his knee is sprained, then there is nothing he can do. At that point, like Turner stated, Tomlinson was doing more harm than good to the team. It was pretty evident his knee was messed up when he caught that screen pass and didn't turn it up field, instead he went right to the sideline.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef @ Jan 21 2008, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think he was pissed because Turner wasnt letting him play....I think he wanted to be out there and thought he could go but the coach decided they had a better chance without him....i can see why that would upset him, but he didnt handle it very well....</div> I had a similar thought, but also wondered if LT might have a problem with depression. I could see where having the chance to play in a conference championship game could send him into a real emotional funk. I hope someone close to him can talk to him about it, because if that is a problem, he should see a doctor about it. That's not to give LT an excuse, but it might help him avoid doing the same thing if such an occasion should come up in the future.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale @ Jan 22 2008, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef @ Jan 21 2008, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think he was pissed because Turner wasnt letting him play....I think he wanted to be out there and thought he could go but the coach decided they had a better chance without him....i can see why that would upset him, but he didnt handle it very well....</div> I had a similar thought, but also wondered if LT might have a problem with depression. I could see where having the chance to play in a conference championship game could send him into a real emotional funk. I hope someone close to him can talk to him about it, because if that is a problem, he should see a doctor about it. That's not to give LT an excuse, but it might help him avoid doing the same thing if such an occasion should come up in the future. </div> Rickey Williams used to keep his helmet on all the time because of anxiety or whatever that reason was that he smoked pot.
