Childress Claims Tomlinson Would Get Near Equal Billing With Peterson

LaDainian Tomlinson met with the Vikings for two days this week, but ended up leaving yesterday without an official contract offer. The former Charger will meet with the Jets today. Still, there’s a possibility LT could sign with the Vikings, presumably to fill the role formerly held by Chester Taylor, who last week signed with the division rival Bears.↵

↵↵Though perhaps matters are not that simple, should he join Minnesota. While most would assume Tomlinson would take on a clearly subordinate position to incumbent every-down running back Adrian Peterson, head coach Brad Childress intimated otherwise in a radio interview this morning with local station KFAN.↵

↵↵⇥“I really look at it as a guy that if we were fortunate enough to get him, we would have a 1 and 1A,” Childress said.↵↵↵This could simply be a ploy by the coach to give Tomlinson the impression that he would be better appreciated and utilized with the Vikings than the Jets, even though a team with Shonn Greene as its top back might need a quality backup more than one with Peterson. Or it could be a way to put a little pressure on Peterson to further address his fumbling issues during the offseason, a matter the team has already said that it is studying. Or it could be that Childress really, truly meant it. In practice, however, Childress’ sincerity would fade quickly. Fumbling issues aside, it’s obvious that favoring Tomlinson at the sake of Peterson’s potential touches would be a downgrade for the offense. Either way, it’s rendered moot if Tomlinson finds the Jets’ offer too good to pass up.↵

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