LT takes a big pay cut

LaDainian Tomlinson takes a big pay cut
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on August 1, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT

LaDainian Tomlinson’s role is expected to decrease this season, and so is his salary.
ESPN.com’s John Clayton reports Tomlinson will “only” get $1.1 million this year, down from $2.625 million.

That is a significant pay cut and it likely means the Jets told Tomlinson he would get released if he didn’t take the deal. The Jets were lightly rumored through NFL Network to be interested in Ronnie Brown, which may have created additional leverage for the team.

In one sense, the news is surprising because Tomlinson exceeded all reasonable expectations in 2010. On the other hand, the Jets like Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight, while Tomlinson struggled down the stretch last year.

A pay cut like this makes us wonder if Tomlinson is even guaranteed to make the roster.

he should just retire already

Very few 'Greats' go out on top, still able to play.

Barry Sanders is the only one I can think of who left the game with miles still on the engine.

I remember being embarrassed for Emmitt Smith with the Cardinals.

And all reports about him, was that he retired for the same reason tat Carson Palmer is, he got tired of playing for a terrible organization with no chance of winning.

As for Emmit, difference was, Cowboys fans didn't piss on him while he played for the Cards. They wished him well, and still loved the man. Chargers fans have not done the same with LT

Barry was the second........ Jim Brown was the first.

LT pissed on his teammates on the way out the door....... big difference.

I can't say I remember everything about Emmit's departure, but I certainly don't recall him burning any bridges on his way out. Hate for the GM (maybe well deserved), complaints about system change and throwing his O-line under the bus all contributed to fan's reaction here in SD.

No, he pissed on the coach and the direction of the offense, not his team mates

I have read what he said, and still don't get how people have taken that from what he said

The players took it as a personal slight, so I beg to differ. Is it really any better to take shots at the coach and GM on the way out? Not really what you'd expect from a "classy guy", now is it?

When everything he said was true, yeah, it does make a difference.

It's a shame he wouldn't play out the twilight of his career in Dego where he could have rode off into the sunset as the hero.

In your mind, perhaps.

“There wasn’t an emphasis on running the football anymore. My best fullback was gone, the linemen were pass blocking and it was a passing quarterback and a passing coach. So, the situation’s kind of misleading when you look on film.”

What part of that is untrue?

Both sides said some sharp words when LT split. Thats life. He will still retire and go into the HOF a Charger...

I believe in all honesty, Tomlinson could piss in your face and you'd swear it was just rain.

N

Not at all, I just don't see that what he said was inaccurate. If he would have said the "blocking wasn't good", then I could see people saying he through the line under the bus. But he said "They were pass blocking" which is 100% fact

The idea that running the ball wasn't an emphasis was false. He wasn't that effective running the ball, but he still had plenty of opportunities. Obviously, when a guy is averaging only 3.3 yards, you will have to pass more on 3rd down. Calling Norv a "passing coach" isn't accurate...... he's always loved the balanced offense. Ask Emmitt in Dallas, or Frank Gore in SF. Norv would love to run the ball more, but you have to have a productive RB to make it work.

The thing that stands out to me, is that LT never once said that he had any responsibility for his declining production. All the blame went to others. I saw LT trip and fall down without being touched..... who's fault was that? The fact is, LT's skills were declining, and it was obvious to anyone watching him play.

So, if his line was pass blocking on a running down then that would mean that they didn't know what to do?????

Or that run blocking was not being emphasized in coaching

Here is how I see it.

LT's last two seasons with us HIS production dropped quite a bit. The team could no longer count on LT for everything. He was not making the cuts he used to, was fighting foot injuries and knee dings which hampered him ever further.

The team WAS passing more. They had too, they could not ride the running game. The line was run blocking, LT was not able to take advantage of it. That is why people like Tolbert and the other bowling ball RB were able to get to get more yardage than anyone expected.

LT and the Chargers had to mutually part ways. LT was frustrated with his diminished role, and the fact the team wanted him to take pay cuts. He felt he could still start in the NFL.

Diverging paths...

You want us to believe that the coaching staff told the O-line to pass block on every play no matter what the call is?? Do you really believe that is what Tomlinson was saying????

THIS

LT blamed everyone but himself. Anyone who says otherwise is only fooling themselves. This is why people (including me) were pissed at his departure. He took no responsibility for HIS decline. It was the line's fault, Norv's fault, AJ's fault, ect.

I wouldn't run the football much either if my star running back is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry.

The only part of what you wrote that I disagree with is that they were run blocking good. I totally disagree. LT wasn't the same guy and as you said, he wasn't able to cut like he was in the past, but he was getting hit at or behind the LOS more than at at point of his career. That is on the line

And your RB isn't going to average running much more when they are getting hit at or behind the LOS more than at any point in their career.

No, but if you don't emphasize and practice it, they won't be doing it as well. Then when you draft guards from schools that almost never ran the ball, I think it shows very clearly what the teams emphasis is, throwing the ball