Anonymous source bashes LT

Source: L.T.’s comments show why Chargers didn’t win

Posted by Mike Florio on June 30, 2012, 5:34 AM EDT

A recent appearance by retired running back LaDainian Tomlinson on NBC SportsTalk has sparked a debate regarding whether a player should prefer winning a title to a spot in the Hall of Fame. A league source with knowledge of Tomlinson’s career has a different take on the situation.

Per the source, Tomlinson’s remarks reveal much about his football character.

“That’s why the Chargers could never win the big one,” the source said. “L.T. was selfish and a selfish leader. They had all the talent in the world and should have beaten the Patriots [in 2006], but they couldn’t do it because they had too many guys like L.T. and he was the ringleader.”

(We wish the source had told us how the source really feels.)

This isn’t my opinion; it’s the opinion of someone who, in my opinion, is in position to express an opinion reliably.

“LaDanian was a great player, but he was never a champion and he never behaved like one,” the source said.

It’ll be interesting to see whether any of the 44 Hall of Fame voters have sources with a similar opinion, and whether that opinion will delay for a year or two Tomlinson’s entry into the Hall of Fame.

So that idiot is blaming the RB who had 123 yds rushing, 64 yards receiving, and 2 TD's, instead of blaming the morons on our team like McCree and D-Flo for the loss? What a hack

While most players would like to win a title, I don't take issue with L.T.'s comments. I am sure he wanted a title AND a Hall of Fame career. He was asked a question when he was retired and a title was no longer possible, if he was content.

Unnamed source = coward. If you have something to say, say it, own it, don't hide from it.

I agree with LT, if I were a player I think the HOF is more immortal than the Super Bowl. And at the least it's evidence that the player did everything he could within his ability to help his team get to the Super Bowl. It's not the p.c. answer, but it's not the wrong one.

There are millions of anonymous sources. There is only one L.T. (well, actually two)

Matt Wilhelm has a SB ring. I think that says it all.

I agree. If a player had a hall of fame career but no SB ring, then that tells me the player wasn't on a SB team, but he obviously did his part or he wouldn't be going into the HOF

True colors, I do remember Rivers plunking a few off the back of Tomlinsons head???? Just asking.

Asking Tomlinson which he would prefer is a loaded question, anyway.

You're basically telling him to choose between not being himself or being himself.

And yes, I ripped off that argument because it's a damn good one. (But I can't find the CBS Sports article where I initially read it)

Naturally, too many idiots across the internet, both paid "journalists" as well as idiot armchair GM fans alike, are painting it as Tomlinson stating that he would trade a Super Bowl ring for a HOF bust even though that's not what he was asked.

And about 200 other times where he caught the ball and did something amazing with it.

Ignore those. Tomlinson obviously never wanted to win. We know this for two reasons. 1) We never won with him and 2) some douchebag sportswriter asked Tomlinson if he doesn't want to be LaDainian Tomlinson anymore.

I think this article is pretty stupid. The Chargers never won big because we had a lot of morons/talent black holes on the team who contributed to key errors at horrible times, and/or truly poor play-calling decisions at critical moments in games. We never failed because our "stars" didn't want to win badly enough, except for Cromartie in 2009.

I still blame the Mike Vrabel leg whip interception non-call.
EDIT: wrong game I guess but **** it--that still pisses me off

If you read it, he doesn't say that at all. He says that there was too many players that were selfish and wanted to make the big plays themselves rather than sacrificing it for the team...LIKE LT did.

First off I don't profess to know the man either personally, professionally or casually. I have no more to go on than the written word and we all know how he left town. There definitely is room for speculation as he is no more perfect than I or you and I have never seen him walk on water! I won't pretend to know either way but I will stand by my original opinion that I do not know but it is suspect with his actions the last two years on the Bolt's.

I don't think anybody here claims he walked on water.

Nobody here made this latest accusation either and since I don't really know the truth, the possibility exist.

That's Charlie's job.

“That’s why the Chargers could never win the big one,”

No this is why....

When did LT do such a thing? When he was scoring 2 TD's for the team? That is totally ridiculous

Tomlinson obviously didn't care about the 12 points those TDs gained for the team. He scored them for himself. And his selfishness meant that the 12 points were attributed only to him. Had he gave those points to the team they might have won.

You can't seriously blame Tomlinson for the playoffs, he never played in them.

Yep. It's his fault he got injured.

I don't believe LT was injured in 2004,6,8, or 9. I also don't think LT is to blame for our playoff woes. The premise of this guy's article is retarded, and should probably be left alone.

There were other players on the same team playing injured as opposed to be hurt, they must have just been selfish and taking snaps from healthy players. Tomlinsons record speaks for itself, dude was the best all time Charger RB and no one can deny that. Then again this thread isn't at all about that.

Some people are just brain dead

My guess is Rodney Harrison made those comments. He works alongside Florio on the NBC Broadcasts. And he was pretty bitter about being kicked out of San Diego.

I can't believe that this thread still lives...