http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/102461/index.html Happened to see this on Sports Illustrated Website, thought I would share. Got a good laugh on what LT thinks of the raiders.... Q&A with LaDainian Tomlinson DP: If Brett Favre said he was coming back to Minnesota, would that have changed your mind? LT: I would have still went to New York. DP: I don't believe you. I wish I could see your face right now. Did you guys text? LT: I knew he had been in both places. I kind of wanted to get his idea of both places. DP: He lobbied you to go to Minnesota, didn't he? LT: Yeah, I mean, he definitely did. DP: Did he get a hold of you first or did you get a hold of him? LT: He reached out to me. DP: Doesn't that lead you to believe he's going to come back and play? LT: Yeah it does, but like I said before, that had nothing to do with my decision. I think at the end of the day, even though Favre hasn't said he's coming back, you just didn't know for sure. DP: If Favre is in Minnesota still playing, who has a better chance of going to the Super Bowl, Minnesota or the Jets? LT: That's a good question. Both of them were in the conference championship game last year. I can't put one up over the other. DP: How did the Jets close you? LT: I've been in this offense all of my career. You know going to Minnesota I'd have to learn a new offense. And that's a tough thing to do. It's a West Coast offense. I've never been in that system before. So it would have been a bit of a challenge starting out trying to learn that offense. Where with the Jets, I know the offense. I know [offensive coordinator] Brian Schottenheimer. I enjoy being around Rex Ryan. So it's just a better fit. DP: When the Jets open up the stadium on Monday night of Week 1, who's the starting running back for New York? LT: I don't know, that's obviously a long way away. DP: Are you going in there trying to win the job, or are you being told that you're there to help Shonn Green? LT: No I'm not going in there with any idea if I'm going to be the starter or anything like that. I approach this situation as I'm coming to a new team -- a team that was very good without me. And I've got to sit in and find a role with these guys. And you know part of that is going to be obviously helping the young talented guy like Shonn Green. And also helping Leon Washington, that's a part of my role. But who knows what the future's going to hold as far as being a starter or not. DP: Why aren't you a San Diego Charger? LT: It was time to move on. DP: By you or them? LT: Both. DP: But this is a team that needs a starting running back. LT: They don't need a running back in that type of offense like me -- the type of skills that I have. DP: Were you too expensive. If you would have taken less, would they have kept you? LT: It wasn't about the money at all. I could have taken more money to go to Minnesota, but it wasn't about that. With the Chargers, it was really time to move on. DP: Is it Philip Rivers' team? LT: Absolutely. Yes it is. DP: Should it be? LT: Yes, absolutely it should be. But I don't think that should have meant [we can't play together]. I don't think it had anything to do with it in my mind. Maybe in their mind it did. In my mind, it didn't. DP: If I say you'll get 500 rushing yards this year, but you're going to the Super Bowl, are you OK with that? LT: Absolutely, no question. Dan, you've seen my career, I've done some great things individually, but I haven't done any great things with a team yet. And that's what I'm in New York for. I believe this team can win a championship. DP: Were you concerned that you were going to be labeled the greatest running back not to win a championship? Sort of like Dan Marino, greatest quarterback. LT: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely there. I can't tell you how bad I've wanted to win a championship, to experience everything you can possibly experience. But seeing your buddies win championships, someone like Drew, who I'm close to, seeing that. It was something that I just feel missing and I would like to feel like that. DP: How close were you to joining the Saints? LT: Not close at all. DP: Do you have a 1,000-yard season left in you? LT: Absolutely. DP: Were the Redskins on the list? LT: No. DP: You'd never play for the Raiders? LT: No DP: Even if it was a great offer? LT: Yeah, even if it was a great offer. The things we built here in San Diego going against the Raiders -- we beat them 12, 13 straight times. I couldn't just go to the other side. DP: What if that's the only offer, that or retire? DP: I'm retiring. Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/102461/index.html#ixzz0iTDTfw6K Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with SI Subscription
I love the fact that he turned down more money to come to New York, that makes me think that he will be giving 110% on every carry. He wants to prove everyone wrong. When you have a RB that is pissed it is a good thing. I can't wait for next season!
There was a "I like Rex more than I like Childress" comment in the beginning when he said "I like being around Rex Ryan" Having a coach no one hates helps the Jets land FAs.
LINK TO AUDIO http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/listenlive.player.html?file=http://ht.cdn.turner.com/si/danpatrick/audio/2010/03/17/DP-Hr3_03-17-2010_stream.mp3
This may be a little premature....but i would have to say the "Rex Ryan hire" is probably the best thing Woody has done for this team in the last 10 years....and that includes getting rid of Pennington. queue junc in...5...4...3...2....
Sounds to me like Favre wasn't a factor at all in his decision making but using the Vikes to drive the market is more like it.
LT has been written off, wiped off the radar, and told he is finished. If that doesn't put a chip on your shoulder, I don't know what will. Love the comment about being a mentor for Greene and Washington. He realizes that he is the backup.
He is also going to make them work for their jobs, which is something else I really like. LT is definitely a team first guy. Can't wait to see him on the field for Gang Green.
I hope that's the case. However, it is apparent that he was not told coming in the door that he 's Greene's backup. I hope there is not a potential controversy there. If you read between the lines, though he said all the right things, you still get the sense that LT feel like he can be a starter. Don't get me wrong, I have every reason to believe that Greene would accept a role of splitting carries with LT, even if Greene is coming off the bench. He doesn't strike me as a guy that cares about games started, rather games won. If LT somehow beats out Greene in TC, that could only be good for the team, right?
