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NFL Insider
LT has new cheerleader in new Chargers coach
By Charean Williams
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
After LaDainian Tomlinson's second season, Marty Schottenheimer tabbed Tomlinson as the best running back ever to come out of Texas. A year later, Schottenheimer was calling Tomlinson the best back he had ever coached. By last season, Schottenheimer had elevated Tomlinson to the best back ever to play the game.
Norv Turner, the Chargers' new coach, was Tomlinson's offensive coordinator during Tomlinson's rookie year in 2001, when the former TCU back rushed for 1,236 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
Last season, Tomlinson had 1,815 rushing yards, 508 receiving yards and an NFL-record 31 total touchdowns in winning league MVP honors.
"About midway through the [2007] season, I'll probably say the same thing that Marty said because I'll be coaching him," Turner said at the NFL owners meetings. "Just look at what he did last year, and then you look what he's done through his short career. He's on pace to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, back."
Turner was the offensive coordinator in Dallas from 1991-93 when Emmitt Smith rushed for 4,762 yards and 39 touchdowns. Like Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Tomlinson has stayed healthy. In six seasons, Tomlinson has never missed a game because of injury.
"That's one of the great things about LT is those guys seem to find a way to keep from getting the big hit," Turner said. "I'd see [Smith] carry the ball 25 times and catch six balls, and I'd say, 'Well, I don't know how he does it.' He comes out of the game, and he's practicing again on Wednesday, and he's ready to go."
Off-season blues
The New Orleans Saints stayed relatively healthy last season. They haven't been so lucky this off-season.
Quarterback Drew Brees dislocated his left (non-throwing) elbow in the Pro Bowl, and running back Reggie Bush sprained an ankle in an NBA all-star celebrity game. Both are fully recovered.
"If a player sprains an ankle playing basketball in February or March, or if a guy hurts his elbow in the Pro Bowl, I'm going to have other headaches more concerning," Saints coach Sean Payton said at the NFL owners meetings. "Not that it doesn't concern me, but if those injuries happen in June or early July, I think... that could be more problematic."
Repeating from scratch
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy knows a little bit about repeating, having been with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 when they won the Super Bowl. He was with them the next off-season before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers during training camp. The Steelers ended up repeating as Super Bowl champs.
"I actually went back and got some old notes out from coach [Chuck] Noll," Dungy said of the former Steelers coach. "... The thing I learned from going back and really looking at that was he never talked about repeating. He always talked about every year being different. That every team was like a new model of car. It was still a Corvette, but the '78 wasn't the '77, and so you still had to go out and sell those new cars. You had to really start from scratch."
Only eight teams have won consecutive titles, including the New England Patriots in '03 and '04. (The Steelers twice accomplished the feat.) Twelve defending Super Bowl champions, including three of the past five, failed even to earn a postseason berth the following season.
"You try to keep people grounded," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, whose team repeated in '97 and '98. "... You've got to constantly talk about your opponent and what goes into what happens normally after a Super Bowl and how people get satisfied, try to see what their commitment is, too.
"... It's just human nature, with people telling you how good you are, to relax a little bit."
QUOTABLE
"We've got two guys from Princeton. That's almost like the University of Houston."
- Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, a three-year starter at linebacker at UH, on assistant coaches Jason and John Garrett.
MY FIVE CENTS
1 The Seattle Seahawks would love to sign a veteran quarterback, allowing them to move Seneca Wallace to another position. Even though the Seahawks are deep at receiver, Wallace could end up being tried there.
2 The Chicago Bears rejected the Commanders' offer to swap first-round picks for linebacker Lance Briggs. Chicago wanted a linebacker -- Rocky McIntosh or Lemar Marshall -- in return. The Bears need a weakside linebacker to replace Briggs.
3 Washington, Cleveland and Tampa Bay are among the teams Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn will visit. He will work out for Miami Dolphins officials at his home.
4 If the Tennessee Titans don't trade for Michael Turner and don't sign Corey Dillon, it seems likely they will kiss and make up with Chris Brown. Tennessee needs another back to pair with LenDale White, who, according to a source, is not the 260 pounds that has been reported.
