NFL Notes: Jets' Backfield Still Has Issues Despite Tomlinson

O.J. Simpson went to San Francisco. Franco Harris to Seattle. Tony Dorsett to Denver. Eric Dickerson gave Atlanta and Oakland a try. Eddie George journeyed to Dallas.

Worst of 'em all: Emmitt Smith played his final game -- and fumbled on his final carry -- as an Arizona Cardinal.

And so it was with relatively little shock value in these free-agency times that San Diego Chargers icon LaDainian Tomlinson, released last month after amassing the eighth-best career rushing stats in NFL history, signed Sunday with the New York Jets.

It was never a question if Tomlinson would play in something other than a Chargers uniform. That he ended up with the Jets was no surprise, either. Once cut loose, "L.T." said he wanted a shot at championship.

But the J-E-T-S legions have to be wondering why Tomlinson, a 30-year-old in a three-season statistical free fall, is an upgrade from Thomas Jones, the 31-year-old who was released two weeks ago despite coming off a career season of 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jones, the best running back on the open market, signed with Kansas City.

Can the Jets really say they're better off in the backfield now?

Tomlinson is one of the class acts of his era -- a former MVP, who in 2006 rushed for 1,815 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry on his way to a league-record 28 touchdowns. But his per-carry average has progressively slipped in each of the three seasons since, including a career-low 3.2 in 2009.

Now compare those recent numbers to Jones, who has been in the league a year longer but has 600 fewer attempts and five straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The Jets opted to dump Jones after watching rookie tailback Shonn Greene break out for 304 yards in three postseason games -- averaging better than 5 yards a pop -- in their run to the AFC championship game. New York's plan now is to make Greene its featured back, hopefully get a healthy Leon Washington back from a broken leg, and mix in doses of Tomlinson, who signed a two-year deal worth $5.2 million to play a reduced role.

Getting Greene more involved in the offense is a no-brainer, but the former Iowa standout got banged up in exhibition play and missed the first two regular-season games. And he left the Jets' AFC title game loss at Indianapolis after taking a shot to the ribs. Meanwhile, nothing is for certain with the rehab of Washington (who will be a free agent next season) and Tomlinson's high mileage is reflected in his stats.

Jones only made $900,000 last year as part of a front-loaded contract the team inherited in a trade with the Chicago Bears in '07. He was due to make $5.8 million in '09, but the club -- seeing what it had in Greene, a younger player making less money -- asked Jones to take a reduced role and a pay cut. He declined.

The $5.8 million should not have been an issue in an uncapped year for a team with realistic championship aspirations. The Jets had the No. 1 rushing attack and No. 1 defense in the NFL last season, an ideal Super Bowl blueprint. It would appear they may have put the former in jeopardy over $2.8 million (the difference in what Jones was due and what Tomlinson will make next season as a role player).

Greene did next to nothing until Washington got hurt in Week 7, stepping in at Oakland and carrying 19 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Great work, but it was his only double-digit-carry game through the season's first 11 weeks. Greene became more involved and gained the confidence of the coaching staff in the Jets' late dash to the postseason. He earned that. Still, these are some awfully big decisions based on part-time work (108 carries, 504 yards, 2 TDs).

Right now, Greene might look like a third-round steal and the kind of back the Jets can build around. After Greene, though, the options alongside quarterback/centerpiece Mark Sanchez -- at least for now -- appear limited.

Even with a first-ballot Hall of Famer in a new green uniform back there.

Mora Resurfaces in Seattle ... Sort of

Jim Mora, who was fired after going 5-11 in his lone season as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, has landed on his feet. The Seattle Times reports Mora will help out coaching Bellevue High School in suburban Seattle.

"Jim will be involved," Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff said. "I don't know in what capacity yet. It's great. He's an outstanding guy in whatever capacity we get him, even if it's only for spring ball or summer."

Got to believe Mora is pulling for "only spring ball or summer," unless he's eyeing a move to Pop Warner. ...

Ryan Goes Under the Knife

Veggie shakes with yellow onions? That was part of the diet menu Jets coach Rex Ryan used to drop 20 pounds during training camp last summer. It didn't last. Yellow onions? How could it? That's why Ryan underwent weight-reducing lap-band surgery last weekend.

"I'm glad he got it done," Ryan's older brother, Jim, told The New York Daily News. "He's got one of those systems where he's always battled his weight. Then, coming up through the coaching ranks, the lifestyle is hard. Everything a nutritionist would tell you to avoid, he encounters -- constant stress, long hours and little exercise."

And rookie QBs, too. They'll make you eat (probably make some coaches drink, too). ...

QUICK SLANTS

-- It worked for Betty White's fans. Now there's a Facebook page promoting Drew Brees hosting Saturday Night Live, a la Tom Brady and Peyton Manning after their Super Bowl titles. Why not? ...

-- Jake Delhomme has been the source of a lot of the problems with Carolina's inconsistency the last few years. And he wants to start in Cleveland. How does he make the Browns better? ...

-- On the subject of QBs, an interesting name out there -- and a restricted free agent, no less -- is Charlie Whitehurst, who has been third on the depth in San Diego, behind Philip Rivers and Billy Volek. Whitehurst, a pretty good player at Clemson and the son of former Green Bay QB David Whitehurst, has zero pass attempts in four seasons. Arizona and Seattle reportedly are in pursuit. Whitehurst was tendered at the third-round level. The Cards have two third-round picks. ...

-- New England DT Ty Warren is bypassing a $250,000 offseason workout bonus to return to Texas A&M and work toward completion of his degree. He's two semesters from graduating with a degree in agriculture leadership and development. Imagine that: an NFL player with an eye toward the future. ...

-- Patriots DE Adalius Thomas bypassed the start of workouts too, but for different reasons. He doesn't want to be there; now or next season. ...

-- What's taking LB Joey Porter so long to sign with the Cardinals? The fit is ideal, especially with his familiarity with Ken Whisenhunt and the other former Pittsburgh coaches there. ...

-- Ari Fleischer served as President George W. Bush's press secretary from 2001-03, and in conjunction with International Management Group, has started a sports marketing arm that is handling Tiger Woods and the wade back to the PGA from PR disaster. Now, Fleischer's group has been hired to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find a new director of communications. Don't be surprised if the Malcolm Glazer family ownership isn't looking around the Beltway -- where they know a little bit about damage control -- to find an outsider that is really skilled to improve the tarnished image of an organization now seen by its fans as cheap, and an ownership that appears preoccupied with its Manchester United dealings. ...

-- Speaking of Rex Ryan, his first words after awaking from surgery: "Did we get L.T.?"