By now, someof you may know my philosophy on aging running backs. They're kind of like passing a hitchhiker atnight. No matter what they look like, it's probably best to keep right on driving.
The free-agent market for running backs will befullof big names such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Jamal Lewis,Larry Johnson, Willie Parker, etc.
The Jets say they're adding Thomas Jones to the list on Thursday.
Yes, the same Jones who had a career-high 1,420 yards rushing and a career-high 14 rushing touchdowns on the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL.
But he's also the same Jones who turns 32 on Aug. 19, and the same Jones who is due a $3.3 million bonus if the Jets don't whack him before the start of free agency.
With Shonn Greene and Leon Washington, it's a no-brainer for the Jets.
No way Jones gets the kind of money I'm sure he's looking for in free agency. Sorry, but that's just the nature of the running back position. At running back, it's now what you've done lately, it's what do you have left?
It will be interesting to see how teams will judge Jones versus the Vikings' Chester Taylor. Despite the2009 stats that are lopsided in Jones' favor, I'd argue that Taylorcould be the more attractiveof the two.
Jones turns 32 before the season starts. Taylor turns 31 onSept. 22.
Joneswill be in his 11th season and has 2,280 career carries with a 4.0-yard average. Chester will be in his ninth season and has 1,028 carries with a 4.3-yard career average.
Jones had 331 carries last season. Chester had 94.
Jones has had five consecutive 1,100-yard seasons.The only time Taylor topped 1,000 was in 2006 when he rushed for more than 1,200 yards.
Jones has had the better past. But it's possible that given the chance toplay a bigger role, Taylorhasthe better future.The onlytime Taylor had that opportunity was 2006, theyear before Adrian Peterson showed up.
I'm sure the Vikings are glad to see Jones enter the marketand give teams looking forrunning backs another option besides Taylor.The Vikings want Taylor back desperately.
Taylor or Jones? Looking back, it's easy to pick Jones. Looking ahead whilefactoring in what age and wear and tear does to a running back, it's a lot tougher choice. I wouldn't break the bank on either of them given their ages.
. Anybody else happy the combine is over? Of course, now we have to hear about what the combine workouts did to everybody's draft stock. I'm sorry, but I have a hard time declaring that this guy leaped over that guy or this guy fell behind that guy based ona combine workout.
Much is being made of the fact Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy recorded nine fewer reps (32-23) in the 225-pound bench press than Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh (man, thatguy's first name is a pain). The gurus with more air time to fill than news to report are suggestingthisraises red flags and is reason topossibly separate the top two tackles.
Talk about overanalysis.
It's a red flag, Mayock says,that McCoy might not have been as loyal in the weight room as he needed to be.