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LaDainian Tomlinson is in Minnesota for a visit, and the Vikings believe the running back could be a good fit.

Tomlinson had dinner with team officials Wednesday night, a league source told NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, and he was scheduled to meet with coach Brad Childress and other members of the organization Thursday. The 2006 NFL MVP was released by the San Diego Chargers last month after the least-productive season of his prolific nine-year NFL career.

The Vikings are looking for another running back after Chester Taylor signed with the Chicago Bears on Friday, the first day of free agency. They might have to move fast on nfl jerseys Tomlinson, who has a Friday visit scheduled with the New York Jets, a source with knowledge of the situation told La Canfora.

Childress said of Tomlinson on Wednesday that he wants “to see where his mind is at.” Childress said he assumes the 30-year-old running back realizes he’d have to accept a reduced role as a backup to All-Pro Adrian Peterson.

“I would think he cheap nba jerseys  knows that, but I always want to over-communicate clarity so we won’t hopscotch around that,” Childress said. “We’ll have to show him what his role will be.”

The coach said he had a “great conversation” with Tomlinson on the phone Tuesday.

“Interrupted him on the golf course. Looking out my window, I said, ‘Well, I can’t lie to you. It’s not a tropical paradise here or anything like that,’” Childress said, referring to the Metrodome. “But that’s why we’ve got a roof on the place.”

Typical for an oft-used NFL running back his age, Tomlinson has been on the decline since totaling more than 2,300 yards from scrimmage and 31 touchdowns during his MVP season of 2006. cheap nhl jerseys Last season was the first time since he was drafted fifth overall by the Chargers in 2001 that he didn’t reach 1,000 rushing yards.

Tomlinson had 12 touchdowns and 730 yards on 223 carries for a paltry 3.3-yard average in 2009. However, his experience, sure hands and usefulness in the passing game are important parts of the job description. Peterson, who turns 25 later this month, has had a problem with fumbling and frequently was replaced by Taylor on third downs.

Childress dismissed the notion of Tomlinson as a possible tutor for Peterson.

“That’s not in the equation,” the coach said. “We’re kind of measuring him more as a football player and as a person, as a man, as a competitor — and how much he has mlb jerseys  left to be able to contribute to this team.”

Tomlinson’s agent, Tom Condon, declined to comment about any visits with other teams.

At his farewell to San Diego news conference last month, Tomlinson said he believes he can play for as many as four more seasons. He ranks eighth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 12,490 yards. His 138 career rushing touchdowns rank second.

Tomlinson doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring — a goal the Vikings came close to reaching themselves last season before an overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game.

“You don’t really want to go somewhere and get your brains beat out,” Childress said. “You want to go and have a chance to win and compete and win that ultimate prize.”

The Washington Redskins became the definitive cautionary tale for the NFL’s free-agency era. Spend big in the offseason, do little when the games are played.

That is, until now, with the Redskins so far seemingly content to watch as other clubs continue opening their bank vault doors.

The following is a look at the initial five biggest winners and losers in free agency:

Winners

1. New York Jets: They made what looks like an ideal nfl jerseys trade with San Diego for cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie’s interceptions have declined significantly since 2007, when he led the league with 10. However, it’s no coincidence that was the last season the Chargers had a dominant pass rush and Cromartie was able to do what he does best — play mostly man-to-man coverage. He’ll be back to doing much more of that for the Jets, whose aggressive blitz scheme relies heavily on their corners’ single-coverage prowess. With Darrelle Revis starting on the other side, there is every reason to believe that Cromartie will go back to his ball-hawking ways. The Jets also didn’t have to give up much, parting with a third-round pick in 2011 (that could become a second-rounder) when there might not even be a season. They made a couple of wise moves to gain financial breathing room by trading disgruntled free safety Kerry Rhodes — whose reluctance to make contact made him a bad fit in Rex Ryan’s defense — to Arizona for a savings of about $4 million, and by releasing running back Thomas Jones (before having to pay him a $3.3 million nhl jerseys roster bonus on top of a $2.8 million base salary) and cornerback Lito Sheppard. Jones was the leading rusher on the NFL’s top-rushing offense and popular in the locker room, but he has been moved aside thanks to the more effective Shonn Greene.

2. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens addressed their most pressing need by trading with Arizona for wide receiver Anquan Boldin. He might not provide the game-breaking speed they still lack at the position, but he’s a consistent big-time performer who should provide a major boost to the continued development of quarterback Joe Flacco. General manager Ozzie Newsome worked some wizardry on the deal, giving up a third-round pick in this year’s draft and exchanging a fourth-round choice for the Cardinals’ fifth-rounder. The Ravens can still pursue a receiver in the draft, but they don’t have do so as early as they might have once considered.

3. Miami Dolphins: Signing free-agent inside linebacker Karlos Dansby from the Cardinals is a huge upgrade for the Dolphins’ defense. Dansby was expensive ($43 million over five years, with about $22 million guaranteed), but he should be a catalyst in new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s 3-4 scheme, making plays and making certain that everyone around him is where they’re supposed to be. The Dolphins will make Dansby even more effective if they can add a nose tackle and a safety. Their other smart move was re-signing veteran quarterback Chad Pennington to continue serving as a mentor for young starter Chad Henne. The chemistry between the two quarterbacks is exceptional, and if Pennington is fully recovered from the shoulder injury that cut short his 2009 season, he’s as reliable a backup as any team could have.

4. Detroit Lions: It’s a surprise to see the Lions show up on any list of positive moves, but they belong after the aggressiveness they displayed in their free-agent signings of defensive end Kyle nba jerseys Vanden Bosch from Tennessee and wide receiver Nate Burleson from Seattle. Vanden Bosch’s productivity was a concern with the Titans, but it’s reasonable to assume he can thrive now that he has been reunited with coach Jim Schwartz, his former defensive coordinator. Schwartz will know how to take full advantage of his non-stop drive and leadership that the Lions, still in the formative stages of their latest rebuilding effort, desperately need. As a player who thrived in the Seahawks’ West Coast offense, Burleson is an ideal fit in the Lions’ scheme because of his effectiveness on short and intermediate routes and the fact he still is a deep threat. He should be a nice complement to Calvin Johnson.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars’ top need was a defensive end, and they appear to have found one of the better ones available in free-agent Aaron Kampman from Green Bay. Sure, there’s some risk involved, given the torn ACL that caused Kampman to miss nearly half of last season. However, all indications are that he is recovering well. Kampman proved to be a bad fit for the Packers after they converted him from end to outside linebacker in their new 3-4 scheme. If he’s healthy, he should make a tremendous impact in Jacksonville’s 4-3 alignment, which will allow him to utilize his tremendous pass-rushing prowess. Kampman goes all-out all the time, which should make him a strong leader by example. The Jaguars also bolstered their special teams by adding free-agent receiver Kassim Osgood from the Chargers. Osgood is a Pro Bowl gunner, and is also looking for an opportunity to contribute as a wideout, an area of need for the Jaguars.

Losers

1. Buffalo Bills: New general manager Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey aren’t exactly off to a scintillating start in giving long-suffering Bills fans any hope that their regime is going to bring an end to a 10-year postseason drought. It’s true that the Bills have far too many needs than can be fixed in one offseason, but they are conspicuous by their relative inactivity beyond signing not-so-special, free-agent offensive tackle Cornell Green. Green mlb jerseys could be a starter for the Bills, but that’s less a reflection of how good he is than a sign of how desperate the Bills are for offensive line help. This team clearly seems focused on keeping its costs down — which every team is able to do without a spending floor in place — and doing everything it can to get better through the draft.

2. Carolina Panthers: All the Panthers have done is show the door to their best player, Peppers, and several others, including quarterback Jake Delhomme. So far, their offseason has been dedicated to trimming costs and getting younger. Their best hope is that new quarterback, Matt Moore, is at least the same guy he was while going 4-1 late last season. Wide receiver Steve Smith needs some complementary help, but defensive line is likely to be the Panthers’ priority in the draft.

