NFL MVP: The Case For LT
December 31, 2007 - 4:32 am by Ryan PhillipsI know most of the hype for the NFL’s MVP Award has gone to Tom Brady and his massive chin - or possibly one of his receivers - for leading the Patriots to an undefeated season. Some have also suggested that Brett Favre should win it for the incredible year he’s had in the twilight of his career. Allow me to offer an alternative to that line of thinking. How about we give it to the guy who led the NFL in rushing for the second consecutive season, carried a dead-in-the-water team to the third seed in the AFC and came up with big games and bigger performances when his San Diego Chargers needed them the most? Your NFL MVP should be LaDainian Tomlinson.
Now before you go dismissing me as a homer who doesn’t know a thing about football or what the MVP means, let me make the case for LT. Here goes:
-While his stats are down from last year’s record breaking totals, Tomlinson put up some great numbers. He rushed for 1,475 yards on 315 carries (a 4.7 average) and had 15 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 60 passes for 475 yards and three more scores and threw for a touchdown too.
-After rushing for just 328 yards during the team’s 1-3 start, LT stepped up and gained 1,147 yards on the ground as the Chargers won 10 of their next 12 games. Bear in mind, he only played in the first half of his team’s final three games. Oh, and his offensive line was banged up all year long, so he had to get used to different guys blocking for him for most of the middle of the season.
-LT did basically all of his work by himself. Without Randy Moss, Tom Brady doesn’t put up the numbers that he did. Without Tom Brady, Randy Moss doesn’t put up the numbers he did. For those of you who say Wes Welker should get consideration, you should seek professional help. As for Favre, he did it virtually on his own, but against inferior competition in the NFC North and he tailed off at the end of the season.
-Tomlinson overcame a shaky quarterback (Philip Rivers) and even shakier receivers (Chris Chambers is great but he is still getting in sync with Rivers). Teams stacked eight in the box on virtually every play against the Bolts. Brady has three Pro Bowlers on his offensive line and Moss is also headed to Oahu. Plus he had Donte’ Stallworth (46 catches) and Welker (112 catches) at his disposal.
-He’s the best all-around player in the league and when it’s all said and done he could be the best running back of all-time.
-LT did not fumble or turn the ball over all season. Brady fumbled once and threw eight interceptions. Way to protect the football Tom. Why don’t you go bang another model/actress? Jerk.
-Tom Brady’s life is virtually perfect and an MVP trophy is the only thing missing. I really don’t need another reason to hate the guy.
-Tomlinson also beat out Adrian Peterson for the rushing title by 133 yards. Have you seen that guy run? He’s a freak. And LT finished ahead of him. Amazing. But, Peterson only played in 14 ga-LALALALALALA NOT LISTENING!!!
-LT won it last year and it’s an election year. We should just re-elect the incumbent, it makes things easier for everyone.
-Tomlinson is the “Family Values” candidate. He’s never fathered a child out of wedlock, unlike some people.
-He’s also never done ads for Stetson.
-Apologies to Peyton Manning, but no player is more important to his team than LaDainian Tomlinson. Considering it’s the Most Valuable Player award, that should say a lot.
-Brady’s quarterback rating this season was an impressive 117.2. Tomlinson’s quarterback rating was a perfect 158.3.
-Lastly, LT led a Norv Turner-coached team to the playoffs and a division title. That should be enough right there. If he doesn’t win the MVP he should at least get some kind of medal for heroism or something.
23 Responses to “NFL MVP: The Case For LT”
“LT did not fumble or turn the ball over all season”… incredibly impressive for a guy who touches the ball so much, but you and I both know that (or any of the other reasons listed) will win him the award. It’s going to be Brady.
By Kevin Hayward on Dec 31, 2007
When he stops crying after losses, I will vote for him.
Brady
Farve
Moss
Manning
LT
Moss/Manning can be switched with no argument. Wayne to me was more valuable, considering he lost his running mate on the side and CARRIED that passing offense for 11 weeks.
By Steve J. on Dec 31, 2007
yeah, you do come across as a complete homer. good try though.
By Anonymous on Dec 31, 2007
Why so much love for Favre? He had a lower completion percentage, more interceptions and fewer TDs than a handful of other QBs, including guys like Romo and Roethlisberger who’ve gotten no mention as MVP candidates. In the end, Buttchin is winning this by a landslide - I just don’t think Favre should be in the discussion.
By Anonymous on Dec 31, 2007
“Without Tom Brady, Randy Moss doesn’t put up the numbers he did. “
without the suckass playing of phillip rivers, LT doesnt get as many carries
By Anonymous on Dec 31, 2007
The last fact is the most important. You can’t stress this enough — a Norv Turner coached team is going to the playoffs. That’s certainly more shocking then the Patriots going 16-0.
By Tom on Dec 31, 2007
“He’s also never done ads for Stetson.”
Is there any television ad more overdone than LT’s Vizio commercial? “I believe in letting performance speak for itself. Buy this HDTV.”
By CT on Dec 31, 2007
Michael Turner is LT’s backup.
Jim Sorgi is Manning’s backup.
Matt Cassell is Brady’s.
who do you think can’t afford to lose their starter?
By Anonymous on Dec 31, 2007
I have an idea Phillip, let’s give the MVP to the 2nd most underachieving team (Ravens being the first) in the NFL this season. Brilliant!
