Veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson has joined the New York Jets after signing a two-year deal.
Star running back moves across country to join New York Jets
Veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson has opted to join the New York Jets after signing a two-year deal with Rex Ryan's team on Sunday.
The two-time rushing champion and 2006 league MVP also visited with the Minnesota Vikings, but chose to join last year's league-leading running attack as a free agent after being released by San Diego.
The 30-year-old ran for 12,490 yards and 153 touchdowns during his nine seasons with the Chargers, and he moved up into eighth place in the all-time rushing list.
Although coming of career lows in yardage and carries, L.T still scored 12 touchdowns last season for the Chargers and the Jets obviously feel he can add to their team.
New York released Thomas Jones recently and Tomlinson will now work behind second-year back Shonn Greene and Leon Washington, once he has regained fitness.
Offensive line
Behind such a powerful offensive line, which helped the Jets run a league-best average of 172.2 yards a game, Tomlinson can also offer a good pair of hands catching out of the backfield.
After signing a two-year contract worth over $5 million, Tomlinson joins former Chargers team-mate Antonio Cromartie in the Big Apple, with the Jets looking to go one better than last season.
Ryan's men beat San Diego before falling just a game short of a surprise Super Bowl appearance, and Tomlinson was determined to join a team capable of winning it all next season.
"He wanted to go to a team that he thought had a chance to compete for the championship," Tomlinson's agent Tom Condon told
AP.
"He wanted to go somewhere where he had a chance to have a significant role, and so with the Jets he also was going to be very familiar with the offensive system."
