On Thursday, former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson will take the first free-agency visit of his nine-year NFL career, in a place where there’s slightly less sunshine during football season than San Diego.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that a deal could be done quickly, if an agreement can be reached regarding the amount of money he’ll make, and the amount of playing time he’ll receive.
In our view, the Vikings should make no commitments regarding playing time, other than to tell L.T. that playing time will be determined for each player based on the best interests of the team as judged on a game-by-game, situation-by-situation basis. The magnitude of the contract speaks volumes about the extent to which a player will be used, so if L.T. is happy with the dollars it stands to reason that he eventually will be happy with the touches.
Any other approach would set the stage for potential pouting and other problems if L.T. doesn’t believe he’s getting the kind of attention that he thought he was promised in March. And while the Vikings need a quality backup to Adrian Peterson, they definitely don’t need a guy sulking behind a dark purple visor during the 2010 playoffs, or sooner.
This is purely conjecture from the Star Tribune writer…..I doubt LT has made any kind of demands of any kind yet. If he did, then Minnesota must be ok with it at least partially as they are allowing him to visit tomorrow. The more likely scenario is they haven’t even gotten to that stage yet and will go over all issues on his visit.
Haha LT is proving just how classy he is. He doesnt deserve any playing time when he is on the same roster as Peterson. God this is going to be great to hear him complaining next year.
Get it done, Vikes! How is this not an upgrade over Chester Taylor? We thought we had the best 1-2 backfield last year? It will be indisputable with AP and LT.
Yeah, because the Vikings have certainly put their foot down when it comes to dealing with Favre. Oh wait, they don’t, and haven’t. They let Favre do whatever the heck he wants, and we all know that Favre is ans always has been such a model citizen.
He’ll play one season, spending most of his time on the bench, and then be out of football by 2011. How often do you see a star running back go to a new team this late in his career and have any success?
He can sit on the bench behind Peterson, let the tears flow and get paid a lot of money for it. Should be happy any team wants him at this point.
At this stage in his career, he should absolutely be OK with a back up role, especially considering he has a chance to win a Super Bowl. Will he be OK with a back up role? To be determined…. Two Texas Natives in the backfield has some definite sex appeal to it.
Really, they’ll reach an agreement if they can agree on money and playing time? No kidding. In other shocking news, tomorrow is Thursday.
Maybe he can teach AP how to hold onto the dang football?!?! That would be worth a 7 digit deal by itself!!!
Why do my fellow Vikes fans want this guy so bad?
He is done………Taylor had much more upside than LT at this point in their careers.
If they sign LT for the same or more than Chicago paid Taylor Chilly should be fired.
he brings nothing to the table. This team is poised, we have greater needs at Db and OL.
Just don’t understand the love affair…………
it would be nice to have LT and AP in the same backfield. But they don’t need to have a cry baby! He must under stand his role, and be a team player.
I think this could be a good move, better than Westbrook. But for anyone to say that the Vikes will not put their foot down for a certain player (4), Are you saying that LT is demanding something? The “strib” writer is guessing in his asssesment. Now after what a certain player (4) did last year, hell, I would let the guy take the entire summer and camp off, Why not? He did just fine with that approach last year did he not? Did better than 28 other qb’s in getting his team to the NFC championship game……go worry about your team, take your own inventory you idiots…..
@DRP -
I think you identified exactly what makes this potential deal so unique! I’m not sure any other free agent would consider these items when signing with a team.
This would be a smart move by the Vikes in many ways.
1. Because LT thinks like a starter, he’ll be motivated believing he’s one AP fumble away from starting.
2. Because AP knows LT, Adrian will be motivated believing he’s one fumble away from LT starting.
3. Brett Favre won’t be able to resist the idea playing with the “two best RB’s of the past decade”, and will come back in 2010.
4. Brett Favre will know he has an accomplished receiving RB on 3rd down, who will hold onto that ball when the game is on the line against Pittsburgh.
5. The NFL will love having Brett, AP, LT, and Jarod Allen on the same team and we might finally get some calls our way in the playoffs.