If you hate Brady, give the MVP to Bob Sanders. In a year when Indy’s offense wasn’t carrying the load, Bob was the best playmaker on the other side of the ball. The Colts were competent enough in stopping the run and absolutely stymied teams from throwing the ball thanks to a healthy Hit-Man.
And if being a Homer is a pre-req for your MVP rant, go with Darren Sproles. Without his special teams play against the Colts, the Chargers season would have been lost in a game in which LT barely showed up. Or take a page out of my book and go with Cromartie.
By b-side on Dec 31, 2007
You are a homer who doesn’t know a thing about football. If you still have problems with pimples, you have an excuse. If you’re been grounded in the last year, you have an excuse. If you’ve never seen panties on a female not related to you, you have an excuse.
By Not Whitey Bulger on Dec 31, 2007
Favre played against inferior competition? the NFC North was at least decent this year (the bears and lions tied for last place at 7-9) and Favre also had to play all the teams in the stacked NFC East. Tomlinson played in the terrible AFC West and played 4 other games against the NFC North. the Chargers had the easier schedule.
By Anonymous on Dec 31, 2007
No one should ever say that an AFC team played a weaker schedule than an NFC team. Yes, the Chargers played in an atrocious AFC West this year. Yes, they played the NFC North (so did the Packers you fucking moron, and they played them all twice. And didn’t have to play themselves), but they also had to play the Pats, Colts, Jags,Titans, and a resurgent Texans team. All in all, the Chargers played five playoff teams this year. Which is one more than the Packers played. The Chargers also didn’t get their asses kicked in a game against the Bears that they HAD to win. They stepped up and took care of business when they had to this year. Everyone get off their fucking backs. Long live LT. And I hope Phillip Rivers runs his mouth all the way to the Super Bowl.
By ItWasATaintedSupplement on Dec 31, 2007
oh wow, it was a “resurgent” Texans team? does that make them better than the 8-8 team I saw all season? also, you’re counting the Titans as a playoff team, but are they really? you think they would’ve beaten the Colts 1st team last night? come on.
i never said the Packers DIDN’T play NFC North teams. my point was that both teams had pretty similar schedules, only the Chargers also got to play 2 extra games in the AFC West. they got stomped by the Chiefs once (a MUCH worse team than the Bears), then the Vikings walked all over them, they got ridiculously lucky against the Colts, and finally Ladainian shat the bed against the-get ready for this-PACKERS.
also, the NFC was 32-32 vs. AFC teams this year. the Colts and Pats are better than everybody else, but aside from those two the rest of the AFC isn’t that great. the Redskins and Eagles both had 7 games against playoff teams…you wanna argue they had easier schedules than the Chargers? i can’t wait for that.
Brady deserves the MVP. definitely not Favre (he also didn’t deserve it the year Barry Sanders had to share it with him) or Ladainian. you don’t get credit for “carrying” a team to an 11-5 record when the same players went 14-2 the year before against a better schedule.
By Anonymous on Jan 1, 2008
you’re a homer and an idiot. i hate to tell you but the nfc north is better than the afc west this year. a lot better
By Anonymous on Jan 1, 2008
This is ridiculous…Adrian Peterson deserves it more than LT
also..LT got SHUT DOWN versus the Vikes
I don’t remember Brady ever getting shut down even when Moss didn’t score
By Anonymous on Jan 1, 2008
“Without Randy Moss, Tom Brady doesn’t put up the numbers that he did.”
Without Moss’s 23 TD passes, Brady still wins the MVP. What a stupid argument.
The article should have been titled “NFL MVP Runner Up: The Case For LT”. Never in the history of the NFL has there been a more clear-cut winner.
By Anonymous on Jan 2, 2008
When you describe yourself as a “homer who doesn’t know a thing about football or what the MVP means”, you make the best point of the article.
Your love for LT notwithstanding, he’s a good running back on a team that can’t do anything but run the ball. If that is your criteria, Frank Gore was last year’s MVP.
Pass.
By Jon on Jan 2, 2008
Anon said “also..LT got SHUT DOWN versus the Vikes
I don’t remember Brady ever getting shut down even when Moss didn’t score”
so that Jets game that was supposed to be the big revenge game when brady was 14/27 140 yds. 0 TDs 1 INT was that a break out performance? Chad Pennington passed for more. And the Jets sucked while the Vikes had the league’s #1 rush D and were in playoff contention until the last week…but yeah, Brady, never shut down.
By the great bambi on Jan 2, 2008
Instead of writing negative articles about a guy whose life you wish you had maybe you should focus on getting some therapy or taking some anger management classes. Invite LT to the classes with you, he could learn how to deal with a losing.
By Anonymous on Jan 2, 2008
That Jets game was played in 5 degree weather and frezzing rain/snow and high winds.
Maybe all it did was answer the question…who wins Ditka vs. a Hurricane, but the Hurricanes name is Ditka?
By steve j. on Jan 2, 2008
now, what if ditka was to play God in a round of golf?
trick question, ditka is God
By the great bambi on Jan 3, 2008
and steve J., anon said he didn’t know of brady ever getting shut down, doesn’t matter what the conditions were, in that game he was shut down even if most of the credit goes to mother nature, that’s all i was saying
By the great bambi on Jan 3, 2008
farve who is playing with the youngest team in he nfl simply desevers to be the mvp,it should not be the overall records but who is most vaulable to a team , and farve is that man
By Anonymous on Jan 3, 2008