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With LaDainian Tomlinson released by San Diego, I know I’m about to get a lot of notes from Houston asking if I think he’ll wind up a Texan.



The Texans are the one team in the AFC South in need of running back help.



They’ve gone the veteran route in recent history with little success, not that Ahman Green or Chris Brown had anything close to LT’s résumé.



My sense is Houston will look for a young guy to try to divide up the backfield work, pairing him with Steve Slaton.



I asked Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. about LT in Houston, and he told me he’s working on a piece on Tomlinson which will be turned in soon.



“I think he is done, I really do,” Williamson said. “Including the upcoming draft, I could probably name 50 RBs who are better football players than him right now. But, Houston is slightly interesting for one reason. I think that is a team that is really lacking veteran leadership and he might fit that bill.”



I agree on the lacking-in-veteran-leadership thing. Beyond Andre Johnson on offense, they could use a big-time presence. But you don’t use up your money or your roster spots for presence if it doesn’t come with production.



Houston courting LT would surprise me.

ST. LOUIS (AP) -The St. Louis Rams are reducing ticket prices for next season the majority of seats at the Edward Jones Dome.

The San Diego Chargers released running back LaDainian Tomlinson Monday afternoon.



Tomlinson played nine seasons in San Diego, but at the age of 30 and with declining numbers, Tomlinson has been anticipating his release for the past month.



Tomlinson rushed for 12,490 yards in nine seasons and rushed for 138 touchdowns during his career in San Diego. He caught 530 passes and scored 15 touchdowns through the air.



We’ll have more reaction to this story throughout the night.

MIAMI (AP) -Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen has been released on bail after being arrested for drunk driving in Miami Beach.

The New England Patriots have put the franchise tag on Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork.

Eagles beat writer Les Bowen confirms that Brian Westbrook “seems likely” to be released this offseason.

It finally happened. The New England Patriots have, finger by finger, pulled off their white glove and whapped Vince Wilfork in the face with it.



Or at least that’s the way the free-agent nose tackle views the Patriots’ decision to place the franchise tag on him.



The Patriots released a club statement not attributed to any person in the front office:

A long-term agreement with Vince Wilfork has been the team’s top contractual priority for some time. Unfortunately, despite numerous conversations and proposals, the goal has not yet been realized. Vince is a tremendous player for our team and remains a significant part of our future plans. It is because of Vince’s importance to this organization that we have assigned the franchise designation as we continue to work toward a long-term agreement. We are hopeful that Vince will remain a Patriot for many years to come.

Wilfork has stated his preference is to remain a Patriot with a long-term contract. Beyond that, he would like the opportunity to hit the open market and be free to sign with the highest bidder.



The franchise tag was not what Wilfork was hoping for.



The franchise tag “is decent money for most people out there. What I do, it’s OK,” Wilfork told Boston sports radio station WEEI last month. “But I don’t look at myself as an OK player. Like I said, it’s just basically a slap in my face and an insult to me to basically tell me I’m an OK player.”



A franchise tag means that unless Wilfork and the Patriots hammer out a new deal, he will have a one-year, guaranteed contract at the average salary of the five highest-paid players at his position. The franchise-tag figure for defensive tackles is $7.003 million.

Medical examinations remain perhaps the No. 1 draw for NFL teams at the scouting combine, which begins this week in Indianapolis.



Combine organizers have invited 329 prospects and most will participate in most or all of the following activities, as outlined in past years:

• drug testing
• physical examinations
• body measurements
• psychological testing
• Wonderlic intelligence testing
• Cybex strength testing
• informal and formal interviews, some videotaped
• a meeting sponsored by the NFL Players Association
• media interviews
• bench-press tests
• 10-, 20- and 40-yard dashes
• vertical-jump tests
• broad-jump tests
• agility drills, including the 20- and 60-yard shuttles measuring lateral quickness, and the three-cone drill emphasizing speed and body control

Some of these activities begin Tuesday. The portion involving media access begins Thursday and ends Sunday. Workouts begin Saturday and continue through Tuesday.



A quick look at the schedule for workouts and media access:



Thursday



Offensive linemen, kickers, punters, long-snappers and tight ends available to media



Friday



Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers available to media



Saturday



Defensive linemen and linebackers available to media



Offensive linemen, tight ends and specialists work out



Sunday



Defensive backs available to media



Quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs work out



Monday, March 1



Defensive linemen and linebackers work out



Tuesday, March 2



Defensive backs work out

For the past month, NFL teams have evaluated and graded every player on their roster. They’ve determined whom they want to keep and who can leave. Their priority lists are stacked for offseason acquisitions. As they head to the scouting combine this week, they have a clear picture of their perceived strengths and weaknesses.



