Laurence Maroney is younger, but LaDainian Tomlinson is better.

Even at age 31 and coming off by far the worst of his nine seasons in San Diego.

Tomlinson ran for just 730 yards on 223 carries in 14 games last year for the Chargers, the first time in his career he failed to gain at least 1,100 yards.

Still, who would you rather have -- Tomlinson for a year or two, or Maroney for, well, do you really want to think about the fumble-prone, underachieving Maroney being around for another three or four years?

Pats fans will get two looks at Tomlinson this year, now that he's signed with the Jets, who recently traded for L.T.'s troubled teammate in San Diego, cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Cromartie will team with the best cornerback in the business -- just ask Randy Moss -- the supremely-talented Darrelle Revis, while Tomlinson will back up Shonn Greene, who'll be stepping up to replace Thomas Jones.

Although Jones rushed for 1,402 yards and 14 TDs last year for Rex Ryan's 11, the Jets didn't want him to pay him -- at the age of 32 -- the $5.8 million he'd have been due next fall had he stayed in N.Y.

So Jones was cut, after which he was signed by Scott Pioli in Kansas City for $3 million.

Just because Tomlinson's past his prime doesn't mean he's completely over the hill. He is, after all, younger than Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk, both 34 next season, and Sammy Morris (33).