Chicago Herald-American

The Bears have enough running backs who average 3.3 yards per carry, but LaDainian Tomlinson, released by the Chargers this week, does have one intriguing quality that should pique the Bears' interest: even in his decline he can still find the end zone. 

Tomlinson was a shadow of the All-Pro running back he was just a couple of years ago. In 2009 he rushed for 730 yards on 223 carries. His longest run was 36 yards. But he scored 12 touchdowns, most of them from short-range: six from 1-yard out and nine from inside the 5-yard line. Those aren't cheapies in the NFL, as the Bears should know all too well. The Bears scored just four rushing touchdowns from inside the 5 in 2009. Jay Cutler passed for seven (and 13 inside the 10-yard line). 

It's unlikely Tomlinson will end up with the Bears. He'd have to accept a role he doesn't seem ready to accept. (As a full-time, No. 1 running back -- no way.) He'd have to make less money than he probably wants to make. Even with the mileage of 2,880 NFL carries at age 30, Tomlinson still has enough left in the tank that might benefit the Bears. But the stars would have to align like never before for this match to happen. 

History shows that running backs his age are unable to reverse the downward slide once it starts. Here's a look at 10 who changed teams at a similar stage in their career: 

1. Marcus Allen -- Probably the best-case scenario for teams like the Bears interested in signing Tomlinson. Allen joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 at age 33 and rushed fro 764 yards on 206 carries (3.7 yards per carry), but scored 12 touchdowns and helped the Chiefs reach the AFC Championship Game. Allen ended up scoring 44 touchdowns and averaging 4.0 yards per carry in five seasons with the Chiefs. 

2. O.J. Simpson -- A lot of people thought he was done when he went to the San Francisco 49esr in 1978 at age 31. And they were right. Simpson rushed for 593 yards on 161 carries and scored one touchdown and was out of the NFL a year later. 

3. Earl Campbell -- A workhorse like Tomlinson, Campbell was well into a career decline when he went from the Oilers to the Saints in mid-season in 1984 at age 29. He rushed for 190 yards on 50 carries with no TDs in the final eight games of 1984. He gained 643 yards on 158 carries (4.1 yards per carry) with one TD in 1985 and retired.

4. Corey Dillon -- Longtime Bengals running back went to the Patriots in 2004 at age 30 and had a big year, rushing for 1,635 yards (4.7 per carry) and scoring 12 TDs. That the Patriots were a well-oiled machine with an outstanding offensive line didn't hurt. 

5. Eddie George -- Former rushing champ with the Tennessee Titans with a lot of mileage on him (2,733 attempts) went to the Cowboys in 2004 at age 31. He rushed for 432 yards (3.3 per carry) and scored four TDs. 

6. Eric Dickerson -- Four-time rushing champion was well into a career decline (536 yards, 3.2 per carry, 2 TDs in 1991) and had 2,783 NFL carries when he joined the Raiders in 1992 at age 32. He gained 729 yards on 187 carries (3.9) with L.A. and was out of football by the following season. 

7. Herschel Walker -- A star in the USFL and a two-time Pro Bowler with the Cowboys, Walker looked like he might have plenty left in the tank after being underutilized in two-plus seasons with the Vikings. After rushing for 825 yards (4.2 per carry) and scoring 10 TDs with the Vikings in 1992, he went to the Eagles in 1993 at 30 and was good but not great: 1,070 yards (4.0 per carry) and eight TDs. He played two more unremarkable seasons in Philly and never regained his Pro Bowl form. 

8. Ahman Green -- Had an L.T.-type season in Green Bay in 2003 when he rushed for 1,883 yards and 15 TDs in 2003, but was never the same after an injury in 2005. Still, he was good enough in 2006 (266-1,059, 5 TDs) that the Texans signed him to a four-year, $23 million contract ($6 million guaranteed) in 2007 at age 30. He rushed for 260 yards on 70 carries (3.7 yards per carry) and scored two TDs before suffering a knee injury. Injuries limited him to eight games in 2008 (74 carries, 294 yards, three TDs) and returned to the Packers last season (41 carries, 160 yards, one TD).

9. Shaun Alexander -- He had his L.T.-type season in 2005, when he rushed for 1,880 yards and scored 27 TDs for the Seahawks and made the Pro Bowl for the third straight season. But his decline was precipitous after Steve Hutchinson left for the Vikings. Alexander rushed for 896 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and seven TDs in 2006. Injuries started to take their toll in 2007 (716 yards, 3.4 per carry, four TDs). He signed with the Redskins in 2008 at 31, but after rushing 11 times for 24 yards (2.2 per carry) was released in Week 12.