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NFL: Creating the all-time roster with football’s legends

By Hans Themistode

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and Hall of Fame enshrinee Ray Lewis is introduced before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 23: Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and Hall of Fame enshrinee Ray Lewis is introduced before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

NFL: Creating the all-time roster with football’s legends: RB, Adrian Peterson

Career stats: 

  • 14,820 rushing yards
  • 118 rushing touchdowns

Accolades: 

  • 7 time Pro Bowler
  • 4 time First Team All-Pro
  • 1 time NFL MVP

This selection will receive a fair amount of pushback but it shouldn’t. Adrian Peterson is one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. Barry Sanders was nearly untouchable in his day with his shiftiness and Emmit Smith is the all-time leader in rushing yards but neither one of those players, nor anyone else for that matter, ran with the sort of violence that Peterson did.

Remembered for the work he put in as a Minnesota Viking, Peterson currently ranks fifth on the all-time rushing list with 14,820 yards. He also checks in at fourth with 118 rushing touchdowns. Peterson’s numbers stack up against anyone’s in the history of the NFL, but more than anything, Peterson had no problem dealing with adversity.

After tearing his ACL in 2011, not only did Peterson come back the following year, he was named the league MVP after rushing for over 2,000 yards. With this team stacked with so many offensive weapons, someone is going to have to pick up those rough and physical yards. Not only was Peterson a master and making defenses pay for stacking the box against him, but he was also extraordinarily fast in the opening field, routinely leaving defenders in the dust. Even on a team jam-packed with stars, it’s going to be difficult not giving Peterson the ball every down.

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