LaDainian Tomlinson Retires (athletic, league, win, game)

[Timmyy]

He was fun to watch.


LaDainian Tomlinson Highlights - YouTube

[manderly6]

He may be the second most exciting back I got to watch live next to Sanders.

[Timmyy]

I was fortunate to see him play twice in 2006. The first time was in Denver where he had 4 TDs that night and the 2nd was against KC in San Diego where he busted off the longest run of his career, 85 yards.

[Mr. GE]

Sure Fire HOF... Without knowing his numbers, I"m not sure if he's first ballot, but definitely no later than 2nd ballot.

Great back.

[jefffla01]

Congrats on a great career------I would agree a surefire HOF-----very well could be first ballot.

Besides being a great back, and a good receiver, he was a good teammate. He is an amicable man---very likeable---and well respected.

Its always great to see greatness rewarded with recognition----its always better when athletic greatness is combined with just being a decent person----and Mr. Tomlinson is indeed a solid guy.

[Randomdude]

He should be a first ballot HOF, no questions.

Always tough to see a legend go.

[mike0421]

I would say that he also benefitted as a 'system' back, with a good offensive line to compliment him. Not especially flashy, but great three way overall back. That he was never on a Super Bowl winner might preclude him from a first ballot entry. When you think of the greats, the elusive backs, or the bulldozers, freakish athletes, Tomlinson was not one of those. The truly special athletes as RBs are the ones who generally claim the first ballot if they did not win a championship. I am thinking Sayers, Sanders, Simpson, or Earl Campbell. Tomlinson was more of a Curtis Martin-type, generic RB, with great statistics due to consistency and longevity.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by mike0421

I would say that he also benefitted as a 'system' back, with a good offensive line to compliment him. Not especially flashy, but great three way overall back. That he was never on a Super Bowl winner might preclude him from a first ballot entry. When you think of the greats, the elusive backs, or the bulldozers, freakish athletes, Tomlinson was not one of those. The truly special athletes as RBs are the ones who generally claim the first ballot if they did not win a championship. I am thinking Sayers, Sanders, Simpson, or Earl Campbell. Tomlinson was more of a Curtis Martin-type, generic RB, with great statistics due to consistency and longevity.

I will have to respectfully disagree. LT did benefit having Lo Neal as a fullback but other than that he was extremely dynamic. I can't put Curtis Martin in the same league as LT. I don't even know how Martin got into the HOF. Here is my top 5 RB of all time.

1) Barry Sanders
2) Jim Brown
3) Marcus Allen
4) Marshall Faulk
5) LT

To me LT and Faulk are interchangeable because they were basically the same type of back.

[Mr. GE]

Originally Posted by Timmyy

I will have to respectfully disagree. LT did benefit having Lo Neal as a fullback but other than that he was extremely dynamic. I can't put Curtis Martin in the same league as LT. I don't even know how Martin got into the HOF. Here is my top 5 RB of all time.

1) Barry Sanders
2) Jim Brown
3) Marcus Allen
4) Marshall Faulk
5) LT

To me LT and Faulk are interchangeable because they were basically the same type of back.

Marshall was much more dynamic than LT... I consider LT more of a work horse back. He was just consistent... which is a lot like Curtis Martin. LT's highlight film would be a bunch of 2 yard TD runs. While Faulks would be jaw-dropping long TD's. big difference...

And you have Marcus Allan way too high... he had one big game in the Super Bowl. That's it.

To have LT above Eric Dickerson, Emmit Smith, and Walter Payton is a sham.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by Mr. GE

Marshall was much more dynamic than LT... I consider LT more of a work horse back. He was just consistent... which is a lot like Curtis Martin. LT's highlight film would be a bunch of 2 yard TD runs. While Faulks would be jaw-dropping long TD's. big difference...

And you have Marcus Allan way too high... he had one big game in the Super Bowl. That's it.

To have LT above Eric Dickerson, Emmit Smith, and Walter Payton is a sham.

I agree about Dickerson and Payton but I have never bought into Smith.

And yes I have Allen way too high. I would replace Allen with Payton and move Allen down the list. It is hard to put these lists together.