A bruising running back here Sunday, LenDale White will mourn in Denver today.
His grief will not be spent on the trivial matter of losing a football game, even if defeat did come in the playoffs.
After his Tennessee Titans lost to the San Diego Chargers, 17-6, on Sunday in an AFC wild-card playoff game, White flew to Denver to attend the funeral today of his grandmother Sharon Kay White, who died at 64 on New Year’s Eve after a lengthy illness.
How close was LenDale to his grandmother? A sign comes from his right biceps, where his grandmother’s portrait is tattooed. He missed two practices last week to be with his family in Denver but returned in time to rush for 61 yards in the first half and 69 overall against the Chargers.
“My grandmother would have wanted me to play,” White said, tears welling. “I had to go home and make sure the family was right, but I had to get back out here. This is my livelihood. This is what I do.”
Vince, on Selvin. Tennessee quarterback Vince Young got word his good friend Selvin Young attended the game Sunday, although he never saw him.
The Youngs were backfield mates and road roommates while playing for the national champion University of Texas team in 2005. Selvin Young led the Broncos as a rookie this season with 729 yards rushing.
“That’s my brother,” Vince Young said at his locker Sunday. “I love him dearly. He’s come a long ways. That ankle break. Austin (Community College). A lot of people didn’t think he could do it. Just to see how he’s doing right now, I’m just proud of him.”
Gates injured. Late in the second quarter, Chargers Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates suffered a severe left toe injury while catching a low pass from Philip Rivers. Gates fell to catch the ball and before he got up, he got clobbered by Titans linebacker David Thornton. Gates is not expected to play Sunday at Indianapolis.
Pride of Greeley. San Diego started opening it up late in the second quarter when Rivers hit wideout Vincent Jackson for a 32-yard gain. Jackson, who starred at Northern Colorado, had four more catches in the third quarter to finish with 114 yards receiving, including a go-ahead, 25-yard TD.
“There were some zones and some holes in there, and Philip had some pretty good field reads from when we played them a few weeks ago, and then we were able to exploit that,” Jackson said.
Mike Klis
