Peterson thinks he is NFL's best player

[ThomasTomasz]

It's fair to say that running backs have been marginalized in recent years. That doesn't mean there isn't a place of them in today's NFL -- the Seahawks won a Super Bowl with a great defense and a stout running game -- but there is also no denying that high-profile rushers don't carry the cachet they did a decade ago. (There wasn't a running back taken in the first round of last month's draft; in 2005, three were taking in the first five picks.)

There are exceptions, of course, and Adrian Peterson certainly qualifies. He's the most important person in the Vikings' backfield -- quarterbacks included -- and not only does he consider himself the league's best running back, but also its best player.

"I feel I'm the best," he said, according to the Pioneer Press, adding that he knows others -- namely fans and other players who are voting in NFL Network's Top 100 players -- feel differently.

"Peyton (Manning) will be 1, of course," he said. "The MVP will be 1."

Meanwhile the Eagles' LeSean McCoy claims that he is the league's best runner, a distinction Peterson isn't quite willing to concede.

"He's going to have to work extremely hard to surpass me," Peterson said. "As a young guy, he's making his name and he's trying to stake his claim. But numbers don't lie."

The stats: In five seasons, McCoy has 5,473 yards while Peterson has amassed 10,115 yards in seven seasons. last season, McCoy flourished in Chip Kelly's offense, rushing for 1,607 yards (5.1 YPC), adding 539 receiving yards (10.4 YPR) and 11 touchdowns. Peterson had 1,266 rushing yards (4.5 YPC), 171 receiving yards (5.9 YPR) and 11 touchdowns.

Football Outsiders ranked McCoy No.1 last season in their RB efficiency metric, while Peterson was 24th. (Of course, McCoy also had other playmakers around him while Peterson had ... Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel. Just something to keep in mind.)

But success is about longevity and Peterson, 29, plans to play a while. He says that turning 30 "doesn't apply to me," adding that he has talked to Brett Favre, who didn't retire until he was 40, about prolonging his career.

"40 sounds (like) a good number," Peterson said.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...-hes-nfls-best-player-ahead-of-peyton-manning

 

[buckeye]

Hard to argue... And he has absolutely no one else around him in Minnesota. Yet still gets it done.

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[ram29jackson]

Best player ? I don't even think about him in great running backs in history yet.

 

[number_55]

He just might be. Unfortunately he is stuck on a bum team. The Vikings are a team rebuilding through the draft swiftly and I predict in the next year or two they will cut him loose. Things could have been different had he not fumbled in the NFC championship game vs the Saints.

 

[x0xHumblex0x]

he is dreaming if he thinks that @ 30, nothing will effect him.....especially the way he runs

 

[SethMode]

AD is great, but hardly the best player. But it's not surprising that he thinks he is (I don't mean that begrudgingly).

 

[ThomasTomasz]

AD is great, but hardly the best player. But it's not surprising that he thinks he is (I don't mean that begrudgingly).

In an era where people have made fools of themselves in professional sports, I like AD. He's always speaking to the media, but does it respectfully. Can we disagree on the point? I think everyone outside of Minnesota will agree on this, but I don't fault him for stating it.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Being on a bad team hurting a RB is a myth. Many if not all the great RBs played at elite levels on mediocre or even crappy teams through much of there career Walter , OJ , Dickerson ,Barry etc. Its actually more rare to find a great RB who played mostly on good teams.

That said Peterson in a year by year guy at his age. One year ago he had a beast greatest player in NFL year but at RB at that age that shit changes with the wind.

"an orange peanut.....for me ?"

 

[SethMode]

AD is great, but hardly the best player. But it's not surprising that he thinks he is (I don't mean that begrudgingly).

I've always liked him, and what I more meant was that it's only natural for him to think that he's the best. It's part of what makes him great. I mean, hell, there is probably some dude on the bench (more than one, actually) that is convinced that he's the best in the league, and he's just not getting his shot. You get there in part because you believe it.