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When people think of the best players to never win a Super Bowl, a couple of running backs come to mind.
The first thought is Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders, one of the best players ever at any position. Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills also comes to mind, but he had his chance with the Bills of the early 1990's, who lost four straight Super Bowls.
Ladainian Tomlinson might be the best NFL player to never win a Super Bowl. LT is an all-time player, and the huge amount of success he has had in his career at such a small body size is incredible.
Tomlinson has played on some very good teams during his lengthy tenure with the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers made one AFC Championship game vs. the New England Patriots, a game the Chargers lost at Foxboro.
Tomlinson's best team was the 2006 San Diego Chargers, who went 14-2. During that season Ladainian Tomlinson set the NFL record for touchdowns scored, and won the NFL MVP.
But his season ended early at the hands of his nemesis, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The Patriots escaped with a win vs. San Diego, and LT was mad at several Patriots players for dancing on the Chargers field.
Tomlinson is one of the best players ever, but has run into more complete teams in the playoffs. His Chargers teams never had an established quarterback, and often found themselves facing established playoff performers like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Phillip Rivers was a young player when LT was enjoying his greatest success in San Diego. If Rivers was as good then as he is now, the Chargers may have won a Super Bowl.
There is still time for LT to win a Super Bowl, and the New York Jets team he is on will likely be a perennial playoff contender for years to come, but does Tomlinson have enough in the tank in his mid thirties to last long enough to win a ring?
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