What is it with all these articles about the LaDainian Tomlinson passing the torch to Adrian Peterson? I, too, am guilty after proclaiming last season that L.T.'s reign on the top was shorter than a leprechaun, while thinking Peterson was going to stomp to 2,000 yards.
That was a little premature, to say the least. Tomlinson ripped it up in 2007. At the end of the year, L.T. looked like Evander in his prime. A.P. looked like Butterbean in the 15th round while limping to the finish line.
I wrote this towards the end of last season:
12 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
gregory caldarella 11 months ago
It is very true...AP is not in the same league as LT...he is very hyped and people love jumping o the rookie train...AP is a freak of nature and did break the single game rushing record in only his first year but LT is one of the most dynamic backs to ever play the game. LT does so many different things for his team, heck he can even throw TDs....AP is one dimensional and that is why LT is still the best RB in the game
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Dan Ferranti 11 months ago
Nice article.
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Bobby Stoops 11 months ago
MORON, AD will surpass LT in the record books.
HYPE? AD came in to the NFL and broke the rushing record in a game, in his 8th game.
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S M Napier 11 months ago
Interesting article, but here's my opinion. It's way too early to compare AP to LT. Let's wait and see what AP produces for stats in four years. Then compare it with what LT has produced. I do feel AP a great choice to surpass, LT's number's, don't think he was overhyped and it was more about being injury prone.
AP proved everyone wrong, a couple of them on ESPN have jumped on his bandwagon and Ian feel you will to before AP's career is done.
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Ian Philip 10 months ago
Oh no, believe me. I thought AP was better than LT was last season too, but LT proved me wrong. I think AP could be the best, but he could also be Ickey Woods, you know?
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Ryan Nelson 11 months ago
You also have to keep in mind a few things
1. Adrian Peterson wasn't as savvy as LT just because he was a rookie, it'll change just give it time.
2. Peterson hasn't proven himself as a pass blocker yet. The Vikings offense is a run-first offense, and Tarvaris Jackson doesn't need protection if he's not throwing.
3. He has stamina, but again, he was a rookie. L.T. knows what to save himself for. Peterson doesn't know that quite yet. He is on the same level as Tomlinson, but he just needs to settle into his style.
4. Adrian Peterson will have improved this year. He has Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice on the outsides. Jackson has improved, and the offensive line is still a run-first. The pressure will be slightly off of Peterson up the middle. His home-un value will skyrocket as a result.
5. He can score as many touchdowns, if not more than L.T. simply because of the team around him. Peterson does inspire these guys, and we will see the results sooner rather than later.
6. Tomlinson will do better than Peterson this year. This is because his schedule is much weaker than Adrian's Vikings. The next few years however, I think that Peterson will be better than Tomlinson.
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Ian Philip 10 months ago
I have all those things in mind, but keep this in mind. You can probably replace LT with LJ (except for the injuries) and they'd all be true. Adrian Peterson hasn't even surpassed Stephen Jackson, Larry Johnson, and certainly not Brian Westbrook yet. LT had to fight past guys to get to number one and so will AP.
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Luke Neighobrs 11 months ago
Lets think about this for a second
How many years has LT been in the league? and AD
give the man some time
If you look at their rookie years they look quite smiler with the exception of Peterson having 2 200 yard games, and LT haveing more receiving yards
Peterson was a ROOKIE and still almost out rushed your fabled LT, if he Doesn't go down he probably surpasses him.
Now don't get me wrong i love LT and he is one of my favorite Pro's
But don't go off saying something that is not even close to being correct
All of your arguments are solely based upon things that even LT had to work on during his Rookie year
But with that said AD is a freak and if he stays healthy he will be the greatest running back in the game
right now he is a close second behind LT but that won't be for long.
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Ari Horing 10 months ago
The question for me is if I had one of these backs for one game who would I take? I don't care if Peterson is injury prone, I'm taking Peterson for one game. For a season it's debatable because of LT's longetivity and because Peterson's injury prone.
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Ari Horing 10 months ago
The question for me is if I had one of these backs for one game who would I take? I don't care if Peterson is injury prone, I'm taking Peterson for one game. For a season it's debatable because of LT's longevity and because Peterson's injury prone.
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Ian Philip 10 months ago
If we are talking about game one in the NFL season, then yes, take AP. If we are talking about game 16 against an elite team for a spot in the playoffs, you'd be crazy to pick AP.
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Karlton Appiah-Forson 7 months ago
Well you forgot to add the fact that Adrian Peterson only played 14 games last season and ONLY lost to LT by 40 yards for the rushing title. You also forget to add to the fact that LT had a good passing game to fall on while Adrian Peterson was virtually the only offensive threat the Vikings had. Everyone knows that if you stack and and 9 in the box, the Chargers would dismantle their opponents with Phillip Rivers passing to the many weapons he has. Heh...besides Adrian is leading the leauge in rushing yards and is 8th in the NFL in rushing touchdowns, where the hell is LT in both accounts?
..you lost credibility when you said both Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson were better than him anyway. With all do respect to both magnificent running backs, they both will tell you he is better than them.
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