Thursday, January 19, 2012

Tomlinson calls out poisonous Jets locker room on Showtime

Look out.

New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson threw the entire team locker room under the bus during Showtime's Inside the NFL.

During the show that aired Wednesday with James Brown, Phil Simms, Cris Collinsworth and Warren Sapp, LT said Gang Green's locker room drama this season was "as bad as I've ever been around, honestly."

The turmoil, Tomlinson said, started in the 3rd or 4th week -- and "got out of hand toward the end of season." He blamed the Jets for creating the atmosphere.

Coach Rex Ryan's frequent predictions of a Jets Super Bowl victory only put a bulls-eye on his players' backs, said Tomlinson.

THE HUDDLE:  Jets players rip Sanchez as lazy, entitled

JETS' MCELROY  Corrupt atmosphere permeated locker room

After reaching two straight AFC Championship games, the 8-8 Jets missed the playoffs this season. Tomlinson's appearance will be replayed all week on Showtime. Among the RB's comments on the show:

On Jets' venomous locker room atmosphere:

It got out-of-hand toward the end of the season. That is why it got out in the media. This is something that happened (in the) third or fourth week of the season, that was going on, and nobody knew about it because the players kept it under wraps. Until we went on that losing streak and guys started to speak up and speak out about certain things...It is as bad as I've ever been around, honestly. And I've been around some locker rooms and quarterback-receiver situations and what-not. But it was as bad as I've been around. You know it was at the point where I think the players could no longer do anything about it. There was nothing that the players could do.

On Jets organization:

Guys think about this. They (Jets Organization) created this. This is the type of football team that they wanted. Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan are both brash, in-your-face type of style, say whatever you want, just get it done on the field. And then it leads to other things, as guys are calling each other out and saying I'm not getting the ball or whatever it may be.

Can Jets QB Mark Sanchez overcome rips from anonymous teammates?

I think he can overcome it. I think, the guy that said, that came at him, I don't know who it was, that said Sanchez was lazy, but I disagree with that. The guy is not lazy, guys. He is not a lazy guy. He puts in the time after practice in the film room. He can get it done. He just has to have pieces around him to help him get it done.

Is Sanchez pampered?

Yes he is, I would say a bit pampered because he has no competition. He has no real threat to say this guy may take my job.

On Ryan's bold predictions for the Jets:

I would prefer him not to say it as much as he did. I don't mind every now and again saying we are going to win a championship. Maybe at the beginning of the year just saying, 'Hey, our goal is to win a championship.' But at the same time every week if you are calling out a team on certain things, I think it puts a little extra on your team. Guys really want to go out there and say, 'Let's shut this guy up. Let's shut these Jets up, just end their season.' I think that adds to that when Rex speaks up like that because, you know, everybody doesn't like that type of style, and they're not supposed to. But at the same time there are certain things that you can do to not have it come off like that.

About the Jets naming unhappy WR Santonio Holmes a team captain:

The players had nothing to do with that vote. Coaches vote on the captains with the Jets.

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