Tomlinson agrees on two-year deal with Jets
Last Updated: 10:03 PM, March 14, 2010
Posted: 2:10 PM, March 14, 2010
Comments: 47
PrintLaDainian Tomlinson and the Jets have reached an agreement on a two-year contract that will bring the likely Hall of Fame running back to New York.
One day after returning to his home in San Diego following a free agent recruiting visit with the Jets, the former Chargers great chose the Jets over the Vikings, who also were aggressively recruiting him.
The Jets and Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, confirmed the deal Sunday night.
"He wanted to go a team that he thought had a chance to compete for the championship," Condon told the AP. "He wanted to go somewhere where he had a chance to have a significant role, and so with the Jets he also was going to be very familiar with the offensive system."
Tomlinson agreed to an incentive-laden two-year contract believed to be front loaded and worth somewhere around $5 million.
Tomlinson visited the Vikings brass in Minnesota last week before coming to New Jersey to visit the Jets, who met with him at their Florham Park facility, brought him on a tour of the new stadium and wined and dined him.
The Eagles and Saints were reportedly also interested in him, but Tomlinson opted not to visit either, instead choosing between the Jets and Vikings after consulting his wife, LaTorsha.
Tomlinson’s decision, first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, means the Jets will have added veteran insurance in their backfield that already includes Shonn Greene, who’s in his second NFL season, and Leon Washington, who’s recovering from a broken right leg.
Tomlinson, who turns 31 in June, has had declining production in the last couple of seasons. In 2006, he rushed for 1,474 yards, a 4.7-yard average and 15 TDs. In ’07, he had 1,110 yards, a 3.8-yard average and 11 TDs. And last season, he had his worst season as a pro with only 730 yards, a 3.3-yard average and 12 TDs.
He is, however, an accomplished receiver out of the backfield, having caught 530 career passes, meaning he’ll likely be used as a third-down weapon along with Washington.
The Jets still envision Greene as their lead back.
While Tomlinson’s career credentials and character are unquestioned, the Jets’ release of Thomas Jones at the beginning of free agency and signing of Tomlinson seems rather curious considering they seemingly did it because they didn’t want to pay him $5.8 million this season.
It’s possible the Jets simply felt Jones, in a more limited role, would not be as effective a back as he’s been as a featured back.
It’s believed that once the Jets released Jones and the Chargers released Tomlinson that Tomlinson was the one back the Jets targeted.
"For (this) to ever turn into a signing, it's going have to be if everything lines up with him, us, economics, medical, role," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said Friday morning in a radio interview. "I think he would bring great leadership to our organization."
After the release of Jones, Tannenbaum said, “We have Shonn and Leon and we will add somebody else to the mix. That's a position that we feel we need depth."
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Comments (46)
Post Your CommentStreetSmarts
03/15/2010 5:01 AM
Giants still run LT's Gang losers! enough said.
NEW YORK YANKEES
03/15/2010 4:27 AM
I agree with Mark. The Jets also got lucky with the seeding. If they didnt face the 2 biggest AFC postseason chokers of the last decade, they do NOT make the AFC Championship. No way.
Giants still own this town and always will & as long as the Patsies have Bill and Tom they will continue to own the division.
Mark
03/15/2010 3:32 AM
the pats defense ranked 5th in fewest points allowed, not quite as 'absolutely horrible' as amazins1 states.
sanchez WAS absolutely horrible though. yeah he showed improvement from his knucklehead play late, but i don't think you can bank on him continuing upward.
basically this is a nothing deal, LT was once good, but he is just another dime a dozen back at this point. san diego wouldn't have let him go if he was anything more.
Jets fans don't get giddy, you got hot and got help from a dumb move by the colts to pull manning. otherwise it would have been a very disappointing 8-8 season.
measy
03/15/2010 2:57 AM
LT stands for Lawrence Taylor. not this loser.
thebigO
03/15/2010 2:45 AM
NY, you will see LT spring to life behind a very good offensive line. He will catch passes. Believe me no one in San Diego is happy to see him leave, well except for the GM, who is an ice cold jerk.
sadtruth
03/15/2010 2:08 AM
LT is lawrence taylor. This guy came to NY because he hopes to be the number one back, not because of winning.
Amazins1
03/15/2010 1:02 AM
To the Pats fan who said the Jets offense is "pitiful", how can an offense be pitiful if its running game is ranked number one in all of football? Huh? Yes Sanchez has room to grow but do you really see him playing like a rookie next year or the guy we all saw in the playoffs? Huh? All the Pats fans better understand that their time is over, the Patriot defense is absolutely horrible and you take out Brady and his Moss/Welker connection and there is NOTHING on that team. Absolutely nothing...After you guys lost Richard Seymour it just went all downhill...get used to it....GO JETS!!!!!!!!!
Reality101
03/14/2010 11:22 PM
LT was a good RB... 2+ years ago...