Photo courtesy of Google Images.
It was announced Sunday that Ladainian Tomlinson, one of the NFL's all time great running backs and fantasy football god, will sign a one day contract with the San Diego Chargers and formally announce his retirement. Let's take a moment to remember the legend that is this generation's "LT."
LT came into the league in 2001 and immediately made headlines. The rookie from TCU was involved in a high profile draft day trade that saw the Chargers trade back from the first pick to the fifth, swapping with Atlanta who would eventually take quarterback Michael Vick. LT burst onto the scene, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 10 TDs, and he never looked back.
LT's 2006 campaign will go down as one of the all-time greatest seasons in NFL history. He rushed for a career-high 1,815 yards and an NFL-record 31 touchdowns en route to his only MVP award. He no doubt carried many fantasy owners to championships that season. His career numbers are first-ballot Canton worthy for sure, finishing with 13,684 rushing yards (5th all-time) and 145 rushing touchdowns (2nd all-time). His 162 total touchdowns rank third all-time behind Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, two of the NFL's all-time greats. The five-time Pro-Bowler was a threat to score from anywhere on the field, whether it be on the ground or through the air. He even tossed a couple touchdown passes throughout his career.
In terms of fantasy football, LT would certainly be on the Mount Rushmore of fantasy gods this sport has seen over the last 20 or so years since fantasy football has become popular. With the exception of perhaps Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith, no other running back has put up that his production for that long in this era. Regardless of the images we have of LT on the sideline during playoff games in his last couple seasons in San Diego, it wasn't until the 2008 Divisional Playoff Game in Pittsburgh that Tomlinson missed a game due to injury. He was a dependable, EVERY DOWN back for years which is a rarity in today's NFL. Unfortunately, from that point on, the injuries began to take a toll on him. His public image began to take a hit, when his heart was called into question as he spent time on the sideline with vague injuries while his teammates were playing with serious injuries (i.e. 2007 AFC Championship). However, none of that can overshadow all of his years as a workhorse back.
Tomlinson spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets. Last season, Tomlinson was a shell of his former self, rushing for 280 yards on only 75 attempts for the season, which was baffling considering the inconsistent play of Shonn Greene. That previous season, in 2010, LT showed he still had plenty left in the tank when he rushed for over 900 yards in an almost equal time share. However, nothing will ever compare to those many years in San Diego, where LT was a perennial first overall pick in fantasy drafts and a record-setting stud.
Take a moment to show respect for a true fantasy football legend. Ladainian Tomlinson will go down in history as one of the NFL's greatest backs and it was a privilege to watch him all these years. Fantasy football will forever be indebted to you, LT.
Article written by Stephen Albertini.
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