Sodaknick- what world are you living in? AP can’t hold onto the ball, and LT has DOUBLE the amount of carries as TAYLOR. CT is going to blow-up in Martz’s offense, while LT will fade away being the oft-ignored backup for AP.
I second this…
> cballlv11 says:
> March 10, 2010 10:40 AM
> Maybe he can teach AP how to hold onto the
> dang football?!?! That would be worth a 7
> digit deal by itself!!!
If LT wants his ring he’ll take whatever deal we give him…otherwise he can go hang in Seattle with TJ!
I am surprised no picked up on the irony of this situation yet. This past season L.T was complaining about being a better all around back (and the best in the game) than AP. Now, potentially, he’ll be backing him up. In the end it won’t matter, because unlike what Sodaknick proclaims will be ‘indisputably the best backfield in the NFL’ will consist of a has-been and a guy who can’t hold onto the football for his life. That’s a winning combo if there ever was one.
You guys now have your choice of Yale or Harvard or even being a Rhodes Scholar with the comment that if they agree on money and amount of playing time, I sure wish I could get paid for such insight. I think the Vikings management will read and accept your views.
Hopefully he can teach Adrian how to hold on to the frickin football.
Stop it! This guy is not LT. He is a guy whose name is hard to pronounce for lazy and illiterate fans and sportwriters. There is only ONE LT, and he is in the Hall of Fame.
He’s not gonna get a whole lot of either in MN I bet.
JAG880 says:
March 10, 2010 10:25 AM
How often do you see a star running back go to a new team this late in his career and have any success?
==================================
I can think of a few: Marshall Faulk, Otis Anderson, Marcus Allen, Corey Dillon. I would think LT is above and beyond your level.
L.T to Seattle…done deal
stetai says:
March 10, 2010 10:50 AM
5. The NFL will love having Brett, AP, LT, and Jarod Allen on the same team and we might finally get some calls our way in the playoffs.
——————————-
Oh boo hoo! I’m not saying that there weren’t some bad calls in the championship game, but you act like this is something new in the NFL. Ref’s have been making bad calls forever. THEY’RE HUMAN! There were some bad calls too that didn’t go the Saints way. I’m sure there were some calls that didn’t go noticed that helped the Vikings throughout the year too. If the Vikings are as good as they’re claimed to be, they should have been good enough to overcome it. That’s the NFL.
If the hillbilly didn’t throw a pick, run an extra 10 yards, and Longwell kick a game winning field goal, not ONE Viking fan would be bitching about bad calls. You’re only mad because you didn’t win the game. Get over it! You all say Packer fans cry, but Viking fans are just as bad.
For all those expert analysts, why make it so difficult, other than to intentionally trying to stir the pot. The simple fact that LT is going to visit Minny implies that he understands what his role would be on the Vikings (a backup to the best pure RB in the NFL) and by understanding that, it stands to reason that he understands the pay range of a backup. This expert thinks the main motivation for LT to even visit the Vikings is his desire to win a SB and to play on a SB caliber team. I don’t think it takes an Einstein to figure this out.
JAG-
Corey Dillion says hi
Sulking during the 2010 playoffs? Oh I get it, another assumption or prediction? They gonna play the Skins in the NFC Championship game Florio?
In related news, Tomlinson is scheduled to visit the Farve compound in Hattiesburg,Ms. to consult with Brent on chainsaw technique, tractor selection, and “nutritional supplements”. Tomlinson is also reported to have an interest in the pair of testicles that are swinging from the rear view mirror of Farve’s F150.
Emoney says: Oh boo hoo! I’m not saying that there weren’t some bad calls in the championship game, but you act like this is something new in the NFL. Ref’s have been making bad calls forever. THEY’RE HUMAN!
An occasional bad call made in the heat of the action is understandable and, while hard to swallow for the aggrieved team, is acceptable. Everyone understands that. But, in the NFC title game, numerous flagrant cheap shots on Favre weren’t called, a bad call that was reviewed and shown to be a bad call was upheld (see the OT “catch” by Meachum) and a questionable call that is not reviewed (see the OT “pass interference” by Leber) are just either corruption or gross incompetence. No one should accept the latter.
