5-time Pro Bowler and former league MVP Ladainian Tomlinson sounded off on the radio this week complaining that he was unhappy with his role on the team this past year (he ran for a career-low 730 yards and 3.3 yards per rush) and questioned the unity of the San Diego Chargers locker room. Tomlinson said he feels that the younger players in the league are more interested in money and glamour than winning football games. While criticism of the league's young players is not unique to Tomlinson, the fact that he criticized his own team is a sleight against head coach Norv Turner. LT will be due $3 Million is roster bonuses at the beginning of next season and it's becoming more and more likely that we will see him in a new uniform sooner rather than later.
This is not the first time Ladainian has gone on record complaining about one thing or another. I think he is trying to drive a wedge between himself and the Chargers in an effort to get traded. He may be upset with the greed younger players but also stated that he would not take a pay-cut to remain with the Chargers when his contract is up in 2 years. He has said that he wants to stay with the team that drafted him in 2001 but I question the sincerity of that statement. I think Tomlinson wants to win a Super Bowl and he doesn't know if he can do that with San Diego if he is questioning his teammates and thereby his head coach. I have a feeling this story could develop during the offseason and it will be interesting to see what line the Chargers take with him. Is he really that important to the team's success if they have to overpay for his declining skills?
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