[vincesanity82]

Rotoworld.com's Gregg Rosenthal asks a question we were probably all thinking Sunday afternoon: should Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson be taking some heat for spending most of the AFC Championship game on the bench with a balky knee?

By all accounts, LdT is one of the nicest guys in football, and he's never had much of an injury history. It's probably unfair to question his desire to play in the conference finals. But juxtaposed against quarterback Philip Rivers' gutty performance, it's kind of hard to ignore. Whatever, the NFL Network's Deion Sanders had some thoughts on the situation (courtesy of Pancake Blocks):

"You understand what T.O overcame to get back in the game, what Plaxico Burress goes through each week, and what Philip Rivers went through to play. LT told us he was close to 100%. The problem is, when you tell me that, I have expectaions, and when you don't meet those expectations, you open yourself for us to try to guess. Now what's the problem? You're a big-time player. And big-time players must play in big time games.

I know a lot of people will give LT a pass and say we don't know what happened. As a teammate, as fans looking on, it must be a surgery for him to get a pass on this one. I hope he comes up with something in the offseason, nothing severe, but a surgery for him to get a pass on this one."

If Tomlinson Was 'Close to 100%' Why Did He Only Have Two Carries? - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[legend]

No pass from me. I have already called him the cowardly lion. i think they should keep turner and trade him away after that show of no heart. Rivers played with no ACL.

[Lefty Noob]

I think it was the right move. Turner was running better than Tomlinson, and he gave the team the best chance to win.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

I think it was the right move. Turner was running better than Tomlinson, and he gave the team the best chance to win.

The Question now is, do they let go of Turner?...I think you gotta keep him now, especially with the amount of touches LT has in his career.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

The Question now is, do they let go of Turner?...I think you gotta keep him now, especially with the amount of touches LT has in his career.

I think so. To be honest, I think I'd go with Turner and Sproles and try to deal LT. I know that sounds crazy to trade a player of that pedigree, but think of the package you could get in return and all the other holes that could be filled. Besides, as of the AFC Championship, this is officially Phillip Rivers team.

[bears9]

In those two carries though he looked good enough to at least get the ball in the red zone. I'm willing to bet if he played in the red zone they get at least one TD.

[EmpireWF]

I can't ever question a player's health or how injured a guy is. Tomlinson said in the post-game that 100% of Turner and Sproles is better than 50% of Tomlinson. Can't deny that.

They have to keep Tomlinson AND Turner, somehow.

[ThePundit]

It's really hard to knock a player - especially a RB with a leg injury - who sits out hurt. We don't know how actually hurt he is. Gotta give him the benefit of the doubt.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

It's really hard to knock a player - especially a RB with a leg injury - who sits out hurt. We don't know how actually hurt he is. Gotta give him the benefit of the doubt.

true, but he said he was close to 100%, he shouldve been straight up with them if he was hurt..

[azrael492]

I heard on the radio today that he was OK to go, but reinjured himself on one of the only plays he ran. That is why he took himself out. He said he could not make the cuts he needed to.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, if he reinjured himself, why didn't that come out sooner? I hate to rip a guy for an injury, but this is starting to smell like excuse-making.

[azrael492]

I heard it about 11:00 yesterday morning on ESPN radio show. That is the only place I heard it though

[Bette]

I read in a couple of places that he reinjured his knee on his first carry. He told Coach to use him sparingly if he was needed.