1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: Going into my senior year. When the NFL sees you, 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: you know you're great or projections I shouldn't say of 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: where they project you, your strengths, weaknesses, all that stuff. 4 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: And they projected me to go late second round, third round. 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: And so I remember being disappointed, and I hung it 6 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: on my wall. I hung that projection on my apartment 7 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: wall in my bed so that I can see it 8 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: every day I left. I left my apartment because I 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: wanted to be constantly reminded what I was working for. 10 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: The two thousand and one NFL's draft is a defining 11 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: moment in Charger's history. After going one in fifteen the 12 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: previous year, it was imperative the team selected a franchise player, 13 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: maybe even someone with Hall of Fame potential. Before finding 14 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: him in a five foot ten running back from TCU, 15 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: they first had to pass on another electric talent. The 16 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: draft is a story of sliding doors and what ifs. 17 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: What if Michael Vick had been a Charger, What if 18 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: Ladanian Tomlinson hadn't been deemed a first round talent. There 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: was never much doubt that the Virginia Tech QB's name 20 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: would be called at the top of the draft. But 21 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: lt His journey to San Diego initially wasn't as clear, 22 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: but a blockbuster trade helped pave the way. In this episode, 23 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: we'll show you just how Tomlinson skyrocketed up draft boards 24 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 1: and how a trade forever changed the course of the Chargers. 25 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: For Chris Hary, I'm Haley Elwood. This is Running for History. 26 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: Episode two. The trade presented by Lazydog San Diego Charges 27 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: select Ladian, Tomlinson, Ladson pluckstep clusters, full immortality and the 28 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: hand off to Thomlinson and he will gallops. Hey everyone, 29 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: have you checked out the TV dinners over at Lazy 30 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: Dog Yet. They're great for those days when you just 31 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: don't feel like looking. They're made in house, frozen in 32 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: retro style trays, and ready to pop in the oven 33 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: whenever you need them. 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When most 42 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: people think of the two thousand and one NFL Draft, 43 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: they think of the blockbuster trade at the Top Chargers 44 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: in Falcons Michael Vick for Ladanian Tomlinson, a deal that 45 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: would define two franchises for the next decade and beyond. 46 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: But let's rewind. Ladanian Tomlinson's rise up draft boards began 47 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: his final year of college over twenty one hundred rush yards, 48 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: twenty two scores, a trip to New York for the 49 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 1: Heisman ceremony and winning the Dope Walker Award will do 50 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 1: that for a layer. And as I progressed throughout my 51 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: see year, you know, you would hear the male kuipers 52 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 1: and would not projecting where we all were going. And 53 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: so I moved during the year. I moved to early 54 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: second round, but they still, you know, still was Deuce 55 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: McAllister Lamont, Jordan Um, Travis Hembury, all those guys who 56 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: still projected ahead of me, while he still had plenty 57 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: of doubters, Tomlinson made it clear that his junior year 58 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: wasn't a Fluke. Chargers president of football Operations John Spanos 59 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: and La Times writer Sam Farmer still recall the questions 60 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: pundits had about Tomlinson back then. I remember there were some, 61 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: you know, pundits who speculated, or I should say questioned, 62 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: maybe you know Ladanian's play style, how would it translate? 63 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: You know, the college he ran at TCU is very 64 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: different than what offenses looked like. The offense he ran 65 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: at TCU is very different than what offenses looked like 66 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: in the NFL, and so some people question, you know, 67 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: he's in space a lot in college, how's it going 68 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: to translate? There are always these freaks in college again 69 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: who don't necessarily translate into the NFL as great players, 70 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: but they put up absurd numbers, and you're wondering, well, 71 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: the system is that the player is that a combination 72 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,119 Speaker 1: of both, and the NFL game is so much faster, 73 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: and a guy's not going to be able to do 74 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: that when he moves over to the pros. Well, the 75 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: NFL world had a magnifying glass on Tomlinson trying to 76 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: figure out if the TCU runner could hang with NFL talent. 77 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: His teammates, like tackle David Bobo, had very little doubt. 