New 2010 OVERALLS Coming Soon: T Player Ratings Last Updated:
PLEASE NOTE: Updates coming soon.
PLAYER NOTES:
Sep 1 2010 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson wants to prove he's not done, and he certainly looked like he had plenty left in the preseason. The Jets believe that if they don't over-use him early, he still can have that same burst late in the season.
Jul 22 2010 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson should get about seven to 10 carries per game and some receptions, especially on third down.
Apr 8 2010 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson didn't back off comments that were critical of his former team, the Chargers.
"That was kind of my one time of speaking my piece and it being my opinion," Tomlinson said. "As a guy who gave so much to the organization for nine years, I felt like I could express my opinion. Now, I'm done with it and I really wish them the best--until we play them."
Tomlinson ran for a career-low 732 yards and 3.3 yards per carry last season, but indicated San Diego was concentrating more on its passing game in recent seasons, and that had something to with his lack of production.
LT's former teammate and general manager A.J. Smith declined public comment, but Smith made comments to the San Diego Union-Tribune that could have been perceived as a veiled shot at Tomlinson.
"Having outstanding players throughout your team is vital to winning a championship, no doubt about that," Smith said. "But having the right team and trying to put that team together is the ultimate challenge and it's a yearly challenge. Because it's the team that will win a world championship--not a bunch of individuals who happen to be extremely talented and focused on themselves first."
Apr 1 2010 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson feels the Chargers' lack of emphasis on the running game caused his lack of production in 2009, when he rushed for a career-low 3.3 yards per carry.
"The things that happened in San Diego, everything was taken away from me," Tomlinson said. "There wasn't an emphasis on running the football anymore, my best fullback was gone, the linemen were pass blocking and it was a passing quarterback and a passing coach. So, the situation's kind of misleading when you look on film."
Tomlinson signed a two-year deal worth about $5.2 million with the Jets last month and will back up Shonn Greene. Under coach Rex Ryan, the Jets want to "ground and pound," as opposed to the Philip Rivers-oriented offense in San Diego.
"To be honest with you, I felt like last year was going to be my last year in San Diego," he said. "After the problems we had the previous year with the organization, I knew it was time to leave. The transition wasn't as hard because I kind of prepared myself for it and I was ready to kind of move on to something else."
Mar 18 2010 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson has heard all of the critics who say that signing him was the Jets' version of March madness. And he believes he can prove them wrong. "I have to prove to people where I am at this point in my career that I can still play this game, and I'm very confident I can," said Tomlinson, who spoke with reporters on a conference call two days after the Jets signed him to a two-year, $5.1 million deal to back up second-year running back Shonn Greene.
Tomlinson was signed nine days after the Jets released Thomas Jones, who rushed for a career-high 1,402 yards last season. Jones subsequently signed with Kansas City for $5 million over two years. He was owed $5.8 million by the Jets in 2010, a $3 million roster bonus and a $2.8 million base salary. Tomlinson rushed for career-lows in yards (730) and yards per carry (3.3) last season and was released by San Diego last month. It's believed the Jets went to Jones and his agent Drew Rosenhaus with a similar offer to the one they gave Tomlinson, but general manager Mike Tannenbaum sidestepped all questions about a potential offer to Jones.
"It's still on me to prove that I can still play in this league," Tomlinson said. "Now here we are with the Jets, a team that has a very good offensive line and there's no more excuses."
"We still think he can run the ball effectively in our system with our players," Tannenbaum said, referring to the fact that the Jets' offensive line paved the way for the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL last season.
Tomlinson "still has the ability to make people miss," Tannenbaum said. "He's still productive in the passing game. He still has the ability to be an every-down back. ... Our staple is going to be to continue to run the ball. We still think he can run the ball at a high level."
Tomlinson said he was bothered last year by a high ankle sprain he suffered on opening day, but said he is healthy now. He will be 31 in June. He visited both the Jets and Minnesota last
Nov 24 2009 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson got to carry the ball 20 times and he cranked out 73 yards and a score. He took a shot in the ribs during the game and underwent an X-ray after the game, but the team said he is fine. Tomlinson is running the best he has all season.
Nov 12 2009 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson (hip) worked Thursday and is fine for Sunday.
Nov 11 2009 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson (hip) didn't work Wednesday but said it wasn't serious; he likely will practice Thursday.
Oct 24 2009 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson returned to practice Friday after missing the previous day with the flu.
Oct 22 2009 - RB LaDainian Tomlinson didn't practice, hit by the flu-like bug which is running through the locker room. Tomlinson should be OK by Sunday.
