New York Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson made an appearance on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" on Wednesday night. The veteran player and free agent dished on a locker room environment that he called "as bad as I've ever been around." He also had a few words about quarterback Mark Sanchez.
Tomlinson countered whispers from elsewhere inside the Jets' locker room calling their quarterback "lazy." He did say that Sanchez needs to be pushed, threatened with a little competition for the starting job, even calling Sanchez pampered.
"Yes he is (coddled), I would say a bit pampered because he has no competition," Tomlinson said. He has no real threat to say 'This guy may take my job'."
The Jets' backup is Mark Brunell, a 40-year old veteran with two seasons in that role.
As far as the locker room environment, LT placed the blame squarely on the feud between Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
"I've been around some locker rooms and quarterback-receiver situations and what-not," Tomlinson said. "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. So when it gets to that point there are certain changes that need to happen ... they're going to have to make some tough decisions."
Tomlinson, 32, is contemplating retirement. The Jets will have some soul searching of their own to do in the offseason.