78 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: It's kind of like the same guys that recruited amount 79 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: of high school. You know, everybody thought that it's too small, 80 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: not big enough, not fast enough. But he every time 81 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: I saw his back, whenever he ran past me, he 82 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: sure seemed fast enough. And it didn't matter who was 83 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: on the field, whether it was a Big ten Northwestern 84 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: or whether it was you know, a Fresno State. It 85 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: didn't matter who was out there. He was faster than 86 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: the fastest guy in the field. And when you saw that, 87 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: I don't see how it couldn't have translated. And that's 88 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: why I always thought, this guy's something special. This guy's 89 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: something that is going to translate to the NFL. And 90 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, I always hope that he'd be the NFL 91 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: first ballot Hall of Famer that he was, but you 92 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: never know that. But I always thought that he was 93 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: going to be something spectacular because he was. He was 94 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: always improving himself. I mean, in every facet of his life. 95 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: I think that's what was neat about LT. As the 96 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: draft process started for LT, he soon learned it would 97 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: be an entirely different beast. His road to New York 98 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: City started with the two thousand and one Senior Bowl, 99 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: the college football all star game, where Tomlinson would compete 100 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: against fellow NFL ready prospects not only in the game, 101 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: but in practice that week. And this is when I 102 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: was able to size up gods like Travis Timbrey, you know, 103 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: because we were on the same team, and see what 104 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: these guys had. Deuce McAlister was there, but he didn't 105 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: play in the game, so I was still able to 106 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: kind of science him up, like, oh, this is who 107 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: they say the best running back is in the draft, Okay. 108 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: And I remember that week having some great practices and 109 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: I started to hear rumbles, you know, like hey man, 110 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: this kid from Hugh's degree ideal. Tomlinson's South team would 111 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: go on to beat his former high school All Star 112 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: Game teammate Drew Brees' North squad twenty one to sixteen. 113 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: While Tomlinson was named the game's MVP. His eighty eight 114 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: yards and a score proved that he wasn't just a 115 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: small school player taking advantage of lesser competition and the 116 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: South head coach Green Bay Packers leader Mike Sherman let 117 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: him know and gave him the spark he felt he 118 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: needed to be a first round talent. NFL draft experts 119 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: and analysts like John Clayton took notice too. He said, hey, 120 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: you're the best running back in this draft. You've proved 121 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: it to sweet. He said, I wish I could draft 122 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 1: for you. I wish I could get a chance to 123 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: draft you, but I know I'm not gonna have a 124 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: chance too. And that's when I first said it, thought 125 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: to myself, man, I must I'm moving up the draft board. 126 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: And then sure enough, after that week, I started to 127 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: hear mal Kaiber say, now Thomas is moving up the 128 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: draft boards. You know he's up there with duce McAllister, 129 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: and it's him in duce McAllister. You know who's gonna 130 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: be the first running back to take all Right. Him 131 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: being able to stay in college that extra year helped 132 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: him out. Him being able to get to two thousand 133 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: plus yard season in his last year in college. That 134 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: was huge. But the Senior Bowl does help because what 135 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: you're able to do then is that you're able to 136 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: go out there against top talent that's going to be 137 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: a little bit older than what you're gonna face and 138 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: as towards the end of a season and you know, 139 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: get the chance to do well. And that's where Ladanium 140 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: did well. I mean really, when you think about Ladanium, 141 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: he did everything well that everybody wanted to be a 142 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: success in that National Football League Senior Bowl indeed did help. 143 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: Ltie's name may have been on the rise at that point, 144 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: working his way into the top ten of the draft, 145 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: but there was a clear number one pick was Michael 146 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: Vick out of Virginia Tech. The DC Maryland, Virginia area 147 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: is nicknamed the DMV and has been a hotbed for 148 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: NFL talent. In two thousand and one, Vic was its 149 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: guy before becoming a Charger. DMV native Sean Merriman remembered 150 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: the buzz around the rising star from Newport News, Virginia, 151 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: including how the Chargers, who held the first overall pick, 152 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: were part of that chatter. Jim Trotter, who was with 153 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: the San Diego Union Tribune at the time, also were 154 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: called just how revolutionary Vic was to the quarterback position. YEA, 155 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: from that area, you knew of everything about Mike Vick. 156 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: So at the time, the only thing that I really 157 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 1: knew about the Charges was my favorite lineback. One of 158 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: my favorite linebackers growing up was Junior Sayel and so 159 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: you know, I knew of that team really because of Junior, 160 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 1: and so I always thought that in the rumblings were 161 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: in town where I'm from, the Michael Vick was coming, 162 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: going to go to the Charges. That's what we were 163 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: supposed to end up. So you know, when that didn't happen, 164 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: I was like, Wow, you know, you passed up on 165 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: Mike Vick because we looked at Mike Vick because he's 166 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: from the area, as you know, just the greatest put 167 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: yourself in that moment. Vic was the most electric pying 168 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: player in college football. He was a talent that many 169 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: had said they just hadn't seen before at the quarterback 170 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: position in terms of the way that he played it. 171 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 1: And I'll never forget Mike Riley, who was the head 172 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: coach at the time, saying that, you know, passing on 173 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: Michael Vick is kind of like casting on Michael Jordan. 