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Forget LDT and Westbrook, the Bears Should Bring Back Thomas Jonesby Ricky O'Donnell on February 25 at 2:45PM
Unlike the associate editor here, I've got nothing against LaDainian Tomlinson. I actually kind of like him. He single-handidly won me my first ever fantasy football championship. His electric slide video was pretty funny. He loves Walter Payton. And when he was at his peak (02-07), there wasn't a more valuable non-QB in the league.  But Tomlinson isn't close to the same player he was even two or three years ago. He wasn't even league-average as a running back last season, and he'll be 31 when next season starts. There's a reason he's a free agent, and it's because he sucks. Some are clamoring for the Bears to sign Tomlinson, but those people are not smart. If LDT is the Bears big free agent coup this offseason, they've got major problems. Brian Westbrook is a free agent, too. Again, he used to be great, now he's past 30. No thanks. I'm against signing Westbrook unless the Bears also agree to install a concussion counter in the Solider Field scoreboard like the one they had for the stupid fat guy in Not Another Teen Movie. Since that's unlikely - the Bears would never spend money on a concussion counter! - they should probably pass.  Via KSK But yes: the Bears do probably need another running back. I'm not totally giving up hope on Matt Forte yet, but his sophomore season was A-Train like. He needs help, and no, Garrett Wolfe doesn't count. The Bears can grab a running back in the third or fourth round of the draft, but this is a team that also needs o-line help and a safety or two. Plus, you know they're taking a d-end the first chance they get anyways, so this is all a moot point. But there is one running back who'll likely be available who I think could help: Thomas Jones. He's not a free agent yet, but he probably will be soon. From NJ.com: Jones, who turns 32 in August, is due to earn a $3 million roster bonus next month plus a $2.8 million base salary in 2010. The Jets want him to renegotiate his contract or they'll likely release him.We all know that there are few truths in sports, but one of them is that running backs over 30 can't get the job done anymore. This is fact 99 percent of the time, but Jones bucked the trend for the Jets last year. He rushed for a career high 1,402, average a respectable 4.2 yards per carry, and scored 14 touchdowns. He did that at age 31. This is because he's built like Shaq's character in "Steel". I think TJ should probably be able to go another year or two without a drop-off. Given his age and the fact that bigger names exist on the free agent market, I doubt Jones would want too huge of a contract. Would he come back to the Bears after they screwed him over for Cedric Benson? That's another question. But his teammates loved him when he was here, and a few of them are still around. It'd be a good way for the Bears to right a past wrong, and get another back to split carries with Fortre. Is anyone against this? |
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And there you go.
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/02/biggs-bears-unlikely-to-bring-back-jones.html
Haha. Hmmmm, well...
"Why not the Bears? Well, for a number of reasons. First, if Jones is cut, he's going to want to be paid. If the Bears are seeking a complement to Forte, that's not going to happen."
Who's gonna pay a 32-year old running back big money, though? My guess would be: no one.
"Second, to bring Jones back would be to admit a terrible blunder in the first place."
It was obviously a terrible mistake, so I don't see what the big deal here is.
"Third, Jones might not be the ideal back for Martz's system. A healthy Westbrook, though, would be ideal. Jones would figure to be an ideal fit for Miami if the Dolphins let Ronnie Brown go. He'd also look pretty good in Philadelphia or New England."
Because Jones isn't a great receiver out of the backfield? I suppose that's true, but Forte will be the starter regardless and he is a good receiver/blocker.
I kinda feel like it would still make sense.
Signing LT2 is not a good idea "because he sucks" is not a good enough reason for me. Especially coming from the guy who just wrote the Sox offense has more question marks because Jermaine Dye wasn't resigned.
His numbers were not great last year. That is true. But you are talking about a top 5 running back of all-time, coming in and helping a backfield that had a guy named "Kahlil Bell" as their spell back last year. He is instantly better than Kevin Jones, Garrett Wolfe and Adrian Peterson, and I would be willing to say that even a 35-year-old LT is still better than those three.
There is zero risk involved in bringing him in. The Bears have way too much cap space for them not to address the running back position.
He is a very similar style back of Forte (but can actually get into the endzone on goalline attempts), and fits this "Mike Martz" mold that seems to be sweeping over.
Thomas Jones would work too, but would come at more of a cost AND would probably take away more carries from the future, Forte. Let's not forget Jones was running behind the best offensive line in football. He won't be seeing any holes with Kreutz and Garza lined up next to each other.
Also, since the Bears have two less picks this year, spending any of which on a tailback, with such a deep free agent pool, and with the thought that you already have the running back of the future, would seem a waste.
I am not saying that LT2 will come in and bust out for 1,000 yards and 10 TD. However, this play doesn't hurt the team at all. He fits a mold, he has a big resume and he fills a roster position all better than any free agent/third-round pick could.
Ok so, my reasoning for Jones over Tomlinson: a) You're for sure right about the Jets' o-line compared to the Bears' o-line, but I do believe, right now, TJ > LDT. Just my opinion. But I'll actually go the other way with two points you made: b) I think Tomlinson would cost more money, and c) I think he would take more carries away from Forte than Jones would, since, like you said, he's one of the five best backs ever or whatever.
Alright, point taken. I guess what I am saying is that they can all be grouped together. None of those three guys would be any worse than the other two for the Bears... aka they would all work or none of them would work.
Jermaine Dye
"There's a reason he's a free agent, and it's because he suck."
Classic
Watch the Vikings pick him up. What a three headed monster that would be with Favre, Peterson, and Jones.