LaDainian Tomlinson Interview Transcript 8/1/11

On Monday New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson addressed the media.  Here is the transcript courtesy of the Jets.

On whether this team is the “dream team” of the AFC like the Eagles are in the NFC…

“I don’t know. That’s yet to be seen. We don’t have LeBron (James), D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) or Chris Bosh on the team (laughing). At the same time, we feel like we’re right there. We have the type of guys on this team that can make plays all across the board. (We have a) great coaching staff and two back-to-back years of (making) the AFC Championship games. What’s next for us? It has to be winning the championship.”

On what the difference is between having the talent to win a championship and winning a championship…

“I think, definitely, you have to have some things go right for you, meaning injuries. You have to keep core guys healthy. You have to have a favorable schedule, obviously, and you have to win the division. The last couple of years we’ve played playoff games on the road. That’s huge when you’re trying to win three straight games on the road. It’s just tough to do in the NFL, so we have to have some of those games at home and that’s pretty much how I see it. Everything else we have. We have the talent. We have the coaching staff. We have everything we need.”

On Mark Sanchez…

“Mark is at that point where he is ready to be the captain. Usually, people say, you might get more progress from year one to year two. Then, year two to year three is when you really start to really figure it out and you take over as the captain, as the leader. Mark has proven that. During this lockout period, I think we all realize how far Mark has come because he was the coach in the meeting room. We didn’t have a coach. Mark was the coach. He taught everybody what to do, went out there on the field and performed. He’s at that point now where he is ready to take it to the next level.”

Tyson Rauch

See Full Bio