Is There Any Truth to the Tomlinson-to-Saints Rumor?

Canal Street Chronicles

almost 3 years ago Dave Cariello 6 comments 0 recs |

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Short Answer

LT will demand big money and to be the starter. Reggie Bush couldn’t produce as the number 1 guy ever. He only did well when splitting carries with a power back (Deuce and Pierre Thomas). Signing LT means a bunch of money given up to an unproven guy (meaning he hasn’t proven that he’s not done) that puts Thomas on the bench. Wouldn’t work.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Mar 9, 2009 10:13 AM PDT reply actions

Not that it matters

but Peter King thinks it’s perfect in his MMQB column today

by matthewverygood on Mar 9, 2009 10:34 AM PDT reply actions

From King

I think LaDainian Tomlinson to the Saints makes all the sense in the world. Pierre Thomas takes 10 utilitarian carries a game, Reggie Bush gets 15 touches, and Tomlinson fulfills the Fred Taylor role — the veteran who one game might carry it 23 times and the next might touch it six times. That’d keep him fresh and productive.

The same team that had 24.9 carries per game last year? They’re going to run anywhere from 31 to 48 times?

Isn’t this the same team that had a QB throw for more than 5,000 yards last year and over 4,000 for each of the three years with the team? And isn’t this the same Reggie Bush that has struggled as a number 1 RB because he cannot run up the gut? And isn’t this the same LT that believes he should be paid as the number 1 RB in the league? I feel like LT won’t play second (or third) fiddle, won’t take less money to play with NO (why would he take less money there when he wouldn’t take less money here?) and the offense wouldn’t work when your top 2 RBs are too small or broken down to even create a threat of running up the middle.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Mar 9, 2009 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Then he said

I think Tomlinson staying in San Diego makes no sense. He’ll never be a 300-carry guy again, and A.J. Smith cannot pay for production of two and three years ago.

Peter King boggles my mind sometimes.

So let’s get this straight. AJ cannot afford to pay him for production of two or three years ago. So Peter agrees that LT should take a pay cut. But based on the previous comment about the Saints, he believes Tomlinson will turn down the restructured deal and get cut….only to sign up to be the 3rd guy in the Saints backfield (with Bush, who makes good money also) for less money? Or does he think New Orleans is going to give Tomlinson 18 mil/3 years to be the backup?

LT in San Diego makes great sense…for less money. If LT leaves, fine. Then it’s a money thing and he’ll probably be signing with whoever is willing to give him the most money/years. That’s not going to be the Saints, right? It’s going to be the Lions or the Browns or someone who desperately needs a RB and desperately needs a big name on the team.

This is why I cannot read Peter King anymore or even watch him on TV. The man is a moron. He seems to get to an issue, flip a coin and then say things like “Tomlinson staying in San Diego makes no sense.”

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John Gennaro on Mar 9, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, not much analysis from Mr.King

We have no idea how much value LT puts on being on a single team his whole career. We also have no idea how much he might feel slighted by being the second highest paid back on a team or how much his pride might be hurt by this whole process. We can speculate, but none of us really know.

So let’s think about what we do know. Money. If it comes down to money, then it comes down to a question of whether another team is willing to pony up more than what the chargers are for a 30 year old back who’s production seems to be in a tailspin (based soley on stats). We know LT won’t be making his $6.7M this year, but all indications seem to point to his proposed base plus reasonable incentives are in that neighborhood (give or take a few million). I wonder if anyone else is willing to give him a contract that might offer him $4M+ a year? Bringing a guy like LT into a new team has a few drawbacks:
1) It will upset the existing RB applecart (e.g. Reggie Bush or the like)
2) LT now has the injury-prone label and might not give you any production
3) Since LT is a “name” pickup, the coach may feel pressured to play LT more than he would another RB (like Norv did this year even though LT was injured and Sproles could have picked up more of the slack through more of the season)
4) No future upside. LT is done in 2-3 years max

So, I wonder how much LT can get elsewhere. If I try and put myself in other teams positions, I think LT looks a lot more like Stephen Alexander at the end rather than someone who can contribute as a feature back. Obviousman mentioned the Lions or Browns and I think it would have to be someone like that who is a little desperate or someone who can fit a guy like LT into their offense in a reduced role (see Fred Taylor in NE). Without spending too much time on it, I can’t think of too many teams.

I would bet this is what has kept LT from rejecting the restructure outright. I bet he and his agent are beating the bushes trying to see what he could get.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Mar 9, 2009 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs