LaDainian Tomlinson

LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinsonis a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football Leaguefor eleven seasons. He played the majority of his 11-year career with the San Diego Chargers, who selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Tomlinson was selected to five Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro six times, and won two rushing titles. At the time of his retirement, he ranked fifth in career rushing yards, seventh...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth23 June 1979
CityRosebud, TX
CountryUnited States of America
I think I just barely scratched the surface last year. I think people saw just a little bit of what I can do. Those are definitely not the kind of numbers I hope to put up this year. I'll be putting up bigger and better numbers. Obviously, if that's happening, then this team will be winning games and hopefully going to the playoffs.
I don't think about the playoff loss anymore. I think about the team we had, the fun we had together the whole season. We had a great time.
But nobody really recruited me: TCU, Baylor, North Texas, UTEP ... teams like that. I went on a visit to Kansas State but they didn't offer me. A&M was waiting on another running back and didn't offer me. I was overlooked.
It's pretty frustrating. After we lost to Miami, we knew we had to win the last three games. We felt like we had a good shot at doing it. We had to play three good games, Colts, Kansas City and then Denver. We didn't expect to lose. But when you play good teams you have to play consistent football.
It's very surprising to me, because it shows what kind of heart we have. Obviously we don't have the kind of heart that a lot of people think we have. We can't finish the dang game and put the team away.
This is the National Football League. Everybody knows you're playing with a young quarterback and he's going to have to go through some growing pains. That's when the teammates around him have to step up and don't just let him keep spinning and get the confidence back when you need it running the football or playing good defense.
I'm a competitive person. I think you all know that. Myself, I feel like I can do more. But at the same time we do have other players on the team who can make plays. Just being me, yeah, I want to be utilized a little bit more than what I am.
I know how to rebuild a team. I know how to step in and work hard.
I would love to spend my whole career in Scan Diego because I accept the challenge of turning this team around.
I want to win a championship. I can't come on this team and demand to be a starter.
We just got outplayed. They made great adjustments and we didn't do very well adjusting ourselves.
We just got outplayed, ... They made great adjustments and we didn't do very well adjusting ourselves.
We saw that they were stacking the box to stop the fullback, ... We saw that no one was going out on me when we run the sweep. We decided to pitch it out there and it was wide open.
I've said it before, but I guess nobody really took notice before. It's just a goal that I have.