LaDainian Tomlinson wonders if former Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron intentionally sabotaged a playoff game to move on to a head coaching job in a surprising conspiracy theory. did.
Tomlinson, the Chargers’ longtime star running back who finished his Hall of Fame career with the Jets, made that claim on a recent episode. pivot podcast Cameron, along with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor, have indicated he wants to finish his duties with the Chargers and focus on landing a new job during a busy coaching stint.
After posting an NFL-best 14-2 record, the Chargers lost at home to the Patriots in the 2006-07 divisional round after leading by 11 points late in the first half and eight points midway through the fourth quarter.
Tomlinson, who was the MVP that season, knew his team would want to pass the ball as much as possible to maintain lead and control the ball, but his touches decreased in the second half.
Tomlinson rushed 14 times for 79 yards and a touchdown in the first half and caught two passes for 64 yards, then had nine carries for 44 yards and a touchdown in the second half of a 24-21 loss. Obtained.
Cameron then left the Chargers and became the Dolphins’ head coach.
“So, in my mind, did we just pitch the game? Because of the head coach’s job?” Tomlinson wondered on the podcast.
He asked Taylor what he should do if his team was up by 11 points or more in the second half, suggesting that teams should call running plays to get first downs and bite the clock.
“How do I stop getting the ball?” Tomlinson asked.
Dolphins fans likely have their own questions about Cameron, who went 1-15 with Miami in 2007 and was fired after just one season before taking over as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator.
Crowder was on the 2007 team and called Cameron “terrible.”
“We’ve all had a chance to think and process something like this and think about the fact that right after you lose, somebody gets it and says, ‘Guys, I appreciate everything.’ You guys played hard for me, and I’m going to take this job in Miami.” What? ” Tomlinson said.
That year was Tomlinson’s sixth year in the league, during which the Chargers did not win a playoff game. Head coach Marty Schottenheimer was fired after the playoff loss.
The following year, under first-year head coach Norv Turner, Tomlinson and the Chargers won two games and reached the AFC Championship Game, but lost again to the Patriots.
Tomlinson, now 44, reached the AFC Championship game again with the Jets three years later, but did not play in the Super Bowl.
