Tomlinson wants a championship with Jets

Football Betting Lines

03/16/2010 - Florham Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LaDainian Tomlinson spoke with media members on a conference call Tuesday, just days after agreeing to a contract with the New York Jets, and said he is coming "to win a championship."

Tomlinson had spent his entire nine-year career with the San Diego Chargers and reached the AFC Championship Game after the 2007 season. The 2009 campaign ended with a loss to his new team in the divisional round.

"At this point it's all about having the opportunity to win a championship," Tomlinson said. "The Jets made it to the AFC Championship without me...They were very good without me. I just want to be able to have a role on this team and contribute."

Tomlinson is not expected to carry the load as the feature back in New York's run-first offense. Although he replaces Thomas Jones, who was released by the Jets and signed with Kansas City, the former MVP will likely cede the starter's role to second-year man Shonn Greene.

"I don't expect anything to be given to me. I'm going to work for it," said Tomlinson. "Wherever I fit in, I fit in."

After the Chargers decided to release Tomlinson, he visited the Minnesota Vikings before speaking with the Jets. New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was the quarterbacks coach with San Diego from 2002-05, giving Tomlinson a sense of familiarity.

"I think the majority of the decision came down to having to learn a new offense versus playing in an offense I already know and with somebody I already know in Brian Schottenheimer," Tomlinson remarked.

Tomlinson has 12,490 career rushing yards and 3,955 receiving yards to go along with 153 touchdowns. He currently ranks eighth on the NFL's all-time rushing list and third all-time in touchdowns.

However, since his MVP season of 2006, in which he ran for a career-high 1,815 yards and scored 31 total touchdowns to set a league record, his numbers have diminished. This past season, while finding the end zone 12 times, he rushed for a career-low 730 yards.

"This is a new opportunity and a new step for me," stated Tomlinson, who was unconcerned about his recent declining numbers. "I'm excited about the opportunity and I can't wait to get started."

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum was excited about having Tomlinson join the club, despite cutting a 1,400-yard rusher in Jones.

"We feel like Thomas Jones did a great job for us the past three years, but when we looked at all the factors, we really felt like LaDainian was a good fit for us," Tannenbaum stated.

"We felt like he still had the ability to make people miss, he was productive in the passing game. We feel he still has the ability to be an every-down back. We feel LaDainian still has the ability to run the ball at a high level and over the course of the 16-game season, we want depth at running back."

In addition to Tomlinson and Greene, the Jets also expect Leon Washington to return from a broken leg that cost him the final nine games of 2009.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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