Over the course of my Fall semester at the University of Iowa, I have been working on a story about the ever-popular sport of Ultimate Frisbee. I attribute this sport to Dodgeball in the sense that it kind of sprouted up out of nowhere (for me at least) despite having been around for decades.
I - and I'm not alone in thinking this - was under the impression that Dodgeball popularity really took off when the comedy movie starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughan hit the mainstream in 2004. After that everybody wanted to play dodgeball. Kids in my high school formed a team and went to Chicago for a weekend. They even managed to roll their SUV in the ditch and had one of the kids' parents come and give them another SUV to finish the trip.
Ultimate Frisbee is much that way for me too. When I got to Iowa, I knew nothing about it. I thought, wow, college students still play catch with a frisbee. Then I noticed just how many kids were playing and how popular it really was. I still couldn't understand what the draw was so I decided to make it my topic and do some investigating.
In the process, I thought to myself, hey maybe I should try playing Ultimate Frisbee. Just give it a chance and see what it's like. So I managed to get in with some guys in a few pick up games throughout November and I recorded my experiences from each encounter.
For the record, Ultimate Frisbee is pretty much like 7-on-7 flag football, except the game speed is more like soccer. You pass the frisbee and then you get a certain amount of time to get rid of it. If you drop it, it gets intercepted or knocked down, then it's a turnover. The game can be played on any kind of field, usually a soccer or football field, just so long as you have an endzone.
Note- I thought about having pictures taken, but quite frankly I didn't want anybody to have anything embarassing they could pull on me for future references.
November 4th- First day of Ultimate Frisbee. I am a little nervous considering I don't know most of these guys and I will have no idea what I'm doing....check that. I did look up the rules on the internet. Not that I understood what it meant, but it's effort. They hand out A's for that don't they?
After the game- Ow. I didn't realize how much running was involved in Ultimate Frisbee. I always regretted not being able to continue playing soccer after the 3rd grade, but if this is suppose to be easier than soccer then maybe I made a smart choice.
The guys seemed to be okay with my presence there. It could just be that they know what I'm there for and are "dealing" with me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not unathletic...I just can't throw a frisbee. At least not for this game.
November 9th- It's cold, but who cares Iowa beat Penn State last night and I wore shorts to the game. I'm going to work on getting the disc to somebody who can handle it better. I'm also going to wear pants today.
After the game- That went better. I didn't drop too many passes today and actually caught a pass for a score. I also managed to get to know some of the guys a bit better, although they still kinda look at me as an outsider.
November 13th- Back at it again. Today should be a little warmer, so I'm looking forward to that. The one thing I hate about playing in the cold is that my nose acts like I have a cold by the time I'm done. It really is hard to breathe when your nose is full of junk. My basketball coach never understood that. He always thought I was slacking. I just couldn't breathe out of my nose.
Try playing a sport with your nose plugged. There's a difference. Anyways, my goal today is to try and help my team win. So far I am 0-4. We've played more than 4 games, but we've also had enough guys each time that they'd replace people from the losing team. Kinda like how it works with basketball at the Field House.
After the game- Another goal accomplished. I went 1-2 today. No that's not good at all, but a win is a win. I am also starting to get the hang of some of the offensive stuff they do. It's more about creating a path to free a guy up to get him the frisbee as one of the responsibilities of a cutter. I scored a couple more times too. I have to admit, though, I am nowhere near the most athletic person on the field. A lot of those guys are quick and can jump pretty well. They also must be good at football because there have been some pretty amazing catches.
It sounds like next week will be it for me.
November 20th- This is going to be my last game...for now. The guys wanted to get one more game in before Thanksgiving break. It's gonna be chilly, but I'm up for it. My only goal going in is to not get hurt. Of course that's been my goal all along, but since it's the last game there's no need to put anything else at a greater priority.
After the game- My most successful outing. I went 2-1 with my teams today. My ankles are sore of course, but the good news is that I'm injury-free otherwise. It's a good thing they're done too because the ground is getting pretty solid. I hit it a couple times today and it felt more like landing on gravel and dirt than on soft grass. I guess that's what astroturf feels like (maybe I'm wrong on that assumption but oh well).
Overall, I'd say my experience with Ultimate Frisbee was very eye-opening. I have a newfound respect for the game and I wouldn't mind finding people to play it again. I don't intend to keep working on it to perfect my craft like I do with basketball, but maybe I'll practice tossing a frisbee around more often. I still suck at throwing the dang thing. It's not like I'm throwing a ball with my opposite hand, I can throw a frisbee straight for miles. The problem is you don't want to throw a frisbee straight for miles. The field is only like 70 yards long. Also I never did keep track of how many "trick-throws" I attempted that saw the frisbee land immediately in the ground in front of me. I think I made more people laugh at me in one game than times I had the frisbee in my hands that day.
It was a fun experience and it was nice to meet new people. I am not the most social person in the world. In fact I am very shy when it comes to trying to talk to people, mainly because I am not a smooth talker, but nonetheless I was able to learn about other people's experiences and have a good time. I learned how to play a game I came in knowing almost nothing about. All in all I am glad I decided to investigate the sport of Ultimate Frisbee.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Vikings Hammer Cardinals, 35-14
Minnesota is looking pretty good right now. There was a time there in between the 3rd and 4th quarters that fans may have gotten a little nervous when the Arizona Cardinals cut the lead to 14 after Minnesota posted a 28-0 lead at half. Yet the Vikings settled down and took care of business, picking up a huge win on the road to stay a game ahead of the Chicago Bears in the NFC North division race.
