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• Rankings: Is LaDainian Tomlinson still one of the five best backs in the game?

There's little doubt who the best running back in football is these days; he's the guy that has more states than Minnesota native Walter Mondale carried in 1984 voting for the Vikings to win the NFC North despite Brett Favre's decision to stay retired.

As long as you have Adrian Peterson, you have a chance. Then again, that's not altogether different from how people felt about Larry Johnson as the 2007 NFL season approached.

You remember Johnson, the guy who rushed for 1,789 yards on a record 416 carries in 2006, a year after topping 1,700 yards with 20 touchdowns in a breakout campaign. Back in June, 2007, voters said he was the second-best back in the game (granted, Secretariat's margin of victory in the Belmont was a photo finish in comparison to LaDainian Tomlinson's lead) and clearly the Chiefs' most indispensable player.

Now it's 2009 and despite better than 800 yards last season, Johnson can't get a sniff when it comes to the backs "SportsNation" (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2) is asking voters to rank for Thursday's show. Just more proof that success can be fleeting at one of the NFL's most physically demanding positions. Be forewarned, Vikings fans.

• Voters say Tomlinson is not the player Chargers can least afford to lose.
• Jim Brown beat out Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith as SN's all-time best.

“

wonder where RBs that had a goodly amount of carries combined with a goodly amount of receptions fit in in all this? For example: Matt Forte had 316 carries last year, far below the 370 curse mark, but also caught 63 passes...combined touches 379, so he's over the limit. May not mean anything at all, but I expect to see a drop off in his production this year simply because teams will scheme to shut him down more, IMO.

” -- The Mini Ditkas

“

L.T. will duplicate his numbers from last season, and I can tell you now.. I spent too much time watching him log around 50 yards with zero scores to rest easy. Time to find a new horse for my squad.

” -- noodlerii

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd climb the mountains and chase down the breakaways to bring you "SportsNation" TV.

Discuss the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories of the day and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET. And if you miss that, there's a second helping of "SportsNation" on ESPN at 5 p.m. ET.

Do you still want to see the tape of LeBron getting dunked on?
Has time dulled your desire to see the footage that Nike confiscated of Jordan Crawford dunking on LeBron?

Is Kobe playing for Team USA in 2010 and 2012 a good idea?
Kobe has a gold medal and NBA title in the same year, and he isn't getting any younger. He can help the U.S. maintain supremacy, but what about the Lakers?

Do you prefer youth or experience at running back?
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson is now the wily veteran, but the NFL is notorious for using up backs by the time they reach their 30s.

Whom would you rather have replace your quarterback?
Michael Vick brings fresh legs but the rust of an NFL layoff. Brett Favre has years of success but an aging body and shoulder.

Which is a better option for Stephen Strasburg right now?
Scott Boras isn't afraid to hold players out if they don't get the deal he says they deserve. But what if a big-name prospect gets injured playing this game?

And our final question ...
A recent theory in the running world proposes that running without shoes is better for you. Would you consider running barefoot?

What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• How would you rank the top 25 players of the decade in the NFL?

The NFL season is right around the corner, and in its own way, so is the end of the decade -- in geologic terms, it's practically yesterday. So even though there's technically one more season to play before we hit double digits in this century, it's never too early to start looking back (which is also decent advice for Matthew Stafford when he plants in the pocket this season behind the Lions offensive line).

ESPN.com's NFL bloggers have been putting their minds to the task of sorting out our current decade, with the Patriots topping the Power Rankings, Ray Lewis and Derrick Brooks among those leading the all-decade defense, and Tom Brady edging out Peyton Manning as the all-decade quarterback and MVP.

• Today's chat: All-decade chat extravaganza begins at 1 p.m. ET
• These guys weren't threats to make it; rank the NFL's most overrated players.

“

how can the patriots possibly be considered in ANYTHING?!!? THEY CHEATED...let me spell that out C H E A T E D. NO team in NFL's glorious history has EVER been caught cheating. It's too bad the NFL just swept this under the rug to save face instead of call them out for what really is...what a discrace, not a champion...

” -- RIPredskins21

“

Manning Should be MVP! What the heck he has 3 NFL MVPs this decade and Brady 1.....Doesn't that right there tell you Manning is more Valuable? Plus Matt Cassel proved that the Pats are a decent team without Brady, making Brady not as valuable. I wonder how the Colts would do with Sorgi as starter?

” -- pucrepeap