174 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: Let's shift to the Chargers front office. The Bolts have 175 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: the top overall pick and Vic seems to be the consensus. 176 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: But inside at Chargers Park that told a different story. 177 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: Chargers general manager John Butler joined the team in January 178 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: of two thousand and one, and despite a one and 179 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 1: fifteen record the prior season, Butler knew a quarterback wasn't 180 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: the only position the Bolts needed. In two thousand, the 181 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 1: Chargers didn't have a single rusher break four hundred yards, 182 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: their longest run that entire year one for twenty six. 183 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: Butler knew the Chargers needed in every down rusher like 184 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 1: he had during his glory days with the nineties Buffalo Bills. 185 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: Both John Spanos and his father, Chargers owner Dean Spanos 186 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: remember Butler's emphasis on creating a hard nosed offense. When 187 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: you think about Thurman Thomas, I know, the word versatility 188 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 1: comes up and you look at Ladanian Tomlinson, and he 189 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: obviously embodied that. I mean, he's a player that could 190 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: run inside with strength, he could run outside with speed 191 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: and quickness, he could catch the ball, he could pass protect. 192 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: I mean, he was the definition of versatile and obviously 193 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: highly productive. That's the kind of team that he envisioned, 194 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 1: that he wanted us to be kind of a power 195 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: running team. You know, Thurman Thomas was an incredible player, obviously, 196 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: and lt just his different style obviously, But that's what 197 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: his vision was clearly, but running back discussions would have 198 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: to wait. The Chargers still owned a first overall pick 199 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: that seemed to have Vic's name on it, and Tomlinson 200 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: wasn't even considered a consensus top five selection. But despite 201 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,439 Speaker 1: all of his college success and a Senior Bowl MVP 202 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: under his belt, the TCU standout still had work to 203 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: do if he wanted to guarantee a spot in the 204 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: top ten. That work started with preparing for the two 205 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: thousand and one NFL Scouting Combine. The event were college 206 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: football players go through meetings and physical evaluations with all 207 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: thirty two teams and personnel. When it came to scouting LT, 208 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: teams wanted to see just one thing speed. My agent said, 209 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: this is going to be the thing that puts you 210 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: abob ducemcality. You proved it a to senior ball, that 211 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,560 Speaker 1: you can play on the NFL album, that you're going 212 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: to be a great player. Now they need to see 213 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: how fast you are. Teams wanted Tomlinson to run in 214 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: the sub four five range, and even though that wasn't 215 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: what he ran in college, it was clear to former 216 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 1: TCU teammate Basil Mitchell that LT's talent was there, he 217 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 1: just had to figure out how to put it together. 218 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 1: But at the time he didn't know how to run, 219 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: especially at forty, so his forty times were never good. 220 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: But I was looking at the way he was moving, 221 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: I was like, the kid can run, which he ended up, 222 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: you know, getting that taken care of. But LT needed 223 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: assistance if you wanted to reach his forty time goal, 224 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: so his agent enlisted some gold medal guidance. As ESPN's 225 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: Edward Or recalled old that help has become more commonplace 226 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: for combine prep in the two decades since, you know 227 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: they go work out with Michael Johnson here in Dallas. 228 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: You mentioned Olympic you know, gold medalist who is able 229 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: to elevate players because of the speed dynamic and the 230 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: importance the NFL attaches to that at the skill positions. 231 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: Michael Johnson, the four time Olympic gold medal sprinter, explained 232 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: how he wound up helping in the first place. Two 233 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,199 Speaker 1: bonded immediately over their Texas heritage. While Johnson took note 234 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: of Tomlinson's physical gifts, LT's athletic ability wasn't the question. 