3. New York Giants: Antrel Rolle is a good safety, but the Giants aren’t paying the free agent from Arizona that way. They’re paying him to be great, because that’s all that can be expected of the highest-paid safety in NFL history ($37 million over five years, including $15 million guaranteed). The suspicion here is that Rolle probably will make a solid contribution and the media will continually pound on the fact that he isn’t living up to his contract.

4. Arizona Cardinals: It has been an offseason exodus from the desert, with the Cardinals saying goodbye to Boldin, Dansby, Rolle, and (probably the biggest loss of all) retired quarterback Kurt Warner. Picking up Rhodes fills a hole at safety, and the Cards have the depth at wide receiver to withstand Boldin’s departure. But they’ll miss Dansby, and their offense faces plenty of question marks with unaccomplished Matt Leinart as quarterback.

5. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers have reason to wonder if Alex Smith can take them anywhere as a starting quarterback. They were wise to go into the free-agent market seeking an experienced backup at the position, but it’s hard to view David Carr, whom they signed from the New York Giants, as providing any sort of meaningful help.

Q. When can players start being signed in the 2010 free agency signing period?
A. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, March 5.

Q. What are the categories of free agency?
A. Players are either “restricted” or “unrestricted” free agents. Within the categories are also “transition” and “franchise” players.

Q. What is the time period for free agency signings this year?
A. For restricted free agents, from March 5 to April 15. For unrestricted free agents who have received the June 1 tender from their prior Club, from March 5 to July 22 (or the first scheduled day cheap nfl jerseys of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). For franchise players, from March 5 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the regular-season (Nov. 16). If he does not sign by Nov. 16, he must sit out the season. There are no transition player designations this year.

Q. What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?
A. In the 2010 League Year, players become restricted free agents when they complete three, four or five accrued seasons and their contract cheap nba jerseys expires. Unrestricted free agents have completed six or more accrued seasons. An unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any club with no compensation owed to his old club.

Q. What constitutes an “accrued season?”
A. Six or more regular-season games on a club’s active/inactive, reserved-injured or “physically unable to perform” lists.

Q. Other than accrued seasons, what determines a restricted free agent?
A. He has received a “qualifying” offer (a salary level predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 15. If the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because it has the “right of first refusal.” If the old club does not match the offer, it can possibly receive draft-choice nhl jerseys compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed, and the player receives the June 1 tender from his old club, the player’s rights revert exclusively to his old club on June 1.

Q. What determines an unrestricted free agent?
A. A player with six or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no compensation owed to his old club, through July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). At that point, his rights revert to his old club if it made a “tender” offer (110 percent of last year’s salary) to him by June 1. His old club then has until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (Nov. 16) to sign him. If he does not sign by Nov. 16, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by June 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

Q. What determines a transition player?
A. A transition player must be offered a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of the prior season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s prior year’s salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no draft pick mlb jerseys compensation from that club. In 2010, a club may designate a franchise player or a transition player in lieu of a franchise player, as well as one additional transition player.

Q. What determines a franchise player?
A. The salary level offer by a player’s club determines what type of franchise player he is. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year as of April 15, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season — whichever of the three is greater. If a player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.

Q. Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designations on a player?
A. Yes

Q. Can a club then use them on other players?
A. Not in the 2010 season. A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designations and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent either immediately or when his contract expires.

For a variety of reasons, bargains should be plentiful in the NFL’s unrestricted free-agent market, which opens for business on Friday.

The biggest reason is that, with the league’s salary cap about to disappear because no collective bargaining agreement is expected to be in place by Friday, there’ll be an abundance of free agents who would have been unrestricted but who are forced to remain restricted for two more years.

With many highly talented players in that group, it’s possible that there could be a noticeable increase in restricted free-agent movement if teams are willing to part with, and accept, nfl jerseys the draft picks to make it happen either by declining to match first-right-of-refusal tender offers or (more likely) trades. But the field of players who would likely command huge contracts is down to a scant few.