The Vikings dominated in all phases of the game....well except for the passing yardage of course. Kurt Warner has 270 yards passing, 1 TD and 1 INT to lead the Cardinals.
Speaking of which, much-maligned quarterback Tarvaris Jackson got the nod for Minnesota today over the injured Gus Frerotte. Jackson went out and, in my mind, totally redeemed himself with a very solid performance going 11-for-17 for 163 yards and 4 touchdowns. Not bad for his first start since week 2.
Adrian Peterson continued to add to his growing list of accolades with a 28-carry, 165-yard performance. Peterson set franchise records for most 100 yard games in a season (his ninth with today's) and most rushing yards in a single season (1,578) breaking Robert Smith's record set in 2000. Peterson also continues to lead the NFL in total rushing yards. Next week's match-up against Atlanta will be a showdown of the NFL's top two rushers.
The Vikings receivers also had a field day against the Cardinal secondary. Bobby Wade, Sydney Rice, Chestor Taylor and Bernard Berrian all had touchdown receptions. Berrian put the Vikings on the scoreboard first in the 1st quarter when he took an Arizona punt 82 yards to the house and the Vikings never looked back from there.
The Vikings defense really stepped it up today as well. I'll admit I was worried how the secondary would handle Arizona's passing attack, but Minnesota shut the Cardinals out in the first half and that's just the second time that's happened to Arizona this season. Arizona also avoided setting a record for fewest rushing attempts in a game, managing only 43 total yards on the ground on 7 carries.
Chad Greenway and Jarod Allen had strong outings yet again for the stout Vikings' D. Greenway led the team with 7 tackles and Allen had two sacks for yet another multiple sack game this season.
Minnesota has now improved on last year's 8-8 record picking up their ninth win of the season. The Vikings can clinch the NFC North division title with a win over the Atlanta Falcons or a Bears loss next weekend. However, it is easier said than done as Atlanta also boasts a 9-5 record coming from perhaps the toughest division (NFC South) in the NFL. Not only that, but the Vikings close the season against the New York Giants. I would not like the Vikings to be in the position of needing to beat the Giants at the Metrodome in order to not only win the division, but to even make the playoffs all together.
But again, all can be avoided if the Bears would lose to either the Packers or Texans in the final two weeks.
The Vikings dominated in all phases of the game....well except for the passing yardage of course. Kurt Warner has 270 yards passing, 1 TD and 1 INT to lead the Cardinals.
Speaking of which, much-maligned quarterback Tarvaris Jackson got the nod for Minnesota today over the injured Gus Frerotte. Jackson went out and, in my mind, totally redeemed himself with a very solid performance going 11-for-17 for 163 yards and 4 touchdowns. Not bad for his first start since week 2.
Adrian Peterson continued to add to his growing list of accolades with a 28-carry, 165-yard performance. Peterson set franchise records for most 100 yard games in a season (his ninth with today's) and most rushing yards in a single season (1,578) breaking Robert Smith's record set in 2000. Peterson also continues to lead the NFL in total rushing yards. Next week's match-up against Atlanta will be a showdown of the NFL's top two rushers.
The Vikings receivers also had a field day against the Cardinal secondary. Bobby Wade, Sydney Rice, Chestor Taylor and Bernard Berrian all had touchdown receptions. Berrian put the Vikings on the scoreboard first in the 1st quarter when he took an Arizona punt 82 yards to the house and the Vikings never looked back from there.
The Vikings defense really stepped it up today as well. I'll admit I was worried how the secondary would handle Arizona's passing attack, but Minnesota shut the Cardinals out in the first half and that's just the second time that's happened to Arizona this season. Arizona also avoided setting a record for fewest rushing attempts in a game, managing only 43 total yards on the ground on 7 carries.
Chad Greenway and Jarod Allen had strong outings yet again for the stout Vikings' D. Greenway led the team with 7 tackles and Allen had two sacks for yet another multiple sack game this season.
Minnesota has now improved on last year's 8-8 record picking up their ninth win of the season. The Vikings can clinch the NFC North division title with a win over the Atlanta Falcons or a Bears loss next weekend. However, it is easier said than done as Atlanta also boasts a 9-5 record coming from perhaps the toughest division (NFC South) in the NFL. Not only that, but the Vikings close the season against the New York Giants. I would not like the Vikings to be in the position of needing to beat the Giants at the Metrodome in order to not only win the division, but to even make the playoffs all together.
But again, all can be avoided if the Bears would lose to either the Packers or Texans in the final two weeks.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
NFC North Recap- week 14
Chicago 23, Jacksonville 10- The Chicago Bears did their part to stay in the NFC North race by knocking down the disappointing Jaguars, who are now 4-9 on the season after a trip to the playoffs last year. Robbie Gould drilled three field goals and Kyle Orton found his groove again going 20-of-34 for 219 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception to pace the Bears. Chicago cannot afford to slip up, however, from here on out. Thursday's game against the New Orleans Saints is a must-win for the Bears if they have any hopes of a. winnning the division and b. making the playoffs.
Next game: New Orleans (7-6) at Chicago (7-6)
Houston 24, Green Bay 21- Kris Brown's 40-yard field goal as time expired may have pushed the Packers right out of playoff contention. At 5-8, Green Bay is essentially out of both the North division race and playoff consideration. The Packers would have to win out and hope for some upsets along the way. Houston put up 549 yards of offense at Lambeau Field including 414 yards and 2 TDs passing from a healthy Matt Schaub. Steve Slaton also rushed for 120 yards to lead the Texans (6-7). Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant did what they could to rally against the Texans in the fourth quarter after trailing for most of the game, but it was Houston that would have the last laugh.