235 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: Johnson just needed to figure out how to get it 236 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: to show up in Indianapolis, and Tom Condon, who was 237 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 1: the Age for fail I, was a friend of mine 238 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: and said, Hey, can you come down and help my 239 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: guys get ready for this forty you know and give 240 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: them some tips that we were just talking one day 241 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: and I was talking about forty yard bash for NFL guys, 242 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: and so I said that sure. So I came down 243 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: and met LT and started working with those guys and 244 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: helping them, you know, prepare for their farty, working on 245 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: their start and yeah. And I was the first time 246 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: I met LT. And he he was from Waco, Texas, 247 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: and I went to Baylor. I'm from Dallas, but I 248 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: went to Baylor, which is a wake us and I 249 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: trained my entire career, a professional career down and wakeer 250 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: because that's what my coach to us. So we had 251 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 1: that connection. So I started calling the Waco. It was 252 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: clear to Johnson that Waco's athletic ability wasn't the question. 253 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: Like any good coach, Johnson had to tap in and 254 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: figure out how to get that speed to show up 255 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: at the combine. I had learned from working with my 256 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: own coach, and now I hired coaches and my company 257 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: Michael Johns performance, and um, you know, one of the 258 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: things you're always looking for in coaches is, you know, 259 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 1: as a coach is to is to you know, figure 260 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: out areas where the athlete may be limiting themselves, they're 261 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: not allowing their natural ability to shine through. And so 262 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: that was what I did with with LT. As we 263 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: started talking about, you know, things that he could do 264 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 1: that would allow him to be as quick and record 265 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: times that were as quick as he actually was. Or 266 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: the first thing I noticed that his start was just 267 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: not great and the way that he was set up 268 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: in his start, which sets up the entire forty yard run, 269 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: the way he was set up in the start didn't 270 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: allow him to be as explosive as he really was. 271 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: So that was the first thing we started working on 272 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: and changing the way that he lined up and got 273 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: in the start stands. And once he saw, you know 274 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: what that could do for him, he could feel that 275 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: just that change was making him faster and making him 276 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: more explosive than he felt faster. So he was bought 277 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: in very very quickly. And then you know, with athletes, 278 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: you know, with all great athletes, and LT was certainly 279 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: one of those, you give them an instruction they visualize it, 280 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: and the really good athletes are able to then process 281 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: that very quickly and execute on that. So you know, 282 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: it didn't take a lot of explaining and demage trading 283 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: for him to be able to click in say yeah, 284 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: I got it, and then go back to the line 285 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: and then be able to execute that. Hey everyone, have 286 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: you checked out the TV dinners over at Lazydog yet? 287 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: They are great for those days when you just don't 288 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: really feel like cooking. You just pop him in the 289 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: oven and done. One of my favorites is the chicken 290 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: pop pie, filled with slow roasted, hand shredded chicken breast 291 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: and seasonal vegetables in a pie dough crest. And now 292 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: for the fall, they've got a new oven roasted turkey dinner. 293 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: I'm talking turkey with gravy and all the trimmings. It's 294 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: even got a pumpkin cheesecake dessert. So get them at 295 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: Lazydog for pickup or delivery and you can check it 296 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: all out at lazydog Restaurants dot com. Tomlinson had already 297 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: been told over and over again how important his forty 298 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: time would be to his draft stock, but on his 299 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: way to the combine. A conversation with a Dallas Cowboys 300 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: coach on the plane proved just how important that time 301 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: would be. It was a conversation so important it stayed 302 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: with the running back. He said, let me ask you 303 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: a question. Do you think you're gonna run at Leasta 304 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: four or five to come by? I said, yes, sir, 305 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: I think so. I think I'll run a list of 306 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: four or five. He said, I'll tell you what, if 307 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: you run the four or five at Leasta four or five, 308 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: you're gonna be the first running back taking. And so 309 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: I went into the combine knowing that's it, that's all 310 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: I have to do. I have to prove how fast 311 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: I am and if I blow it out the water, 312 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: then I'm gonna be the first running back taking. And 313 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: so once I got to the combine, that was the 314 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: only thing that I was focused on. And I remember 315 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: being so nervous the night before I was getting ready 316 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: to run the forty. This is the biggest