LaDainian Tomlinson

I was the only person that gave Tomlinson the nod over Peterson in the poll on this page. And I gave my reasoning as him being a better pass catcher, equal blocker and unsure of the running due to Tomlinson's recent injuries (But when healthy just as dangerous a runner). Now after last night, I'm convinced that Tomlinson is done as an elite back.

So I pose a question... Where does he fall in the order of things? Do we place him in that truly elite status all-time? Is he in that group with Payton, Sanders, Brown and Emmitt Smith? Do we place him in the next tier below that, but still a HOF back? Or does his injuries, recent ineffectiveness and fairly rapid decline leave him a bordeline HOF candidate with the likes of Jerome Bettis and Curtis Martin? Before you answer, remember that such dominant backs as Terrell Davis and Bo Jackson aren't in the Hall... But Gale Sayers is. He's currently 14th on the rushing yards list with such borderliners as Bettis, Martin and Edgerrin ahead of him (Faulk too, but he's not a borderliner). Five probowls and 3 all-pro selections are fairly impressive and he went through a stretch over a 3-4 year period where he was pretty universally considered the best in the game.

Personally, I see him much the same as Marshall Faulk. A solid HOF candidate, but not in that top-5 all time elite class. But in no way is he a borderliner that shold struggle to get in. Thurman Thomas got in second try so it would surprise me if it takes Tomlinson more than that and he "should" be a first ballot.

It's crazy that he's fallen so far so quickly. If you compare the numbers, his first seven seasons were better than anyone's BEST seven seasons.

Clearly first ballot HOF, but not top 5 all time.

These numbers in this era? Ya best of all time. Top five for me.

HOF, don't know about top 5, but up there.

I'd have him 5th all-time. I'd take Brown, Payton, Campbell and Sanders in front of him. I'd take LT before Emmitt personally