LaDainian Tomlinson Quotations

I make sure I always give Him all the glory and praise, because I know that in one second, one game, one play, it could be all over.

People always say, and my family has said it to me, that you know who your real friends are when you're at your lowest point and you don't have a job or whatever.

You earn the respect of your peers that you play against, and they don't trash talk you.

People may remember something I did on the field for a couple of days, maybe a week.

Sometimes when you're praised about something, sometimes it's deserved, and sometimes it's not deserved. Same thing with criticism. Sometimes the criticism is deserved, and sometimes it's not deserved.

I don't have to go to the weight room. I don't have to go work out if I don't want to.

A lot of people may know my face and know that I'm a good player on the football field, but they probably don't really know me as a person.

As football players, our bodies know exactly what time of year it is and what we need to be doing.

As long as you believe in Him, no matter what happens in your life, understand that it's all for a purpose.

Faith is the biggest principle that the Bible teaches us.

I like to run fast but not drive.

Over the years as I went through a lot more things, I've gotten closer and closer to God as far as praying a lot more, being into the Word.

The quicker you get acclimated to getting hit and being on the ground, it's better for you when the games start.

When I approach guys in certain situations and talk to them about Christ, they know that I'm speaking to them in a way that's real.

Every time I touch the ball, I think I'm going to go all the way. I think I'm going to score a touchdown. I'm the runner I am because I think that I'm going to go all the way every single time I touch the ball.

I believe a lot of players that start to think about money - 'Oh my goodness; I'm up for a new contract' - they don't have a great season because they're thinking about all these different things. Do your business on the field, and everything takes care of itself.

I don't think Christ becomes real to us until we hit a low point in our lives and realize just how much we need Him. That's why faith affects every area of your life.

I think at the end of the day, even though I didn't win a Super Bowl ring, I felt like I backed them up for drafting me. I backed up the San Diego Chargers for picking me with the fifth pick.

My job is to let everybody know what I stand for and to let my light shine. I want to show others the way I live so that hopefully they follow. I can also tell about my experiences as a Christian so that I may help bring others to Christ.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

No. I don't think he will buy it.

Losing your last three out of four games, well, it's incredible. I don't know where we go from here, but I think we need to have a gut check.

Should I be considered? I don't know. A lot of guys should be considered; that is just the way it is. I think a lot of people, off me throwing three touchdowns and doing all the things receiving, people are considering me for doing all those different things.

She went in for a checkup, and the doctors realized there wasn't a heartbeat. We still aren't really sure what caused it. They said it could have been a couple of things.

I enjoy playing on Monday Night Football because it's special. The fans are always excited and they bring some added energy. You always want to be on top of your game because everyone is watching.

I don't think about the playoff loss anymore. I think about the team we had, the fun we had together the whole season. We had a great time.

But hardly anything is ever the way you draw it up. We draw up plays in the classroom that look great, then we get out on the field on Sunday and it doesn't work.

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.

I always take pride in throwing a touchdown because as a running back it's not something you're supposed to do. So I really enjoy throwing the football.

I always take pride in throwing touchdowns because that's not something a running back is supposed to be able to do.

If that run was an indication, I would say probably not.

He has to live with the question of why.

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

He has played well. Kirk is a product of hard work. He knows what that is all about; working hard to get on the football field.

He enjoys this game. And for some reason this game really gets him going. He reminded us every day, five or six times, that this was Raider Week.

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 say if we don't win this season, they should be upset. But give us a chance to prove that we are winners.

Just being me, yeah, I want to be utilized a little bit more than what I am.

I'm sure Bill said, 'If we stop the run, we have a great chance to win the game because they don't have their All-Pro tight end,'

I'm so used to catching some balls out of the backfield, ... Even in a game like yesterday, they were playing well against the run. I would have liked to have had my opportunities to go up against (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. I'm not blaming anyone. I understand, it's hard to call plays and try to make things work.

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.

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

I went to the Senior Bowl and told myself I'm going to answer the question about this competition thing once and for all,

I think some of them fans are fantasy owners, too.

