benji929
11-06-2006, 09:56 PM
L.T. thrilled to meet Jim Brown (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=ApA9qti.qcRNNduEN1SAs0_.uLYF?slug=ap-chargers-tomlinson&prov=ap&type=lgns)
BERNIE WILSON
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Forget for a minute the 172 yards rushing and the three touchdowns that rescued the San Diego Chargers.
LaDainian Tomlinson was just as thrilled that he got to meet one of his idols, Hall of Famer Jim Brown, before the Chargers played the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Tomlinson turned a corner outside the locker room at Qualcomm Stadium and almost ran into Brown, who is an executive advisor for the Browns.
"It was almost kind of like stunning seeing him there," Tomlinson said Monday. "I was thinking to myself, 'My goodness, that's Jim Brown.' I've never met him before, so the first thing I do is go over to shake his hand just to say, 'Hey, you inspired me to be a runner.' "
The two engaged in small talk for a few minutes, and Brown congratulated Tomlinson on his career so far.
"The guy inspired me a lot," Tomlinson said. "To me, he was the best combination of power and speed. He was phenomenal."
Walter Payton was another of Tomlinson's idols.
"Walter was my guy, probably because I'm the same size as Walter. But Jim Brown, if I was a big guy, he would be my guy, I tell you," Tomlinson said.
A few hours after meeting Brown, Tomlinson took over the game. He scored three times in the final 16 minutes to boost the Chargers to a 32-25 win that kept them tied with the Denver Broncos atop the AFC West at 6-2. The Chargers travel Sunday to face Cincinnati, which has lost two straight.
Tomlinson had just 43 yards at halftime, when the Chargers trailed 12-10.
He broke a 41-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to give the Chargers the lead, then added TDs on runs of 7 and 8 yards in the fourth quarter. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry.
"I think yesterday was probably one of my most memorable Sundays," Tomlinson said. "Not only because of the yards but how we came back, you know, struggling a little bit, staying the course in the game, and also the first time I've ever met Jim Brown. I will never forget the moment."
With 828 yards, Tomlinson has pulled within two of the NFL's leading rusher, Tiki Barber of the New York Giants. The big difference between the two is Tomlinson has 12 TDs rushing and Barber only one.
Tomlinson took over the league lead in yards from scrimmage with 1,151, six more than Larry Johnson of the division rival Chiefs. The Chargers' star back leads the NFL with 14 touchdowns.
"I feel great," he said. "I tell you what, if I continue to feel like this, then I'm going to be real happy going into January."
The Chargers are trying to get back to the playoffs for only the second time in 11 seasons.
A week earlier, Tomlinson rushed for 183 yards in a 38-24 win against the Rams, as well as catching three passes for 57 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
"Yeah, it's been a pretty impressive stretch, but we've run the ball a little more consistently," he said. "We've kind of gotten into our groove knowing what plays we like to run. There's certain plays your offensive line likes to run. We know what plays we like to run with them and what plays work. That's why the last two games you've seen us run the ball real effective."
Added quarterback Philip Rivers: "Hey, can he keep it going? If anybody can, he can. Nothing he does, week to week, surprises us in the locker room. He did some things again in the passing game. Catching those swing routes, and doing some things like that, it drives them crazy."
After winning two straight at home, the Chargers hit the road for games at Cincinnati and Denver. San Diego hasn't won a game outside of California, losing at Baltimore and Kansas City. The Chargers did win at Oakland and San Francisco.
"We need to win a tough game on the road," Rivers said.
The Chargers were missing both starting outside linebackers on Sunday. Shawne Merriman began serving a four-game suspension for a positive drug test and Shaun Phillips missed his second straight game with a calf injury.
At one point, the Chargers had four backups in at linebacker. Donnie Edwards went out for a spell with a hip injury, but returned. Edwards is expected to practice this week, as is end Luis Castillo, who sprained an ankle.
Phillips is expected to practice on Wednesday. If Phillips returns, "it would mean we could probably field 11 on defense," coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
"In the absence of that, I'm not sure, and I don't think (Greg) Manusky can play like he used to, and I certainly can't. Hopefully he'll be available."
Manusky, the linebackers coach, played 12 seasons in the NFL. Schottenheimer was a backup linebacker in his playing days.