Next game: Green Bay (5-8) at Jacksonville (4-9)
What does it mean for Minnesota?- Chicago's win didn't help the Vikings out any, but fortunately Minnesota took care of business on their own end with a 20-16 win over the Detroit Lions. Green Bay is pretty much done and more than likely will be after this week regardless whether they win or lose. Minnesota can actually clinch the NFC North division title this Sunday, but it's gonna take a loss from the Bears on Thursday to do so.
A Chicago loss to the Saints coupled with a Vikings win over the surging Arizona Cardinals could clinch the division title for Minnesota and assure them of their first playoff berth since 2004. This scenario stems from the two teams' records in NFC play. Chicago can still tie Minnesota at 4-2 in the division with a win over Green Bay, but the tiebreaker will be the conference records and a Bears loss will make it impossible for the Bears to catch up.
Of course the only thing the Vikings should be worried about is going to Arizona and taking care of business against a tough Cardinal team led by a potential MVP candidate in Kurt Warner. Minnesota could also extract some revenge for what the Cardinals did to the Vikings in 2003 when the Cardinals robbed the Vikings of a playoff berth on the last play of the last game of the season.
Next game: New Orleans (7-6) at Chicago (7-6)
Houston 24, Green Bay 21- Kris Brown's 40-yard field goal as time expired may have pushed the Packers right out of playoff contention. At 5-8, Green Bay is essentially out of both the North division race and playoff consideration. The Packers would have to win out and hope for some upsets along the way. Houston put up 549 yards of offense at Lambeau Field including 414 yards and 2 TDs passing from a healthy Matt Schaub. Steve Slaton also rushed for 120 yards to lead the Texans (6-7). Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant did what they could to rally against the Texans in the fourth quarter after trailing for most of the game, but it was Houston that would have the last laugh.
Next game: Green Bay (5-8) at Jacksonville (4-9)
What does it mean for Minnesota?- Chicago's win didn't help the Vikings out any, but fortunately Minnesota took care of business on their own end with a 20-16 win over the Detroit Lions. Green Bay is pretty much done and more than likely will be after this week regardless whether they win or lose. Minnesota can actually clinch the NFC North division title this Sunday, but it's gonna take a loss from the Bears on Thursday to do so.
A Chicago loss to the Saints coupled with a Vikings win over the surging Arizona Cardinals could clinch the division title for Minnesota and assure them of their first playoff berth since 2004. This scenario stems from the two teams' records in NFC play. Chicago can still tie Minnesota at 4-2 in the division with a win over Green Bay, but the tiebreaker will be the conference records and a Bears loss will make it impossible for the Bears to catch up.
Of course the only thing the Vikings should be worried about is going to Arizona and taking care of business against a tough Cardinal team led by a potential MVP candidate in Kurt Warner. Minnesota could also extract some revenge for what the Cardinals did to the Vikings in 2003 when the Cardinals robbed the Vikings of a playoff berth on the last play of the last game of the season.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Vikings survive second scare from Lions
People just don't understand it. Being a life-long Vikings fan, I know what to expect from both the Vikings and the opponent they're playing. This is regardless of who is coaching or playing throughout the years, because they come and go, but for some reason it's just that franchise name that resounds with fans. It's what makes rivalries so great. People come and go but great rivalries live on because of the names and the traditions.
A few more traditions were upheld again today.
The Minnesota Vikings narrowly clipped the Detroit Lions 20-16 as usual, and the Detroit Lions lost a game. They go hand-in-hand, but losing has become a tradition for Detroit so I thought I'd at least bring it up.
The Lions are now 0-13 and are looking even more likely to become the first team to go 0-16 in NFL history. The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 0-14 and own the monikor of worst team ever, but the Lions could eclipse them in the final three weeks of play.
Meanwhile, the NFC North division-leading Vikings improve to 8-5 now having won seven of their last nine games including a huge win last Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay lost to Houston so that almost undoubtedly eliminates them from playoff contention. I'll go into that later.
I knew from the start, and I was even telling people, that the Lions would challenge the Vikings. The Vikings' players even knew it would be a tough game. Even though Minnesota has now won 19 of its last 22 meeting with the Lions, it was going to be a tough game. Detroit traditionally plays Minnesota close win or lose no matter the record.
Not only that, but give Detroit credit. This is a team that is staring a winless season right in the face and they are not quitting. They tried to te best of their ability to win this football game today. Other teams could just roll over and accept being a loser. At least Detroit wants to go down fighting.
Minnesota was just the better-equipped team when it came down to it.
Game notes:
Gus Frerotte left late in the second quarter with an injury to his back putting Tarvaris Jackson, who originally was the Vikings' starter heading into the season, back into the spotlight. Jackson shined when he needed to especially in the fourth quarter with Minnesota trailing 13-10.
Frerotte finished 7-of-10 for 70 yards and two interceptions.
Jackson and Adrian Peterson helped march the Vikings down the field and the drive was capped off by a dump pass from Jackson to Visanthe Shiancoe for an 11-yard touchdown with 11:22 to go in the fourth to take the lead. Following a Ryan Longwell field goal that made it a four-point game, the Vikings' defense did the rest.
Jackson finished 8-of-10 for 105 yards and a TD, while Adrian Peterson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the eighth time this year running for 102 yards on 23 carries. Chestor Taylor had 27 yards and a rushing TD as well.
The Williams Wall (Kevin and Pat- again no relation) was allowed to play against the Lions after a judge lifted the four-game suspension placed on them and four other NFL players earlier this week for taking a banned diuretic. Whether or not the Williams' will still be suspended is still to be determined and could even be slapped on them during the playoffs should the Vikings make it in.
