Agreed. His leadership in the locker room for such a young group of guys is huge. I've also been arguing this offseason that he'll be an incredibly valuable resource as far as training is concerned for Greene and McKnight. The problem is, I'm not sure he works with them until he knows he'll be playing out his contract. I'd love to see Greene and McKnight learn how LT trains each offseason. We'll all see the benefits.
The only question is going to be one of money. We won't get an answer on LT until we see how free agency plays out. $2.4 million isn't a ton of money, but it could be significant as part of a package to offer another player. If it comes down to it, and we need cash to sign someone like Holmes or Edwards, we save a little over $2 million by replacing LT with a UDFA.
The only way LT comes back is if Brian Stiffenheimer relaxes his obsession with a 2-back gameplan, or if the Jets just think that McKnight doesn't have it. I can't remember Schotty ever utilizing a 3 back rotation in a game. Maybe in 2006 when we didn't have a good starter.
I really like LT both as a player and as a man. I would be very pleased to see him back in whatever capacity he and the team deem appropriate.
Statistically speaking, LT can still play. His stats were slightly better than Shonn Greene's this past season.
I agree. I love LT, but it's time for him to take a greatly diminished role or retire. I'd be willing to keep him for one more year on the proviso that Schotty has a greatly reduced role for him. Maybe as the 3rd down back or to compete for the backup role. Greene should be the starter. If Greene then proves that he can't handle the workload full time, then McKnight should get a shot, but LT's playing time could increase.
This. If he could reduce is contract it could help us bring back the FAs. Even if it's only 500 grand it could help. Wishful thinking tho, he's already on a pretty small contract.
That's largely because of personnel. The expressed plan was to use a 3 back rotation each of the past two seasons, but neither back was ready immediately. In fact, in 09, even after Washington went down, Shonn saw his carries regress after the Oakland game. We were employing a very limited 2 back system at that point. It was a matter of personnel being unprepared. If McKnight is ready and the cash is available, I don't think Schotty would be averse to a 3 back system.
For you guys saying he can come back as a #3.... really? McKnight is not nearly at LT's level yet. #1 or #2 doesn't matter. Greene will do a lot of the heaving lifting, with LT getting his carries and making plays with his hands. He should definitely be brought back. I think his cap hit is around 3 mil though, so if there is a reduction to be had, maybe its there.
I want him back, he was good enough this year to bring back. he should get less carries but should still be very involved in the passing game. he was very underappreciated for what he did in the passing game.
He nearly rushed for 1,000 yards in this system, and was pretty explosive in the first few months. Also, we can't forget his leadership ability, which filled in nicely for a few key locker room losses. Wouldn't mind seeing him again.
Agree with all of this. He'd be an excellent option to get 8-10 carries and be Sanchez's security blanket on 3rd downs next year. Plus, with veterans like Woody, T-Rich, Brunell, Taylor, maybe Jenkins all heading out the door it certainly couldn't hurt to keep a respected veteran who provides leadership and can still produce on the field like LT.
Yes, although Greene's improvement as a pass catcher should be noted...as in, he actually caught the ball this season. I expect at least 25 catches for Greene next season. Would love to see LT back for 30+ more, and some for McKnight too.
That's a valid point, but some combination of Keller, McKnight, Conner and/or Brad Smith should be able to pick up those receptions. Some have commented that McKnight shouldn't be counted on. That's possibly true, but I don't think he would have seen the field at the end of the season if he hadn't won the coaches' respect. RB is the easiest position for a rookie to come in and play well. If he's not ready to be a major contributor in 2011, then he was a wasted draft pick(picks actually, since they traded up to get him). As I said earlier, I love LT, and would welcome him back in a diminished role, but his $2.4 million could go a long ways in enabling the Jets to keep their FAs that they want to retain (Edwards, Harris, Holmes, Smith, Hunter, Turner, E. Smith, etc.) or even to bring in a guy like Wimbley. The point could fairly be made that the Jets would be better off letting LT retire, using his money to keep other positions strong, and signing a cheap FA or UFA as the 3rd string RB. If they keep both Edwards and Holmes, their philosophy should switch from a "Ground and Pound" to more of a passing attack anyway. I think that was part of the problem this past season. Not only did the D not have any real identity, neither did the offense. They were supposedly "Ground and Pound" but weren't. They were neither a running nor a passing team. Flexibililty and the ability to keep opponents off balance is excellent, but one still has to have an identity, and there are times when one has to have a core strength that one counts on to succeed. I think they need to decide who they want to be before they begin signing or re-signing anyone.
He's 31 and looks like he still has plenty left in the right role. If he'd spread that $2.4M over two years instead of one, I think we'd have a big win.
“Part of it really does suck,” Tomlinson told me in a quiet moment during his “Project 21” fundraiser for his charitable foundation last night. “It really does for me. To be in limbo… sometimes, I just want to say, ‘You know what? I’m just going to retire.’” I'd be wary that comments like these are the harbinger of the butthurt version of Tomlinson that wept his way out of SD. Those aren't 'leader' comments.