day of 317 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: my life, you know, And so I couldn't sleep, tossing 318 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: and turning, dreaming about running fast. So that the day 319 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: comes and I see all the you know, the scouts 320 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: up there on the line. They have they watches and 321 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: it comes down to it. I run. I run the 322 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: race and I'm walking back and one of the scouts 323 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: are a personnel person comes up to me and he says, 324 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 1: he just blew that out the water. I didn't even 325 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: know what I ran at that time. He just said, 326 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: you blow it out the water, and so I knew 327 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: it had to be it was at least the four five. 328 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: I knew it was at least four five. And that's 329 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: when I knew. At that point, I made the phone 330 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: calling the mom, said Mom, we did it. He said, 331 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: I blew him out. Mama blow Mama, blow him out. 332 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: And I'm going, oh great, because I'm saying, okay, what 333 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: because we couldn't get the combined, then we can get 334 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: it there, but we couldn't get it then. And shortly 335 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: after um, you know that following week, I was at 336 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: the top of the draft boards as a number one 337 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: running back as Edward Or and John Clayton. Remember. A 338 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: strong forty time by Tomlinson was proof to scouts that 339 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: he could be the workhorse of an NFL offense. You know, 340 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: LT was a guy who could do it all. I mean, 341 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: and he proved that over time. He's a great receiver. 342 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: He was a great runner. He was fast, he was quick, 343 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 1: he was instinctive. You know, he had everything you could 344 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: ever want in a running back. And once he was 345 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: able to demonstrate you know, burst and an ability to 346 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: accelerate at an uncommon level, but one necessary for his position. 347 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: I think that is sort of what you know, elevated 348 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: him into that you know, stratosphere of a top five, 349 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: top ten pick in the NFL that year. I think 350 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: he ran a four four six, which was so important 351 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: because it just showed, Okay, I can move the football, 352 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: I can run the football. I can do those different things. 353 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: And you know, he was able to do it so well, 354 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: and so I thought that, you know, the combine did 355 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: obviously help him out, along with a great forty time. 356 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: Another telltale signed Tomlinson was probably going in the top 357 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: ten were the draft visits. He was taking Atlanta fifth overall, 358 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: New England sixth overall, Chicago eighth overall, but a certain 359 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 1: team that held the first overall pick never called. The 360 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 1: funny thing is I never met once with the charges, 361 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,479 Speaker 1: never talked to him, you know, and not even at 362 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: the combine. You know, because at the combine you have 363 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 1: these little two many meet and Greeks, you know, and 364 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: I never they weren't on my list, you know, And 365 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: so I never had any idea that the Charges were 366 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: even interested in me until the day before the draft. Well, 367 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: Tomlinson tried to figure out where he was getting drafted. 368 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 1: The Spannos family and Butler were having conversations about their 369 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: roster needs and trading back. John Butler was our new 370 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,199 Speaker 1: general manager at that time. He had just come from 371 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: Buffalo and he called me in on a Friday afternoon 372 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: and we started talking about the team and his vision 373 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: in terms of, you know, we just didn't have enough 374 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: good players. He wanted to build a court group through 375 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: the draft, so we needed to get more draft picks, etc. 376 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 1: And he said, how do you feel about, you know, 377 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: switching with Atlanta. As we got closer to the two 378 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: thousand and one NFL Draft, obviously having the first pick, 379 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 1: you start looking at who are the best players available 380 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: in the draft, And at that time we had a 381 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: lot of needs. So there were a lot of positions 382 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: in play and LTE's name was one of them. And 383 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: he said, well, I can't guarantee it, but there's a 384 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: young running back out of TCU and he's an exciting player, 385 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: and he said, I can't guarantee this either, but I 386 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: think he could be something special for the Chargers for 387 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: the future. And we talked a little bit more, and 388 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: I said, look, if you really feel that's the right 389 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: thing to do, let's do it. You know, having so 390 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: many needs back then trading back allows you to get 391 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 1: a lot of picks to fill more of those needs. 392 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: But I got to give John Butler a ton of 393 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: credit because he had very special feelings about what Danny 394 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: and Tomlinson as a prospect, and I know a big 395 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,439 Speaker 1: part of him moving back was the opportunity to select 396 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,719 Speaker 1: l team. He made the trade obviously, and I think 397 00:20:55,800 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: we got another third round pick that same year from Lanta. 