Childress on Tomlinson: 'We'll have to show him what his role will be"

Will they sign him? You can bet that question wafted through minds all across the nation when word leaked that former all-pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson was expected to visit the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. As for the answer, I tried getting it today from Vikings coach Brad Childress, who was attending Pro Day at the University of Minnesota to eyeball prospective NFL draft picks.

BS: His career is his resume in the case of LaDainian Tomlinson. Are you bringing him in with the hope of signing him, or do you need to learn something you don't already know?

BC: I think probably he's coming in touching and tasting us, and we're doing the same thing to see where his mind is at. I had a great conversation with him (Tuesday). I interrupted him on the golf course. I was looking out my window, and I said, "Well, I can't lie to you. It's not a tropical paradise here or anything like that." I said, "That's why we have a roof on the place." But it's a little bit of both. Does the situation fit him? I'm sure he wants to know what our vision is for him. And then our sense for him is: Will he fit from a mind-set standpoint, from a physical standpoint, from a system standpoint? And all along, you talk to the people who are able to allay any fears you have. You talk to a guy like Ben Leber, who was a pro teammate of his (in San Diego). Steve Hutchinson and he have the same agent. They came out at the same time, in the same year.

BS: The fact that he's coming in should be encouraging to you because he knows he's not coming in to be the starter. Is that a fair thing to say: He pretty much knows the role because you lost the guy who had the role last year. (Adrian Peterson's backup, Chester Taylor, signed last week with the Chicago Bears, creating an opening for a third-down and fill-in back.)

BC: I would think he knows that, but I always want to over-communicate clarity. So we won't hopscotch around that. We'll have to show him what his role will be.

BS: Now did you have Brett Favre in on a three-way conversation or listening in so he knows you're trying to sign top players to get him back, too?

BC: I don't know if that's a big part of the equation. He's fully aware, as is Bus (Cook, Favre's agent), that being one of those final four (playoff) teams, your activity (in free agency) was going to be limited. It's still about getting good pieces of the puzzle and pieces that fit our situation.

BS: Tomlinson doesn't fumble much — just eight in his career. Does that, in some way, go into your thinking, and that maybe he can help Adrian Peterson not fumble as much? Or maybe help tutor Peterson in some areas?

BC: That's not in the equation. 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 left to be able to contribute to this team.

BS: From what I've heard, he's a great team leader and a class act. That doesn't change (when a player's skills diminish). And that has to be a big plus in what you do, I would think.

BC: I go right back to Day One: Good people that are good football players — that's how we keep trying to add people to this football team. We have to know something about their background. We're not going to get seduced by somebody's athleticism and bring in a bad person. He's a tremendous human being, by all accounts.

BS: And you're satisfied he still can play, that maybe he's still not elite, but he's still one heck of a back.

BC: Well, you guys get to use the adjectives.

BS: Which one would you use?

BC: Good football player that's a good person. I know that's a little bit too vanilla for you, but he really is. When you look at the evidence, when you look at his tape, his resume, he's still got a decent amount of squirt and a very good feel in the hole.

BS: Has (recently released Philadelphia Eagles back) Brian Westbrook been ruled out because of the concussion issue (two last season), or is he still in the mix?

BC: He's still out there. He hasn't retired.

BS: Is he in the mix for you to consider?

BC: Everyone who hasn't been picked up is out there for us to consider. And we've got grades on all those guys.

BS: Are you considering him? Maybe I should ask it that way.

BC: We're considering LaDainian, who's coming in the door right now. I'm kind of a one-day-at-a-time guy.

BS: If it's not Tomlinson or anyone else (available as a free agent), are you happy with what Percy Harvin can do as a third-down back and what Albert Young can do to fill a need?

BC: None of it takes anything away from Albert Young. Obviously, with Chester leaving, there's a lot of things that Albert brings to the table that are huge plusses. He's kind of grown and matured in the system. When he did get a chance to get in the game, he gave a nice accounting of himself. I think Albert Young is going to be a good football player.

By Bob Sansevere

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14648346

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Given how much Childress talked about Tomlison, it sure gives you the impression that he'll be a Vikings soon.

Childress generally doesn't like to talk a lot about guys who aren't under contract.