Does LaDainian Tomlinson want to end stay with New York Jets? – Feature
New York Jets' running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, has recently taken strides at the team’s head coach, Rex Ryan, and the general manager, which puts a serious doubt over his intentions, whether he desires to stay in the team or not.
After his interview with Showtime’s “Inside The NFL”, it seems quite evident that he no longer desires to stay with New York Jets.
In the interview, he hit out on the coach and general manager, holding them very much responsible for the mess the Jets' locker room was in.
"They created this. This is the type of football team that they wanted,” he said.
This was quite a bold move that would surely have the coach and GM inflamed over the remarks.
So, apparently it seems that the running back is least concerned about his stay with Jets.
The locker room episode, that has been going on since week three or four as Tomlinson recently disclosed, was only reported in the media towards the end of the season.
Though earlier on Tomlinson had merely stated that something went on between Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes, this time he pointed out the rift being a serious one.
"I've been around some locker rooms and quarterback-receiver situations and what-not, but it was as bad as I've been around," Tomlinson said.
This was something new. Tomlinson had added a very serious tone to the incident which he had himself downplayed earlier on by suggesting that tension was bound to be in the locker room when there are “53 strong personalities” out there.
He had also called for showing respect towards each other in order to form a working relationship.
So, what does this sudden change in tone suggests?
Tomlinson had signed in a two year agreement with the Jets which has now ended. There is no doubt that Tomlinson had always wanted to be in a winning team and that was the reason why he chose to join the Jets. Earlier on in the season, reports had suggested
that Tomlinson would end his stay with the Jets if they failed to reach the playoffs.
So with the Jets out of the playoff race, Tomlinson would be little interested in the Jets team and that is probably the reason why he came up with such a bold stance.
Tensions have been high in the Jets’ locker room all along the season. The rift between Holmes and Sanchez became known only recently but backup quarterback Greg McElroy had talked of “selfish” people being out there in the locker room which he said had
a “corrupt mindset”.
Even Ryan had recognized the ongoing problem which he said had not been dealt properly and existed because the team was no longer close the way it used to be. Ryan showed determination to be more involved in the team’s affairs to root out the problem.
“I need to be in the locker room. I need to be around more, be involved more in the day-to-day, like right there in the meeting rooms and everything else.'' Ryan said.
Despite all this, Tomlinson took to the public taking a hit on the coach.
Though Tomlinson defended Sanchez earlier on, saying he was not lazy, yet he mentioned the quarterback as having been a bit “pampered” as he had no competition around him. He urged the need for bringing in a back up so that could help boost his performance.
“He has no real threat to say this guy may take my job,” Tomlinson had said of Sanchez.
Tomlinson boasts of 13,684 yards rushing yards in his career and has been selected for the Pro Bowls five times. He had 280 yards of rushing to his credit this season. He has also received the NFL MVP award.
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