LTMVP = SDSB

The best player in professional football finally received his due this week. San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (seen above applying a brutal stiff arm against the Redskins last year that resulted in the 'Skins player on his back and springing LT for a long TD run) won the NFL MVP and NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards by acclamation. In polling for both awards he easily outpaced the #2 in the voting, former Chargers' QB Drew Brees.

And that is as it should be.

Tomlinson's record breaking year has by now been well-chronicled, but let me point out three key stats that bring it home:

* Tomlinson tallied 186 points this season, eclipsing Paul Hornung's record. The Raiders as a team scored 168.

* In one ten week stretch, Tomlinson scored 28 touchdowns. That accounts for exactly 168 points. So to be clear, one player accomplished in ten games what it took an entire (albeit woeful) team to accomplish in sixteen.

* Tomlinson's record 31 rushing TD's were more than the number thrown by any quarterback in the league this season.

Amazing.

I watched Tomlinson play a lot at TCU and always knew he'd be good a good pro. But I never knew he'd be this good. Back then, he'd just hit the line and take off on a straight-line 70 yard touchdown. And he'd do that over and over. It's been different in the pros, but Tomlinson has even improved as he's aged. He picks his holes, shows patience, has become an excellent receiver out of the backfield, is a good blocker and is 5-6 in passing in his career....with 5 touchdown passes.

Special.

But not as special as the man. In this era of look-at-me athletes, LT is a humble megastar. No celebration dances. No antics. A true team player. Check out his comments upon winning the awards this week:

Tomlinson credits the close-knit nature of the Chargers for his outstanding year.

"Every day you go to work with these guys," he said. "They're a special group to me. I think this group I will always remember more than any other football team I've been on. We've got a unique situation that kind of reminds me of college days. That's something that you really don't get in the National Football League, because you really don't have the time to get to know guys and really spend time with them. "On this team it's different. It seems like every guy is like a brother." It's that brotherhood, that camaraderie and the respect for each other that LT cherishes more than any records. "It's more important to me to be a better person. At the end of the day that's what people remember," Tomlinson said. "Football is a game that I obviously love to play and a lot of guys enjoy playing the game. But that's not who I am. I'm not just a football player. I'm a human being, an individual, a person. I respect other human beings and that's what it's all about, giving respect to other human beings and just really trying to have an impact on people's lives that I come across because I am in a position to do that."

The work on the field speaks for itself and so does the breath of fresh air. Give former Chargers' GM John Butler a lot of credit. Before his passing due to lung cancer, he foresaw the greatness of LT and shrewdly maneuvered to draft him by passing on Michael Vick. At the time, Butler was ridiculed. But as this season has proven, Butler made the right call. While Vick was making obscene gestures, continuing his struggle with the quarterback position and ending the Atlanta career of yet another coach, LT was leading the Chargers to a 14-2 record and the top of the league. He did it all with dignity, class and the sense of place and purpose that is the hallmark of not only a great player, but a great person. LaDainian Tomlinson's drive and understanding that it is the guys around him who are just as responsible for his success as his physical talent, is a breed apart. And it is this unique combination which has the Chargers poised for post-season success.

I'll be in San Diego next weekend for the Chargers' opening playoff game. I'll be blogging *LIVE* from the site of the march to the Super Bowl. Stay tuned.