Warming up to LT possibilities

Although I've stated my preference to wait until after the draft before entertaining the thought of signing a soon-to-be 31-year-old LaDainian Tomlinson, I'm not going to argue that it's a bad move if the Vikings end up signing him soon, which appears to be the case.

As I basically said for a short Page 2 piece in today's paper, LT has a special place in NFL history and has earned the benefit of the doubt as to whether he's got anything left.

I listed what some of the great running backs have done at age 31, such as Walter Payton -- the greatest running back ever, btw -- running for 1,551 yards and a 4.8 average in 1985. LT, who ranks No. 8 on the NFL's career rushing list, is of the same mold as the seven men who rank ahead of him. Six of them played beyond their 31st birthday and five of them had exceptional years at that age or older. Only Eric Dickerson was pretty much shot before his 31st birthday, and that's because the guy was overworked during the first 6-7 years of his career (The dude had 1,465 carries in his first four years. An average of 366 a year!)

If I'm a Vikings' fan, I was pleased to read LT's comments in Judd Zulgad's story this morning. Not only did LT say he wouldn't object to being Adrian Peterson's backup, he said he would relish the role of third-down back.

"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.

Looking at the top eight players on the NFL's career rushing list, one could say LT is the best receiver of the bunch. Granted, these are players who played in different eras and in different systems, but LT and Payton probably were are the top two receivers.

LT has 530 career catches, which is the most among players in the top nine on the career rushing list. Payton had 492 career catches, but his 4,538 yards receiving is the best among the top nine career runners. Payton and LT both have 15 career receiving touchdowns, the best among the top nine rushers.

Marshall Faulk, who ranks 10th on the career rushing list, is the best receiving back in NFL history with 767 catches for 6,875 yards and 36 touchdowns. Marcus Allen, who is 12th on the rushing list, had 587 catches for 5,411 yards and 21 touchdowns.

LT ranks third behind those two in career catches among the top 35 career rushers. Roger Craig, who ranks No. 36, had 566 career catches. So, in other words, LT ain't no Troy Williamson when the ball is in the air.

Of course, none of this means a thing if there's no gas left in LT's tank. I'm willing to trust the Vikings' judgement on that one at this point. After all, they got it right on Favre last year.

P.S. -- This should have hit me sooner, but as I'm looking through the NFL's career rushing list I'm noticing that the Nos. 4-5 and 10 rushers all are eligible for the Hall of Fame next year. No. 4 is Curtis Martin, No. 5 is Jerome Bettis and No. 10 is Faulk. Everyone else in the top 10 who is eligible is in the Hall of Fame.