After some wining and dining with a group of Vikings coaches and executives Wednesday night, veteran RB LaDainian Tomlinson is scheduled to meet with them again Thursday at the team’s Winter Park headquarters.

Tomlinson did confirm during a short Q&A with Star Tribune beat writer Judd Zulgad late Wednesday that he has a second visit scheduled this week. A source with knowledge of the situation told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that team is the Jets.

As for his potential fit with the Vikings, Tomlinson said he wouldn’t have a problem with a third-down role behind Adrian Peterson.

“I know I can catch the ball really well out of the backfield, can run routes, and that’s something that I’ve always looked for as I got older in my career,” Tomlinson said. “Being able to fall back on that. Not having to carry the ball as much. I think that’s what was lost in San Diego because I was the only guy that could really carry the ball 20 times. So my third-down role was reduced. So now I’m looking for that. It’s something I can do and I can fit in well.”

Tomlinson wouldn’t commit to the idea that he could possibly sign with the Vikings before leaving town, but he did acknowledge that his agent also is in Minnesota. We’ll see if he makes that second visit.

During an interview Thursday, Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman (shouldn’t he be meeting with L.T.?) sounded pragmatic about the process, telling play-by-play voice Paul Allen on KFAN that there’s no pressure to sign Tomlinson before he leaves.

“There’s no pressure to say, ‘Hey, we have to get it done today,’” Spielman said. ”This could be a process that will continue on.  He may want to look at both options. He may want to weigh what is the best situation for him. … Just because a guy comes in on a visit and we don’t get something done today doesn’t mean something won’t get done down the road, either.”

Posted in: News  | comments  |