NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

If the Vikings are going to ink former Chargers back LaDainian Tomlinson, they will have to do it after he has a visit with the New York Jets. AP reports that Tomlinson spent several hours at Vikings headquarters Thursday, but did not reach agreement on a contract.

So now the back will head to the Big Apple, even after leaving the Vikings holding onto a purple jersey. Tomlinson would be a good fit for New York, as he could come in and take the spot of the departed Thomas Jones, who was released when free agency started last Friday.

“If the Jets really want Tomlinson, they'll have to bring it,” Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter wrote on his Twitter account. “Vikes really wowed him. Said he could see himself playing there.”

Point well taken. But if the Vikings and Tomlinson were that perfect of a fit, why is he heading to New York to talk to the Jets? Could it be simply to try and get the last dollar? Or does Tomlinson see the Jets as a better fit as they don’t really have a franchise back since Jones is gone?

Whatever it is, L.T. will be in New York to have a discussion, and now it’s a waiting game for the Vikings to see if they did enough to woo him to come to the Twin Cities.

The Browns are still looking at options at the running back spot, this despite a strong end of the year for Jerome Harrison. The team today talked to QB Jake Delhomme, but they also made time for a visit with former Raiders running back Justin Fargas, who was dumped after failing a physical by the team last week:

Free agent running back Justin Fargas, released last week by the Raiders, visited the Browns today, the club confirmed. There was no word yet on whether or not the team will sign him.

He is scheduled to visit the Eagles on Friday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Fargas, a third-round pick of the Raiders in 2003 out of USC, led the club in rushing in 2006-2008, including 1,000-yard seasons in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, he split time with two other backs, finishing second on the team with 491 yards on 129 carries. He also had three TDs.

Fargas missed the end of last season with a knee injury, but is believed to be healthy now. Waived just days before earning a $1.7 million roster bonus, Fargas told reporters the Raiders told him it was strictly about the money.

He said reports that he didn’t pass his Raiders physical were untrue.

“I definitely have a lot of football left in me,” Fargas told sfgate.com. “I just want to do everything I can to help another team win a championship.”

The Browns also spoke with former Pats TE Ben Watson, and Delhomme was at the Berea complex, but word from NFL.com is that he will take a visit with the Saints on Friday.

The Broncos continue to re-tool their roster, and today pulled off a shocker, as they released starting LB Andra Davis. They also said ’so long’ to defensive tackle J’Vonne Parker:

In a surprise move, the Denver Broncos have released starting linebacker Andra Davis.

Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that releasing Davis may be the Broncos’ most stunning transaction of the offseason. The 31-year-old Davis played in all 16 games in 2009, starting 13 at strongside inside linebacker, playing well against the run and also recording 3.5 sacks.

It’s the second time in less than 24 hours that the Broncos have released a defensive starter, following the release of defensive end Kenny Peterson.

The Broncos also released defensive tackle J’Vonne Parker.

After trading Reggie Brown, the Eagles have added a new wide receiver to the team today. Odds are you never heard of him, but the Eagles have added Chad Hall, a 23 year old Air Force Academy graduate.

Hall was named the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year in 2007 when he accumulated 2,683 all-purpose yards. He was also ranked third in the nation for all-purpose yards per game. This wasn't the type of signing people were probably hoping to see, and at 5-8 180 pounds, I don't think he'll see anytime playing wide receiver for this team.

However, he could be a special teams player and possibly even see time handling return duties.

In some sad off the field news, one of the all time great D-tackles has passed away, as former Rams DT Merlin Olsen has passed away at the age of 69. Pro Football Talk reports:

Merlin Olsen, the Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle who played his entire 15-year career for the Los Angeles Rams, has died at the age of 69, according to reports.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports that Olsen died early this morning. The Cache Valley Daily, a newspaper based in Olsen’s hometown of Logan, Utah, reports that Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma and had been undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy.

Olsen played college football at Utah State, and as a senior in 1961 he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best lineman.

Nothing makes me worry about the state of public education more than reading comments from football fans on some of the bigger sites out there.  I guess not every blog can have a group of such well-informed and reasonable readers as this one does.

I bring this up right now because I have noticed quite a few Vikings fans calling for the team to trade Adrian Peterson away in hopes of addressing other needs.

This speculation is not reserved for the unintelligent, however, as one of my favorite bloggers, Vikes Geek, recently penned an item that encourages the notion that the Vikings could reverse the fortunes of the 21 year old Herschel Walker trade.

Allow me to tell you why this will not happen.

First, much has changed in the NFL over the last 21 years.  The free agency era has made blockbuster trades of this nature almost nonexistent.  Teams are not going to give up eight draft picks for one player when they know they may be able to wait just one more year to fill their need via a free agent signing.

Second, running backs are a dime a dozen right now.  Despite some teams (Seahawks, Chiefs) seemingly never being able to claw their way out of running-back-hell, there is a surplus of talented runners on the NFL market right now.  A serviceable, temporary option is always available until you can get the guy you want without investing too much.

Third, the 1989 Cowboys had not had a winning season in three seasons and few people would argue that they didn't have a "nucleus" to build around.  Walker wasn't going to single-handedly win them a championship, so he was sold to ensure a better future.  The 2010 Vikings do have nucleus to build around and while there are some needs, there is nothing so pressing that a risk like this needs to be taken.  Peterson, in fact, is a big part of the existing nucleus after helping pull the Vikings out of the heap of mediocrity that they planted themselves in during the middle of the decade.  The Vikings are a win now team, and bringing such drastic transition to the offense could set this team back a ton.

Fourth, Peterson is still being employed on the cheap, relatively speaking.  Considering that he is entering his prime with two years left on his rookie contract, the Vikings could remain his employer at a relatively cheap price through the duration of his rookie deal.  Assuming there are no ridiculously distracting hold outs in the near future, the Vikings could let him play out his rookie deal, franchise him the following year, and get at least three more years out of their "Top Three" running back.  Three years down the road, when Peterson is beginning to exit his prime, then perhaps we can have a more serious discussion about dealing him away.

Fifth, if the goal is to get Brett Favre back in 2010, then dealing away the part of the offense that keeps it balanced is not an appropriate strategy.  Getting rid of Peterson would be the exact type of thing that could keep Brett content with retirement.

That's my take.  I don't see this happening any time real soon, but perhaps I'm just blinded by the fact that I don't want to see it happen ever.