398 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 1: I think we got a second round pick the following 399 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 1: year from Atlanta, and we also got Tim Dwight, who 400 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: was an exciting returner and white receiver for us. And 401 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: that was sort of the start of the rebuild of 402 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: our team or core of our team. And the rest 403 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: is history. Because you know, obviously how well LT did. 404 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: Now that we know how this blockbuster trade came to be, 405 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 1: how did LT find out about his new home? While 406 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 1: the Chargers never reached out a certain draft mate did. 407 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,919 Speaker 1: Here's the inside story from LT to Chargers team reporter 408 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: Chris Harry. The day before the draft, all the draftees, 409 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: the ones that are invited to New York to the draft. 410 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: We're doing our media tour, you know, GQ, ESPN, Zone interviews, 411 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff. Mike Vic comes to me 412 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,880 Speaker 1: and said us, Hey, he stays, I'm not gonna get 413 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: a deal done with the Chargers, so they're gonna trade 414 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: the pick and they're going to draft you. I'm like, what, 415 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:02,200 Speaker 1: I said, why do they do that? Like, man, you're crazy? 416 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: He said, I'm telling you, we've been We've been on 417 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: the phone all day. My agent told me, you know, 418 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 1: we can't get a deal done, and he said. At 419 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: that time, the GM, the late John Butler, said to 420 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,360 Speaker 1: his agent, if we can't get a deal done with you, Vick, 421 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: then we're gonna trade the pick and we're gonna draft 422 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 1: the Danny and Thomas. I didn't believe Michael Vick broke 423 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: the news to you that you were gonna be a charge. 424 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: Yes he did, Yes he did. Michael Vick broke the 425 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: news to me, and I still didn't believe him at 426 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: the time until later that evening, as I'm getting ready 427 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: to go to sleep, I see the trade happens. It 428 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: goes um. It was obviously at the bottom of the 429 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: ticker on television that the Chargers had traded the first 430 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: pick to the Atlanta Falcons. The Chargers now hold the 431 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:55,880 Speaker 1: fifth pick, and I stood up in my bed at 432 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: that time. It's holy cow, I'm going to the Chargers. 433 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,479 Speaker 1: Hey everyone, have you checked out the TV dinners over 434 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,360 Speaker 1: at Lazydog yet They are great for those days when 435 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: you just don't really feel like cooking. You just pop 436 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:13,200 Speaker 1: them in the oven and done. One of my favorites 437 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,719 Speaker 1: is the chicken pop pie, filled with slow roasted, hand 438 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: shredded chicken breast and seasonal vegetables in a pie dough crest. 439 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: And now for the fall, they've got a new oven 440 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 1: roasted turkey dinner. I'm talking turkey with gravy and all 441 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 1: the trimmings. It's even got a pumpkin cheesecake dessert. So 442 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: get them at Lazydog for pickup or delivery, and you 443 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 1: can check it all out at lazydog Restaurants dot com. 444 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: Let's fast forward to Draft night, one of the NFL's 445 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: most highly anticipated events became that much more meaningful for 446 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,919 Speaker 1: the Chargers. A trade that would forever change the trajectory 447 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: of two franchises was in place, and John Spanos was 448 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: on site. I mean, you know, it's the only draft 449 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: I've ever attended, the actual ceremony part in New York. 450 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 1: And you know, my understanding was I was going to 451 00:23:58,400 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 1: go there just to write down the names on the car, 452 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: and then I get the call that they want me 453 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: to go on stage and give him the jersey because 454 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: back then, don't forget, there were not many players who 455 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: attended the draft. Back then, there was only a couple 456 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: or a handful. You know, in today's draft there's there's 457 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: a lot right over thirty. Back then, there may have 458 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: only been you know, a couple five, six, six guys, 459 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 1: and we didn't know who we were in a draft. 460 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: And when I got the call that, you know, if 461 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: Ladanian Thomlinson is there and we pick him because he's 462 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 1: in New York, we want you to give him the 463 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: jersey on stage, which I was not prepared for. I 464 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: had not expected that, but you know, fulfilled, you know, 465 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 1: the obligation, and went up and gave it to him. 466 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: And I mean it well, it was so cool about it. 467 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 1: It was such a joyous moment, you know, for Ladanian, 468 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: for the team, for his family. You know, he had 469 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: his family there and they were all so happy. It 470 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: was just a really special moment. While it was a 471 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,400 Speaker 1: special day for Tomlinson and the Chargers, this all time 472 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 1: draft moment created quite a stir for ESPN, who had 473 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: sent reporter Edward Or to the Chargers for one reason. 