Also of note, things got a little chippy early in the game when Gosder Cherilus of the Lions O-line went low on Vikings' defensive end Jarod Allen and injured his knee. Cherilus' hit was legal but it was a cheap shot nonetheless. The next play Moran Norris took a swing at Napolean Harris of the Vikings and Norris was ejected.
Allen was out for a short while but returned to finish with 5 tackles and two sacks proving that he is one of the toughest defensive ends in the game.
A few more traditions were upheld again today.
The Minnesota Vikings narrowly clipped the Detroit Lions 20-16 as usual, and the Detroit Lions lost a game. They go hand-in-hand, but losing has become a tradition for Detroit so I thought I'd at least bring it up.
The Lions are now 0-13 and are looking even more likely to become the first team to go 0-16 in NFL history. The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 0-14 and own the monikor of worst team ever, but the Lions could eclipse them in the final three weeks of play.
Meanwhile, the NFC North division-leading Vikings improve to 8-5 now having won seven of their last nine games including a huge win last Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay lost to Houston so that almost undoubtedly eliminates them from playoff contention. I'll go into that later.
I knew from the start, and I was even telling people, that the Lions would challenge the Vikings. The Vikings' players even knew it would be a tough game. Even though Minnesota has now won 19 of its last 22 meeting with the Lions, it was going to be a tough game. Detroit traditionally plays Minnesota close win or lose no matter the record.
Not only that, but give Detroit credit. This is a team that is staring a winless season right in the face and they are not quitting. They tried to te best of their ability to win this football game today. Other teams could just roll over and accept being a loser. At least Detroit wants to go down fighting.
Minnesota was just the better-equipped team when it came down to it.
Game notes:
Gus Frerotte left late in the second quarter with an injury to his back putting Tarvaris Jackson, who originally was the Vikings' starter heading into the season, back into the spotlight. Jackson shined when he needed to especially in the fourth quarter with Minnesota trailing 13-10.
Frerotte finished 7-of-10 for 70 yards and two interceptions.
Jackson and Adrian Peterson helped march the Vikings down the field and the drive was capped off by a dump pass from Jackson to Visanthe Shiancoe for an 11-yard touchdown with 11:22 to go in the fourth to take the lead. Following a Ryan Longwell field goal that made it a four-point game, the Vikings' defense did the rest.
Jackson finished 8-of-10 for 105 yards and a TD, while Adrian Peterson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the eighth time this year running for 102 yards on 23 carries. Chestor Taylor had 27 yards and a rushing TD as well.
The Williams Wall (Kevin and Pat- again no relation) was allowed to play against the Lions after a judge lifted the four-game suspension placed on them and four other NFL players earlier this week for taking a banned diuretic. Whether or not the Williams' will still be suspended is still to be determined and could even be slapped on them during the playoffs should the Vikings make it in.
Also of note, things got a little chippy early in the game when Gosder Cherilus of the Lions O-line went low on Vikings' defensive end Jarod Allen and injured his knee. Cherilus' hit was legal but it was a cheap shot nonetheless. The next play Moran Norris took a swing at Napolean Harris of the Vikings and Norris was ejected.
Allen was out for a short while but returned to finish with 5 tackles and two sacks proving that he is one of the toughest defensive ends in the game.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Best NFL Running backs of all-time
Here's my list of the Top 10 running backs in NFL history (in my most humble and contrite opinion):
10. Curtis Martin- Martin was one of the most consistent backs in NFL history. The University of Pittsburgh alum ranks fourth on the all-time rushing yards list and was only the second player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in his first 10 seasons. He only rushed for 735 in his final active season before retiring because of nagging injuries. Martin played for 11 seasons- two with the New England Patriots and nine with the New York Jets. In that time Martin amassed 14,101 yards on the ground and scored 90 career touchdowns. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 3,518 career attempts. Martin was unable to get a Super Bowl ring, however, as the Patriots fell in Super Bowl XXXI to the Green Bay Packers.
9. Tony Dorsett- Sticking with another University of Pittsburgh alum, Tony Dorsett is perhaps best known for going the distance against the Minnesota Vikings. Dorsett's 99 yard touchdown run on January 3rd, 1983 is an NFL record that can only be tied, never broken. Dorsett sits at 7th on the all-time rushing list with 12,739 yards rushing and 92 career touchdowns. Dorsett spent 10 of his 11 seasons played with the Dallas Cowboys from 1977 to 1987. In that time Dorsett was a 5-time All-Pro selection and helped Dallas to a victory in Super Bowl XII. Dorsett played for one season in 1988 with the Denver Broncos before calling it quits. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
8. Eric Dickerson- Eric Dickerson was the workhorse of the NFL. Straight from Southern Methodist University's famed "Pony Express", Dickerson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1983. That season he rushed for 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns. He followed that with an NFL single season record 2,105 rushing yards. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns that year. Dickerson also became the fastest player to reach 10,000 career rushing yards doing it in 91 games. He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 1987 and then spent the 1992 season with the Los Angeles Raiders and the year after with the Atlanta Falcons before calling it quits. Dickerson finished with 13,259 rushing yards, which is 6th best all-time. He also scored 90 career touchdowns. Dickerson retired in 2nd on the all-time rushing charts and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
7. LaDainian Tomlinson- He is the only active player on this list, but is every bit deserving. LaDainian Tomlinson has the best chance of any active NFL running back to make a push for Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing record. Tomlinson currently sits in 15th on the all-time list with 11,279 yards, but he has also only played eight seasons in the NFL. He's also averaging 4.5 yards per carry career-wise. Then there's the guady number of NFL records he has already set.
