AD vs. LT: The Debate of the Year?

Jim Brown is considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. His career totals of 12,312 rushing yards and 126 rushing touchdowns are pretty damn good, especially when Brown only played 8 seasons in the NFL and retired at the age of 29. That said, he knows a thing or two about running backs. Recently, Brown was asked about the best running back in the game. Brown said that Adrian Peterson was the best running back he's seen in a long time. These comments sparked a fire under the guy who was considered the best running back ever by Marty Schottenheimer, LaDanian Tomlinson.

Things have not been pretty for Mr. Tomlinson. A couple years ago, he turned down being on the cover of Madden because he believed in the Madden Jinx. Well apparently, the jinx follows you whether you're on the cover or not. Tomlinson's stats have steadily declined over the past couple of seasons and now many "experts" are saying that Tomlinson is on his unceremonious way out of the league just like Shaun Alexander and Edgerrin James. (James signed a one year deal with Seattle last week, but he's not the same Edge who tore up the league with the Colts.) Apparently, this coupled with a story in the Los Angeles Times about Tomlinson's decline set LT off. This was his response about Brown's comments.

"Jim Brown was telling Peterson he's the best runner he'd seen in a long time, I was sitting there reading it thinking, 'Wow.' The difference with me is you can put me out on that field and there will be nothing I can't do. I won't have to come off the field. Adrian has to come off sometimes on third down. Running routes, he's still not there yet. Great downhill runner, powerful, fast, all that stuff. . . . But anything on that field you want me to do -- throw it, block -- I can do it. That's what I pride myself on is not having any weaknesses. And that's what makes me the best back."

First, I'll say that I think LT will have a great year this year because people are really hammering on him. However, I think the two running backs are just about equal. LT is right when he talks about Peterson having to leave the game in certain situations (two minute drills, third downs, etc.) because of his questionable pass blocking skills. However, remember this. Peterson is in his third year in the NFL. I'm sure LT had a weakness or two going into his third season as well. This is life in the NFL. Instead of getting a ceremonious send off like baseball players do when they retire, NFL players get the Old Yeller treatment, they're cut as quickly and as viciously as a shotgun bullet to the head. This is what's happening with Tomlinson as we speak, however, it might be a couple years too soon.

I think that LT might be a little bit jealous of Peterson right now. Peterson is that guy. I don't think we've seen a Chunky Soup Commercial with Tomlinson recently, but we have seen a lot of Adrian Peterson on TV. Adrian Peterson is going #1 overall in every fantasy draft outside of San Diego. Really, Peterson is just more popular right now. They're both elite backs, but we'll wait for Peterson's career to develop before we say who is better than whom.