The problem is, the initials L.T. already to belong to an NFL great, Lawrence Taylor. Every fan in Giants stadium used to chant the initials as Taylor came off the edge of the line to terrorize offenses.

So which L.T. would you rather have on your team? I tried to think of several factors that one would consider before picking between one of these two NFL greats who share the same initials:

Impact – Advantage: Taylor

A Giants fan can make a case that Taylor had more impact on the game than any other player in NFL history. He invented the pass rushing linebacker position that provoked offensive coaches to create entirely new pass-protection schemes.

The Washington Redskins famous one back set?  Head coach Joe Gibbs installed that offense in order to help block Taylor’s pass-rush. He forced on offense to account for him on every single play.

Tomlinson, however, has his own major impact on every game. No running back in recent memory is more devastating as both a runner and a pass-catcher (Marshall Faulk was a dual threat, but Tomlinson is the better runner). What really separates Tomlinson from other backs is his nose for the goaline. Every person in the stadium knows that he will get the ball inside the five-yard line, yet he still manages to find a way through, around, or over a defense to the end-zone.

Durability – Advantage: Taylor

Tomlinson usually stays healthy for most of the season, but he has missed a game or two.

Taylor did not miss games. He would play with a broken bone in his leg, a shoulder that hurt every time he hit someone (not a good situation to be in if you play linebacker in the NFL)and any assortment of injuries throughout his career. Yet every Sunday he took the field. He wasn’t invincible, but he played like it.

Versatility – Advantage: Tomlinson

Taylor could drop into pass coverage okay, but he was first and foremost a pass-rusher.Without that amazing facet of his game, he was just another good linebacker.

Tomlinson goes anywhere on the field. If a defense has a weak link anywhere, the Chargers will try to send Tomlinson in that direction on pass routes so that he can make a play. Everyone gushes about Reggie Bush’s versatility this year.Tomlinson can do anything Bush does, even return punts if need be, but Tomlinson throws a good pass. As we found out earlier this year, Bush does not.

Mental Edge Over Opponents – Advantage: Taylor

Tomlinson scares the eye-black off of defenses, but Taylor took intimidation to another level when he played.

Quarterbacks were obsessed with Taylor’s whereabouts on every play. Their goal became not to move the offense down the field, but to avoid becoming a victim to one of Taylor’s vicious arm chops that separated many a player from the football.

There were games when a quarterback gave up and dropped to the ground because Taylor simply flashed by him.Without even touching the quarterback, Taylor could cause a play to go haywire because the quarterback would simply stop looking at his receivers in order to frantically locate where Taylor was. That is practically the definition of a mental edge.

Image – Advantage: Tomlinson

Taylor was a larger than life personality, but he sure didn’t help out the Giants P.R. department. He was twice suspended by the NFL for drug use ( a third charge gets you kicked out of the league for a year), and was constantly seen partying like a maniac in the city that never sleeps. Even after he retired from football, Taylor had to battle his addictions. He was constantly in trouble with the law including the infamous moment when Taylor got himself arrested by trying to score crack from an undercover cop. His behavior didn’t diminish his Hall of Fame play on the field, but it definitely tarnished his reputation.

Tomlinson, on the other hand, is everything good about the NFL. As humble as he is competitive, Tomlinson represents a noble warrior who limits his lust for the spotlight to game day. He never threw a public tantrum when the Chargers were terrible and he doesn’t give opponents clipboard material by saying something stupid to the media. Some might call him a boring personality, but everyone he meets him comes away impressed. That sounds like a role model to me.

Cool Uniform – Advantage: Tomlinson

It’s not a reflection on their abilities, but I would just like to note that Tomlinson looks much cooler in his Charger uniform than Taylor did in his Giants uniform. With the lightning bolt helmet, powder blue jersey, and dark visor over his eyes, Tomlinson looks like a fighter pilot in the backfield.

Taylor obviously didn’t have a choice in what uniform to wear, but those Giants threads were, in a word, ugly.

Decision:  Taylor….for now