Tomlinson, a Texas Christian University alum, holds NFL records for:
-most points scored by a player in a single season (186)
-most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (18)
-most single season touchdowns (31)
-most single season rushing touchdowns (28)
-most consecutive multi-touchdown games (8)
-fewest games to reach 100 touchdowns
The list goes on. Tomlinson is also one of the most versatile backs in NFL history as he already has 3,629 receiving yards as well and is only the seventh player in NFL history to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown.
6. Gael Sayers- He was a man ahead of his time and he only spent six years in the NFL. Gale Sayers, the Kansas Comet, came to the Chicago Bears in 1965 as one of the most elusive running backs in college football history. He would leave the NFL as one of the most elusive running backs in the National Football League's history. Sayers only rushed for 4,956 yards, but averaged 5 yards a carry and scored 48 touchdowns. Sayers was also the original Devon Hester. He has six kick return touchdowns and holds the NFL record for return average at 30.56 yards. Sayers also has the rookie season rushing touchdown record with 22 and is tied for the most rushing touchdowns scored in a single game with 6. Sayers was a 5-time All-Pro selection and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977 as the youngest player ever to be voted in.
5. Marshall Faulk- The all-around running back. Marshall Faulk was the definition of the dual threat back. The San Diego State University alum stands at ninth on the all-time rushing list with 12,279 yards and 100 career touchdowns, but also amassed 6,875 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns. Faulk started out with the Indianapolis Colts, where he would play for five seasons, before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 1999. That year Kurt Warner bursted onto the scene and he, Faulk, and the "Greatest Show on Turf" became instant icons when they captured a victory for the ages in Super Bowl XXXIV. Faulk was a three time Offensive Player of the Year, the 2000 NFL MVP, and the 1994 NFL Rookie of the Year. He was also a 6-time All-Pro selection. Faulk retired after the 2005 season.
4. Emmitt Smith- This is a hard call to make. Emmitt Smith always gets a bad rap and it's usually never explained why. My thoughts were that Smith stuck around a little too long past his prime. He inflated his rushing numbers with the Arizona Cardinals during the end of his career, but was not the same running back throughout the final several years of his career. Smith entered with a boom, though, as he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1990 taking NFL Rookie of the Year honors later that same season. He became the first player to rush for over 1,400 yards in his first five seasons. Smith was also a main cog in the Cowboys run of three Super Bowls in four years ('92, '93, and '95) that reinvented the "America's Team" image and made the early '90s Cowboys dynasty one of the NFL's greatest of all time. Smith is the All-Time leading rusher in NFL history with 18,355 yards and is first all-time in rushing touchdowns with 164. His 175 total touchdowns is second only to Jerry Rice. Smith was the 1993 NFL MVP and was an 8-time Pro Bowl selection. Smith spent his final two years (2003-2004) with the Arizona Cardinals.
3. Jim Brown- Brown is the original iron man running back. Brown redefined the game with his bruising style and ability to break tackles and make people miss. He is one of the most iconic figures in the game of football. Brown spent nine years with the Cleveland Browns (1957-1965) after an outstanding career at Syracuse. In those nine seasons he managed to rush for 12,312 yards (8th best all-time and 124 touchdowns. When Brown was finished, he held the record for single season (1,863) rushing yards and career rushing yards. He also averaged an unbelievable 5.2 yards per carry Both records have since been eclipsed, but what Brown did was at least two decades ahead of his time. He was a 9-time All-Pro selection, a three-time NFL MVP and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1971. Oddly enough, Brown was also inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
2. Walter Payton- 16,726. It was a number that many felt was unbreakable. Even more were asking, "who?" Who would be the one to break Walter Payton's career rushing record? It became the most recognizable record in the NFL, comparable to baseball's home run record, or the NBA's points record. Such a deal was made of it when Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's career rushing record. "Sweetness" became immortalized. Emmitt Smith would end the debate in 2002, but many still believe that Walter Payton is the greatest running back in NFL history. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1975 out of Jackson State, Payton brought an elusiveness and determination in his running style few had seen before. He was also credited for reviving the use of the stiff arm. Payton garnered NFL MVP honors in 1977 and was NFC Player of the Year in 1977 and in 1985, when the Bears won Super Bowl XX over the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the thing that is remembered the most about that game was that Payton never scored a touchdown as that would be the only time the Bears would reach the Super Bowl in his career. Payton would hang up his cleats in 1987. He finished with 110 touchdowns and was a 9-time All-Pro selection. Walter Payton tragically passed away in 1999 due to illness. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993.
1. Barry Sanders- He only played for 10 seasons. Those 10 seasons came and went so fast and just like that, he was gone. One of the greatest athletes in sports history decided to end his career in his prime. Barry Sanders, the record-breaking running back from Oklahoma State, hit the NFL like a hurricane. His running style was idolized. His presence demanded respect from opposing defenses. And his time spent in the NFL could best be described as: record-setting. Sanders was selected All-Pro all 10 years of his career. He was the 1989 Rookie of the Year, a 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and the 1997 NFL MVP. Sanders's greatest season was also his last. He rushed for 2,053 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Sanders finished with 15,269 rushing yards, which was 2nd best at the time and only 1,457 away from Walter Payton's record. Sanders finished with 109 touchdowns (99 rushing) and won 4 NFL season rushing titles. He was the first back to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 seasons and set a record with 25 games where he rushed for 150 yards or more. He also set a record by rushing for 14 straight 100-yard games. Sanders also provided us with dozens of highlight reel runs giving many athletes of the future examples to learn from. Barry Sanders was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
10. Curtis Martin- Martin was one of the most consistent backs in NFL history. The University of Pittsburgh alum ranks fourth on the all-time rushing yards list and was only the second player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in his first 10 seasons. He only rushed for 735 in his final active season before retiring because of nagging injuries. Martin played for 11 seasons- two with the New England Patriots and nine with the New York Jets. In that time Martin amassed 14,101 yards on the ground and scored 90 career touchdowns. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 3,518 career attempts. Martin was unable to get a Super Bowl ring, however, as the Patriots fell in Super Bowl XXXI to the Green Bay Packers.
