LaDainian Tomlinson Loves The Vikings But Jets To New York

Typically, if you're hosting a free agent and really want that player on your team, you don't let him leave town. You make him an offer he can't refuse before he goes somewhere else—and gets an offer he can't refuse. But the Minnesota Vikings have a different philosophy. Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said today that neither the Vikings nor free agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson were pressured to make a decision on their 2010 season plans today:

"It's all part of the process. He may want to decide to go and explore that opportunity and see what's the best fit for him. 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? Does he want to be a part of it? 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."

As much as I believe in getting a deal done while the player is in town, Spielman makes sense. And based on head coach Brad Childress' comment that L.T. had previously promised the Jets he would fly to New York (and was a man of his word), the departure from Winter Park without a deal today seemed inevitable.

The Jets will make a convincing argument for L.T. to play in New York this year, though. After all, they were the AFC's version of making it as far as the Vikings did (with a rookie quarterback, no less) last season and have only improved their team since then. Plus they have a new stadium to christen in September. And, of course, the Vikes do not. But LaDainian said he was "wowed" by the Vikings and had nothing but positive things to say about his couple days in Minnesota.

With reports that L.T. might also visit Philadelphia and New Orleans after the Big Apple, we could be waiting a while before a final decision is made. But my gut feeling is that L.T. will eventually choose Minnesota as the place he finishes his career—with a Super Bowl ring.