I think it's too early to start talking about MVP,

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.

Out of everybody, people are the most happy he made it. It was long overdue for him.

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 think he was scouting because I saw him after the game.

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 think I just barely scratched the surface last year. I think people saw just a little bit of what I can do. Those are definitely not the kind of numbers I hope to put up this year. I'll be putting up bigger and better numbers. Obviously, if that's happening, then this team will be winning games and hopefully going to the playoffs.

I think I got into a deal of where we were losing, and I just went into a tailspin with the team,

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 think that happened to us. We were in almost every game until the end, but then we'd start thinking too much and asking ourselves, 'Are we going to lose this game, too?' That's when you find yourself in a panic situation. We weren't poised enough at the end of the game to finish it off.

I think throwing touchdown passes has helped me out this year. People love to see me throw the football.

I think it definitely changes things a lot because he's obviously one of our playmakers, ... I think our offense, hopefully, opens up a lot more and we'll be able to get the ball down the field some and put more points on the board.

You just kind of set your mind that no matter what, 'I won't let them stop me,' 

That was probably the best defense I've faced as far as the run game in my career.

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.

Those guys (on the line), every year it seems like they just dominate.

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.

That was great, absolutely. It's going to happen, for both of us, and I look forward to the day.

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.

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.

We're motivated just on the schedule we have: having a tough schedule and wanting to prove to people that no matter if we have a tough schedule or not, we're a good football team, and we're going to win games. I share the record with Lenny now, and I'm not a greedy person. If we can win the game and I don't get a touchdown, I'll be fine with that.

Everything speeds up and it's blurry for a minute, ... But you've got to have a little patience sometimes to just find a soft spot. There's always a soft spot in the defense, and it's your job to find it.

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.

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.

Credit to our defense. Any time as an offense you struggle, you've got to have your defense play solid and stop them. Our defense definitely did that. I'm proud of them. They took a good step toward the right direction in being able to stop people when they need to.

Every day I walked out the door on the way to practice, I'd look at that letter, ... That's what drove me my senior year.

It would be great. It's something you always dream about. You dream that it would be something you would accomplish when you grow up.

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.

When you get down by the goal line, ... you've got to have a different mind-set. ... 'No matter what, I won't let them stop me.'

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

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.

What better way to recover from injury than a game against the Chiefs. They don't tackle. They won't hit me. In fact, I think my ribs will feel better after the game.

With David here, we think we can be a new version of the Triplets. I'm glad to have him.

Both his guys made it to the Pro Bowl. I don't know what else you can ask of a coach.

Everything is so much tighter and faster; it's tough down there, ... I've always really appreciated the long touchdowns, too. It's an explosive play. But, I'll tell you, the harder ones are on the goal line.

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. A&M was waiting on another running back and didn't offer me. I was overlooked.

Sapp still likes to get after you and he likes to talk to you while he's doing it. I know I have somebody to talk to on the field. It's always interesting the things he says out there.

The only thing is to keep winning. That alone, we did all we can do. Yeah, we're depending on other teams, but hey, we've got to keep winning, starting with this week, which is going to be tough.

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.

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 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.

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 knew that they were going to be up for us trying to run the ball. At that point they were pinning their ears back. That's why you saw the big play happen, too. When they got all them guys up, somebody didn't get over in that gap where they were supposed to get, and Michael got right down the sideline.

Oh, she's doing great. She's really come through it. She's positive. She's the same person she was before. Everything's good.

It's tough because you're fighting against yourself during a game: 'Should I be playing? No, I can't quit.' You know you're not 100 percent, so it's hard. . . . I guarantee you he's hurting.

Absolutely. You're going to definitely think about the games that got away, what you could have done different.

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.

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.

It's definitely something you think about, having big days and scoring four touchdowns, but you let it come to you,

It's very upsetting. I was looking forward to playing against Rodney and being out there with him again. I learned so much from the guy. I really appreciate everything he has done in helping my career.

It's very surprising to me, because it shows what kind of heart we have. Obviously we don't have the kind of heart that a lot of people think we have. We can't finish the dang game and put the team away.