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
Showing: 0 of 0 comments
"SportsNation" on ESPN2!
WE'RE OFF UNTIL MONDAY, NOV. 30! BUT KEEP SENDING US WEIRD WEB CLIPS!
SPORTSNATION GRIDIRON CENTRAL
-
- NFL Coach Ratings
- Week 11: Wade Phillips at 29 percent after win
-
- NFL Pick 'Em Week 12 (Tue.)
- SN last week: 9-6
SN this season: 99-45
-
- NFL Power Rankings (Tue.)
- Colts return to No. 1
Jets down to No. 21
-
- NFL MVP Watch (Wed.)
- Last week's notables
No. 1 Drew Brees
No. 7 Ben Roethlisberger
-
- College Football Fan Top 25
- TCU holds at No. 4
LSU drops to No. 16
-
- College Football Pick' Em
- SN last week: 17-3
SN this season: 204-41
-
- Heisman Watch (Tue.)
- Last week's notables
No. 2: Toby Gerhart
No. 4: C.J. Spiller
Send us weird Web clips, vote on the best of the month and visit the archive.
FEATURED FAN
FEATURED GROUPS
FEATURED PHOTOS
GREATEST HITS ALBUM
-
- Friday, November 13
- LeBron says the No. 23 should be off-limits. What should his new number be?
-
- Thursday, November 12
- Does the Nintendo Game Boy deserve a spot in the toy Hall of Fame?
-
- Wednesday, November 11
- SportsNation salutes our Veterans with pictures posted by fans in uniform.
-
- Wednesday, November 11
- Do Gold Gloves matter? Jeter might want to put on earmuffs for this answer.
Member comments together with Member Names may be used on TV and other ESPN media platforms.