Vick, Tomlinson can fuel trade debate on the field
By ROGER MILLS
Published October 17, 2004
Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson and Falcons quarterback Michael Vick oppose each other on the field today for the first time since being central figures in a 2001 predraft trade.
Two days before the draft, the Chargers recognized they might have difficultly signing Vick and traded his rights to Atlanta for the fifth overall selection, a third-round pick that year, a second-round pick in 2002 and returner Tim Dwight.
The trade has worked for both teams. Vick is the game's most explosive quarterback and Tomlinson rushed for 4,564 yards and 37 TDs through his first three years.
"At the time, I really didn't think anything about the trade," Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "It was just something where I wanted to come out and prove to the people that I could play football. Looking back, you just say, Michael Vick - it's hard to pass on a guy that's just so explosive and an athlete like he is.
"But I think it could have worked out for either team, however it would have went. If Mike would have come here, they would have had a great quarterback and I would have went somewhere else and, hopefully, still had the same type of success. So I think it worked out for both teams."
The two players will forever be linked and Tomlinson said the best way to end the story is for both to end up in the Hall of Fame.
"Hopefully that will be the end of the story," he said. "I know people are still going to talk about it, but you won't be able to say much, other than both of the guys were Hall of Famers. You were going to get a Hall of Fame running back or a Hall of Fame quarterback. That's not too bad."
GARCIA GRUMBLINGS: Remember how Jeff Garcia was such a coveted quarterback during the free-agency period that a certain team was prepared to risk annoying its starter while flirting with Garcia?
Well, here's a curious thought: is he still as coveted?
The Browns have not scored an offensive touchdown in the first half and have not converted a first down on their first possession.
Garcia took some criticism last week for moving around too much and it came from his coach and teammates.
"You can't be skittish," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "You have to sit in the pocket, make the throws and let the routes come open."
"I don't have a reaction to that," Garcia told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Until he plays the quarterback position, then he (can't) understand where I'm coming from."
Davis and Garcia apparently patched things up and blamed the media for taking the quote out of context.
It would be harder to take this quote from left tackle Ross Verba out of context: "(He) scrambles when he doesn't need to scramble. It's not a problem if we win ballgames. I know his game is a scrambling quarterback, so I respect what he does. My game is a short-setter tackle, not a deep-setter tackle. To each his own. Most offensive linemen aren't used to that, unless you play with him for a long time. I know I'm not. It's one thing to scramble when you need to scramble and (another) to scramble because you like to throw the ball on the run. I think he likes to throw the ball on the run. That's fine. We just need to know that."
WINNING EDGE: According to the Colts, running back Edgerrin James is in some rare company. He has rushed for 100 yards 35 times, which is 50 percent of his 70 games, the highest percentage in league history for backs with at least 35 100-yard games.
Second is Barry Sanders (76 times in 153 games, 49.7 percent) and third is Jim Brown (58 times in 118 games, 49.2 percent).
"Talking about Edgerrin, that brings a smile to my face," receiver Marvin Harrison said. DADDY'S GIRL: Whether Brett Favre, 35, retires after this season is anyone's guess, but daughter Breleigh offered some advice.
"I was taking my 5-year-old daughter to school this morning," Favre said. "I'm always trying to pick her brain a little bit and said, "Are you ready for daddy to quit football?' ... She said, "Yeah, I'm ready. I'm ready for you to quit playing football so you can live with us full time in Mississippi.' "
Favre said the comment was unusual because the family is together in Green Bay during the season.
"Sometimes if you want the truth, ask your kids," the quarterback said.
Information from other news organizations was used in the report.
