Latest news with #LaDainianTomlinson
USA Today
13 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
One Chargers draft pick seen as one of the best in the 21st century
The Chargers have hit on a handful of players through the draft over the years, with the likes of Justin Herbert, Derwin James, and Rashawn Slater, among others. However, according to Bleacher Report, there hasn't been a pick as good as Drew Brees, who was selected 32nd overall in the 2001 NFL draft. Brees checked in at No. 4 on the list of the best draft selections from the first quarter of the 21st century. One of the most decorated and productive players in the history of the sport was overshadowed by Michael Vick, LaDainian Tomlinson and 29 others before finally going to San Diego in '01. During his five years with the Bolts, Brees started in 58 games and passed for 12,348 yards, 80 touchdowns and 53 interceptions. After hurting his shoulder in 2005, the team lost all confidence in Brees, leading to the decision to let him walk in free agency. He then signed with the Saints, where he would spend the next 15 years of his career. Brees went on to win a Super Bowl (XLIV), be named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year twice (2008, 2011), and earn 13 trips to the Pro Bowl. Brees finished as the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards (80,358) and ranked No. 2 in touchdown passes (571) and completion percentage (67.7%). All in all, Brees is an all-time great quarterback and is one of the best players in Chargers history, despite his time with the team being cut short. LaDainian Tomlinson deserved to be on this list, but Bleacher Report excluded players who were drafted in the top 10, and Tomlinson was selected fifth overall.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty Reveals All-Time Favorite NFL Running Back
Raiders' Ashton Jeanty Reveals All-Time Favorite NFL Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders managed just 79.8 yards per game on the ground during the 2024 season, which was the worst mark in the NFL by a decent margin. Advertisement Fortunately, they remedied that with the addition of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty recently appeared on an episode of "The Rush With Maxx Crosby" and was asked which legendary running back he prefers: The Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson, or the Vikings' Adrian Peterson. "Imma go LT, just cause he's more like my personal favorite from watching him growing up," Jeanty said. "And I feel like my game could compare to his a little more than AP's." Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2).Candice Ward-Imagn Images Tomlinson terrorized the Silver and Black during his nine seasons in San Diego. He was a six-time All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowler and even won the NFL MVP award in 2006, which landed him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Advertisement Peterson was also a legendary player that played 15 NFL seasons, the majority of which were in Minnesota. He has seven All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowls to his name, and he was the NFL MVP in 2012. Neither of these players would be a poor choice, but with Peterson standing at 6-foot-1, and Tomlinson sitting at just 5-foot-10, it is easy to understand why the 5-foot-9 Jeanty resonates with one more. Jeanty had a historic college season at Boise State in 2024, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. This earned him a second-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting and an easy grade as a first-round pick. He will be relied on heavily by Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly as a rookie. Las Vegas also brought in veteran Raheem Mostert this offseason, who led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2023, but he is expected to play a complementary role. Advertisement The Raiders' first game will be against the New England Patriots, who are a relative unknown considering how much roster turnover they had this offseason. This will be Jeanty's first chance to prove that he belongs in conversations with players like Tomlinson and Peterson. Related: Surprising Raiders Rookie is Turning Heads at Minicamp Related: Raiders' Veteran Defender Returns to Practice After Brief Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles' Saquon Barkley Resets the Running Back Blueprint
