About half an hour ago, the Chargers released former all-world RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson is just three years removed from setting the all-time single season rushing TD record, and yet he is out of a job. He also averaged 5.2 YPC that year. This year? 3.3, the worst of his career.
But fear not, LT2 fans (and his family, I presume). Someone out there will pick him up even though he is clearly just a shell of the man he used be. Here are a few teams to keep an eye on.
1. Washington Redskins – I know it’s a bit cliche to talk about Washington every time there is a big name on the market. but it’s a cliche for a reason. Not only does owner Dan Snyder love to spend money on guys past their prime, but new coach Mike Shanahan saw LT2′s skills firsthand in all his years in Denver.
2. New England Patriots – Hey, they signed Fred Taylor, why not kick the tires on another used model? Note that this only applies to a scenario where LT2 sits on the market for a while, causing the cost to go down drastically. Bill Belichick is always looking for a bargain. That’s why he only dates older women.
3. Seattle Seahawks – Their running game hasn’t been good since Shaun Alexander showed LT2 how it was done (i.e. set the rushing TD record then proceed to suck ass). Pete Carroll also might be looking for a big splash to make in his first year to show fans he means business.
4. Houston Texans – They are on the cusp of being contenders, and their running game is a mess. Would another cog alongside Steve Slaton, Chris Brown, and Ryan Moats really help things? Probably not. But never underestimate the desperation of a team trying to catch the Colts.
5. Cleveland Browns – They just put Jamal Lewis into the airlock and jettisoned him out of Cleveland, so they need someone to tote the rock. And at some point, don’t they realize that they are the Browns and say “f*ck it” and take every swing for the fences they can?