Posted on Wed, Apr. 30, 2008

LaDainian Tomlinson says criticism late last season was unfair

BY CHAREAN WILLIAMS

cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON -- San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t taking a knee on this one. He said the criticism he faced after playing only four plays in the AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots was unfair.

“I was surprised,” Tomlinson said Wednesday before being the guest speaker at the Champions for Kids benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington. “I was surprised because I have never missed a game for being hurt. …That was one of the times I felt the criticism was undeserved. At the same time, I took something good out of it. It motivated me going into the off-season and, at this point in my career, it kind of rekindled the burning fire inside of me to want to do even greater things.”

Chargers coach Norv Turner defended Tomlinson last month at the NFL owners meetings and said the team bears some responsibility for putting Tomlinson on the spot. The Chargers took Tomlinson off the injury report before the AFC Championship Game, despite his hyperextended left knee not being healed, and they failed to provide a definitive explanation for Tomlinson’s absence during the game.

“I don’t blame [the Chargers],” Tomlinson said. “You’ve got to understand my mind-set: I have played with all kinds of injuries. So in my mind, I went through practice, and yeah, it was sore, and I knew I was going to struggle with it, but I thought I was going to be able to play through it.”

The former TCU standout, who has never missed a start because of injury, has 2,365 carries for 10,650 yards and 115 touchdowns in his seven-year career as well as 458 catches for 3,375 yards and 14 touchdowns. He already is being mentioned for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tomlinson talked about a variety of topics Wednesday:

On the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, which he injured in the playoffs:

"I still need to continue to strengthen my knee, because that’s the part of it that takes the longest. But as far as the running and cutting ability, that’s all back. That’s there."

On playing in the preseason in hopes of a quicker start in the regular season:

"It was something that my running backs coach, Ollie Wilson, and I had talked about. But Norv [Turner] clearly let me know a week ago that that wasn’t happening. He shot that down real fast."

On winning a Super Bowl

"This is the closest I’ve felt we’ve been since I’ve been there. Everything is in place for us. We’ve just got toget lucky a little bit and stay healthy."

On the departure of fullback Lorenzo Neal

"It’s going to be a little different just from the simple fact that we work so well together, and we know each other. He knows sometimes what I’m thinking, and he can leave somebody and go get the next guy. He just has a feel for my running style. That comes with time, so that’s going to be tough working with somebody new. I’m certainly going to miss him."

On the Chargers’ new fullback, rookie Jacob Hester of LSU:

"I watched him at LSU, so I’ve seen him play a bunch. I think he’s a great pick. He can do a lot of different things on the football field, and I think he’s really going to be able to help us. He can block; he can run the football; he can catch it; and he’s smart. "

On running back Darren McFadden, the No. 4 overall choice of the Raiders:

"It’s going to be interesting to see how McFadden does at this level. There are going to be times when there is nothing there, and he’s going to have to create something. We’re going to find out if he can do that."

On the Boys & Girls Club:

"I grew up in a Boys & Girls Club. I can relate to the kids that attend the Boys & Girls Club. It means a lot to me; it’s personal."