9. Tony Dorsett- Sticking with another University of Pittsburgh alum, Tony Dorsett is perhaps best known for going the distance against the Minnesota Vikings. Dorsett's 99 yard touchdown run on January 3rd, 1983 is an NFL record that can only be tied, never broken. Dorsett sits at 7th on the all-time rushing list with 12,739 yards rushing and 92 career touchdowns. Dorsett spent 10 of his 11 seasons played with the Dallas Cowboys from 1977 to 1987. In that time Dorsett was a 5-time All-Pro selection and helped Dallas to a victory in Super Bowl XII. Dorsett played for one season in 1988 with the Denver Broncos before calling it quits. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
8. Eric Dickerson- Eric Dickerson was the workhorse of the NFL. Straight from Southern Methodist University's famed "Pony Express", Dickerson was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1983. That season he rushed for 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns. He followed that with an NFL single season record 2,105 rushing yards. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 14 touchdowns that year. Dickerson also became the fastest player to reach 10,000 career rushing yards doing it in 91 games. He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 1987 and then spent the 1992 season with the Los Angeles Raiders and the year after with the Atlanta Falcons before calling it quits. Dickerson finished with 13,259 rushing yards, which is 6th best all-time. He also scored 90 career touchdowns. Dickerson retired in 2nd on the all-time rushing charts and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
7. LaDainian Tomlinson- He is the only active player on this list, but is every bit deserving. LaDainian Tomlinson has the best chance of any active NFL running back to make a push for Emmitt Smith's all-time rushing record. Tomlinson currently sits in 15th on the all-time list with 11,279 yards, but he has also only played eight seasons in the NFL. He's also averaging 4.5 yards per carry career-wise. Then there's the guady number of NFL records he has already set.
Tomlinson, a Texas Christian University alum, holds NFL records for:
-most points scored by a player in a single season (186)
-most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (18)
-most single season touchdowns (31)
-most single season rushing touchdowns (28)
-most consecutive multi-touchdown games (8)
-fewest games to reach 100 touchdowns
The list goes on. Tomlinson is also one of the most versatile backs in NFL history as he already has 3,629 receiving yards as well and is only the seventh player in NFL history to run, catch, and throw for a touchdown.
6. Gael Sayers- He was a man ahead of his time and he only spent six years in the NFL. Gale Sayers, the Kansas Comet, came to the Chicago Bears in 1965 as one of the most elusive running backs in college football history. He would leave the NFL as one of the most elusive running backs in the National Football League's history. Sayers only rushed for 4,956 yards, but averaged 5 yards a carry and scored 48 touchdowns. Sayers was also the original Devon Hester. He has six kick return touchdowns and holds the NFL record for return average at 30.56 yards. Sayers also has the rookie season rushing touchdown record with 22 and is tied for the most rushing touchdowns scored in a single game with 6. Sayers was a 5-time All-Pro selection and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977 as the youngest player ever to be voted in.
5. Marshall Faulk- The all-around running back. Marshall Faulk was the definition of the dual threat back. The San Diego State University alum stands at ninth on the all-time rushing list with 12,279 yards and 100 career touchdowns, but also amassed 6,875 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns. Faulk started out with the Indianapolis Colts, where he would play for five seasons, before being traded to the St. Louis Rams in 1999. That year Kurt Warner bursted onto the scene and he, Faulk, and the "Greatest Show on Turf" became instant icons when they captured a victory for the ages in Super Bowl XXXIV. Faulk was a three time Offensive Player of the Year, the 2000 NFL MVP, and the 1994 NFL Rookie of the Year. He was also a 6-time All-Pro selection. Faulk retired after the 2005 season.
4. Emmitt Smith- This is a hard call to make. Emmitt Smith always gets a bad rap and it's usually never explained why. My thoughts were that Smith stuck around a little too long past his prime. He inflated his rushing numbers with the Arizona Cardinals during the end of his career, but was not the same running back throughout the final several years of his career. Smith entered with a boom, though, as he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1990 taking NFL Rookie of the Year honors later that same season. He became the first player to rush for over 1,400 yards in his first five seasons. Smith was also a main cog in the Cowboys run of three Super Bowls in four years ('92, '93, and '95) that reinvented the "America's Team" image and made the early '90s Cowboys dynasty one of the NFL's greatest of all time. Smith is the All-Time leading rusher in NFL history with 18,355 yards and is first all-time in rushing touchdowns with 164. His 175 total touchdowns is second only to Jerry Rice. Smith was the 1993 NFL MVP and was an 8-time Pro Bowl selection. Smith spent his final two years (2003-2004) with the Arizona Cardinals.