I’m all about improving a team through the draft, but I’ve never understood why some fans and media members put more faith in the nebulous form of a future draft pick over a player who has spent a year or more in the team’s program. If everyone is doing their jobs well, those players should be in better position to help out than a rookie just out of college.



In that spirit, let’s take a look at one player on each NFC North team who — with reasonable development — could help alleviate some pressure to acquire upgrades at his position. (Hat tip to Aaron of Kansas City, Mo., for suggesting the idea as part of last week’s mailbag request.)



Chicago Bears



Player: Defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert

Status: Entering second year. Turns 24 in September.

2009 performance: One tackle in four games.

2010 hopes: The road couldn’t be paved any more clearly for Gilbert, the Bears’ top pick of the 2009 draft. Left end Adewale Ogunleye is a pending free agent and is expected to move on. Ogunleye’s likely replacement, Gaines Adams, died last month. That left Gilbert and Henry Melton as the remaining internal candidates to start at left end. Good outside pass-rushers almost never become available on the free-agent market, and without a pick in the first or second round this season, it will be difficult for the Bears to draft one capable of making an immediate impact. To this point, Gilbert’s greatest claim to fame is being the draft prospect who jumped out of a pool. He spent most of 2009 in an unofficial redshirt year under defensive line guru Rod Marinelli, so it’s hard to know if Gilbert is capable of holding down a starting job in 2010. It’s not even clear if the Bears consider him an end or a tackle. But if it’s the former, Gilbert will get every opportunity to help the Bears out of this jam.



Detroit Lions



Player: Running back Aaron Brown

Status: Entering second year. Turns 25 in October.

2009 performance: A total of 1,166 all-purpose yards, mostly via kickoff returns.

2010 hopes: Starting tailback Kevin Smith is rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while also trying to overcome two shoulder injuries that slowed him in 2009. Backup Maurice Morris is also under contract, but Morris doesn’t have the kind of big-play abilities Brown displayed last season. The Lions were exasperated at times with Brown’s mental errors, but perhaps an offseason of studying can help him move past those issues. He might not be an ideal every-down back, but Brown could add an explosive element to the Lions’ offense if they trust him enough to put him on the field. His development could ease some of the urgency to add further depth behind Smith and Morris.



Green Bay Packers



Player: Defensive back Will Blackmon

Status: Entering fifth year. Restricted free agent. Turns 26 in October.

2009 performance: Played three games before tearing anterior cruciate ligament in left knee Oct. 5 at Minnesota.

2010 hopes: Because the Packers haven’t revealed their tender offers for restricted free agents, we can’t say with certainty that Blackmon will return to the Packers in 2010. But based on the typical timetable for ACL rehabilitation, Blackmon should be cleared for the start of training camp. And if he’s healthy and ready, Blackmon would add experienced depth to a position ravaged by injuries at the end of last season. With Al Harris rehabilitating a similar injury on a later timetable, the Packers might have to open camp with nickelback Tramon Williams as a starter. It’s always possible that a rookie could help at nickelback, but all things equal, the Packers would probably be more comfortable with veteran experience at the position. Jarrett Bush struggled in that role during some games last season, opening up an opportunity for Blackmon if he’s up to it.



Minnesota Vikings



Player: Cornerback Asher Allen

Status: Entering second year. Turned 22 in January.

2009 performance: 27 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble in 10 games.

2010 hopes: The Vikings need Allen to become a full-time player, if not a starter, to avoid facing a sudden shortage at cornerback. Starter Cedric Griffin‘s status is uncertain after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the NFC Championship Game; it would be a surprise if Griffin is cleared for the beginning of training camp. The 2009 nickelback, Benny Sapp, is a pending unrestricted free agent and probably earned himself a decent contract after making seven starts in 2009. I’m guessing the Vikings don’t want to overpay to bring back Sapp, especially considering Griffin will eventually return and that fellow starter, Antoine Winfield, is signed through 2013. As a rookie, Allen had a strong training camp but was buried on the depth chart when the season began. He’s aggressive against the run, a decent tackler and displayed solid instincts when on the field. A natural progression would make him the nickelback in 2010, a role that would allow him to fill in for Griffin. Otherwise, the Vikings will have to shell out more money for Sapp or another free agent.