Who is La Danian Tomlinson?

Hello sports fans; lets talk about one of the greatest running backs of all time. I’m talking about LaDanian Tomlinson. This guy is a running back for the San Diego Chargers.
 His nick name is LT. this in itself is quite an honor as Lawrence Taylors’ nickname as well, quite possibly the greatest linebacker of all time.

Now I’ve been watching football for many years folks, and I know a thing or two about the greats, the class of Simpson, Payton, Barry Sanders, Bettis, Dickerson, Harris, Dorsett, Jim Brown Emmitt Smith; etc.

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But this guy is a touchdown machine, possibly the quickest ever, The best foot movement I have ever seen with the possibility of Barry Sanders being an exception, or possibly a young Emmitt Smith.

So here we go….. He’s not the fastest, not the toughest, but more than enough of both to be successful as one of the  greatest ever. Earl Campbell could run over any linebacker and most Defensive Lineman, like Jerome Bettis

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or Mike Alstott.

LT. is the closest thing to sweetness himself since his playing days were done. Tomlinson is a thorn in the side of divisional rival The Oakland Raiders, has run for over 200 yards against them two times; and 190 yds plus three times.

My one and only gripe about this supreme back is that while faster than most, he usually can be caught from behind by some of the faster defensive backs in the league.

owever chances are if he gets past the opposing defense (on the line of scrimmage) he’s going to get some yardage or attain a first down. He gets crap for being hurt in two playoff games. Well if you want to throw away your future as one of the elite, I wouldn’t do it either. This is a man with tremendous heart, and he has no qualms whatsoever about getting in the face of a defender.

Who could forget his touchdown in the 2006 season when he was getting choked by the neck against the Patriots that launched them into the playoffs and he kept fighting to get into the end zone?

 He blocks, he’s a decoy, he’s had very capable backups but he’s a work horse too.

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He’d probably carry the ball 600 times a season if they asked him to. He is a gentle polite and caring human being and does much for charities not only here in San Diego but across the  country; as he’s a country Texas boy at heart.

He’s turning 30 years of age this year and his best years may be behind him but lets take a look at his remarkable career from a statistical standpoint………In 8 years he has had 2,657 rushing attempts for 11,760 yards; was the fastest ever to reach 10,000 yards based on attempts and games played.

The impressive lists goes on and on:

•  In 2006 he scored the highest number of touchdowns by a rushing touchdown in a season, 28 of them and also had 3 receiving touchdowns, giving him the most touchdowns in a season at 31,best all time.
•  In 2003 he caught 100 receptions for 4 touchdowns and 1,000 yards rushing, Curtis Martin is the only other back ever to do that, possibly Roger Craig did it or was close.
• LT has the second most rushing touchdowns EVER by a Running Back and sits at 126, passed Marcus Allen (San Diego native) at 123 last season. Emmitt Smith is the career leader with 164.
• LT scored in 18 consecutive games in the 04 &05 seasons for the all time leader on that list as well.
•  He lead the league in three seasons in a row in yardage gained from 2004 to 2006.
• In addition to this he gained 100 yards a game in nine consecutive games in a row in 2006.
•  He also killed the Raiders twice in 2002 gaining two 200 yard games against them that season as well as putting two 200 yard games back to back.
• LT has five 200 yard games, just one less than O.J. Simpson the all time record holder. He has also had eight 1,000 yard seasons for 8 straight years, as usual the best. He has had a 4.4 yard per carry attempt  for his career and his longest run was 85 yards in 2006.

He also has made 510 receptions for 3,801 yards with a 7.5 yards gained average; his longest reception was 74 yards in 2004. He has caught 15 touchdown receptions in his career, had a total fumble count of 25 and he recovered 15 of those resulting in a very rare fender and release.