3. Jim Brown- Brown is the original iron man running back. Brown redefined the game with his bruising style and ability to break tackles and make people miss. He is one of the most iconic figures in the game of football. Brown spent nine years with the Cleveland Browns (1957-1965) after an outstanding career at Syracuse. In those nine seasons he managed to rush for 12,312 yards (8th best all-time and 124 touchdowns. When Brown was finished, he held the record for single season (1,863) rushing yards and career rushing yards. He also averaged an unbelievable 5.2 yards per carry Both records have since been eclipsed, but what Brown did was at least two decades ahead of his time. He was a 9-time All-Pro selection, a three-time NFL MVP and was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1971. Oddly enough, Brown was also inducted into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
2. Walter Payton- 16,726. It was a number that many felt was unbreakable. Even more were asking, "who?" Who would be the one to break Walter Payton's career rushing record? It became the most recognizable record in the NFL, comparable to baseball's home run record, or the NBA's points record. Such a deal was made of it when Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's career rushing record. "Sweetness" became immortalized. Emmitt Smith would end the debate in 2002, but many still believe that Walter Payton is the greatest running back in NFL history. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1975 out of Jackson State, Payton brought an elusiveness and determination in his running style few had seen before. He was also credited for reviving the use of the stiff arm. Payton garnered NFL MVP honors in 1977 and was NFC Player of the Year in 1977 and in 1985, when the Bears won Super Bowl XX over the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the thing that is remembered the most about that game was that Payton never scored a touchdown as that would be the only time the Bears would reach the Super Bowl in his career. Payton would hang up his cleats in 1987. He finished with 110 touchdowns and was a 9-time All-Pro selection. Walter Payton tragically passed away in 1999 due to illness. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993.
1. Barry Sanders- He only played for 10 seasons. Those 10 seasons came and went so fast and just like that, he was gone. One of the greatest athletes in sports history decided to end his career in his prime. Barry Sanders, the record-breaking running back from Oklahoma State, hit the NFL like a hurricane. His running style was idolized. His presence demanded respect from opposing defenses. And his time spent in the NFL could best be described as: record-setting. Sanders was selected All-Pro all 10 years of his career. He was the 1989 Rookie of the Year, a 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and the 1997 NFL MVP. Sanders's greatest season was also his last. He rushed for 2,053 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Sanders finished with 15,269 rushing yards, which was 2nd best at the time and only 1,457 away from Walter Payton's record. Sanders finished with 109 touchdowns (99 rushing) and won 4 NFL season rushing titles. He was the first back to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 seasons and set a record with 25 games where he rushed for 150 yards or more. He also set a record by rushing for 14 straight 100-yard games. Sanders also provided us with dozens of highlight reel runs giving many athletes of the future examples to learn from. Barry Sanders was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Good news/Bad news- Vikings fall to Bucs
With any good news there's usually bad news that follows. With that said we're gonna start with the bad news today.Bad news: Minnesota fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-13. That drops the Vikings to 5-5 on the season while Tampa Bay improves to 7-3. Minnesota actually led throughout most of this game, taking a 13-6 lead into halftime, but the Buccaneers' defense stymied the Vikings offensively in the second half. The Buccaneers even used their own offense as a way to stop Minnesota's offense as they put together a drive that lasted for over nine minutes in the 4th quarter. Tampa Bay got a field goal out of it, but Minnesota's offense was cold by then.
Good news: The Bears got obliterated by the Packers, so that means that while there's a three-way tie for first place in the NFC North division Minnesota is still in first place so-to-speak.
Bad news: Adrian Peterson did not touch the ball once in the 4th quarter. This is just plain terrible. Credit goes to the Tampa Bay offense for keeping their long drive going. By then Minnesota had to resort to passing the football, but for some reason Gus Frerotte was just never on in this game. Peterson finished with only 85 yards, which ends his streak of conescutive games over 100 yards rushing at four.
Minnesota also only rushed for 99 yards as a team, which coincidentally is the amount that the Buccaneers have been allowing per game. The Vikings defense also gave up 108 yards rushing, though none of the Buccaneer backs (six players carried the ball for positive yardage) really picked up any guady numbers. Just enought to be effective on offense.
Good news: Peterson still leads the NFL in rushing yards with 1,100. He is on pace to eclipse his total from last year (1,341). he also needs six rushing touchdowns to top his 12-TD performance from his incredible rookie season.
Bad news: Turnovers. Minnesota decided to cough the ball up when the game mattered the most, fumbling it twice in the 4th quarter- once on a kick return and then on Minnesota's last drive when Chestor Taylor fumbled a pass from Frerotte near midfield. Costly mistakes and a stagnant offense continue to haunt Minnesota throughout this 2008 campaign.
Good news: Gus Frerotte did not turn the ball over. He also completed 14-of-20 passes, which is good for your completion percentage, but....
Bad news: Frerotte passed for 111 yards total on the day with one touchdown to Bobby Wade in the 2nd quarter. The Vikings passing game was very limited and ineffective despite only six incompletions from Frerotte. Minnesota was also 5-of-12 on third down conversions, so that factored into Minnesota's staleness on offense as well. The Vikings were also 0-for-2 on fourth down attempts.
Good news: There's always tomorrow.
Bad news: Minnesota gave up 363 yards of total offense, including 255 passing from Jeff Garcia. Minnesota's inability to get the Buccaneers off the field in the 4th quarter is also a big negative that the defense needs to address in the following week.
Good news: Chad Greenway is having a potentially Pro Bowl-worthy season. The third-year linebacker out of Iowa recorded 16 tackles and a sack on Sunday to lead the team. Greenway is actually only in his second full season as a starter as he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury. However, Greenway leads the team with 82 tackles, which is the ninth best total in the NFL.
Bad news: Minnesota will stay in Florida for next week's game as they travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars (4-6). Jacksonville is not a team to be taken lightly either. They have a capable offense and a stingy defense and will provide a very stout test to a very inconsistent Vikings football team. Minnesota is just 1-4 on the road this year, so something is gonna need to change in the next couple of days if the Vikings want to avoid dropping below .500 once again.
