I wasn’t even going to write anything about this, because quite frankly I didn’t even think it was worth my time. But it is Tuesday, and I hear nothing but trash talk at LT. And I’m not talking about Lawrence Taylor. I am talking about our Mr. Everything, LaDainian Tomlinson. I can understand if these comments were coming from a jealous Raider fan, or even from the East Coast ass kissing ESPN. But to hear it from our own newspaper, and even someone on the local sports radio station?

Anyone who is questioning the toughness and leadership of LT should really just step back and really think about what they are saying? Put aside all the wonderful things he does off the field for our community. (That alone is Hall of Fame-worthy) And let’s just look at it from a football standpoint. Ask youeself a couple question before we start:

1)  Are you a “football fan”? And I don’t mean “do you watch football”?…because yes, there is a difference?

2) Have you followed LT’s career? It doesn’t even have to be from the begining, just use the last 4 years as a frame of reference.

3) Do you REALLY understand the game of football? Do you have any experience playing the game of football (even high school ball will do)? Do you know what it means to be a good teammate?

If you can’t answer “YES” to everyone of those questions, then you really don’t have the right to criticize LT.

I can go on and on…but let’s get right to it. If LT could have been effective, he would have played. He was man enough to accept the fact that if he had played, he would have done more harm than good. Both to the team and to himself. That was a selfless act if you ask me. Playing running back is by far the most demandingposition on the field. It is the only position that you take a beating on every single play. It is a position in which there is no going anything less that 100%, sharp cuts, stopping on a dime. And to ask him to do it on a busted knee…Get real.

As far as him not being a leader…to the doubters, I ask you this…did you have a sideline pass? Were you out on the bench? Or did you use those few 3-5 second shots they showed on TV, to come to your opinion? The TV I bet. Talk about taking something out of context. I bet you didn’t know that LT was in the game. I bet you didn’t know LY was giving Michael Turner and Darren Sproles advice and feedback about what was going on. The doubters ask. “then why was he just sitting there with his helmet on?” How about some common sense people, It was cold. Real cold. It’s not like last week where the team was indoors in a controlled enviornment. You want him to be jumping around on his injured knee? Get a clue.

The knee is not something to mess around with. This was the AFC Championship. One step away from the big game. If there was ANY chance he could have, he would have. Period. How quickly we forget how me played basically a whole season with an injured groin. For LT to even have to answer these questions, and for him to defend himself is an absolute joke. The team knows, as well as true fans know, LT is the ultimate team player- he did what was best for the team. He has earned way more than the benefit of the doubt.