Despite committing all those unforced turnovers, the Vikings would have clearly won if the refs had been merely competent.
Who needs this washed-up overrated whiner? Why don’t the Vikes give a good look to their practice squad? IAN JOHNSON!!!
This move would be entertaining to Packer fans in many ways.
1. LT and Brent have many things in common… including crying buckets in front of the camera, coming ohh so close to the Super Bowl and not knowing for sure if they will ACTUALLY be playing in a purple uniform next season.
2. AP and LT will be fighting over who has more of a right to turn over the football.
3. If Brent does decide to play this year and he stinks up the dome- LT can fill in if and when he is benched. I think LT even has a higher career completion %.
4. This will be yet another example of how Minnesota is where old football players go to die. i.e. Herschel Walker, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon, Brent Favre, etc…
5. We’ll all get to see a shit ton of tears in the Vikings end of the season/ end of the franchise news conference.
6. If L.T. signs a multi year deal with Minny- he may end up playing back in California sooner than he thinks. L.A. Queens???
7. Apply the rule “The bigger they are, the harder they fall” (or in this case- the harder they cry).
8. I think you all get the point. The Vikings suck no matter who is behind center or in the backfield or holding the friggen clipboard… AND WE ALL THINK IT’S ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!!!!
It would be fantastic should something like this happen because of the motivation it would provide AP and LT, they want to be the best in the league, well they would have a great chance to prove it.
Anything AP can learn from LT is a HUGE plus as well. plus, LT would know he is not the feature back, and should be able to stay healthy the whole season.
TorVikeFan,
I don’t disagree, but I just don’t understand how everyone acts so shocked that this occurred. It didn’t just happen in this Viking game. It’s occurred many times in other important games, and those fans of those teams were upset as well. I’m just saying that it shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you want a perfect game called, then we should use robots. That, or in the off season, the people who decide what should be reviewed and what shouldn’t, should sit down and change the rules. Unfortunately, it’ll make the game 4 hours long instead of 3.5 hours long, maybe longer, depending on how many calls get reviewed. If I were a Viking fan, I’d be pissed too. But you can’t dwell over it. You’ll drive yourself insane.
And even though it was the championship game, and I understand the importance of it, it shouldn’t be looked at any differently than a regular season game as far as importance. Example: if say, the Broncos and Chargers are fighting for their division title that will allow only one of the two teams to get into the playoffs, and a bad call occurs(i.e. Ed Hocculli), it could hurt their chance of advancing into the playoffs. Again, it happens all of the time, whether it be the regular season, playoffs, or super bowl.
Bob Nelson = Charlie Wood= Waaaay to much time on his hands = waaay too much ignorance to sustain life.
Come to La crosse Wisconsin Bob/Charlie.
They are shoving ignorant people like you in the Mississippi.
No one would miss you, I’m positive of that.
Charlie Wood = Complete moron.
You can tell right away that you’re dealing with a moron when they think they’re being witty by calling Brett, Brent. Of course it loses some of it’s luster when the guy they’re making fun of was one of the top qb’s in the league last year.
And please don’t say we…..you don’t speak for anyone else, except maybe the other morons who are prognosticating the Viking’s demise…..yet again.
Judd = Captain Obvious
“Money, playing time are the keys to possible L.T. deal in Minny”
Has an NFL player ever had a “playing time” clause written into their contract?????????
I’m going to be laughing my ass off if LT signs and Brett Farve doesn’t return.
CharlieWood goes into the restroom at Lambeau Field and sees this fat guy standing next to the urinal. The guy has no arms. As Charlie’s standing there, taking care of business, he wonders to himself how the poor wretch is going to take a leak.
Charlie finishes and starts to leave when the man asks him to help him out. Being a kind soul, Charlie says, “Ah, OK, sure, I’ll help you.”
The man asks, “Can you unzip my zipper?”
Charlie says, “OK.”
Then the man says, “Can you pull it out for me?”
Charlie replies, “Uh, yeah, OK.”