Good news: Jacksonville is coming off a tough loss to the undefeated Tennessee Titans, 24-14. The Jaguars have also found the going a bit tougher this year compared to last season's 11-5 outing. Jacksonville is 4-6 with two inexcusible losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati. Jacksonville does have tough wins over the likes of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis to counter though. The good news for Minnesota is that the Jaguars are just as inconsistent. They can play with the best of them every Sunday and have a great QB in David Gerrard, but they also have had more tough breaks than normal this year. They have also had some injury problems, particularly on offense throughout the season.
This game will also be a good measuring stick for Minnesota. If they can get a road win at Jacksonville it could really build some momentum for a huge showdown with the Chicago Bears at the Metrodome on November 30th (a game I just may attend).
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
NFC North Recap- week 10
Tennessee 21, Chicago 14- The Chicago Bears had a 7-0 lead after one quarter of play against the NFL's only remaining unbeaten team, but behind another steady performance by QB Kerry Collins the Titans fought back and denied the Bears an upset bid. Collins was 30-of-41 for 289 yards and two touchdowns and LenDale White also rushed for a score to help the Titans (9-0) to their 12th straight regular season victory, a franchise record. The Bears held the Titans to just 20 yards rushing, but Chicago was just 3-of-14 on third downs and Chicago's offense could not muster up a threat until late in the fourth when Rex Grossman kept it for a 1-yard score to make it 21-14. Tennessee will try and sweep the NFC North in a few weeks when they go to Detroit for a Thanksgiving Day showdown.
Next game: Chicago (5-4) at Green Bay (4-5)
Jacksonville 38, Detroit 14- Daunte Culpepper made his return to the NFL, but it wasn't nearly enough for the Lions who are still searching for their first win of the 2008 season. Culpepper looked the part of a rusty, 31-year old quarterback completing only 5-of-10 passes for 104 yards and an interception.Kevin Smith carried for 96 yards and a touchdown and Michigan State alum Drew Stanton came in to replace Culpepper and went 6-of-8 for 94 yards and a touchdown. The day, however, belonged to David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville offense. Garrard was 18-of-25 for 238 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, while Jones-Drew ran for 70 yards and three scores. The road doesn't get any easier for Detorit, who may be starring down a possible winless season, just the second in NFL history. The Dolphins only mustered a win last year after the threat of an 0-16 season, and there's still plenty of time for the Lions, but the road ahead is much more daunting. Their next 5 games are against teams with winning records and their last two (New Orleans and at Green Bay are both 4-5) aren't ny easier.
Next game: Detroit (0-9) at Carolina (7-2)
What does it mean for Minnesota- The Vikings (5-4) moved into a first place tie atop the NFC North division standings thanks to Tennessee's victory over the Bears and, of course, Minnesota's exciting 28-27 win over rival Green Bay. The Vikings are gonna be rooting for the Packers in next week's game against Chicago regardless of whether Minnesota wins or loses at Tampa Bay. A Minnesota win and a Chicago loss means the Vikings will sit alone in first place heading into week 12. If both the Bears and Vikings lose then there will be a three-way tie for first, but at least Minnesota will still be in first place and not have to catch up. But in order to keep from complicating things the Vikings should just concentrate on picking up a road win against the Buccaneers (6-3). Minnesota hasn't won in Tampa since 1997. Adrian Peterson needs to continue his outstanding play if the Vikings want to have a chance in this one. Peterson has had four straight 100-yard rushing performances and now leads the NFL in rushing after last week's game against the Packers, in which Peterson eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark (1,015) for the second straight season.
Next game: Chicago (5-4) at Green Bay (4-5)
Jacksonville 38, Detroit 14- Daunte Culpepper made his return to the NFL, but it wasn't nearly enough for the Lions who are still searching for their first win of the 2008 season. Culpepper looked the part of a rusty, 31-year old quarterback completing only 5-of-10 passes for 104 yards and an interception.Kevin Smith carried for 96 yards and a touchdown and Michigan State alum Drew Stanton came in to replace Culpepper and went 6-of-8 for 94 yards and a touchdown. The day, however, belonged to David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville offense. Garrard was 18-of-25 for 238 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, while Jones-Drew ran for 70 yards and three scores. The road doesn't get any easier for Detorit, who may be starring down a possible winless season, just the second in NFL history. The Dolphins only mustered a win last year after the threat of an 0-16 season, and there's still plenty of time for the Lions, but the road ahead is much more daunting. Their next 5 games are against teams with winning records and their last two (New Orleans and at Green Bay are both 4-5) aren't ny easier.
Next game: Detroit (0-9) at Carolina (7-2)
What does it mean for Minnesota- The Vikings (5-4) moved into a first place tie atop the NFC North division standings thanks to Tennessee's victory over the Bears and, of course, Minnesota's exciting 28-27 win over rival Green Bay. The Vikings are gonna be rooting for the Packers in next week's game against Chicago regardless of whether Minnesota wins or loses at Tampa Bay. A Minnesota win and a Chicago loss means the Vikings will sit alone in first place heading into week 12. If both the Bears and Vikings lose then there will be a three-way tie for first, but at least Minnesota will still be in first place and not have to catch up. But in order to keep from complicating things the Vikings should just concentrate on picking up a road win against the Buccaneers (6-3). Minnesota hasn't won in Tampa since 1997. Adrian Peterson needs to continue his outstanding play if the Vikings want to have a chance in this one. Peterson has had four straight 100-yard rushing performances and now leads the NFL in rushing after last week's game against the Packers, in which Peterson eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark (1,015) for the second straight season.
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