Wait wait wait...RE: Walter Payton

Since when is 32 young?

Sweetness!

I became aware of how special Sweetness was at a time when the game was dominated by one-note power backs.

Payton was not only a workhorse rusher, but was an excellent receiving back, and a tremendous blocker who could stay on the field all three downs.

He was the first elite combo back I ever saw.

The prevalence of the West Coast offense throughout the league eventually made those traits a standard as Roger Craig begat a Marshall Faulk who begat a Lesean McCoy etc..to where now workhorses like Adrian Peterson and Fournette are the unicorns.

quote:

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Payton only played 12 years

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He played 13 years


And it only took Brian Mitchel 13 season to break Payton’s career all purpose yardage

Best football in nfl history. Not the fastest, not the strongest. But no one worked as hard as he did and he never gave up on a play. The youngsters don't know this but actual played qb a little bit and started a game or two

Running backs as proficient as Payton can gain a higher volume of all-purpose yards per year than a receiver who rarely rushes the ball like Rice especially when assessing context, not much a surprise.

I saw Payton throw 2 TD passes against the Saints in the superdome. Great game- got to see one of the greatest of all time at his best plus a Saints overtime win.