Charlie Wood pulls it out and it has all kinds of mold and red bumps, with hair clumps, rashes, moles, scabs, scars, and reeks something awful. Then the guy asks him to point it for him, and Charlie points for him. Charlie then shakes it, puts it back in and zips it up.
The guy tells Charlie, “Thanks, man, I really appreciate it.”
Charlie says, “No problem, but what the hell’s wrong with your penis?”
The guy pulls his arms out of his shirt and says, “I don’t know, but I ain’t touching it.”
Sixth grader Charlie Wood comes home after school one day. His mother notices that he’s got a big smile on his face. She asks, “Did anything special happen at school today?”
“Yes, Mom. I had sex with my English teacher!”
The mother is stunned. “You’re going to talk about this with your father when he gets home.”
Well, when dad comes home and hears the news he is pleased as punch. Beaming with pride, he walks over to his son and says, “Son, I hear you had sex with your English teacher.”
“That’s right, Dad.”
“Well, you became a man today Charlie Wood – this is cause for celebration. Let’s head out for some ice cream, and then I’ll buy that new bike you’ve been asking for.”
“That sounds great, Dad, but I can I have a football instead? My ass is killing me.”
I don’t see this working at all. On that note I hope they sign him. And pay up to do so.
peckerlover- All the Vikings have is demise… there is no predicting what has already taken place. As far as Favre being one of the top QBs last year… WHO CARES!?? In the end- he was just like Mamma Cass… CHOKE!!
Calling Brett “Brent” is a sign if disrespect. I don’t respect Favre one bit. He stated so many times that he would NEVER play for anyone other than Green Bay. He stated so many times that he was retired. He lied soooooo many times. If not for the fans- Brett Favre = Broke Farmer. He screwed us over, SO SCREW BRENT FARVE AND THE TRACTOR HE RODE INTO MINNESOTA ON. He’s a bumb and you deserve him.
I have to admit one thing though… that pick he through to Tracy Porter was CLASSIC.
Not surprisingly, Vikings coach Brad Childress, who visited Favre at his Hattiesburg, Miss., home last week, is giving the quarterback all the time he needs to make a decision.
Favre and Childress are perfect for each other, which means sometime in August, Favre will decide to come back and Childress will be waiting to pick him up at the Minneapolis airport.
Why would Favre retire? As he did with the Packers two years ago, Favre guided the Vikings to overtime in the NFC championship game, and only a devastating late-game interception kept his team out of the Super Bowl. Surely Favre doesn’t want to end his 19-year career on such a sour note.
Unlike Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, Childress won’t require Favre to attend offseason workouts. Favre can show up late in the summer, collect a $13 million salary for six months of work and have the chance to play for a championship contender.
It’s a dream scenario, and assuming Favre remains healthy, there is no way he can walk away from that.
So you might as well start preparing now for the inevitable hype that will engulf the Packers-Vikings rivalry again this season. Those are the only two teams that really matter in the NFC North.
I don’t get how anyone could think this is a bad thing. Who cares if hes washed up, hes playing third down we arent signing him to take all the carries for our team, all he has to do is block, catch, and get like 5-10 carries a game.
And Charlie Wood that would be “that pick he THREW to tracy porter” god people from wisconsin are dumb
Hey Charlie Wood, you’re saying Brett “lied” when he said he’ll never play for a team other than the Packers? Grow up you moron.
As for this insinuation that I keep reading on occasion that Brett is on HGH or something, what do you base this on? And if you’re trying to point the finger at a 40 year old QB with a normal looking body, you are revealing your naivety to not understand that 95% of every NFL, NBA, MBL, adultering golf player, pro-wrestler, MMA fighter, Olympic Athlete, rock star, hip-hop star, actor, and basically anyone on TV with their shirts off are all using GH.
They don’t test for it. Period. You think Shawn Merrimen and others look like monsters because of Wheaties? Don’t be so damn naive and ignorant by trying to single out Favre, like you’ve got some sort of advantage in an anti-Favre debate.
This would be a great move …for the rest of the NFC North! You can hand it to LT and get 2 yards or give it to AP who will gain you more, but fumble a few games away. That’s a great 1-2 punch!
