LaDainian Tomlinson just keeps on rolling
NFL Football at its best. NFL Football at its craziest.
You can’t catch me
The most amazing thing about sports to me is how records just continue to fall. It now appears that the rushing Touchdown record is about to be eclipsed by LaDainian Tomlinson.
LT, whose initials used to be reserved for Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, has 26 touchdowns already. How impressive is that?
Great Runners of the Present
In 1995, Emmitt Smith had 25 to set the record.
In 2000, Marshall Faulk raised the bar to 26.
In 2003, Priest Holmes took it to 27.
Then, last year, in an awesome year that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance for the Seahawks, Shaun Alexander scored 28 rushing touchdowns.
Hmm, LaDainian has 26 with 4 games to go. He has had 23 of them in the last 8 games. He is on a tear. LT’s team is on a tear and most of all, his quarterback Phillip Rivers is on a tear. You can’t just key on LT.
Great Runners this Year
How impressive is that? Well, Larry Johnson, who is having a monster year with 1300+ yards rushing and keeping his team in the race in spite of injuries to his quarterback and retiring offensive lineman, has only 13 touchdowns. Larry is second to LT in touchdowns and he is 12 behind him playing on a team that lives to run! (Squibster full disclosure - Larry Johnson is on my fantasy team)
How impressive is that? LT has one touchdown reception to add to his collection this year giving him a total of 26 touchdowns. In second place is Larry Johnson again with 15 total touchdowns.
Great Runners in the Past
How does that stack up with the great ones?
1965 Gayle Sayers 22 touchdowns. And he had 6 of those in one game!
Jim Brown twice had 17, in 1958 and 1965. (stats by ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia First Edition - Thanks Art Lower!)
Here is a shocker. In 1972, Greg Landry, quarterback of my humble bumbling Detroit Lions, led the league with 9 touchdowns. Actually he tied Ron Johnson of the New York Giants.
Barry Sanders best year was 16 in 1991. (note: the idiot Lions used to pull Barry at the Goal Line?!? He was too small, yeah right)
How does LT do it? He seems to have the whole package, power, speed, vision, good blocking in front of him, etc.
This is not the first time the Squibster has written about LT. Earlier greatness was predicted for 2006. That was July 3rd. Then after a 4 touchdown game.
What your intrepid author likes the most is that LaDainian remains humble through it all and just wants the team to win!
NFL Football Fan Question LT will get the record barring injury, but will he get the Super Bowl?
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POSTED IN: LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, NFL Football
2 opinions for LaDainian Tomlinson just keeps on rolling
Geoff Young
Dec 9, 2006 at 10:20 pm
LT is such a class individual. He’s a pleasure to watch on the field and easy to root for because of his demeanor. Like baseball’s Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman before him, Tomlinson represents the city of San Diego well. The trade that brought him to the Chargers for Michael Vick has helped define the franchise, and we are fortunate to have him here.
As for your question, I don’t know the answer but I hope he and the Chargers can win the Super Bowl.
James
Dec 10, 2006 at 6:19 pm
What amazes me is how easy and fluid it looks like when he runs. That is the only way that is seemed describable to me.
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