The San Diego Chargers announced Sunday that running back LaDainian Tomlinson will re-sign with the team and then announce his retirement from the NFL during a Monday news conference. Last month, Tomlinson told Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter that he was "95 percent" retired, and it only makes sense that the soon-to-be 33-year-old makes it official with the Chargers. A first-round pick (No. 5 overall) out of TCU by the Chargers in the 2001 NFL Draft, Tomlinson started 141 games over nine seasons for the Chargers, rushing for 12,490 yards with 138 touchdowns and adding 530 receptions for 3,955 yards and 15 touchdowns out of the backfield. A five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro, Tomlinson is the Chargers' all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, ranks second in scoring (918 points) and is fifth on their all-time receptions list and 10th in receiving yards. Tomlinson signed with the New York Jets as a free agent in 2010. In two seasons with the Jets, Tomlinson gained 1,194 yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground, including a team-high 914 yards in 2010, with 94 receptions for 817 yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield. Source: NFL.com
He was my favorite player when I was younger. Still have my LT powder blue Jersey. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket
Although memories of him quitting on the Chargers in the AFC Championship with a "bruised knee" and his preferences for the sideline than the first down marker in his latter years will taint his legacy slightly personally, in his prime there were few players that were more enjoyable to watch on Sundays, and should without doubt be in Canton in five years time.
More so than his great career, I remember him for whining and acting like a snitch...especially after that New England game...
It was made clear after that that he was seriously hurt, and SD only reported it as a minor injury. Norv even said the guy couldn't go. It shouldn't taint his career and all he did beforehand. In my opinion it's more of a testament of the Chargers organization's mismanagement and what seems like incompetence.
I'm not talking about the injury. I'm talking about him crying about the Patriots celebrating after the game...
Teams tend to under report injuries. I think Rivers playing on a completely shredded knee added to it even though Rivers is a QB and doesn't need to make cuts.
The Patriots celebrating in 06 was in poor taste, mocking both LT and Merriman. It's one thing to celebrate because you're happy it's completely different when you mock the other team.