Eagles' Saquon Barkley Resets the Running Back Blueprint originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After the confetti settled from Super Bowl LIX, Saquon Barkley faced a crossroads that has claimed countless running backs throughout NFL history. The numbers were staggering: 345 regular-season carries, 91 more in the playoffs, and 482 total touches — a workload that put him squarely in the danger zone where elite backs traditionally begin their decline. Advertisement But Barkley isn't approaching 2025 like a traditional running back. And that might be exactly what separates him from the cautionary tales of the past. The data surrounding high-workload running backs is sobering. Research shows that players with 370 to 389 carries averaged a 27 percent drop in total yards and a 10 percent drop in yards per carry the following season. Even more alarming, all players with 390 or more carries averaged a 33 percent drop in total yards and an 11 percent drop in yards per carry. For context, Barkley's 436 total carries, including playoffs, place him well above these danger thresholds. Recent examples are everywhere. Todd Gurley's effectiveness plummeted from 5.8 to 4.2 yards per touch after his 348 total touches in 2018. Christian McCaffrey's 403 touches in 2019 preceded two injury-riddled seasons. Even LaDainian Tomlinson saw his dominance fade at age 27, going from 'maybe the best ever' to merely solid in just two seasons after his historic workload. But Barkley isn't following the traditional playbook. Where past running backs might have tried to muscle through with intense offseason regimens, Barkley assembled a brain trust that included head coach Nick Sirianni, running backs coach Jemal Singleton, and Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James. Their message was unanimous and blunt. Advertisement 'It wasn't hard because everyone I trust told me basically to sit my ass down for a little bit,' Barkley said. 'You've just got to be smarter, right? You have your moments where you go in there and you grind, you push it, but the majority of those days is just mobility, conditioning, doing all the things to get your body in shape to perform at a high level. It was a lot of workload, but my body feels great, so that's the most important thing.' This represents a fundamental shift from Barkley's typical competitive nature. He never took it easy during the 2024 season, earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and helping carry the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. But his approach to the offseason has been different. This isn't just about rest—it's about strategic recovery. The focus on mobility and conditioning over pure strength training represents cutting-edge thinking in sports science. Rather than trying to add more muscle or power, Barkley is prioritizing the systems that will help him maintain his explosiveness and avoid the breakdown that typically follows high-carry seasons. Remarkably, last season's massive workload didn't diminish Barkley's efficiency. He set a career-best 5.8 yards per carry and a career-high 52.5 percent rushing success rate. This efficiency, combined with smart recovery, could be the key to bucking historical trends. Advertisement Several factors suggest Barkley might successfully defy the high-carry curse. At 28, he says he feels like he's 'entering my prime' as he heads into his eighth NFL season. That would run counter to what we've seen from other backs over the years, but Barkley is coming off an uncommon season. Despite unprecedented mileage in 2024, he says his body feels great with no lasting effects. Unlike backs who faced high-carry seasons behind struggling offenses, Barkley benefits from the Eagles' elite infrastructure. His rushing average jumped from 3.9 yards per carry in his final Giants season to 5.8 with Philadelphia, proving he's harder to tackle with an elite offensive line and dangerous passing game. Perhaps most importantly, Barkley isn't approaching 2025 with desperation. 'The beauty of it is you have an opportunity to do it again,' he explained. 'That's what the mindset kind of shifts to is learn from it, and even though you had a great year, there are so many plays and so many things I can continue to improve on.' What separates Barkley is his long-term vision. 'The thing that drives me is the same thing that has been driving me since I was a little kid,' he said. 'I want to be the best running back to ever play, or at least one of the best running backs to ever play.' Advertisement Rather than trying to replicate 2024's historic numbers, Barkley is focused on sustainable excellence. 'I didn't go into last year with the mindset of rushing for 2,000 yards,' he said. 'I just try to focus on the little things first, and everything else will take care of itself.' The Eagles organization fully supports Barkley's modified approach, with individualized training regimens for each player. All signs point toward another high-volume campaign in 2025, but the challenge will be balancing preservation with maintaining offensive efficiency. History suggests running backs who carry the ball 345-plus times face inevitable decline. But Barkley isn't just any running back. His revolutionary training approach, combined with superior organizational support and a championship-caliber system, positions him to potentially rewrite the narrative about running back longevity. Advertisement 'It was a lot of workload [last year], but my body feels great, so that's the most important thing,' Barkley said. The statistical curse of high carries is real, but Barkley's mindset and methodology suggest he's planning to shatter it entirely. Related: Eagles Defense Called 'Miles Ahead' of Last Year's Top Unit Related: Why Kevin Patullo Isn't Doomed to Repeat Eagles' 2023 Offensive Collapse This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