Another factor enhancing the chances for good free-agent bargains is that clubs have been increasingly attentive to tying up their best veteran players to long-term deals that keep them out of unrestricted free agency.

Additional reasons are:
» The uncapped year removes the minimum that all teams can spend on players while also placing restrictions on the ability of the final eight playoff teams to sign free agents.
» The draft is considered one of the deepest in several years.
» The unrestricted market includes a fair number of solid role players who are older (and, in some cases, recovering from injuries) yet still look to be productive.
» Clubs are watching their costs in anticipation of a possible shut down of the 2011 season due to a lockout.

When Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was asked during the NFL Scouting Combine if his team would have any interest former Carolina nhl jerseys Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who is expected to command the biggest contract in free agency, he gave a cautionary response that is typical of how most teams are approaching this period.

Although Dimitroff said the Falcons would be “open to considering any possibilities,” he was quick to add: “We’ll look at all of the players that are of interest to us and who we deem as good, fiscally responsible moves.”

With that in mind, here’s a list of the top 10 potential bargains in free agency:

1. Kevin Walter, WR, Houston: He thrived as a possession receiver in the Texans’ highly effective passing attack. The Texans are trying to keep him, but if they don’t, he should merit attention from cheap nba jerseys another club that wants someone who uses plenty of smarts and toughness to get open on third down. Walter could be another Wes Welker, who went from a specialty role in Miami to a star in New England.

2. Aaron Kampman, DE, Green Bay: His move from end to outside linebacker in the Packers’ switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense last year didn’t work out all that well. Compounding his problems was a knee injury that caused him to miss nearly half the season. If Kampman is healthy, he could still be a strong addition as an end in a 4-3 scheme.

3. Chris Chambers, WR, Kansas City: After his release from San Diego only seven games into last season, he made a solid contribution to the Chiefs with 36 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns. At 32, Chambers would be a good complement to a No. 1 receiver and continues to have the ability to be a deep threat.

4. Chad Pennington, QB, Miami: If he’s fully recovered from the right (throwing) shoulder injury that limited him to three games last season, the 34-year-old Pennington would be an excellent backup and perhaps even a short-term starter for a team breaking in a young quarterback. It would make sense for the Dolphins to keep him, provided they’re comfortable with the pressure it might add to Chad Henne who is still in his formative stages as a starter.

5. Tully Banta-Cain, OLB, New England: The Patriots would like to keep him, although after his 10-sack performance in 2009, he is playing hardball in negotiations with a team in desperate need of quality pass-rushers. However, New England hasn’t forgotten the mere 12.5 sacks in his previous six seasons. Another team could view Banta-Cain as a starter, although he’s probably more effective in nickel situations in a 3-4 scheme.

6. Nate Burleson, WR, Seattle: With his knack for consistently getting open on short and intermediate routes, he showed last season that he can be effective in a West Coast scheme. His 63 receptions for 812 yards and three touchdowns should make him attractive for another club, as will the fact that he can occasionally catch the deep ball.

UPDATE: Burleson signs with Lions

7. Chad Clifton, OT, Green Bay: Although he turns 34 in June, he’s still an cheap mlb jerseys asset, especially in pass protection. He did deal with injuries last season, which might turn off some potential suitors. The Packers would like to keep him, but realize they must get younger on their offensive line.

8. Casey Rabach, C, Washington: There’s always a need for a starting-quality center who is as highly intelligent and effective when it comes to making protection calls as well as this guy does. And the price, relatively speaking, should be right.

9. Adewale Ogunleye, DE, Chicago: He has lost the consistent effectiveness he once had earlier in his career, but at 33, he can still be a solid starter in a 4-3 defense for a team looking for a pass-rushing and run-stopping end.

10. Jason Taylor, DE, Miami: Despite being 36, he remains an effective pass-rusher, which he demonstrated by registering seven sacks last season. The Dolphins might try to hang onto him, but if they don’t, there figures to be home for a veteran whose skills strongly suggest he has another good year or two left.