DP:If Brett Favre said he was coming back to Minnesota, would that have changed your mind? LT: I would have still went to New York.
DP:I don't believe you. I wish I could see your face right now. Did you guys text? LT: I knew he had been in both places. I kind of wanted to get his idea of both places.
DP: He lobbied you to go to Minnesota, didn't he? LT: Yeah, I mean, he definitely did.
DP:Did he get a hold of you first or did you get a hold of him? LT: He reached out to me.
DP:Doesn't that lead you to believe he's going to come back and play? LT: Yeah it does, but like I said before, that had nothing to do with my decision. I think at the end of the day, even though Favre hasn't said he's coming back, you just didn't know for sure.
DP:If Favre is in Minnesota still playing, who has a better chance of going to the Super Bowl, Minnesota or the Jets? LT: That's a good question. Both of them were in the conference championship game last year. I can't put one up over the other.
DP:How did the Jets close you? LT: I've been in this offense all of my career. You know going to Minnesota I'd have to learn a new offense. And that's a tough thing to do. It's a West Coast offense. I've never been in that system before. So it would have been a bit of a challenge starting out trying to learn that offense. Where with the Jets, I know the offense. I know [offensive coordinator] Brian Schottenheimer. I enjoy being around Rex Ryan. So it's just a better fit.
DP:When the Jets open up the stadium on Monday night of Week 1, who's the starting running back for New York? LT: I don't know, that's obviously a long way away.
DP:Are you going in there trying to win the job, or are you being told that you're there to help Shonn Green? LT: No I'm not going in there with any idea if I'm going to be the starter or anything like that. I approach this situation as I'm coming to a new team -- a team that was very good without me. And I've got to sit in and find a role with these guys. And you know part of that is going to be obviously helping the young talented guy like Shonn Green. And also helping Leon Washington, that's a part of my role. But who knows what the future's going to hold as far as being a starter or not.
DP:Why aren't you a San Diego Charger? LT: It was time to move on.
DP:By you or them? LT: Both.
DP:But this is a team that needs a starting running back. LT: They don't need a running back in that type of offense like me -- the type of skills that I have.
DP:Were you too expensive. If you would have taken less, would they have kept you? LT: It wasn't about the money at all. I could have taken more money to go to Minnesota, but it wasn't about that. With the Chargers, it was really time to move on.
DP:Is it Philip Rivers' team? LT: Absolutely. Yes it is.
DP:Should it be? LT: Yes, absolutely it should be. But I don't think that should have meant [we can't play together]. I don't think it had anything to do with it in my mind. Maybe in their mind it did. In my mind, it didn't.
DP:If I say you'll get 500 rushing yards this year, but you're going to the Super Bowl, are you OK with that? LT: Absolutely, no question. Dan, you've seen my career, I've done some great things individually, but I haven't done any great things with a team yet. And that's what I'm in New York for. I believe this team can win a championship.
DP:Were you concerned that you were going to be labeled the greatest running back not to win a championship? Sort of like Dan Marino, greatest quarterback. LT: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely there. I can't tell you how bad I've wanted to win a championship, to experience everything you can possibly experience. But seeing your buddies win championships, someone like Drew, who I'm close to, seeing that. It was something that I just feel missing and I would like to feel like that.
DP:How close were you to joining the Saints? LT: Not close at all.
DP:Do you have a 1,000-yard season left in you? LT: Absolutely.
DP:Were the Redskins on the list? LT: No.
DP:You'd never play for the Raiders? LT: No
DP:Even if it was a great offer? LT: Yeah, even if it was a great offer. The things we built here in San Diego going against the Raiders -- we beat them 12, 13 straight times. I couldn't just go to the other side.
DP:What if that's the only offer, that or retire? DP: I'm retiring.
DP Show Bracket Rules
One bracket per person. If you fill out multiple brackets with different teams, you have not right to brag. And don't listen to too many TV analysts. You'll make yourself crazy. You're better off with your first instinct.
Quote of the Day I
"He’s been the favorite in probably every major championship since 1997. For me, he’s the favorite again. He’s been close the past few years at Augusta. If he plays well, he wins. If he plays reasonably well, he wins.” -- Golf Magazine analyst David Feherty on Tiger Woods
Quote of the Day II
"Gary Williams is the most entertaining coach in the tourney. It’s not just the sweating. When something goes wrong on the court, he admonishes the whole bench. I think that’s just his way of coaching and venting. The assistants and the players will get it, from player 6 to 13." -- CBS analyst Clark Kellogg
From the Locker Room
Missives from the DP.com Chat Room ...
Speaking of David Feherty, wonder if anyone has determined if Steve Williams will be manning the bag for Tiger? If Elin wants the old to be replaced, then doesn't Stevie have to hit the road? | gom
Tiger at the Masters is good for Tiger... bad for the Masters... I can't wait for Stevie to get into a hockey fight with a heckler | badmon3333
Is a 1,000 yrd season really what it used to be? Is the bar set for RB's around 1,400 or so? | Da Castle
I wish every baseball player was as perfect as Curt Schilling. He is the biggest fake of all. No one cares about the steriods except the press and the majority of them never faced a 90 mph fast ball. Major League Baseball knew what was going on, don't kid yourself. Let it die. | jbduke | jbduke
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Dan Patrick Show Daily: L.T. explains picking Jets over Vikes
A Daily Recap of the Dan Patrick Show ...
