RB Tomlinson joins Walter Payton on milestone

RB Tomlinson joins Walter Payton on milestone

October 31, 2010 5:58 PM http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/lt-jets-620.jpg Jets QB Mark Sanchez hands off to RB LaDainian Tomlinson. (Anthony Gruppuso / US PRESSWIRE)

Tribune News Services

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- LaDainian Tomlinson is now alongside his idol.

The Jets running back joined Walter Payton on Sunday as the only players in NFL history to gain 13,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards receiving.

Tomlinson, the seventh-leading rusher in league history, reached the milestone against the Green Bay Packers with an 8-yard run in the second quarter of the Jets' 9-0 loss.

"It's a great honor for me," Tomlinson said. "The late, great Walter Payton, he was my favorite player of all-time, the reason I wanted to play the position."


Tomlinson, who entered with 12,980 yards rushing and 4,062 yards receiving, led the Jets with 54 yards on the ground and caught a team-high five passes for 37 yards Sunday.

"To be considered in that class, to do the rushing and receiving, to join him, it's special," Tomlinson said. "I grew up watching him as a younger kid before he retired."

Payton gained 16,726 yards rushing and 4,538 yards receiving during his Hall of Fame career with the Bears.


http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...milestone.html

Funny so many people thought he was done when SD cut him. Just more proof that that team is as poorly run as ours; let go of Brees for Rivers, and let go of LT for sproles and Mathews; ya how's that working out for them?

Guess the truth holds, rb's need an OL worth a damn to run the ball.

That's awesome that he gets to share record like that with his idol, LT is a stud and has been the steal of my fantasy draft this season...I knew he just needed a change of scenery and a better O-line.

Mine too; I picked up Greene thinking it would be a split carry thing; but so far it's been even better. LT is damn near the ol' lt again; and I got him mid round.