Adrian Peterson: The Next Jim Brown

This is a new generation of football players this year in the NFL.

After this weekend of football, it was pretty plain to see that some of our favorite players are on the decline and that a core of young players is on the rise. 

For example: the Jets defeating the New England Patriots behind rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Even as a Steeler fan it was slightly depressing seeing Brady not be able to have one of his signature comeback wins.

Sanchez was flawless in the second half and even outplayed Tom Brady. The weird thing was that instead of throwing the ball to Laverneous Coles or Wayne Chrebet, we are seeing new players like Dustin Keller and Chauncey Stuckey.

It is also strange to see the rise of these second year quarterbacks in the league.

Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan are quickly becoming the faces of the NFL. Yesterday it did not even look like a Raven's team playing football. Flacco was airing out the ball and making all the calls.

This goes the same for the Matt Ryan led Falcons. Ryan is starting to become one of those football players that not only consistently wins, but also one that puts of pro bowl numbers every year.

Former stars like Derrick Brooks, Marvin Harrison, Bertrand Berry, Karlos Dansby, and Zach Thomas (the list goes on) are not even signed to teams.

Also, defensive greats like Brain Urlacher, Troy Polomalu, and Leroy Hill are all out due to injuries. This also goes with two former faces of the NFL, Ladainian Tomlinson and Donovan McNabb.

Here is my quarrel: I do not know if I am ready to let go of the players that I have grown up with and have become household names.

I know this is strange to think.

I just always go in with premonition now that quarterbacks like Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, and Jay Cutler are not good. I think to myself," There is no way that Matt Ryan can lead an offense like Peyton Manning." or, "Joe Flacco is never going to win a championship."

The bad part is that I am very wrong.

These young quarterbacks are very capable of winning championships and putting up hall of fame numbers.

Watching some of the Giants game last night I saw one of the NFL's emerging stars at wide receiver: Mario Manningham.

Manningham torched the Cowboys for 10 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown.

It was scary to see the resemblance of Peyton Manning throwing the ball to Marvin Harrison about five years ago. Manningham had excellent foot speed and route running ability, and Manning looked more confident than I had ever seen him before.

Players like Patrick Willis and Demeco Ryans are now replacing the Ray Lewis's and Brian Urlacher's, and tight ends like John Carlson and Dustin Keller are the next Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates.

It is time for not just me to get over this, but also the analysts and commentators who always have to compare current players to old greats.

For now on, I will only compare Adrian Peterson to Adrian Peterson.