The average shelf life of an NFL running back is supposed to last about five years, and that must be with a guardian angel sitting on his shoulder pads through all the punishment.
San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson has never been average. In his sixth season, the former TCU tailback looks as spry as a rookie, as spirited as an eager beaver about to earn his first paycheck.
And these days, Tomlinson is keeping some pretty fast company. With the second of his four touchdowns Sunday night against the Broncos, Tomlinson became the fastest NFL player to 100 touchdowns. This was Tomlinson’s 89th game. Hall of Famer Jim Brown and future Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith held the record, each needing 93 games to reach the century mark.
“Obviously I looked up to Emmitt Smith,” said Tomlinson, a native of Rosebud, Texas. “Jim Brown to me was an icon. The man was incredible.
“My father is 72. He was a big fan of Jim Brown. It’s phenomenal to be named in the same breath with Jim Brown.”
Tomlinson’s recent touchdown streak would serve as a good career for many players. With four more Sunday night, he has 19 in his past six games, a Chargers-record 22 for the season.
“Wow, I’m just along for the ride,” the ever-modest Tomlinson said. “The offensive line – they’re a relentless group of guys. They love the battle and taking something out of the defense on every play. And with (Lorenzo) Neal, I have the best blocking fullback in the NFL. We feel we can score at any time.”
A 1-yard run by Tomlinson – standing up – with 1:14 to go provided the Chargers with enough insurance points to eliminate the chance that Jason Elam’s leg might cause coach Marty Schottenheimer to leave Denver disappointed once again.
Tomlinson also scored on two 3-yard touchdown runs and on a 51-yard pass from Philip Rivers that pulled the visitors to within three points (24-21) with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Including PATs, Tomlinson scored enough to beat the Broncos by himself Sunday night.
“I’ll tell you what, he is as fresh and ready to play as at any time since I’ve been here,” said Schottenheimer, in his fifth season with the Chargers. “He has that burst. He makes a cut and he’s in full speed in one step.”
In an attempt to protect the franchise’s most valuable asset, Schottenheimer began reducing Tomlinson’s practice reps about a month ago.
“I think that maybe is a contributing factor,” the coach said. “He looks fresh and at full speed every time he’s got the ball in his hands.”
Tomlinson finished with 105 yards on 20 carries, a 5.3 average. That will win a lot of football games at any level. But he couldn’t stop beaming about the long touchdown reception.
He split out as a receiver on that play, one of five in the spread formation. It didn’t take long for Tomlinson to realize he would be covered by a defensive end. Rivers realized it, too.
“I thought, I’ve got to make a play,” said Tomlinson, who caught the pass in full strike, racing along the left hash mark. “If I can’t make a play on a defensive end, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Rivers said Tomlinson never ceases to amaze him. Tomlinson can dart. He can squirt. He can break tackles for tough yardage. And he can sprint for long gains.
“I think he’s the best there is,” Rivers said. “But beyond his big plays, he’s unbelievable to me because he’s an every-down player. He’s not your typical superstar. He’s your teammate. He’s the team favorite.”
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
