In case anybody is interested a few pages back one of the Charger fans mentioned that some radio personality in San Diego said LT was close to signing with us. Here is her twitter page, it's about 12 hours old and about the 4th one down. I take it with a grain of salt but I believe where there is smoke there is fire. I'd just like to know what her source is. (and I doubt it's Mike Florio) http://twitter.com/Marty1090
How is a 31 year old LT a step back from a 32 yr old Jones with a gimpy knee?? I can understand people being sad to see TJ leave as he was a good servant but lets take the green tinted glasses off and imagine LT behind that line. If TJ had been breaking outside runs or creating holes when none were there I could understand the love but maj of time he followed Fanecas ass for two yards then fell down.
i agree. and i think you saw that when jones would only rush for a yard or two then greene would go in and get 5-10 at a time. then after the defense was wear down then jones would break that big one that he would do almost every game. even though LT took a huge step back i would love to see what he can do behind this offensive line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 13, 2010, 6:54 am Why Tomlinson and Not Thomas Jones? By TONI MONKOVIC As Judy Battista reported: “LaDainian Tomlinson followed a full day of meetings with Jets officials with dinner Friday night with Coach Rex Ryan and General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. Tomlinson planned to spend the night — there were no late flights available to the West Coast after dinner.” Rich Cimini of The Daily News said the Jets were close to a deal: “Ryan, you know, is a master at the dinner table.” Tim Sullivan of The San Diego Union-Tribune said Tomlinson was looking for the one thing left to do in his career: win a championship. And he seems sincere in being willing to take a backup role: Such a transition is not unprecedented in professional sports, but it is certainly unusual. Few athletes of LT’s stature have accepted reserve roles, much less embraced them. But here’s the intriguing question. A commenter at The Jets Blog, Ben Nevis, captured it: What would sicken me here is if Tomlinson gets paid as much money as—or more money than—Thomas Jones is getting from KC. If that were to happen, it would mean that for the same price, or maybe even less, we could have had a back—TJ—in much better shape than LT and who last year had: —TWICE as many yards as LT: TJ: 1,400 LT: 730 —a much better YPC than LT: TJ: 4.2 LT: 3.3 —more TDs than LT: TJ: 14 LT: 12 —and much less wear-and- tear mileage than LT: TJ: 2,500 career touches LT: 3,500 career touches Extra point: So, yes, what are we missing here? Why Tomlinson instead of Thomas Jones?
^^^^ i think it is because LT is a different player then TJ is. LT can be used on those third downs as another receiver since he is great at catching out of the backfield. he also still has better vision then TJ. and all due respect to jones lets not forget he was playing behind the best line in all of football.
finally someone gets it! its not a matter of who is more productive, they are two completly different kinds of backs...Shonn Greene is taking over as the power back role(Thomas Jones) and with leon still somewhat a ? LT brings a recieveing/scat back to the table. TJ doesnt provide the speed(even if he lost a step) or the recieveing skills LT can offer. Lets not forget LT is one of the best ever and although he was knicked up last year and didn't break 1000 rushing yards for the FIRST time in his career. For what we are trying to do LT is a good fit for a third down back and fills the void of a leader that TJ left behind...not to mention with our O line and if Tony Richardson is retained i cant see LT not being productive!
You are forgetting he bitched about money. Everybody so far (except Washington but the off season is still young) who has bitched about money on the Jets is gone. Started with Kendall, then Coles, now Jones.
I don't mind that philosophy, it worked for the Steelers and Pats and winning 5 SB's in the last 10 years between them proves it works better then throwing money at guys on the downside of their careers.
Is LT on the downside of his career?? Yes... is he still a top 10-15 rb?? yes.... I think he could compete for the starting role with the Jets... no offense to green or washinton but it was just injuries that slowed LT ... if he can get back to 100% healthy he could dominate again... how old was Curtis martin when he led the league???
How is that the biggest nonstatement? The statement is LT is close to signing with the Jets as opposed to LT moving in another direction.
If Leon somehow manages to get back completely healthy imagine the kind of backfield we could have. Shonn (Earth), Leon (Wind), and LT (Fire) sounds like a pretty safe bet to me. Hopefully LT can teach Shonn how to hold onto the rock.
lets not get too ahead of ourselves.. dont want to jinx anything.. he could also sign with Favre and the vikings as early as today as well.. but im definitely checking the news every couple hours!! lets hope
I think that it will be an easier sell to bring in a guy like LT and define his role than it would've been to try and get TJ to accept a lesser role on this team. (Not to mention a pay cut.) I think that could've divided the locker room based on loyalty. A guy like LT wouldn't have the same loyalty walking into the Jets locker room as TJ...
I am sure it has been stated before (2 lazy to go through all the pages) but I think last year, in part L.T's stats were a result of the Chargers offence. Just as I believe TJ's stats were a large part of our systems in offence. Highly regarded Darren Sporles, young, fast only averaged .4 yards per carry more than LT. It is possible, by switching backs/teams, the numbers may have been vastly similiar had TJ played for the Chargers last year, and LT for the JETS. In addition, LT did get 12 TD's + 20 rec for 154 yards, vs TJ's 10 rec's for 58. If he signs with the JETS, it will make it very interesting on how he does.
LT looked pretty good once he got healthy around week 10. I still think SD's run blocking was absolutely horrible last year and its not all LTs fault. That may have been the worse run blocking line I saw out of all the games I watched last year. I can see him doing well here. But if I were him, I'd see what NO has to say.
