This weekend Ladainian Tomlinson is going to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. LT will be only the 7th Chargers player to make it into the HOF. A rare event right? Probably something you would expect Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates, LT’s long time team-mates during his time in San Diego, to attend right?
Well according to Alex Marvez, new Head Coach Anthony Lynn has told Rivers and Gates he wants them at practice instead.
Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates being blocked from LaDainian Tomlinson's Hall of Fame induction https://t.co/aLLbWMM0e7 pic.twitter.com/MvT0T7xI8L
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) July 31, 2017
Personally, I feel like this is the wrong move.
Everyone, including players on the team, keeps saying Lynn is a “players coach” but this is a very non player friendly move. The players already respect Lynn and have made multiple comments on how they already feel like there is more accountability on the team. So why flex your authoritative muscle on this?
Bruce Arians is a widely respected coach and he agreed to let star WR Larry Fitzgerald skip practice for Kurt Warner’s enshrinement.
According to the article Gates has already said he will probably skip practice to go, even if he is fined and I don’t blame him one bit. They should be allowed to go, as this is an EXTREMELY rare event, and if anyone can afford to skip one practice, it’s Gates and Rivers. Gates spent at least 1 day a week skipping practice for “rest” last season anyway.
Just a bad call by Lynn.
UPDATE:
In the post practice press conference this obviously came up. Coach Lynn refuted that an ultimatum was given saying “I guess you can’t believe everything you read on Twitter.”
He did say that Gates, Rivers and the Staff have talked about it and that no decisions were made yet but that one will be made collectively.
There is also this:
I just spoke to Philip Rivers. He will not attend hall of fame induction. His priority is with Chargers. He has talked to LT already.
— Alex Flanagan (@Alex_Flanagan) July 31, 2017