LaDainian Tomlinson Says Philip Rivers Looks Distracted

New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson has spoken out about former teammate Philip Rivers’ struggles this season and actually seems concerned for the 29-year-old signal caller.

Tomlinson said the Chargers quarterback looks distracted or like he’s going through a tough time and that is what’s causing his uneven play this season.

While some suggested that the relationship between Tomlinson and Rivers soured when the Chargers released their all-time leading rusher, that really wasn’t the case. I’m not saying the two are best friends, but the media seemed to suggest a mini Shaq-Kobe feud was going on between the two, and that never happened according to people close to the situation.

The Jets running back talked to the Newark Star-Ledger and had the following to say:

“I don’t know what Philip may be going through right now. But I will say, to me he seems distracted, for some reason. Like on the sideline, he seems like he’s just distracted. And I’ve always said this: It’s hard to be ‘the guy.’ When they say this is your team, it’s hard to be the guy because you get all the questions of what’s wrong and what’s right.”

“And then you get your teammates who expect certain things from you, and when that doesn’t happen, you get strange looks in the locker room. It’s hard to be that guy when it’s your team, so that may have a little bit to do with what’s going on, too.”

Tomlinson would know what it’s like to be ‘the guy’ on a team that has disappointing results, as several Chargers teams he was on failed to reach their lofty expectations. I honestly think LT feels for Rivers after seeing his former teammate’s horrible performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

Maybe Rivers is distracted by something, or maybe he’s just trying way too hard to make plays for the Chargers and is forcing things.