Trends don’t favor Charger

LaDainian Tomlinson had just embarked on his NFL career when his San Diego Chargers played the Dallas Cowboys in 2001.

It was only his second game, but it may as well have been the Super Bowl. The Waco, Texas, native, fresh out of TCU, was in Texas Stadium, where so many of his childhood dreams took place. He was sharing the field with his idol, Emmitt Smith.

“That’s a moment that I’ll always remember, really idolizing him and getting a lot of advice from him,” said Tomlinson, who ran for 90 yards in a 32-21 win

Smith’s advice about taking care of his body stuck with Tomlinson. Eight years with at least 1,100 rushing yards later, Tomlinson returns in what could be his final North Texas appearance.

Tomlinson’s 12,321 yards in 137 games leave him just 46 yards off Smith’s pace. Smith had 12,347 through his first 137 games.

But for Tomlinson to get the 6,034 yards needed to match Smith’s magical number, he will have to do more than break tackles, avoid injuries and compile 1,000-plus-yard seasons. He must remain a workhorse running back.

That will require bucking a trend. Over the last three years, the featured back has become a dying breed in the NFL. More teams are using second and third backs to fuel quick-strike, multidimensional offenses that work with changing personnel.

Fox doesn’t have deal

Panthers head coach John Fox has one year remaining on his contract after this season and there have been no negotiations toward an extension.

The Panthers never have gone into a season with a coach in the final year of his deal – a scenario generally considered undesirable because it could suggest the organization doesn’t have a long-term commitment to the man leading their team.

Thus, with four games remaining Fox’s future with the organization is in doubt.