5 Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller told a Miami radio station that the team is taking a "wait-and-see" approach toward Daunte Culpepper's future. The quarterback still is recovering from knee problems. Miami has flirted with Trent Green and is hoping to select a quarterback in the draft. That might tell you everything you need to know about Culpepper's future in Miami.
WHO'S HOT
Missouri Southern offensive tackle Allen Barbre: He has moved steadily up draft boards since the combine when he measured 6-foot-4, weighed 300 pounds, ran a 4.84 in the 40-yard dash, performed 28 reps in the 225-pound bench press and had a 32-inch vertical jump. Most draft analysts peg him as an early second-day pick.
WHO'S NOT
University of Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko: Palko has been picked apart this off-season. He was tabbed inaccurate and inconsistent. His mechanics and his arm strength have been questioned. Thus, despite passing for 8,330 yards and 66 touchdowns in the past three seasons, the 6-2, 215-pound Palko isn't likely to be drafted until late.
NUMBER
8 The jersey number that new Texans quarterback Matt Schaub will wear. It is the same number that former Texans starter David Carr wore.
THE BLITZ
New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel told the NFL Network that he wants a trade. He would earn $7.79 million if he signs the franchise tender, but he wants a long-term deal similar to those that Nate Clements and Dré Bly have signed. Clements got an eight-year contract from the San Francisco 49ers that includes $22 million in bonuses and guarantees, while Bly signed a five-year deal with the Denver Broncos that includes $16 million in bonuses and guarantees.
The Houston Texans signed cornerback Jamar Fletcher, who they expect to challenge Demarcus Faggins for the starting job opposite Dunta Robinson. Fletcher had 37 tackles and three interceptions for the Lions last season.
The Kansas City Chiefs are shopping quarterback Trent Green, but that didn't stop him from showing up for the start of the team's conditioning program.
The Washington Commanders will meet with LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell on Tuesday. Washington also has visits scheduled with Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas, Texas cornerback Aaron Ross and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. They will work out Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr. on April 16.
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 cjwilliams@star-telegram.com This report contains material from other writers. To contact Charean Williams, call 817-390-7760 or send e-mail to
LT has new cheerleader in new Chargers coach
By Charean Williams
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
After LaDainian Tomlinson's second season, Marty Schottenheimer tabbed Tomlinson as the best running back ever to come out of Texas. A year later, Schottenheimer was calling Tomlinson the best back he had ever coached. By last season, Schottenheimer had elevated Tomlinson to the best back ever to play the game.
Norv Turner, the Chargers' new coach, was Tomlinson's offensive coordinator during Tomlinson's rookie year in 2001, when the former TCU back rushed for 1,236 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
Last season, Tomlinson had 1,815 rushing yards, 508 receiving yards and an NFL-record 31 total touchdowns in winning league MVP honors.
"About midway through the [2007] season, I'll probably say the same thing that Marty said because I'll be coaching him," Turner said at the NFL owners meetings. "Just look at what he did last year, and then you look what he's done through his short career. He's on pace to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, back."
Turner was the offensive coordinator in Dallas from 1991-93 when Emmitt Smith rushed for 4,762 yards and 39 touchdowns. Like Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Tomlinson has stayed healthy. In six seasons, Tomlinson has never missed a game because of injury.
"That's one of the great things about LT is those guys seem to find a way to keep from getting the big hit," Turner said. "I'd see [Smith] carry the ball 25 times and catch six balls, and I'd say, 'Well, I don't know how he does it.' He comes out of the game, and he's practicing again on Wednesday, and he's ready to go."
Off-season blues
The New Orleans Saints stayed relatively healthy last season. They haven't been so lucky this off-season.
Quarterback Drew Brees dislocated his left (non-throwing) elbow in the Pro Bowl, and running back Reggie Bush sprained an ankle in an NBA all-star celebrity game. Both are fully recovered.
"If a player sprains an ankle playing basketball in February or March, or if a guy hurts his elbow in the Pro Bowl, I'm going to have other headaches more concerning," Saints coach Sean Payton said at the NFL owners meetings. "Not that it doesn't concern me, but if those injuries happen in June or early July, I think... that could be more problematic."