474 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: That first overall pick I flew from my home and 475 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: Dallas to San Diego arrived. I believe it was on Friday, 476 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: two days a day before the NFL Draft that year 477 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: in two thousand and one. We started setting up in 478 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: a room the Chargers provided us to expecting to be 479 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 1: there for the following two days to cover the team. 480 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,159 Speaker 1: And no sooner did we get set up than was 481 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:23,679 Speaker 1: the number one overall pick sent all the way across 482 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 1: the country to Atlanta. And there was some conversation because 483 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: we weren't planning to cover the Falcons draft. We had 484 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: nobody to sign there. There was some conversation about whether 485 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: they should have me abandoned the Chargers draft and go 486 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: cover the Falcons if they had not traded it all 487 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: the way across the country. I think it's possible I 488 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: might not have been there at all that year with 489 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: the Chargers, but as it was, they decided it was 490 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: too difficult to last minute move me to the Falcons, 491 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:55,239 Speaker 1: who weren't expecting to have anybody there, and so they 492 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 1: had me just stay in San Diego and cover whatever 493 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: it was the Chargers were expecting to do. Worder noted, 494 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: Draft Knight can be crazy from all angles, whether you're 495 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 1: on a team or you're covering one. Throw a trade 496 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: in there and it gets even wilder. As someone who 497 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: had keen knowledge on what the Chargers were going to 498 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: do at number five. Word to remembers all the other 499 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: players on the Bolts draft board, you know, I think 500 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,920 Speaker 1: John Butler and A. J. Smith had some interest in 501 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: a couple of the defensive linemen in that draft. I 502 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:25,399 Speaker 1: think Jared Warren was one of the guys that were 503 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 1: interested in Justin Smith, and they both happened to go 504 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:31,119 Speaker 1: right before the Chargers picked, and so they were off 505 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 1: the board and no longer under consideration. And then the 506 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: Chargers left with that prosper that scenario, did the smart 507 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: thing and took Ladanian Thomlinson from TCU. I think everybody 508 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: knew that he was a really unique and dynamic type 509 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 1: of back, but you know, I don't think there was 510 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:52,720 Speaker 1: a universal consensus that he was going to be a 511 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame type player, just because, you know, there 512 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: were some misgivings about his size at the time, but 513 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: obviously proved knowledge doubters wrong in a short space of time. 514 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: And then what they did after that was even more 515 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: incredible than what they did with the fifth pick too. 516 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,359 Speaker 1: On the second day of the draft, get Drew Brees. 517 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: But the Chargers didn't just draft their running back of 518 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 1: the future. They paired him with a quarterback he already loved, 519 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:20,920 Speaker 1: the aforementioned Drew Brees, from playing together in their high 520 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,399 Speaker 1: school All Star game to meeting again at the College 521 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: Football Awards ceremony. The Spano's family had selected two friends 522 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: to lead their ball club, and John Butler did his homework. 523 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: But while pundits like Order may have had questions about 524 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 1: a six foot quarterback and a workhorse running back, those 525 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: inside the Chargers organization knew those two were really special. 526 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:43,640 Speaker 1: But little did anyone know the Bolt's first two selections 527 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: in the two thousand and one draft would be future 528 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: Hall of Famers. I found out the day of the draft. 529 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: Actually I didn't know they were that close and they 530 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: had that sort of relationship. I remember John saying that, 531 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: and of course the true we got him a time 532 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 1: believe at the top of the second round, and he 533 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: was just obviously an exciting quarterback for us, and he 534 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: same type of guy, you know, very respectful, very quiet, 535 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: just a good person. And so having those two key 536 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 1: guys and them really basically being your team leadership was 537 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: important at that But I know that Drew Brees was 538 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: another player that John really liked and our scouts really liked, 539 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: and he was a targeted player in quarterback was a 540 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 1: position of need, and you know, I know that the 541 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: team actually tried to move up to get him and 542 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: was not able to move up, and then he fell 543 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: to our pick in the second round, and they were 544 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: they were thrilled again And because I mean, in the 545 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:36,199 Speaker 1: history of the draft, I'm sure they've been a better 546 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: one too draft pick than LT and Drew Brees. Drafting 547 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: back to back Hall of famers isn't common, but doing 548 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: it with the team's picks in the first and second 549 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: round is even more rare because the Chargers are only 550 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: one of three teams to accomplish this feat. But as 551 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: excited as the Chargers Grass was, so too was Tom Would, 552 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: saying he literally never thought his friend would end up 553 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: on the same NFL team as him. With fate, it 554 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: was just destiny, Like if this was a post that happened. 