Good to see Marty using some humor.
BERNIE WILSON
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Forget for a minute the 172 yards rushing and the three touchdowns that rescued the San Diego Chargers.
LaDainian Tomlinson was just as thrilled that he got to meet one of his idols, Hall of Famer Jim Brown, before the Chargers played the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Tomlinson turned a corner outside the locker room at Qualcomm Stadium and almost ran into Brown, who is an executive advisor for the Browns.
"It was almost kind of like stunning seeing him there," Tomlinson said Monday. "I was thinking to myself, 'My goodness, that's Jim Brown.' I've never met him before, so the first thing I do is go over to shake his hand just to say, 'Hey, you inspired me to be a runner.' "
The two engaged in small talk for a few minutes, and Brown congratulated Tomlinson on his career so far.
"The guy inspired me a lot," Tomlinson said. "To me, he was the best combination of power and speed. He was phenomenal."
Walter Payton was another of Tomlinson's idols.
"Walter was my guy, probably because I'm the same size as Walter. But Jim Brown, if I was a big guy, he would be my guy, I tell you," Tomlinson said.
A few hours after meeting Brown, Tomlinson took over the game. He scored three times in the final 16 minutes to boost the Chargers to a 32-25 win that kept them tied with the Denver Broncos atop the AFC West at 6-2. The Chargers travel Sunday to face Cincinnati, which has lost two straight.
Tomlinson had just 43 yards at halftime, when the Chargers trailed 12-10.
He broke a 41-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to give the Chargers the lead, then added TDs on runs of 7 and 8 yards in the fourth quarter. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry.
"I think yesterday was probably one of my most memorable Sundays," Tomlinson said. "Not only because of the yards but how we came back, you know, struggling a little bit, staying the course in the game, and also the first time I've ever met Jim Brown. I will never forget the moment."
With 828 yards, Tomlinson has pulled within two of the NFL's leading rusher, Tiki Barber of the New York Giants. The big difference between the two is Tomlinson has 12 TDs rushing and Barber only one.
Tomlinson took over the league lead in yards from scrimmage with 1,151, six more than Larry Johnson of the division rival Chiefs. The Chargers' star back leads the NFL with 14 touchdowns.
"I feel great," he said. "I tell you what, if I continue to feel like this, then I'm going to be real happy going into January."
The Chargers are trying to get back to the playoffs for only the second time in 11 seasons.
A week earlier, Tomlinson rushed for 183 yards in a 38-24 win against the Rams, as well as catching three passes for 57 yards and scoring three touchdowns.
"Yeah, it's been a pretty impressive stretch, but we've run the ball a little more consistently," he said. "We've kind of gotten into our groove knowing what plays we like to run. There's certain plays your offensive line likes to run. We know what plays we like to run with them and what plays work. That's why the last two games you've seen us run the ball real effective."
Added quarterback Philip Rivers: "Hey, can he keep it going? If anybody can, he can. Nothing he does, week to week, surprises us in the locker room. He did some things again in the passing game. Catching those swing routes, and doing some things like that, it drives them crazy."
After winning two straight at home, the Chargers hit the road for games at Cincinnati and Denver. San Diego hasn't won a game outside of California, losing at Baltimore and Kansas City. The Chargers did win at Oakland and San Francisco.
"We need to win a tough game on the road," Rivers said.
The Chargers were missing both starting outside linebackers on Sunday. Shawne Merriman began serving a four-game suspension for a positive drug test and Shaun Phillips missed his second straight game with a calf injury.
At one point, the Chargers had four backups in at linebacker. Donnie Edwards went out for a spell with a hip injury, but returned. Edwards is expected to practice this week, as is end Luis Castillo, who sprained an ankle.
Phillips is expected to practice on Wednesday. If Phillips returns, "it would mean we could probably field 11 on defense," coach Marty Schottenheimer said.
"In the absence of that, I'm not sure, and I don't think (Greg) Manusky can play like he used to, and I certainly can't. Hopefully he'll be available."
Manusky, the linebackers coach, played 12 seasons in the NFL. Schottenheimer was a backup linebacker in his playing days.
Good to see Marty using some humor.