by Cody Hodge

Created on: February 22, 2010

LaDainian Tomlinson was released today by the San Diego Chargers after spending the past few seasons as one of the most productive running backs in NFL history. However, his skills have declined in recent years as tends to happen to running backs who are around 30 years old which most people refer to as the wall when its comes to running backs. Tomlinson figures to play a couple more seasons, but is he already the best ever running back?

To be sure, Tomlinson is one of the best running backs to play in the NFL in a long time. He was one of the few running backs where you could ask him to run for 1,500 yards in a season and catch 100 passes in a season as well which he did in 2003. Tomlinson was the reason why the Chargers were consistently in the playoffs and the reason why the offense was always so dangerous.

Tomlinson averaged around 1400 yards a season between 2001 and 2008 and averaged about 14 touchdowns a season as well. He also set the record for most touchdowns in a season when he had 28 in 2006. To be sure, he was definitely one of the best running backs of his era and was one of the most consistent as well. Offenses feared him, and defensive coordinators stayed up at night trying to figure out how to stop him.

Is he the best ever? Well, the best ever conversation is typically reserved for those who win championships. Marino and Kelly were great, but never won a title, so they are usually not in the best ever talk. LT, as most people refer to him as, has never won a title, and has never even played in a Super Bowl. In fact, the closest the Chargers ever got was the AFC title game which LT was absent from because of an injury.

How does he compare to other great running backs of the past? LT has 35 more touchdowns than Thurman Thomas who was the Bills running back during the Bills Super Bowl era and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2007. He has comparable numbers with Jim Brown who rushed for 5.2 yards a carry in his career compared to LT and his 4.3 yards a carry. However, Brown played in an era where he was just so much bigger than others and could dominate smallish lineman.

LT is pretty much a lock to make it to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. However, is he the best ever to play the position? I would give that to Jim Brown at this point and I think that Chris Johnson has the ability to put up better numbers than both of them. It is a fun debate, but I honestly don't think LT is the best in the entire history of the NFL. There is just too much talent to declare one better than all the rest.

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