Having spent his entire nine-year NFL career with San Diego, LaDainian Tomlinson likely had forgotten what it was like to be courted by another team. That changed Wednesday when the running back began his free-agent visit with the Vikings.
"It's like recruiting all over again, like going from high school to college," Tomlinson said. "You just kind of have to get a feel and see where you fit in at and see how it goes."
After spending much of Thursday listening to the Vikings make their pitch at Winter Park, Tomlinson decided he wanted to hear what at least one other team had to say. Just after 5 p.m., Tomlinson, holding a purple Vikings jersey that might end up being nothing more than a souvenir of his trip, got into a waiting limousine outside the team's Eden Prairie facility and departed.
His next stop is scheduled for Friday in New York, where he will meet with the Jets.
"He had a good visit here," Vikings coach Brad Childress said in a text message. "He promised the Jets he'd get on the plane. He's a man of his word."
Tomlinson, who was released by the Chargers last month, told Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter that although he has tentative visits scheduled elsewhere next week -- reportedly with Philadelphia and New Orleans -- he might make up his mind on a team this weekend. The NFL's MVP in 2006 also admitted he was "really wowed" by the Vikings and "could see himself playing" in Minnesota.
Tomlinson said Wednesday that he would have no issue serving as Adrian Peterson's backup and added that he was not averse to moving into the third-down role that Chester Taylor held before signing with Chicago.
Tomlinson even talked about how he could help Peterson, who will be entering his fourth season. "I think as far as learning how to be a professional on and off the field," said Tomlinson, who will turn 31 in June.
"Having been through a lot of stuff that he's going through, I could kind of help him go through it without any headaches. Also, just the approach to the game and also the offseason. I think I could help him out a lot."
Thursday's meeting between Tomlinson and the Vikings brass likely got into the exact specifics of how he would be used in the offense. Asked what he expected out of that meeting, Tomlinson said: "I think we're just going to get in, talk about some football and stuff. Philosophies. That type of stuff."
Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, also was in Minneapolis on Thursday but part of the reason was because he provided testimony in the StarCaps case involving his client, Kevin Williams, of the Vikings. Still, it's probable contract figures have been discussed.
Rick Spielman, the Vikings vice president of player personnel, appeared on KFAN Radio on Thursday morning and acknowledged that Tomlinson might take some time to make a decision. "This could be a process that could continue on and he may want to look at both options," Spielman said. "Just because a guy comes in on a visit and we don't get something done today it doesn't mean that something won't get done down the road either."
Coming off a season in which he had career lows in rushing yards (730), carries (223) and receptions (20), Tomlinson could have an interesting choice to make if it comes down to the Vikings and Jets. Both teams were in their conference's respective championship games this past season and appear to be in solid shape.
The Jets, though, could offer Tomlinson far more carries than the Vikings. New York jettisoned Thomas Jones before he was due a $3 million roster bonus, leaving former Iowa Hawkeye Shonn Greene as the likely starter.
Said Spielman on KFAN: "The one thing that we always try to make sure of when these players come in is not only is he a good fit for us but is it a good fit for the player and does he want to be here? ... You don't want to go ahead and sign a player and force something on him and he's not totally comfortable here. Then we're not going to get the production we need out of him if he's not comfortable coming to work."