Thomas George of AOL/FanHouse has a great report of all the things that the Jets are doing today to convince LaDainian to sign today, beyond the itinerary, here’s the juicy details from a source inside the team.
… a Jets executive source said, when egos become involved in acquiring a player, the Jets will be hard to beat.
“We want this guy, and when we want a player, we typically go get the player,” the Jets source said. “We have every intention to get him signed before he leaves.”
But Tomlinson has already told the Jets that he wants to think things over, travel back home to visit with his wife, LaTorsha, and pray over all options.
The Jets are praying they can convince him to sign now.
And the courting, the convincing is in full swing.
The Jets are willing to give Tomlinson a two-year contract equal to the two-year, $5 million-deal they would not give to departed running back Thomas Jones, now with Kansas City. They may be willing to move upwards to $3.5 million a year for Tomlinson in a contract loaded with incentives.
…
Schottenheimer is doing what he can to keep the Jets’ interest in Tomlinson keen. He coached Tomlinson in San Diego and has told the franchise that Tomlinson is a model citizen, an important factor to have on the field and in the locker room and a dependable player. He is reminding Tomlinson that since the Jets and Chargers offensive systems and terminologies are similar, the learning curve for the player will be smaller than that with other potential suitors.
“We’ve done the homework and he still has that burst when he is on the perimeter, and though his instincts as a back used to be 10 times better than everyone else, it is still a couple of times better than most,” a Jets executive source said. “He would give us that change of pace back after you pound it and pound it with Shonn. If LaDainian stays healthy, you put him in some of the same situations our other backs were in last year with this offensive line and you will see even bigger production.
“I know he wants to win a championship and that factors heavily into his decision. We think we can accomplish that together.”
favre trade got the most
Daniel
Believe it or not, Tanny might not look at it- but I bet people from the organization do to gauge the pulse of the fanbase…
When the unpopular move to let TJ go happened, the next day or so it came out that the Jets might be looking to bring him back again…
I mean Casserly lost his job for getting Mario Williams (which he was right about) because the fanbase was up in arms
Even when Mangini became wildly unpopular here, he was gone…I dont know it for a fact but I think that someone somewhere from the Jets at least looks to judge how the team is being viewed by its fans
according to my same friend ty law is a real nice guy too
wave
AFC championship this year. It was RIDICULOUS…I must have posted a 100 times myself bro
Has he left yet????????
rusty
Thats not a bad point. Selvie got a TON of attention after that year and it allowed J PP to be turned loose a little bit.
The knock on Selvie is he is not as quick as you would like a pass rusher who is not that big to be, but he was very productive in college.
People just fall in love with guys who have long arms and display some athleticism at the DE position, but if they dont have the heart, instincts or technique they wind up like Ghost…JPP could def fit that mold
i have a feeling gholston might finally come out of his shell this year…cause out of fear if he dont play well he will be cut and playing in the canadian league…i hope i am right cause that would be really huge for our d…either way we have to draft a pass rusher
wow jus found out not also welker recovering from the knee injury he also has a torn rotator cuff
ridinmywave,
I believe the most comments TJB has had was during the AFC Championship gamethread which had 1,249 comments.
rusty-you are right 100%
If Ghost can step up and become a guy who gets 5 sacks a year, this defense will go up yet another level and it will save his career
Rex and Tanny have publicly stated that this is a make or break year for him…all we can do is pray that the light goes on
But yes, we have to draft a pass rusher because even if Gholston becomes a good 3-4 end, he was still drafted to be an edge rusher and unfortunately that experiment is over
Have a feeling that the guy Rex wants to be “that guy”, will turn out to be “that guy” this time
dude I heard Welker is out until AT LEAST Halloween this year- the Pats invinciblity has officially crumbled in the AFC East
A lot of you are missing the point here. We are looking for a receiving back from third downs cause greene is our man on first and second. Tomlinson has fantastic hands, much better than thomas jones or greene. So for those of you saying tomlinson is not an upgrade over jones, i would say in terms of a receiving back he is, not even close.
plus everyone talking about westerman too… he had a sack against the texans and was never heard from again does anyone know why he didnt crack the rotation after???
i was tryin to say be4 on 3rd downs this year we can have LT leon braylon keller and cotch all on the field at the sametime which is pretty scary…plus one of sanchezs bright spots las year was his 3rd down conversions…thas why i feel no matter how old he is and how little gas he got in the tank LT should still be a great pickup for that reason alone
LT can also pickup blitzes…he is a very smart player in that regard
Sign LT already!!!! The guy is still a great RB!!!!
Most fans realize that LT is done — Turn him over. To pay him more than TJ is a joke. Schottenheimer is more of a peabrain than I thought. This is like the Mets getting Willie Mays or the Knicks getting Penny. Save the money and draft a RB in the fourth round. At least that player will be in the league, in two years.
Harvlis
LT is done as a feature back in the league- he could be very effective carrying the ball around a 100 times and catching 40-50 passes.
