Tomlinson thinks Peyton, Jets a good fit

LaDainian Tomlinson isn't convinced it's going to happen, but he believes it would be a match made in heaven. The future Hall of Fame running back thinks Peyton Manning should take his talents to the Jets, now that he's officially been cut loose from the Colts today after 14 seasons.

“I’m sure it would be a great one for the Mannings," Tomlinson said today on NFL Network in reference to Peyton joining younger brother Eli in New York. "I’m sure they would love to have that happen. How realistic it is, I’m not sure. 

"But I do know one thing: this is a good fit for him. The Jets already have a very good offensive line, a good receiving corps – obviously headed by Santonio Holmes, Dustin Keller at tight end. This is a team that offensively, they run the ball really well. This is a team that if they get Peyton Manning, that division it could be scary.”

Still, if the Jets -- who're interested in Manning's services -- were to land the four-time MVP, Tomlinson questioned how Mark Sanchez would feel about the whole ordeal.

“That’s the question, 'How would he handle it?' " Tomlinson said. "To me, I’m not sure. I really can’t say. In my opinion, I don’t know if he would handle it well. I think he would probably go in and maybe ask to be released because here is Mark Sanchez’s gripe: ‘I took you guys to two straight AFC Championship Games. Yeah I didn’t get it done last year, but my first and second year I took you to two AFC Championship Games. How can you turn around and just bring in another quarterback right now?’

"Rightfully so, he would be a little mad. That’s all a part of it. But at the same time, if he could grow up a little bit and try to learn from somebody like Peyton Manning, then maybe in a couple of years – two or three years – if they did decide to go with Peyton Manning, he could learn from that and then also be the quarterback again.”

Asked if he believes Sanchez would ask for his release should the Jets bring Manning aboard, Tomlison said: “I think so. I really think so because he feels like he’s a starting quarterback in the NFL. He’s proven that and he has a bright future.

"A lot of people have said, a lot of experts have said Mark Sanchez has a bright future, and so he has to gripe that, ‘I’ll take my chances somewhere else rather than wait three years.’ I’ll guess we’ll wait and see what happens.”

Tomlinson is sure his former teammates wouldn't mind seeing Manning in Jets' garb.

“The players want to win – that’s the first thing," he said. "As players, we always want the guy that is going to give us the best opportunity to win. With Peyton Manning, his track record says it all. He’s won a Super Bowl, been to two, a four-time MVP. His resume tells you right now that this guy is going to be able to come in and we’re going to win.

"When you’re up against that as players, it’s hard to not say you want a guy like Peyton Manning. He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.”