Q&A with LaDainian Tomlinson
DP: If Brett Favre said he was coming back to Minnesota, would that have changed your mind?
LT: I would have still went to New York.
DP: I don't believe you. I wish I could see your face right now. Did you guys text?
LT: I knew he had been in both places. I kind of wanted to get his idea of both places.
DP: He lobbied you to go to Minnesota, didn't he?
LT: Yeah, I mean, he definitely did.
DP: Did he get a hold of you first or did you get a hold of him?
LT: He reached out to me.
DP: Doesn't that lead you to believe he's going to come back and play?
LT: Yeah it does, but like I said before, that had nothing to do with my decision. I think at the end of the day, even though Favre hasn't said he's coming back, you just didn't know for sure.
DP: If Favre is in Minnesota still playing, who has a better chance of going to the Super Bowl, Minnesota or the Jets?
LT: That's a good question. Both of them were in the conference championship game last year. I can't put one up over the other.
DP: How did the Jets close you?
LT: I've been in this offense all of my career. You know going to Minnesota I'd have to learn a new offense. And that's a tough thing to do. It's a West Coast offense. I've never been in that system before. So it would have been a bit of a challenge starting out trying to learn that offense. Where with the Jets, I know the offense. I know [offensive coordinator] Brian Schottenheimer. I enjoy being around Rex Ryan. So it's just a better fit.
DP: When the Jets open up the stadium on Monday night of Week 1, who's the starting running back for New York?
LT: I don't know, that's obviously a long way away.
DP: Are you going in there trying to win the job, or are you being told that you're there to help Shonn Green?
LT: No I'm not going in there with any idea if I'm going to be the starter or anything like that. I approach this situation as I'm coming to a new team -- a team that was very good without me. And I've got to sit in and find a role with these guys. And you know part of that is going to be obviously helping the young talented guy like Shonn Green. And also helping Leon Washington, that's a part of my role. But who knows what the future's going to hold as far as being a starter or not.
DP: Why aren't you a San Diego Charger?
LT: It was time to move on.
DP: By you or them?
LT: Both.
DP: But this is a team that needs a starting running back.
LT: They don't need a running back in that type of offense like me -- the type of skills that I have.
DP: Were you too expensive. If you would have taken less, would they have kept you?
LT: It wasn't about the money at all. I could have taken more money to go to Minnesota, but it wasn't about that. With the Chargers, it was really time to move on.
DP: Is it Philip Rivers' team?
LT: Absolutely. Yes it is.
DP: Should it be?
LT: Yes, absolutely it should be. But I don't think that should have meant [we can't play together]. I don't think it had anything to do with it in my mind. Maybe in their mind it did. In my mind, it didn't.
DP: If I say you'll get 500 rushing yards this year, but you're going to the Super Bowl, are you OK with that?
LT: Absolutely, no question. Dan, you've seen my career, I've done some great things individually, but I haven't done any great things with a team yet. And that's what I'm in New York for. I believe this team can win a championship.
DP: Were you concerned that you were going to be labeled the greatest running back not to win a championship? Sort of like Dan Marino, greatest quarterback.
LT: Yeah, I mean, it's definitely there. I can't tell you how bad I've wanted to win a championship, to experience everything you can possibly experience. But seeing your buddies win championships, someone like Drew, who I'm close to, seeing that. It was something that I just feel missing and I would like to feel like that.
DP: How close were you to joining the Saints?
LT: Not close at all.
DP: Do you have a 1,000-yard season left in you?
LT: Absolutely.
DP: Were the Redskins on the list?
LT: No.
DP: You'd never play for the Raiders?
LT: No
DP: Even if it was a great offer?
LT: Yeah, even if it was a great offer. The things we built here in San Diego going against the Raiders -- we beat them 12, 13 straight times. I couldn't just go to the other side.
DP: What if that's the only offer, that or retire?
DP: I'm retiring.
DP Show Bracket Rules
One bracket per person. If you fill out multiple brackets with different teams, you have not right to brag. And don't listen to too many TV analysts. You'll make yourself crazy. You're better off with your first instinct.
Quote of the Day I
"He’s been the favorite in probably every major championship since 1997. For me, he’s the favorite again. He’s been close the past few years at Augusta. If he plays well, he wins. If he plays reasonably well, he wins.” -- Golf Magazine analyst David Feherty on Tiger Woods
Quote of the Day II
"Gary Williams is the most entertaining coach in the tourney. It’s not just the sweating. When something goes wrong on the court, he admonishes the whole bench. I think that’s just his way of coaching and venting. The assistants and the players will get it, from player 6 to 13." -- CBS analyst Clark Kellogg
From the Locker Room
Missives from the DP.com Chat Room ...
Speaking of David Feherty, wonder if anyone has determined if Steve Williams will be manning the bag for Tiger? If Elin wants the old to be replaced, then doesn't Stevie have to hit the road? | gom
Tiger at the Masters is good for Tiger... bad for the Masters... I can't wait for Stevie to get into a hockey fight with a heckler | badmon3333
Is a 1,000 yrd season really what it used to be? Is the bar set for RB's around 1,400 or so? | Da Castle
I wish every baseball player was as perfect as Curt Schilling. He is the biggest fake of all. No one cares about the steriods except the press and the majority of them never faced a 90 mph fast ball. Major League Baseball knew what was going on, don't kid yourself. Let it die. | jbduke | jbduke