Career Death After 30: Fact or Fiction

Charlie Klein

One of the great chicken or the egg arguments in sports is whether or not a running back makes an offensive line look good or if it's the offensive line that makes the running back get his thousand yards. The verdict that the NFL seems to have reached is that its all about the running back, and once he is over the age of 30, you cut him faster than a convicted felon.

And yet I refuse to believe that this so-called universal law in football is absolutely true. LaDanian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook were both released on the same day earlier this week primarily for being over the hill running backs that were not worth what it would have cost to keep on the roster. Both of these players played major roles in the successes of their franchises and when you said "San Diego Chargers" the first thing most people thought of was LaDanian Tomlinson.

I would argue that both LT and Westbrook were more victims to inadequate offensive lines than to their age. Only two offensive lineman from the Chargers and Eagles made the Pro Bowl.  Neither were making headlines for having the best lines in the league and their running games suffered.

I understand cutting Westbrook more than LT. Westbrook has been more off and on with his health than Brangelina. And from the Eagles perspective they already have a replacement waiting in the wings with LeSean McCoy. The Chargers do not have an heir apparent that they believe can take over the full load from LT. John Clayton of ESPN said yesterday that the Chargers hope to use Sproles in a limited capacity within the offense and keep him as a kick/punt returner.

For all of the statheads out there who point out that the trend that all running backs over 30 experience an immediate downturn in production, I give you Thomas Jones. At 32 years old, Jones ran for 1,401 yards for the New York Jets in 2009. HE IS OVER 30 AND RUSHED FOR OVER A THOUSAND YARDS! And he also had an incredible offensive line with three pro bowlers to block for him. I rest my case. It's more about the offensive line than the individual back in almost every case.