Tomlinson closes in on reaching 10,000 yards

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer
Tomlinson closes in on reaching 10,000 yards | Wednesday, November 14, 2007 11:41 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- The honors pile up so routinely for LaDainian Tomlinson that the Chargers' star running back doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about upcoming milestones. He knows they are on the horizon but he seldom gets caught up with reaching them.

That holds true for the upcoming 10,000 career rushing yardage mark that Tomlinson could pass as soon as this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tomlinson is just 91 yards away from reaching 10,000, a mark that only 21 NFL players have ever reached.

"I haven't really thought about it but thinking about it off the top of my head right now, it will be a big accomplishment, obviously," Tomlinson said Wednesday.

"I think 10,000 yards is usually a benchmark for most running backs in their career. If you have a successful career, they say you rushed for 10,000 yards. So obviously, that would be a big accomplishment."

In Tomlinson's case, it could be the precursor for even bigger feats. If he surpasses 10,000 this Sunday, it will come in his 105th career game, making him the fourth fastest running back to reach that mark. The three quickest are Eric Dickerson (91 games), Jim Brown (98) and Barry Sanders (103).

But even that fact can't tempt Tomlinson to ponder how high he might someday soar on the NFL's all-time rushing list.

"Not really," Tomlinson said. "To be honest with you, I really don't think about it. I've always said I just want to play my career and see where I stand at the end of it."

Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards and Smith reached 10,000 in his 106th NFL contest. Only two other NFL players topped 15,000 career yards -- Walter Payton (16,726) and Sanders (15,269).

Coincidentally, the most recent player to reach 10,000 career rushing yards will also be inside Jacksonville Memorial Stadium on Sunday. The Jaguars' Fred Taylor reached the milestone Sunday against Tennessee.

Taylor has 10,032 career yards, 123 more than Tomlinson.

"He's had a solid career," Tomlinson said of Taylor, a 10-year veteran. "He's been consistent. You know, 10,000 yards is a big accomplishment.

"He's had a head start but hopefully I catch him."

There's certainly no guarantee Tomlinson will reach the mark Sunday. Only twice this season has he had 91 or more rushing yards in a game and he's been held to 67 or fewer yards on five occasions.

Tomlinson had a season-high 198 against Oakland on Oct. 14 and rushed for 132 yards against Kansas City in late September. His third-highest output is 90 yards against Houston.

Overall, Tomlinson has rushed for 733 yards, seventh most in the NFL. And Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio views him as one of the most dangerous players in the league to defend.

"He's one of the premier players at his position in the entire league," Del Rio said. "He's been incredible his entire career. Not many people have been able to slow him down. We have a healthy respect for him for sure but we're going to do our best to get him slowed down and give our team a chance to win."

The yardage mark isn't the only milestone Tomlinson could reach Sunday. He scored his 108th career rushing touchdown against Indianapolis last Sunday, leaving him two behind third-place Payton on that list.

Also, Tomlinson isn't the only NFL player vying to reach 10,000 on Sunday. Atlanta's Warrick Dunn is 58 yards shy of reaching 10,000.

-- Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.