NFL playoffs

[Jechtsphere]

I don't buy that.

I just think after two plays he must of tweaked it so he just wasn't able to go back in, I don't think he's the type to just give up because a little pain.

But reguardless I think the Pats would of pulled it out anyway.

The GB and NYG game has been very good, man they are playing and it's like -5 with -25 wind chill brrrrrr!!!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Could you provide some links?

Tomlinson Leaves AFC Title Game

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Ticker) - San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson left Sunday's AFC championship game against the New England Patriots with a sore knee.
Tomlinson played on just the first two possessions for the Chargers before heading to the sideline.
The team said he can return but Tomlinson was not on the field on San Diego's opening drive of the second half.

Too little L.T. plus Rivers' INTs end Chargers' season

L.T. didn't have his usual burst and he knew he was finished. "Sometimes your body tells you it ain't going to happen," said Tomlinson, the two-time NFL rushing champion and the 2006 league MVP. "So you've got to listen to your body. Obviously I wanted to play, but if I did try to play I would be hurting my team because I didn't have any explosiveness, and I wouldn't have been myself.

These seem to confirm that it was LdT's decision and not Norv's. In the post game press conference Norv was asked who made the decision and he indicated LdT did, I don't have a link to that.

I think what is most alarming is not that he was hurt and sat out, but that he just covered himself up and sulked and hid away on the bench instead of doing anything to support his teammates. While we laugh about Mateen Cleaves at KingsFans, LdT is supposed to be the leader of this team and its clear that Phillip Rivers with his gutsy performance today has now assumed that role. And LdT wouldn't be limited to towel waving - even if he couldn't run with the ball effectively he could have come in as a decoy on key plays like the Patriots do in their goal line packages and immediately commanded attention.

 

[VF21]

L.T. didn't have his usual burst and he knew he was finished. "Sometimes your body tells you it ain't going to happen," said Tomlinson, the two-time NFL rushing champion and the 2006 league MVP. "So you've got to listen to your body. Obviously I wanted to play, but if I did try to play I would be hurting my team because I didn't have any explosiveness, and I wouldn't have been myself.

First, thanks for the links.



As far as LT's decision goes, I think the quote above is fairly clear. You call it sulking, I think it was more dejection and disappointment.

As far as him coming in as a decoy, I cannot imagine the Chargers wanting to do that. He's hurt; you don't risk compounding that by making him take the field for a stunt of some kind.

But this is all just random fan talk for me anyway since my team has been on vacation for weeks already.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Well for Chargers fans' sake lets hope this isn't the closest they get.

Congrats to the Giants. Color me surprised, I really didn't think they had it in them to win 3 straight playoff games on the road.

 

[BMiller52]

Tomlinson Leaves AFC Title Game
Too little L.T. plus Rivers' INTs end Chargers' season
These seem to confirm that it was LdT's decision and not Norv's. In the post game press conference Norv was asked who made the decision and he indicated LdT did, I don't have a link to that.

I think what is most alarming is not that he was hurt and sat out, but that he just covered himself up and sulked and hid away on the bench instead of doing anything to support his teammates. While we laugh about Mateen Cleaves at KingsFans, LdT is supposed to be the leader of this team and its clear that Phillip Rivers with his gutsy performance today has now assumed that role. And LdT wouldn't be limited to towel waving - even if he couldn't run with the ball effectively he could have come in as a decoy on key plays like the Patriots do in their goal line packages and immediately commanded attention.

Knee injury to Rivers though doesn't effect him like it does LT. LT can't run and his explosiveness is gone then he's basically useless and he's not going to do anything, he's also risking making the injury worse. IMO if he would've played he would've done more to hurt than help. Rivers throws the ball. If it was an injury to his shoulder/elbow then I guess you could have a point but they do different things so the injury effects each player differently. Obviously Rivers was effected by the injury but I don't think the same way LT was. I guess you could say Rivers becomes their leader but I dunno.

I agree with VF also btw.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I'm not saying that LdT needed to play the entire game, he just needed to show something as the leader of the team. Whether that be coming in as a decoy or just showing emotion on the sidelines. Even coming into the game for a play or two could be the emotional spark they needed to get over the hump. If they never play in another AFC Championship Game again what good will having saved him for later do?

As for Rivers, Quarterbacks rely on their legs to throw. His inability to plant his feet properly led to their turnovers today. His inability to move laterally exposed him to huge hits all day, even when he got the ball off. Part of the reason they were able to move the ball between the 20s was because the Pats were rushing heavier than normal to take advantage of this. Half the time this resulted in incompletions on third and long or interceptions, the other time they made plays that got into FG range. But all this abuse took its toll and it proved to be the right strategy as it limited the second highest scoring offense of the second half of the season to 12 points and kept them out of the end zone.

 

[hoopsfan]

I couldn't care less who wins it now. I'm just happy that the Packers are out. I hate them almost as much as the Celtics. Not quite, but almost.

 

[Rockmeister]

Got to admit it the Chargers were making me nervous even without LT, however, I'm glad the Patriots won. Just like my signature says

GO PATRIOTS!!!!

 

[kings4lyfe32]

Got to admit it the Chargers were making me nervous even without LT, however, I'm glad the Patriots won. Just like my signature says

GO PATRIOTS!!!!

yeah im a bronco fan so i'm really glad to see the chargers out of it

 

[Superman]

I'm not saying that LdT needed to play the entire game, he just needed to show something as the leader of the team. Whether that be coming in as a decoy or just showing emotion on the sidelines. Even coming into the game for a play or two could be the emotional spark they needed to get over the hump. If they never play in another AFC Championship Game again what good will having saved him for later do?

Yeah, he could've done a little bit more to support his teammates, even from the sidelines. I don't think he should have been on the field if his knee wasn't right, especially as a running back, which is obviously worlds different from a quarterback playing on a hurt knee. You have to worry about your career at that point, not just one game, regardless of how big the game is.

But he could have been active on the sideline, rather than sulking on the bench. I can't necessarily say that I blame him, because he was probably really upset that he couldn't be on the field, was likely getting emotional and crying a lot of the time, and just couldn't control himself. So I understand it, but at the same time, you're the best player on your team and they need your support, if nothing else. You can't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself. If you help your team win this one, maybe you have a chance to get back for the Super Bowl.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

This...
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2651563

I'm speechless.

 

[SLAB]

This...
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2651563

I'm speechless.

That's rough...But I really can't stand LT and his self proclaimed 'classy' act so I just don't care.

As for the SuperBowl? GO PATS! I think it's going to be awesome watching a team complete a perfect season.

They're a damn good team.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I find LdT's "I'm classy" spiel to be rather hilarious, especially when he somehow uses it to defend Merriman's "Light's Out" dance while criticizing the Patriot players for emulating it.

I swear I'm buying one of those dolls should I ever come across one.

Looking forward to Sunday but taking nothing for granted even though its pretty hard for me to imagine any possible scenario where NY wins. Still anything can happen and if they pull off an upset I will tip my hat to them.