Any packer fan that wants to comment on the vikings season last year is oblivious to the pounding you received all last year by yours truly,
Brett Favre
Didn’t win the super bowl but I’ll take brett favre coming into lambeau wearing purple laying the spank on each and every packer fan in wisconin and at lambeau that day.
I wish i could have been there to see your faces walking out of the stadium, now that would be CLASSIC
Supersuckers says:
March 10, 2010 1:05 PM
I don’t see this working at all. On that note I hope they sign him. And pay up to do so.
================================
Sure sign that it WILL work out.
Super in August 2009:
Brett Favre will never take a regular season snap for the Minnesota Vikings!
That one right there is = to all the drunk ones i came up with.
tical21…
Excuse the spelling error- but i’m not from WI.
For your own English lesson, I would like to remind you that while you shouldn’t start a sentence with the word “and”, you also should not place a comma after the word “and” (unless it’s in quotes). Secondly, the word “God” should be capitalized. Lastly- there is this little thing called an “apostrophe” that’s used to mark omissions and possessives of nouns. It’s like a comma but up a little higher. Examples of these would be “he’s washed up” and “aren’t”. Get your own shit straight before you call me out.
Just to make this lesson feel a little more “at home” for you… I would like to remind you that this lesson was brought to you today by the number “4″ and the letter “S”.
I didnt know he was a kaniving diva until then. I was wrong.
Charlie Wood says
“Just to make this lesson feel a little more “at home” for you… I would like to remind you that this lesson was brought to you today by the number “4″ and the letter “S”.”
——
You aren’t referring to “S4″ where they hold some of the greys and their saucers are you?
charger fan here. some of you really don’t get it. all top athletes are selfish to a degree. it’s part of what makes them great. but this article has no sources quoted so i call bs. with that said, LT is not done by any means. he is not the guy who scored 31TDs in 2006 anymore for sure. but the chargers completely went away from the run game since turner has been coach. his stats have dropped since as River’s have climbed. just like AP’s did this past season with brett around. the shift to the passing game has exaggerated his decline. when it comes down to it, the still man knows how to score. 12 TDs despite a career low in carries. 153 career TDs w/27 fumbles in 9 years. AP has 41 TDs w/20 fumbles in 3 years. i think LT will make AP better by being there in many ways. and the pouting thing? wouldn’t you be pissed if you couldn’t play in the AFC title game? give me a break.
Supersuckers says:
March 10, 2010 2:55 PM
I didnt know he was a kaniving diva until then. I was wrong.
==================================
With some of the crap you have been posting the last few days, i’d get used to saying and typing that last sentence…….A lot.
@Charlie Wood. This is PFT not English class. You can hate Favre all you want but Vikings fans love him. Keep the hate up buddy, it eats the soul. Lol. Back to the post at hand. I agree with everything Florio says in this post. If they end up paying a little more for LT than Chester Taylor who really cares?? No cap this year plus we are talking about LT, a guy who, some of these same fans hating on the Vikings argued was a better running back than AD, just last year. LT always struck me as a guy who was confident in his skills but was also a team first guy. In his exit interview after being released by the Chargers he said he felt he was a guy who could go to a championship contender and help mentor a young guy. LT to the Vikings is a match made in heaven.
I didnt know he was a kaniving diva until then. I was wrong.
Charlie Wood / Bob Nelson/ Supersuckers/ – do you do this ALL DAY for entertainment? Or just a few minute break from the porn to give your tool a rest?
Tomlinson would be the missing piece of the puzzle fer shure. Unless Randy Moss is. Just what the lads in lavender need – a few more egos too large to fit under the Humpty Dump.
Personally I think the LT thing is blown out of proportion based on his hall of fame career. He’s still a solid player that can be a good complimentary back. He is not as washed up as some say but he also is only a shadow of his former self. It would be a nice pickup for the Vikings. Obviously the fact that LT is going there means the guy is prepared to play second fiddle. If he wanted to be a starter there are two teams he’d stay away from and the Vikes are one of them…
On a side note. Do you Packer fans realize that signing Brett was just awesome for us? I am really beginning to wonder if you all are Vikes fans in disguise building straw arguments to make the Pack fanbase look stupid. I mean your posts almost seem to indicate that Brett made our season suck, attendance low, bad ratings, no wins, playoff suckage, etc.
