AP Names Tomlinson MVP

zippyjuan · 01-04-2007, 02:55 PM

He is a classy guy. Modest and hard working. The only time I saw him celebrate after a touchdown was after he broke the season scoring record. He lets his efforts speak for themselves and also thanks his teammates- without whom he would not have as great of acomplishments.

Quote:

LaDainian Tomlinson Voted AP's NFL MVP
By BARRY WILNER (AP Football Writer)
From Associated Press
January 04, 2007 4:21 PM EST
NEW YORK - Spell this year's NFL MVP: L.T. Record-setting LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers ran away with The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award Thursday the way he eluded defenders in leading his team to the AFC's best record (14-2) and a favorite's role for the Super Bowl.

"When you're MVP of the league, it's a great accomplishment," Tomlinson said, adding the honor means "that I've had a great year, that's all, on a great team."

But with so much more on the horizon, he hopes.

"I would feel so much better about winning if we win the Super Bowl. It would feel like it would be everything," Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson, who broke Shaun Alexander's league record for touchdowns by scoring 31 (28 rushing) and also threw for two scores, had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. He rushed for a league-high 1,815 yards on 348 carries, had 56 receptions for 508 yards and was 2-for-3 as a passer, both completions for scores, giving the Chargers running back six in his six-year career, tying him for second among non-quarterbacks.

"It just kind of got on a roll," Tomlinson explained. "Touchdowns, as they say, come in bunches. That was kind of the way it happened. It seemed like once we started scoring that we couldn't stop."

Of all his records and accomplishments this year, L.T. said the highlights were breaking Paul Hornung's single-season scoring record - Tomlinson finished with 186 points - and winning the rushing title.

Noting that Hornung was also a kicker, Tomlinson said, "To be able to break that record that stood for 40 some years by scoring touchdowns, I think for me is a huge accomplishment. I think leading the league in rushing solidifies your position as being a running back."

All of those are merely numbers - impressive numbers, but just stats. Tomlinson's attributes go way beyond that as a solid citizen and a player who lets his on-field actions represent him.

"It couldn't happen to a better person, a man who is the face and the perfect representative of the National Football League," fullback Lorenzo Neal said. "He represents what every player should be."

Few players have approached what Tomlinson achieved as San Diego won its final 10 games. Alexander, last season's MVP, understood what L.T. did.

"He won't realize it until after the year is over. Because when you're in a groove you're just about winning games," Alexander said late in the season. "Their season almost looks like ours last year; it's kind of funny. He won't recognize it until it's all over with, and then he'll be like, 'Dang that was sweet.'"

So sweet that he received 44 of the 50 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Former teammate Drew Brees, now starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, got four votes, and Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning got two.

Tomlinson rushed for at least 100 yards 10 times this season, including nine in a row, and scored two or more TDs in 10 games. The highlights were four-touchdown games against San Francisco in a 48-19 romp and Cincinnati in a 49-41 shootout in which San Diego trailed 28-7 at halftime.

Those performances prompted coach Marty Schottenheimer to declare L.T. the best running back in pro football history. Yes, better than J.B. (Jim Brown), O.J. (Simpson) and W.P. (Walter Payton).

"It definitely feels good because these are all guys I grew up watching and idolizing at times," Tomlinson said. "To me, guys who could do no wrong. It just says the kind of hard work I have put in to kind of prove that I belong in this league, now proving that, I guess I belong to be mentioned with guys like with Jim Brown and Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders."

Schottenheimer saw all of them play, along with the likes of Emmitt Smith and Gale Sayers.

"One of the things that we all strive for in our chosen field, whatever that might be, is the respect of our peers," Schottenheimer said. "I think that's the most important qualities that any individual can ever possess, the ability that those that know him look at him with the respect that, 'This is a person that I admire.'

"I think with a certainty that everybody in this building and most everybody in this community probably has that sense about LaDainian Tomlinson. He is an individual who engenders the respect of everybody that he comes in contact with."

Tomlinson is the first Charger to win the MVP award. He joins Brown (1957 and '65), Simpson (1973) and Payton (1977) among brilliant running backs to take the honor.

bachviet · 01-04-2007, 03:16 PM

Congrats to L.T. Hopefully Madden is not going to put him on his video game cover.

eSDee · 01-04-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bachviet

Congrats to L.T. Hopefully Madden is not going to put him on his video game cover.

to both of your statements. Good for him.

Sirrich3 · 01-05-2007, 12:05 AM

Good Choice! Congrats to L.T.!

Showtime · 01-05-2007, 01:56 AM

well deserved.

RIVERWIDOW · 01-07-2007, 08:42 AM

There was never any doubt who should win. Now I am glad to see he has won. I love seeing modest intelligent pro athletes who let their actions speak for them. LT is the next greatest San Diego athlete after Tony Gwynn. Both are super class acts that any kid can look up to.

TofuNinja · 01-07-2007, 06:43 PM

LT carried the chargers on his back and with his legs and at times arm. LT may just be the best player in the game right now. Well Deserved.

MikeD · 01-08-2007, 06:31 AM

I remember when he came out of TCU...there was pretty hot debate as to whether or not he would be successful in the pros (due to the style of offense TCU ran). There was a school of thought that said he was a product of the system type of guy, kind of like UF and BYU quarterbacks once were.

Glad to see the success. He seems like a great person, a true professional. Congrats.

01-04-2007, 03:16 PM	#2
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Congrats to L.T. Hopefully Madden is not going to put him on his video game cover. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

01-05-2007, 12:05 AM	#4
Sirrich3 Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In Sunny Southern California Posts: 3,950	Good Choice! Congrats to L.T.! __________________

01-05-2007, 01:56 AM	#5
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	well deserved. __________________ NBA REPORT 10-11/ The 3-Peat! 1948 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1972 1980 1982 1985 1987 1988 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010 Reigning NBA CHAMPS!

01-07-2007, 08:42 AM	#6
RIVERWIDOW Commander Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Land of fruits and nuts Posts: 1,124	There was never any doubt who should win. Now I am glad to see he has won. I love seeing modest intelligent pro athletes who let their actions speak for them. LT is the next greatest San Diego athlete after Tony Gwynn. Both are super class acts that any kid can look up to. __________________ My grandkids are cuter than yours ! Rock on Chargers ! Lets go Padres !! All the way in 2009

01-07-2007, 06:43 PM	#7
TofuNinja Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: On Serenity Posts: 3,503	LT carried the chargers on his back and with his legs and at times arm. LT may just be the best player in the game right now. Well Deserved. __________________ "To search for the old is to understand the new." -Gichin Funakoshi- ===>>>LABELED CANTACUZENE'S DUMBEST PERSON ALIVE!!!<<<===

01-08-2007, 06:31 AM	#8
MikeD President, Cowboys Nation Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In the 'burbs, west of D.C. Posts: 5,139	I remember when he came out of TCU...there was pretty hot debate as to whether or not he would be successful in the pros (due to the style of offense TCU ran). There was a school of thought that said he was a product of the system type of guy, kind of like UF and BYU quarterbacks once were. Glad to see the success. He seems like a great person, a true professional. Congrats. __________________

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