joelbolt
11-03-2006, 10:40 AM
There's no ignoring him (http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/football/nfl/cleveland_browns/15918575.htm)
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Friday, November 03, 2006
BEREA - LaDainian Tomlinson could have been in Cleveland.
The Browns chose not to draft him.
Tomlinson, who has rushed for more than 8,000 yards since the San Diego Chargers drafted him in the first round, apparently wasn't even on the Browns' draft radar screen.
``No,'' he said this week in a conference call with Cleveland media. ``Not at all.''
What's that?
``They didn't show any interest at all,'' Tomlinson said.
That draft was the first in the Butch Davis era, and the Browns selected Gerard Warren with the third overall pick. In the third round, they selected running back James Jackson of Miami.
Tomlinson wound up going to San Diego with the fifth pick.
Warren has since been traded to Denver for a fourth-round draft choice. Jackson rushed for 1,071 yards in four seasons in Cleveland.
Tomlinson already has his jersey in Canton. The hall of fame displayed it after Tomlinson set a record by scoring a touchdown in 14 consecutive games. He seems assured of a bust there as well.
The Browns passed on him even though their leading rusher in 2000 was Travis Prentice.
To be fair, four teams passed on Tomlinson. Atlanta took quarterback Michael Vick, Arizona took lineman Leonard Davis, the Browns took Warren and Cincinnati took defensive end Justin Smith before Tomlinson went off the board.
To hear Tomlinson talk, however, the Browns ignored him before the draft.
``I was prepared to go to Cleveland,'' he said. ``I knew they needed a running back badly. Obviously with me being there, I thought there was a good chance I would land in Cleveland.
``But I never went to Cleveland on a visit, never talked to (them) at all. I don't think I even talked to them at the combine.''
Hindsight shows that perhaps the Browns should have at least talked to Tomlinson.
Through seven games this season, he ranks second in the league with 656 yards rushing. Sunday against St. Louis, he had 183 yards rushing, 57 receiving.
He has scored a league-high 11 touchdowns and has 91 touchdowns in his career.
In five seasons and seven games, Tomlinson has rushed for 8,017 yards and holds or shares 19 San Diego team records.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Tomlinson is the best back he has seen, and Browns coach Romeo Crennel said ``LT'' ranks among the best ever.
``The thing about LaDainian is, you watch him make it look easy,'' Crennel said. ``When he runs through a hole, guys that are unblocked and should be able to make a tackle don't get a hand on him. If they do get a hand on him, he is running away from them before they can even think about wrapping him up.
``He can bounce it out or run inside. These runners that can go the distance are not inside runners. LaDainian can run inside as well as outside.''
Tomlinson said he one day would like to be considered among the best ever -- that's not a large worry -- but added: ``I'm in my sixth year and I have a long way to go.''
Not too far, really.
Tomlinson ranks on numerous lists of the NFL's best players.
And he doesn't think things would have been too much different had the Browns drafted him.
``I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but I think I was destined to be where I am now,'' he said. ``If I would have gone to Cleveland, I think I would have had a successful career, considering the amount of time I put into working hard.
``I try to be the best and I don't think it would have been different being in Cleveland.''
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Friday, November 03, 2006
BEREA - LaDainian Tomlinson could have been in Cleveland.
The Browns chose not to draft him.
Tomlinson, who has rushed for more than 8,000 yards since the San Diego Chargers drafted him in the first round, apparently wasn't even on the Browns' draft radar screen.
``No,'' he said this week in a conference call with Cleveland media. ``Not at all.''
What's that?
``They didn't show any interest at all,'' Tomlinson said.
That draft was the first in the Butch Davis era, and the Browns selected Gerard Warren with the third overall pick. In the third round, they selected running back James Jackson of Miami.
Tomlinson wound up going to San Diego with the fifth pick.
Warren has since been traded to Denver for a fourth-round draft choice. Jackson rushed for 1,071 yards in four seasons in Cleveland.
Tomlinson already has his jersey in Canton. The hall of fame displayed it after Tomlinson set a record by scoring a touchdown in 14 consecutive games. He seems assured of a bust there as well.
The Browns passed on him even though their leading rusher in 2000 was Travis Prentice.
To be fair, four teams passed on Tomlinson. Atlanta took quarterback Michael Vick, Arizona took lineman Leonard Davis, the Browns took Warren and Cincinnati took defensive end Justin Smith before Tomlinson went off the board.
To hear Tomlinson talk, however, the Browns ignored him before the draft.
``I was prepared to go to Cleveland,'' he said. ``I knew they needed a running back badly. Obviously with me being there, I thought there was a good chance I would land in Cleveland.
``But I never went to Cleveland on a visit, never talked to (them) at all. I don't think I even talked to them at the combine.''
Hindsight shows that perhaps the Browns should have at least talked to Tomlinson.
Through seven games this season, he ranks second in the league with 656 yards rushing. Sunday against St. Louis, he had 183 yards rushing, 57 receiving.
He has scored a league-high 11 touchdowns and has 91 touchdowns in his career.
In five seasons and seven games, Tomlinson has rushed for 8,017 yards and holds or shares 19 San Diego team records.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Tomlinson is the best back he has seen, and Browns coach Romeo Crennel said ``LT'' ranks among the best ever.
``The thing about LaDainian is, you watch him make it look easy,'' Crennel said. ``When he runs through a hole, guys that are unblocked and should be able to make a tackle don't get a hand on him. If they do get a hand on him, he is running away from them before they can even think about wrapping him up.
``He can bounce it out or run inside. These runners that can go the distance are not inside runners. LaDainian can run inside as well as outside.''
Tomlinson said he one day would like to be considered among the best ever -- that's not a large worry -- but added: ``I'm in my sixth year and I have a long way to go.''
Not too far, really.
Tomlinson ranks on numerous lists of the NFL's best players.
And he doesn't think things would have been too much different had the Browns drafted him.
``I don't want to sound cocky or anything, but I think I was destined to be where I am now,'' he said. ``If I would have gone to Cleveland, I think I would have had a successful career, considering the amount of time I put into working hard.
``I try to be the best and I don't think it would have been different being in Cleveland.''