NFL: Tomlinson Cut

[DFW HOYA]

LT hit the wall so many running backs do and was deemed expendable.

It makes you appreciate how unique runners like Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith were. Payton had 1,333 yards in year 12 of his career, while Smith narrowly missed 1,000 in his 15th season.

weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2010/02/chargers_release_tomlinson.html

[SirSaxa]

DFW, I am sure you remember Earl Campbell?
Fantastic player, but his style was certain to cut short his career.
And it did.

As for Emmitt, I never was and never will be a Cowboy fan. That said, I couldn't help but admire Emmitt -- tough as nails, never quit. And a few other 'boys as well, especially Staubach.
You gotta remember the 'boys original coach who formulated that team was, of course, a former NY Giant!

[DFW HOYA]

Earl Campbell was a tremendous athlete and there has never been one like him in the NFL since. As much as any runner since maybe Jim Brown, Campbell would run right at defenses and rumble over them. (Disclosure: I was too young to see him play but remain convinced Jim Brown was the greatest pure runner since Jim Thorpe.)

As a high school senior Campbell literally could not decide between Oklahoma and Texas. On the night before signing day, he said that if God woke him up in the middle of the night, he'd go to OU, if he slept the night through he'd sign with UT. Barry Switzer later said that if he had known that, he would have hid underneath Earl's bed. And if you've ever heard some of the stories about Switzer and recruiting, he would have done it.

And to your aside, Tom Landry was a player and later the defensive coordinator for the Giants in the glory years of the 1950's. (It's a little hard imagining a young Tom Landry living in Manhattan 11 years, but he did.) The offensive coordinator? Vince Lombardi.

Time has taken its toll on Campbell--he is unable to walk at times and exhibits occasional memory loss. At 55, that's not a good sign for any ex-athlete.

www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/063007dnspoheisman.345dcee.html

[SFHoya99]

Sad day for me. Probably the right move in today's NFL, but Tomlinson at his peak was something to see. Just amazing.

[Elvado]

Good news. Hopefully he is finished and we can stop hearing about the faux LT. One played with a broken ankle while the other sat out with nicks and bruises. There will only be one LT ever and it ain't the fraud on the Left Coast.

[EasyEd]

Dan Snyder, if the past is prologue, will probably sign him.

[HometownHoya]

I really don't feel like LT is completely washed up, I think he has 1-2 more 1,000 yd+ seasons left (esp if he finds a championship contender like he is hoping).

SD is talking about offering up Cromartie on the trading block to pick up a RB but I don't think that would be a good call (shouldn't give up one of our best CBs too!!). Also talks about trying to pick up a RB through the draft (any good ones coming up?)

I really wish that SD wouldn't have released Micheal Turner, he could have taken up the load this year after LT leaves and would have also been able to give LT breathers this year.

PS I feel like a major decline in LT's yds this year and recently has been the retirement of Lorenzo Neal, probably one of the best blocking FBs in football the past few years.

[hifigator]

It just goes to show the nature of the NFL, especially for running backs. Just some 2 or 3 years ago, LT was at or near the top of everyone's fantasy wish lists, along with Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson. Hmmmn ...fickle wold that NFL.

[RDF]

Feb 23, 2010 10:26:59 GMT -5 HometownHoya said:

I really don't feel like LT is completely washed up, I think he has 1-2 more 1,000 yd+ seasons left (esp if he finds a championship contender like he is hoping).

SD is talking about offering up Cromartie on the trading block to pick up a RB but I don't think that would be a good call (shouldn't give up one of our best CBs too!!). Also talks about trying to pick up a RB through the draft (any good ones coming up?)

I really wish that SD wouldn't have released Micheal Turner, he could have taken up the load this year after LT leaves and would have also been able to give LT breathers this year.

PS I feel like a major decline in LT's yds this year and recently has been the retirement of Lorenzo Neal, probably one of the best blocking FBs in football the past few years.

Tomlinson is washed up. He goes down at hint of first contact, he doesn't have any burst, and RB is a position you should NEVER pay top dollar for--you can find guys to run the ball, then let them go when they want top dollar. He's also whiny and his comment about "wanting to play for a championship team..."--he had his chances--and the closest Chargers got was with him on sideline watching in his Darth Vader visor.

Cromartie is a mess. Did you see his lack of effort in the Jets game in terms of run support? Have you heard he's knocked up enough girls to populate a 3rd world country? He's a mess and always remember--when a team is willing to dump a talent like Cromartie--and Chargers can--they have a more solid CB in Antione Cason to take his place-it's "fools gold" to the team getting him. Why would you give up a stud CB in his prime if all was well? You can draft a RB anytime--it's a position that isn't lacking in any draft.

[sleepyjackson21]

Tomlinson is almost done. All you have to do is look at his rushing average the past 4 seasons. 2006 - 5.2 2007- 4.7 2008- 3.8 2009 - 3.3. That's a steep decline and that's with Philip Rivers evolving into a top qb. Like DFW said, makes me appreciate Walter Payton even more. The older i get the more i realize how good that guy actually was. Outside of McMahon at the end of his career, Payton never played with a good qb. Every team knew exactly what the Bears were going to do and Payton still always produced.

[hoyarooter]

Feb 23, 2010 12:11:43 GMT -5 sleepyjackson21 said:

Tomlinson is almost done. All you have to do is look at his rushing average the past 4 seasons. 2006 - 5.2 2007- 4.7 2008- 3.8 2009 - 3.3. That's a steep decline and that's with Philip Rivers evolving into a top qb. Like DFW said, makes me appreciate Walter Payton even more. The older i get the more i realize how good that guy actually was. Outside of McMahon at the end of his career, Payton never played with a good qb. Every team knew exactly what the Bears were going to do and Payton still always produced.

Word.

[RDF]

Feb 23, 2010 12:11:43 GMT -5 sleepyjackson21 said:

Tomlinson is almost done. All you have to do is look at his rushing average the past 4 seasons. 2006 - 5.2 2007- 4.7 2008- 3.8 2009 - 3.3. That's a steep decline and that's with Philip Rivers evolving into a top qb. Like DFW said, makes me appreciate Walter Payton even more. The older i get the more i realize how good that guy actually was. Outside of McMahon at the end of his career, Payton never played with a good qb. Every team knew exactly what the Bears were going to do and Payton still always produced.

Not to mention NFL football was actually a more violent/more physical game. Guys weren't as big--but they played a tougher game.

[jgalt]

I think he can be a very solid back up, if he is willing to take that role, for a team with a solid O line. Im hoping the cowboys sign him for a one year as the fourth string RB for special situations, and because it is an uncapped year it wont matter, i dont care what jerry claims about still keeping a team cap.

but in reality he will be a redskin, easyed is right. and he will be terrible and probably run into jason cambell breaking his arm and LT will get a season ending concussion at the same time.