The Jets, perhaps channeling that one guy in every fantasy league who picks up guys based on their reputation instead of their production, signed LaDainian Tomlinson yesterday.
Mike Salfino is down on the move:
Tomlinson has packed more action into a shorter period of time than any back ever. And his yards per carry sunk to an abysmal 3.3 in ’09 after dipping to 3.8 in ’08. His career average now sits at 4.3 but was 4.5 after ’07.
But the Chargers couldn’t run the ball last year, the optimists say. I agree. But the other Chargers backs averaged 3.9 yards in 162 carries. That’s more than a half yard better than Tomlinson, who performed almost as poorly as Jones relative to other Jets backs — Jones was 0.7 yards under Greene/Washington. Maybe Tomlinson is better than Jones after all.
But the point is, neither should be on the Jets roster. Yes, Jones has been a good back and Tomlinson a great one — a sure-fire Hall of Famer and true multi-dimensional workhorse. But gravity always wins. None of these guys will ever outrun Father Time.
My rational side agrees with Mike. Even if I’d guess Tomlinson will be a little more effective next season with the fresher legs affording him by a complementary role, I recognize that it’s not great business to go about acquiring running backs who have already flipped the odometer.
But faith in a general manager and head coach is a funny thing, and one I’m still getting used to. I’m not even certain exactly why I trust Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan so thoroughly after just one 9-7 season and a nice run of playoff success. I don’t know; I just do. And that’s not like me at all.
So though I have my doubts about the move, and I do wonder why the Jets’ braintrust would see fit to give an obviously Tomlinson more money than it would have taken to re-sign Thomas Jones, coming off a 1,402-yard season, I just kind of assume they know something I don’t.
Maybe Jones was more reluctant than we realize to take on a complementary role. Maybe they valued Tomlinson’s sure hands and familiarity with Brian Schottenheimer just that much.
Who knows? All I’m sure of is that it’s a nice feeling to not fret too much over a team’s offseason wheelings and dealings, though the Jets have made a fool of me before.
Tedquarters 
Jones had a pretty down year his first year in NY didn’t he? Leading a lot of people to think his legs were just done? Maybe the Jets doctors discovered some sort of restoration serum for old running backs.
Perhaps they will announced they’ve signed Dr. Galea as a special advisor to the team doctors.
I dont often agree with Mike Francessa, but I think he on his Mike’d up show last night on NBC nailed the reasoning on this one, that this is basically a publicity stunt. Havening LT as a backup can’t really hurt, hes not that bad, but its an attempt to get people (like that fantasy football guy drafting on reputation) to get excited. Sell some Tomlinson Jerseys, maybe he can break a few reocrds as a Jet etc.
Also any news on how/if Leon Washington is expected to return from that awful leg break?
I think the Jets signing of LT was the result of a misunderstanding. Ryan was a little out of it from the pre-surgery process and thought they asked if he wanted a BLT.
why is it that nobody acknowledges the fact that TJ was due a huge roster bonus, like 6 mil, just for 2010. We got LT for 2 years for that money. so all things considered, LT was 1/2 the price of TJ. Lets also consider TJ and Green are basically the same type of back. LT gives us more dimension.