It is great that you hold us with such high esteem that anything short of undefeated season with super bowl crown is chokeage. We truly are flattered. But honestly at some point you must come to grips with the fact that last season was very awesome and memorable for us on the whole, regardless of how it ended. Because we will be talking about it for a long, long time.
You know, that year that Brett came to town and we crushed the packers twice and embarrassed Dallas in the playoffs. Remember? We always will.
And the guy is probably coming back for another awesome season or three as well. By the time he is done playing you will have to realize that you drafted his replacement when he still had 8 very productive years left. No wonder he hates your org.
Cannon… How many times do I have to tell you people???
I DON’T HATE THE VIKINGS. I actually love them because- between their fanbase and roster… they’re a bunch of retards, retreads, jackoffs, castoffs, rapists, retirees, misfits & morons. From owner to coach, player to bus driver… the entire organization seems to be perennially composed of a bunch of losers. Unless the fanbase is composed of the entire bunch of Jerry’s Kids- how can any one of them expect their team to win?? I have never seen a working equation where the formula is as follows:
Loser + Loser + Losers = Winnings it all.
Therefor- I love ‘em. I never have had to worry about them accomplishing their dream of one day winning a Super Bowl. It’s never happened and never will. Keep dreaming window lickers… keep dreaming.
As far as Favre is concerned- I don’t hate him either. He’s actually my favorite player of all time. I just no longer respect the man. A real man can cry in front of a national audience… but they’re still a pussy when they do.
sando… I understand that you hold last season in such high reguard. You’ve had to settle for mediocrity for so long that it actually tickled you to get one, maybe two plays away from getting to the SB. Being it that you got that far because your arch rivals castaway actually joined your team in an act of revenge- well… that speaks volumes as to how pathetic your franchise is. But hey… one man’s junk is another’s treasure.
Let’s not forget now… the Vikings are not even the Pack’s arch rival. The Bears are. I even consider the Cowboys as a more disliked rival than the Queens. You guys are like sand flies… annoying but insignificant. Remember that.
Yes please take him…as a Packer fan I love to see insignificant players taking up roster spots on any time in our way. I live near San Diego and it’s been comical to see what he’s become.
they definitely don’t need a guy sulking behind a dark purple visor during the 2010 playoffs, or sooner.
—————————————–
Amen to that Florio.
Only an idiot would want LT on their roster, wait, Childress is the head coach….never mind.
Charlie Wood,
The Packers have exactly one super bowl more than the Vikings in the last 40 years. Do you even realize that? The Vikings have won more games, more head to heads, and more divs in that 40 year time frame and played in more super bowls. I am not saying we are better or you suck. In fact one look at career winning percentages will tell you both teams have historically been better than the curve. But your sense that we are so mediocre and that you are so glorious is simple delusion and nothing more. You have to be able to see that right?
The Bears are not your chief rival. That has historically been the case. But it is NOT true right now. Do you not even know your own fanbase as well as I do? Granted I am basing rivalry on hate factor and game ratings and spam you dump in other teams threads.
Bottom line is we own your little butts right now. It isn’t the case every year, but right now we just got done thoroughly embarrassing you with Brett slapping asses and having a blast along the way. Your team had the opportunity to spin the Brett thing right in our faces and come out on top. But they crumbled and failed. Glory was ours. Get some.
Sorry sando- but you don’t own squat… in fact- you’re about to be kicked out of your own Humpty Dump. The Brett “thing” spun itself into the arms of Tracy Porter. Watching all you little Queens fans sob in your Busch Light was PRICELESS.
And btw… Yes. The Chicago Bears are our Arch Rival. We dislike them the most… listen to the coaches, players and fans you nitwit. You can’t just place yourselves there. YOU’RE INSIGNIFICANT.
A wise man once said don’t argue with fools. LT comes to Minneapolis tomorrow. Here’s to hoping he signs on the dotted line and becomes the newest member of the Minnesota Vikings.