555 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: There was no way. Obviously Drew Brees was supposed to 556 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: fall in to the second round, and we see it happened, 557 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,719 Speaker 1: happened every year, Um, you know, but as prolific as 558 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: he was, I thought it was no way, you know, 559 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: that he would fall to the second round. And when 560 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: it happened, I just was in disbelief. But you know what, 561 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: I think beyond that, I was overjawed more than anything, 562 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: because I knew the quality of a person, a player 563 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: you know that we were gonna get and the commitment 564 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: that that Drew m had that I knew. I knew 565 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: the person. There was no question in my mind that 566 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: he would he would put this organization in a great 567 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: spot and be a great leader. I mean, there was 568 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 1: it was no question about that. But I was more happy, 569 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 1: I guess um personally, because I had my friend that 570 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: I can't go through my rookie season with. We can 571 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: go through this together, the unknowns. We're gonna get through 572 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: this together. The previously one in fifteen Chargers had found 573 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: their building blocks. These were guys the franchise could build around. 574 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: But won't we know? Tomlinson was excited about being reunited 575 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 1: with Breeze. How did he find out? Let's hear from 576 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 1: Tomlinson himself. Let's just say it was a ride he'd 577 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: never forget, and a ride that ushered in a brand 578 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: new era of Chargers football. And then you're in You're 579 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: in a car service and you're on the way to 580 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 1: the airport. You know, you're going to destination city where 581 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: you just got drafted. So I'm on my way to 582 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 1: San Diego. And during the car ride, the limo driver 583 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 1: he has the draft on, so we're listening to all 584 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 1: the picks, you know, and then sure enough the Chargers 585 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: come around again, first pick in the second round, and 586 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: and the limo driver, you know, he kind of leaned 587 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 1: back saying, hey, the Chargers a background the clock. And 588 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: then I couldn't really hear it, but I heard him saying, 589 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,479 Speaker 1: oh my god, you kidding me. They just drafted your 590 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 1: bres And I said, no way, are you kidding me? 591 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 1: And sure enough, they drafted your bres. So I get 592 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: to the airport, I fly to San Diego and Drew obviously, 593 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 1: we meet at the airport at that time and man, 594 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 1: we we you know, conversed in Big Cubs and the 595 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 1: one thing that we said at that time, you know, 596 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 1: it was it was like a you know, it's like 597 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 1: a fairytale or something. He said, Man, we started a 598 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: high school, you know, we've we've known each other since then. 599 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 1: Now we're drafting on the same team. We said, hey, 600 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 1: let's change this organization around. Let's make it a championship organization. 601 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,480 Speaker 1: This has been an LA Chargers production. Coming up next 602 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: on Running for History, we explored Tomlinson's rights to start 603 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: him in the NFL and the coach whose philosophy unlocked 604 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: his full potential with LT. I think one of the 605 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: best things that happened for LT was playing for Marty Schottenheimer, 606 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: because Marty Schottenheimer was committed to the run game and 607 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 1: everybody knew it, and it created a culture internally about 608 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: we are going to run it. Okay, like Marty's dislike 609 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: for the Raiders a very real thing. Obviously, he spent 610 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: a lot of time with the Chiefs and then he 611 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,520 Speaker 1: came here. And I mean, you knew in the building 612 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: when it was raidor week, you knew when it was 613 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 1: rador week. And again like the team felt that being 614 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: still a lot of things that goes far beyond the 615 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 1: football field. And you know, that's why I'll always miss 616 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 1: running the football with physical, physical nature and wearing your 617 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: opponent down' that's you know, that's essentially what it is. 618 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:52,400 Speaker 1: It's gonna be a sixty minute maybe even longer, gay, 619 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: but the objective is to wear your opponent down. And 620 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 1: a lot of times you do that by doing the 621 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: same played over and over again throughout the course of 622 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: a game. And that that play is called power