LaDainian Tomlinson Quotes (58 Quotes)

During fall camp, Fran came to me and told me he wanted me to play fullback, ... I said, 'Sure, Fran, I'll do it.' Basil had a couple good games, and when they did move me back to tailback, there was no way I was going to be the starter because he'd been playing so well.

No doubt, because Drew is a leader. He's going to walk in there and automatically change the perception of that franchise.

We were 1-2 and we needed this victory badly. So for us it was the Super Bowl Champions, but at the same time it was just the next game on our schedule.

I think he's waited patiently for his opportunity, and he's taken advantage of it. He's a first-round pick (in 2003), so everybody knew he had a lot of talent. I think it was just a point of him getting on the field and proving himself.

I haven't yet . I've been very eager to figure out the right time to push that button.

It's still fairly early, ... but at the same time, we can't afford to drop any more.

When he first got here, he said he had some nastiness to him, and that was one thing he was going to bring. He's definitely brought it. ... I mean, the guy has brought a different mindset to the defense.

No, not at all, ... I take really good care of my body and I feel like that's a big key to why I have stayed healthy so far.

Going in, we knew this was a tough defensive team. We knew we were not going to walk in here and put up 48 points like we did last week. They're just too good for that. We made a couple of adjustments at halftime. We saw some things we could do (and) we just kept plugging.

I've said it before, but I guess nobody really took notice before. It's just a goal that I have.

He has to live with the question of why.

It's pretty frustrating. After we lost to Miami, we knew we had to win the last three games. We felt like we had a good shot at doing it. We had to play three good games, Colts, Kansas City and then Denver. We didn't expect to lose. But when you play good teams you have to play consistent football.

I'm so used to catching some balls out of the backfield. Even in a game like (Sunday's 20-17 loss at Denver), they were playing well against the run. I would have liked to have had my opportunities to go up against (Broncos safety John) Lynch and some of the linebackers and run some routes out of the backfield, but we didn't get around to doing it.

He was hoping things got worked out. Hopefully things still get worked out. We obviously need him, but it is a business first and if Antonio is not here we are going to have to hold the fort down until he gets back.

The last couple years we passed more and were more balanced. Before that we ran 65 to 75 percent of the time. We can do that if we need to.

They really gave the Giants a hard time, especially Eli. It was an electrifying event out there and it was like a playoff game.

They made some great adjustments in the second half. We obviously didn't do a good enough job in finishing.

But nobody really recruited me TCU, Baylor, North Texas, UTEP ... teams like that. I went on a visit to Kansas State but they didn't offer me. AM was waiting on another running back and didn't offer me. I was overlooked.

They just played good defense. I don't know specifically what they did I have to wait to see the film.

Just use me like they've been using me, ... I'm more than just a ballcarrier. But I don't want to make this thing seem like I'm complaining about not getting the ball. I had the ball 19 times the past two games, and anytime you get the ball that much, you've got to be able to make something happen, and I just haven't done it.

I'm a competitive person. I think you all know that. Myself, I feel like I can do more. But at the same time we do have other players on the team who can make plays. Just being me, yeah, I want to be utilized a little bit more than what I am.

I'm pretty sure people are getting tired of hearing (everyone) say, 'LT hasn't caught any passes' or whatever, ... It's definitely in the game plan, and that's going to be something we try to do this week -- make sure I touch the ball in open space.

I feel like I did my first few years here when I was totally healthy.

It was devastating, to be honest with you. I was a young player and didn't understand a lot about the business. I knew that he was a heck of a player and had many more years left. Of course as a young player you wonder why. Talking to him, he knew the business of it. He made me understand that it's a business first. After a while, I kind of got it.

It's not so much a disappointment, ... I've had a great run at it.

You never know even if you don't start off strong, ... Big games like 200 yards are the ones that put you over the top.

Rodney lived across the street from me. I used to talk to him a lot about different things. I would go over to his house, he'd come over to mine. It was a good relationship.

Mark my words, it's going to come back on him. You start thinking about a guy like Pat Tillman, who turned down millions to go fight for his country, then you think about Eli crying about where he wants to play football.

I can't answer that question. It's not for me to answer. I don't call the plays.

Obviously that adds confidence for the defense. They realize that in times when we need a play, they can make it.

What if' is always creeping up in your head. But I think you've got to constantly remind yourself that 'what if' could have been easily 13-0 like the Colts.

We needed a victory bad, ... We needed to get back to even so we could feel good about ourselves and the direction we were going. It just happened to be the Super Bowl champs and their 21-game home winning streak on the line.

This is the time of your career when you really step into your prime and become what you are supposed to become once you're drafted,

I'm only in my fifth year, and we still have five games to go down the stretch, and the offensive line is just now getting healthy, ... So I'm looking forward to what we have here in the future.

He's someone we need on the team, but business is business.

Even though I'm only going to wind up playing the one preseason game, I'm going to make the most of it, man, ... That's why I'm still out here working and practicing every day. I can't wait to go.

I don't want to make it sound like I'm complaining I'm not getting the ball. I had the ball 19 times in both of the last two games. Anytime I touch the ball that much, I've got to make something happen. I haven't done that.

I think he should get a lot of credit. He's the one that is able to put the ball in our hands. He comes up with different ways to really get the ball to us, and I think he does a great job of doing it.

I thought I threw it too far but I guess the old man's still got some legs,

I really get my work in practice. Preseason games are not where I need to get in rhythm. It helps to play some preseason. There was some right there today.

I want to finish the season strong. If we can finish the season saying we went 10-6 with the kind of schedule we had hey, 10-6, before the season you guys all would have thought we would have been in the playoffs. We would have, too.

What else could I do ... I passed everybody on the draft board except for Deuce McAllister, and we were neck-and-neck.

Their offense is really in gear where they can score points. And it's hard to run the ball against the defense. They've got a great secondary with the young corners and an All-Pro in Champ (Bailey). I just think they have all the tools to make it.

Credit to our defense. Any time as an offense you struggle, you got to have your defense to play solid. And our defense definitely did that.

The defense might be a little angry. Anytime the fans are into it, it trickles down. If they're booing him every time and are on him, I'm sure the defense picks it up and maybe give him an extra shot.

Everybody around the league looks up to their organization, ... Just the things they have been able to do, especially in a time when free agency is critical and things change. They've proved it can be done.

The ribs are no big deal. I hurt it on my right side, hurt it when I fell on somebody. The rib pad was bothering me more than the rib itself.

We needed that drive because you can't give the ball back to (Patriots quarterback Tom) Brady. You have to keep it away from him because he is able to make so many things happen. That drive of eight minutes was huge for us.

My first few times coming here, they were really on me. Now it's kind of more, 'LT, don't do us too bad,' It's a mutual respect. It's not as hard as it used to be.

It is what it is, ... I just try to do what I'm able to do whenever I'm called. I can't go over there and try to holler at everybody, tell them, 'Give me the ball.' You know that's not me.