New York Jets’ LaDainian Tomlinson has a score to settle with the Patriots
The memory of the 2008 American Football Conference (AFC) Championship game is still fresh in the mind of New York Jets’ running back LaDainian Tomlinson. In 2008 Tomlinson was with the San Diego Chargers and his team was up against the New England Patriots.
He wasn’t able to finish that game due to an ankle injury, but not before he went on to the field and pushed himself to the limit for a few plays.
Tomlinson told reporters, “It was the most frustrating thing I've been through in my career. It was a long shot going into the game with a sprained MCL. I told my guys, 'I'm going to give you everything I have,' but it wasn't much.”
The Jets running back said that it was frustrating to not be able to play in the biggest game possible, but now he finally has a chance to redeem himself.
Tomlinson is going to face the Patriots again in the playoffs, this time with the Jets, and he isn’t struggling with any injuries. The winner will advance to the AFC championship game.
In 2008 Tomlinson established himself as a tenacious competitor. Antonio Cromartie was a team-mate of Tomlinson’s for four years with the Chargers and recalls that AFC Championship game. Cromartie said that watching Tomlinson, a team-mate and a mentor, go
through the ordeal on the sidelines was tough for him. “He wanted to be out there and tried to give it his all and wasn't able to, so he's going to be looking forward to this,” Cromartie said.
Tomlinson proved to be a key player in New York’s win over the Indianapolis Colts in their first pre-season game. He ran for 82 yards and scored two touchdowns in the 17-16 win over the Colts. Tomlinson said that he felt good and was motivated after his
performance at the Lucas Oil Stadium. This Sunday he is heading to the Gillette Stadium.
“I think over the years, the Super Bowls they've (Patriots) won, they have been the dynasty,” Tomlinson said of his next rivals. “It's kind of like the Cowboys in the '90s. The Patriots, since 2000, have been that dynasty. So, anytime you play a group like
these guys, you get fired up to play.”
Tomlinson has had his own run-ins with the Patriots over the years, and some have been less than cordial interactions. 2008’s AFC Championship game wasn’t the first time the San Diego Chargers were knocked out of the Playoffs by New England. The Chargers
were also beaten in 2007. In that game Tomlinson became aggravated after a few of New England’s players celebrated on the Chargers logo at midfield. Tomlinson thought it was a disrespectful display by the Patriots.
When Tomlinson came to New York, he was already brewing a rivalry bordering on aversion, with the Patriots. The running back readily adopted the rivalry between the Jets and the Patriots as his own, but insists that it is only an afterthought to him.
“As far as now, it seems years ago for me,” Tomlinson said. “I really don't focus on them. It's a different team, a different type of team and that was really in the past for me. I'm just happy I get another opportunity to play.”
The 31-year-old Tomlinson got a second chance not just to compete in the playoffs but to continue his football career. The running back knows that he doesn’t have many years left in him, and his chances of winning a Super Bowl aren’t getting any better.
Despite excellent statistics in the 2009 season, Tomlinson attracted little to no attention from teams after leaving San Diego. The Jets and the Minnesota Vikings were the only teams that showed any real interest in him. In hindsight, Tomlinson should be
glad he didn’t go to Minnesota. The Vikings were knocked out in the playoffs, while the Jets are through to the second round and facing their division rivals.
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