Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Oh, the hilarity of professional athletes sometimes. Let’s be honest. These guys aren’t all necessarily the smartest kids on the block. They’re athletes. Who needs to be educated?
Well, educated is one thing. Possessing common sense is another.
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson said in a recent interview according to CBS that he does not feel the need to say that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is the best back in the league. He actually went as far as to say that Peterson is not a better back than he is.
Johnson thinks that since he was the first to run for 2,000 yards out of he and Peterson, it makes him the better back.
“I did it first,” Johnson said. “Not one time did I sit back and say he did something that I can’t do. I did it first. He’s a great back. But I can’t sit here and say out of my own mouth that Adrian Peterson is better than me. All the things he’s done, I’ve done the same things. I did them first.”
You know Chris, that’s funny. Now, explain to me why you haven’t even come within 636 yards of accomplishing that type of season since first making it happen?
By all accounts, Johnson has regressed since his infamous 2,000 yard season in 2009. His touchdowns have dropped dramatically and his yards-per-carry average hasn’t even come within a full yard of what it was then.
Now let’s take a look at Peterson. In just 10 more career games than Johnson, he has accumulated 1,961 more yards and 32 more touchdowns. Peterson’s career yards-per-carry sits at a phenomenal 5.0 while Johnson’s is back at 4.7. Peterson’s best yards-per-carry came last season as a 27-year old where he averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Johnson’s 2,000 yard season featured his best mark at 5.6 when he was just 24 years of age.
Johnson may have his hat hung up on the 2,006 yard season back in 2009, but when looking at the two backs closer there is a big difference between the two. Peterson has a knack for finding the end zone. On top of that, he’ll get to the end zone however he wants — run past you, through you or over you. Johnson will simply use his speed and agility.
Let’s get one thing straight here. Peterson is the whole package and by far the best running back of this century. He could wind up going down as one of the best in NFL history, but of course it’s still too soon to predict.
Oh, and by the way, I will take the time to play one last card in Peterson’s favor since Johnson insists on believing the ridiculous words coming out of his mouth. If he really wants to play that game, Peterson ran for 91 more yards last season on less carries in comparison to Johnson’s 2009 campaign.
Does anybody really buy what Johnson’s trying to sell? For the love of the pigskin, I sure hope not.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
