Since there's so much AP talk around here, it got me thinking...
These are the 2 best backs the league has seen in the last ~15 years and two of the best ever.
AP may have a little left in the tank but his peak has obviously passed.
Tomlinson had the 28 TD season while AP has never hit 20. Tomlinson was also a much better receiving back (he had a 100 catch season in 2003 and somehow didn't make the pro bowl...)
Peterson led the league in rush yards three times, Tomlinson twice.
Best rushing seasons side by side:
Peterson (2012) - 348 att, 2097 yards, 6.0 YPA, 12 TD, 131.1 YPG, 2314 ydscm
Tomlinson (2006) - 348 att, 1815 yards, 5.2 YPA, 28 TD, 113.4 YPG, 2323 ydscm
When all is said and done, who would you call the better back? LdT because he was a better all-around player? AP because he was arguably the (slightly) better runner?
He did everything well. He had 33 Touchdowns that season when you include passing and receiving TDs. 33! If you're bad at math, that's OVER 2 PER GAME! Insanity.
As a pure runner of the football, Peterson might be the best I've ever seen though. Certain guys just seem to move differently from the other 99% on the football field. Odell is one of those guys, Peterson is most definitely one of those guys.
His 2000yd season, Tomlinson's 33 TD year, and Faulk's 1000/1000 season are the best RB years of the last 20 years imo. Priest was pretty filthy for a while too.
AP would have been a much different back in SD, IMO.
I also think it's fair to point out that Tomlinson played with a functional QB and dominant pass catching TE for most of his career. Peterson played with guys like Gus Frerotte, Tarvaris Jackson, Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel.. Favre was fantastic in 2009 but that's really it.
Peterson was something else in 2012 (It's been 5 years already WTF!?). One of my favorite stats from that season?
Ponder: 6.1 yards per pass attempt
Peterson: 6.0 yards per rush
That's nuts.
But 33 TDs vs. 13 TDs is noteworthy to say the least.
357 att 1860 yds 5.2/carry 9 td 2390 yscm
This guy is surprisingly close to those FILTHY numbers, and so rarely appreciated. Whose are they? And why would a Giants fan care when we are talking about such great backs like A Pete and LdT?
That San Diego team was stacked for a few years.. ask Rex Ryan.. He would have won a few super bowls with that team.
357 att 1860 yds 5.2/carry 9 td 2390 yscm
This guy is surprisingly close to those FILTHY numbers, and so rarely appreciated. Whose are they? And why would a Giants fan care when we are talking about such great backs like A Pete and LdT?
Tiki?
He walked away very healthy... can't blame him now.. was pissed he hung it up early, he was having his best years and then he quit. I understand now but I was disappointed at the time.. at least for a few months.. until this..
Ahman Green had a very similar season to that (with more TD's), and he's been fairly forgotten for how studly he was for quite some time.
2-3 more seasons and he'd be a lock for the HoF.