Looking at a few football stats this week, getting ready for the new season. Landed on one of my favorites, Adrian Peterson, someone for whom I've always detected a slight lack of respect on your part, I guess because he only plays at 215-220 pounds rather than a Jackson or Walker-esque 235, or maybe because he's from TX? Anyway, I'd like to point out that Peterson currently stands as only the 3rd member of the 10,000 yard club who carries a career 5.0 average yards per attempt. The club:
Jim Brown - 5.2
Barry Sanders - 5.0
Adrian Peterson - 5.0
That's it. 7 years into a career as an old-school workhorse back, he still has that 5.0 average, placing him in the room with the immortals. It will likely slip a bit as he ages, but will certainly far outstrip any other modern back, most of whom never sniffed 5.0 (except Jamaal Charles). While you have pointed out that he lacks Jackson's size or speed, he combines elite explosion and breakaway speed with a vicious nature we have seldom seen. Some respect for Adrian Peterson please.
On a side note, while looking through the list, special mention for pre-modern hall of famer Joe Perry. With a prime that stretched from the late 40's into the mid-50's, Perry played old-style fullback for the Niners and pounded out a 5.0 average with 9,723 career yards. He must have been a load to deal with. Check out some of his years; amazing and now totally under-appreciated.
*Sayers had a 5.0, but only 4,956 career yards
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Peterson's NFL combine notes:
Despite his broken collarbone and weighing close to 220 pounds, Adrian Peterson's performance in 2007 was ridiculously good and displayed just how athletic the next great running back was.
Peterson's 4.40 time in the 40-yard dash exhibited that he had the top-end speed to dominate opposing defenses.
His all-around athleticism was on display in the vertical and broad jumps, as he showed the lower-body explosion to not just gain top speed, but also to bust through opposing defenders.
The only real question is just how much he was hampered by his broken collarbone and how much better it could have been.
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