Repeating from scratch
Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy knows a little bit about repeating, having been with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 when they won the Super Bowl. He was with them the next off-season before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers during training camp. The Steelers ended up repeating as Super Bowl champs.
"I actually went back and got some old notes out from coach [Chuck] Noll," Dungy said of the former Steelers coach. "... The thing I learned from going back and really looking at that was he never talked about repeating. He always talked about every year being different. That every team was like a new model of car. It was still a Corvette, but the '78 wasn't the '77, and so you still had to go out and sell those new cars. You had to really start from scratch."
Only eight teams have won consecutive titles, including the New England Patriots in '03 and '04. (The Steelers twice accomplished the feat.) Twelve defending Super Bowl champions, including three of the past five, failed even to earn a postseason berth the following season.
"You try to keep people grounded," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, whose team repeated in '97 and '98. "... You've got to constantly talk about your opponent and what goes into what happens normally after a Super Bowl and how people get satisfied, try to see what their commitment is, too.
"... It's just human nature, with people telling you how good you are, to relax a little bit."
QUOTABLE
"We've got two guys from Princeton. That's almost like the University of Houston."
- Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, a three-year starter at linebacker at UH, on assistant coaches Jason and John Garrett.
MY FIVE CENTS
1 The Seattle Seahawks would love to sign a veteran quarterback, allowing them to move Seneca Wallace to another position. Even though the Seahawks are deep at receiver, Wallace could end up being tried there.
2 The Chicago Bears rejected the Commanders' offer to swap first-round picks for linebacker Lance Briggs. Chicago wanted a linebacker -- Rocky McIntosh or Lemar Marshall -- in return. The Bears need a weakside linebacker to replace Briggs.
3 Washington, Cleveland and Tampa Bay are among the teams Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn will visit. He will work out for Miami Dolphins officials at his home.
4 If the Tennessee Titans don't trade for Michael Turner and don't sign Corey Dillon, it seems likely they will kiss and make up with Chris Brown. Tennessee needs another back to pair with LenDale White, who, according to a source, is not the 260 pounds that has been reported.
5 Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller told a Miami radio station that the team is taking a "wait-and-see" approach toward Daunte Culpepper's future. The quarterback still is recovering from knee problems. Miami has flirted with Trent Green and is hoping to select a quarterback in the draft. That might tell you everything you need to know about Culpepper's future in Miami.
WHO'S HOT
Missouri Southern offensive tackle Allen Barbre: He has moved steadily up draft boards since the combine when he measured 6-foot-4, weighed 300 pounds, ran a 4.84 in the 40-yard dash, performed 28 reps in the 225-pound bench press and had a 32-inch vertical jump. Most draft analysts peg him as an early second-day pick.
WHO'S NOT
University of Pittsburgh quarterback Tyler Palko: Palko has been picked apart this off-season. He was tabbed inaccurate and inconsistent. His mechanics and his arm strength have been questioned. Thus, despite passing for 8,330 yards and 66 touchdowns in the past three seasons, the 6-2, 215-pound Palko isn't likely to be drafted until late.
NUMBER
8 The jersey number that new Texans quarterback Matt Schaub will wear. It is the same number that former Texans starter David Carr wore.
THE BLITZ
New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel told the NFL Network that he wants a trade. He would earn $7.79 million if he signs the franchise tender, but he wants a long-term deal similar to those that Nate Clements and Dré Bly have signed. Clements got an eight-year contract from the San Francisco 49ers that includes $22 million in bonuses and guarantees, while Bly signed a five-year deal with the Denver Broncos that includes $16 million in bonuses and guarantees.
The Houston Texans signed cornerback Jamar Fletcher, who they expect to challenge Demarcus Faggins for the starting job opposite Dunta Robinson. Fletcher had 37 tackles and three interceptions for the Lions last season.
The Kansas City Chiefs are shopping quarterback Trent Green, but that didn't stop him from showing up for the start of the team's conditioning program.
The Washington Commanders will meet with LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell on Tuesday. Washington also has visits scheduled with Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas, Texas cornerback Aaron Ross and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. They will work out Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr. on April 16.
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 cjwilliams@star-telegram.com This report contains material from other writers. To contact Charean Williams, call 817-390-7760 or send e-mail to
