As a fan of the New England Patriots,  I feel like  I need to sound off on this issue. First let me get this out of the way, LT's performance against my beloved Pats on Sunday was something special, he was pretty much able to run all over them and he should hold his head up high after that he did everything he could to put his team in a position to win the game. This is exactly why I feel he reacted the way he did after the game, imagine putting your team on your shoulders and having the other guys blow it for you it must be the most frustrating thing in sports. That said here are my thoughts on the post game controversy:

1) Did the Patriots react in an unprofessional manner? Probably, but honestly who in the NFL doesn't. So far this season I have seen, and laughed at, Joey Porter of the Pittsburgh Steelers sack Daunte Culpepper in week 1 and do Culpeppers "Get Your Roll On" dance, Noone on the Dolphins cried about it. Chad Johnson do the exact same dance the Patriots did in week 10, coincidentally the Chargers won the game and LT didn't seem bothered by it then. Not to mention, just about every single NFL player make a fool out of themselves after scoring a touchdown. And yes some defenders may have felt disrespected after but the bottom line is don't let them score and it won't happen. That is why LT was so upset he did everything he could not to let the Patriots win that game. 

2) Did the Chargers show any semblance of class? Absolutley not. They did not sell tickets to anyone outside of California, and vowed not to let Patriots fan park in there parking lot. Also after last years game at New England, which San Diego won 41-17 and snapped a 21 game home winning streak for the Patriots, here are some of the quotes from players which I took off a facebook.com message board, which was taken from somewhere but not cited:

"Amid complaints from running back LaDainian Tomlinson and other members of the San Diego Chargers that the New England Patriots celebrated too fervently their unlikely victory over the 14-2 Bolts on Sunday, we've been reminded of the Chargers reaction to a similarly unlikely win from a year ago.

In New England.

After thumping the Pats by the score of 41-17 and shattering the team's 21-game home winning streak, the Chargers were not exactly humble.

"That's a [butt]-whipping," said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in an article penned by Tom Curran, who at the time wrote for the Providence Journal and who now works for NBCSports.com.

Cornerback Drayton Florence (or is it Florence Drayton?) was less tactful: "F--k New England and their team," he said, before turning to a "collection of onlookers" and adding: "Get the look of shock off your faces. Don't be shocked. We beat your [butt]." "

Not exactly a shining display of class from that team from the West Coast. I'm guessing the Patriots were remembering a little bit of that and probably more when they were celebrating.

And my final point is about the man they call "Lights Out". Yes he is a great player. Unfortunatley, I have no respect for him or any other athelete who fails a steroid test. Not to mention someone who hit Tom Brady , clean but not a sack, after he released the ball and still felt the need to do his foolish little dance for no apparent reason. In my opinion Merriman should be mocked by everyone his dance is stupid but more importantly he disrespected everyone who puts on a football uniform from pop warner to the NFL including the Chargers. The fact that he is allowed to play in the pro bowl and was even considered for any individual awards is a joke.  Also, Merriman had "Lights Out" shaved into his head, I don't know if that's been there all season or not but either way, it looks ridiculous and shows no class. Nobody on the Patriots will ever have a nickname they gave to themself as long as Bob Kraft and Bill Bellicheck are in charge, they'll just let their Super Bowl rings do the talking, as opposed to some dance.

And how about the class exhibited by Florence headbutting a New England player after the play, not to mention it cost his team by nullifying a third down fumble and giving the Patriots a first down, that led to a field goal.

So basically am I defending the way the Patriots acted? I guess I am. Why shouldn't they celebrate after winning a play off game, as an underdog, on the road, against a team that went 14-2? I don't understand how any of it was disrepectful compared to the stuff that goes on week in and week out all across the league. I do understand why LT was upset, but I do not agree with the way he reacted, to me he was just being a sore loser which is to bad because until that point he had earned my respect with the way he played on the field Sunday, and all season. He did have a questionable non call facemask on Rosevelt Colvin but I don't think he had any control over his body as he was falling and his hand ended up on his facemask. Granted it was there for a while but I don't think it was intentional.

I still respect Ladainian Tomlinson as a player, but for now my verdict on him as a person is still out, although I will not judge him by this incident alone.  The fact the would even imply that Bill Bellicheck is not classy, shows his lack of charachter (to a degree) and judgement while making these comments. Remember his team is the team that took 2  critical personal foul penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct which is a reflection of attitude which, to steal a line from Remember the Titans, "Attitude reflects leadership".  The Patriots didn't retalliate to these personal fouls as the penalties didn't offset. And if you want to say Daniel Graham pushed Florence I guess you could but to me he saw a man trying to head but him and pushed back to counteract it, watch the tape, Florence is coming at him, and Graham is able to stoop the headbut before getting hit. In my opinion retalliation to that would have been going back at him, he restrained himself once he saw the flag which to me is a reflection of coaching, not to mention really hard to do.