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NFL Notebook: Still no decision from Tomlinson
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LaDainian Tomlinson flew home to San Diego Saturday to consider his options after spending a day with the New York Jets and leaving without a deal.
The free agent -- the eighth-leading rusher in NFL history -- was on a flight Saturday morning after his visit.
He arrived in New Jersey Thursday night after meeting with the Minnesota Vikings and spent Friday touring the Jets' facility in Florham Park. He had dinner with coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and other team officials, who tried to persuade him to join an offense ranked No. 1 in rushing last season.
It was uncertain if Tomlinson would decide between the Jets and Vikings or visit other teams. He has not commented on his plans or visits with the Jets and Vikings.
Tomlinson, who has rushed for 12,490 career yards, will turn 31 in June and was released by the Chargers last month after his least productive season. He ran for 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry, all career lows. Tomlinson scored 12 touchdowns, but his role was reduced in an offense geared toward quarterback Philip Rivers and the passing game.
Technically, only $19.9 million in the blockbuster Julius Peppers contract is guaranteed, but the reality is Peppers will be a Bear for at least three seasons.
Peppers' $91.5 million, six-year contract has $42 million guaranteed against injury, but the number that needs to be remembered is $40.5 million over the first three seasons. That's how this contract shakes out. He's 30 and, if he's still playing at an All-Pro level in 2013, when his base salary is $12.9 million, Chicago will pay him or work to restructure the deal.
As was pointed out in Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Talk earlier this week, the Bears technically can get out of the deal after this season. But Peppers is not tied to general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith; he is tied to the McCaskeys, who are not going to pay him $20 million for just one season when they can add another two years for $20.5 million.
Free-agent center Kevin Mawae was unanimously re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association during the union's board of player representatives meeting.
Mawae, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, will serve his second consecutive two-year term beginning this season after players voted Saturday in Maui. The 16-year veteran spent the past four seasons playing with the Tennessee Titans.
Mawae's re-election comes at a crucial time for the union and the NFL as this season is the league's first without a salary cap since 1993. The current collective bargaining agreement expires in March 2011, and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has characterized the possibility of a work stoppage as a "14" on a scale of 1 to 10.
Free-agent quarterback Jake Delhomme, released last week after seven seasons with the Carolina Panthers, agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. ... The Seattle Seahawks finally stepped into the free-agent marketplace, agreeing to terms with tight end Chris Baker. ... The Washington Redskins re-signed Will Montgomery, a restricted free agent who started three games at right guard last season.
First Published March 14, 2010 12:00 am