He is not being brought in here to be a savior-just help the team in areas that TJ could not-he would never even start
I guess Brad Childress is a peabrain also…last time I checked he was going HARD after LT too…
This move is about green..Notice thomas jones did’nt sign w/minny or any other contender..He want’s the bulk of the carriers, not to be a backup..He still see’s himself as a starter..TJ was a very popular player/leader in locker room..reducing his role caused waves last year(rumors of this were given for his decreased production in a backup role to shone green).Shone green is the future..Lt I believe will flurish behind this line & he is WILLING to accept a lesser role…He is also a far superior pass catcher…Jet’s need pic’s..depth is a problem, with the limited pic’s we have had…Leon is a goner if somone gives up a 2nd rounder
as some1 said before…LT can be used perfectly out of the slot…with greene/leon in the back field…hell,we can have all 3 in on certain plays…all 3 are legit play makers…defenses wont know what to do if all 3 were on the field…imagine the possibilities…just my thoughts…
I seen the chargers signed Donald Strickland.
Eddie,
I would rather see Leon get those catches out of the backfield. $7Mil for a back who is going to run it 100 times would be a waste of money. LT is a player who is on the way down. I would rather build a backfield that will be around for more than one or two years. We need someone who can help us with the ground and pound. A back-up for Greene, if he gets hurt again or comes down with fumblitis. As for Childress, I am sure that lots of coaches and GM’s wanted Gholston, coming out of college. Who cares what others do — What is good for the future of the Jets.
With some of the other needs that the Jets have I don’t feel that picking up a “seasoned” running back is what we need. As an example, when Curtis Martin, who I liked, was at the end of his career he wouldn’t fight for that extra yard anymore. In my opion it seemed like he didn’t want to get hurt anymore. I feel that LT is at that point also. I’d rather see us adress the roster spot with a rookie who wants to prove something to the world and save the money for lets say a seasoned pass rusher.
Keep in mind that unless LT still feels like he wants to prove something he knows if he signs here he’s going to have to work for his paycheck as opposed to a possible riding the coatails of a team, Vikes, where he might not have to earn his pay.
Harvlis
First off, LT is regarded as one of the top 5 pass catching backs of ALL TIME. He runs routes like a WR, can pick up blitzes, and overall just adds so much to a passing game. Not to mention, he is running behind the best o line in the NFL. That Charger o line was a finesse line, that could not move people off the ball
Childress is an established quality head coach and top notch offensive coordinator. He comes from the Andy Reid school of coaches, the guy knows who can play and cant play. Also, Gholston was a college prospect, not a PROVEN FUTURE HOFer, thats a horrible comparison…its apples and oranges
Drafting a RB in that spot is not prudent to our team. This draft is about bringing in guys to make this a defense that can win a Super Bowl by itself, circa the 01 Ravens…not about drafting a guy to play RB when we have Leon and a 22 year old stud who almost ran the Jets to the Super Bowl on his back.
LT is only being brought in to spell Greene, catch some passes, pick up blitzes and bring a veteran prescence to the backfield- you want TJ instead, thats a different story for a different time- but TJ is gone and he aint coming back, and LT may not be the smash mouth runner TJ is, but he is better in every other aspect of the game.
The team would be better because we could use that pick to draft for depth on defense or use it to move up possibly to get a pass rusher…LT gives the Jets MORE options on draft day
Eddie,
Matching the Chiefs offer for TJ was the move. Signing LT is going backwards. He is good for PSL’s and not our future. Actually, while being used poorly by Schottenheimer — Leon has a better yards per catch than LT.
My point, concerning Childress, is not that he is a bad coach. Just because he thinks that picking up LT would be good for him, does not make it good for the Jets. Using your logic — Bellichek doesn’t want LT, does that me he would be a bad pick up for the Jets.
Leon has a future — LT is over with.
Harvlis
No. It wasnt the move. TJ wanted to get paid. The Jets tried to renegotiate with him and he wouldnt do it. So when he didnt get the money that he thought he was going to get, he came back to the Jets hoping they would match. TJ is now going to play for a 4-5 win team in KC, while the Jets are still in the championship hunt. Have fun TJ- losing and running behind a makeshift o line. I guess the grass is not greener…TJ did it to himself
Secondly, Childress wants LT for the same role the Jets want him for!!! New England needs a stud RB, not a backup, they have 4 of those guys!!! Not to mention, LT hates New England, he would NEVER go there!!! I am using my logic- a good offensive team wants the same guy to backup their featured back, the same thing we want him for…
I love Leon, but seriously, dont even compare Leon to LT. LT won me a lot of dough in fantasy, and Ive seen the guy play every Sunday or Mon night for 6 years. LT is done as a feature back. But on team with an o-line that moves people off the ball-and the Jets have one like that- his YPC would go up because he could just hit the hole, instead of trying to get out of the backfield first then make yardage…
And Im not saying he would hurt tickets sales…but I am a die hard and Im not running out to invest in PSL because they signed LT. People are not that stupid
But Im telling you he can be an effective backup here, I put my name on it. And if he came here and sucked, Id be man enough to tell you I was wrong…
Eddie,
I know that you see a future Hall of Famer and you want him to regain the magic with the Jets. I promise you, I would love to see that too. I just feel that LT is going downhill, at this point in his career. Just like you, if he proved me wrong, I would be happy to admit it.
Harvlis
You’re right though…I am biased a little bit. LT was my fantasy “keeper” from when he broke out til about a year ago.
And I won money and most importantly, I won s#ittalking rights over all my buddies, as I reigned in fantasy greatness…lol
I still think there is something there…but at the same we might be getting ahead of ourselves as he might not even ever sniff being a Jet