Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson: I’m the Best Back in the NFL

Here’s Adrian Peterson’s take on whether or not he’s better than Chris Johnson, which would in turn make him the best running back in the NFL:

Yes [I’m better]. He’s not faster, stronger, anything,” Peterson explained, via Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  “You’ve got to understand you’re talking to a guy . . . that’s just the mentality that I have.  I have ultimate respect for the guy and he’s a heck of a player.  I remember at one point and time me talking on the phone to Chris Johnson.  He was telling me, ‘I’m just a big fan of yours. I like your style.’  Some [of the] advice that I gave him was, ‘I play this game to be the best player ever to play the game.  That’s my mentality.'”

Now, for Chris Johnson’s take on how he stacks up against AP:

I don’t [compare myself to Peterson]. I am the best back in the league, he is not. I don’t think it is close. I feel like I am above all the other running backs in the league.  I feel like I am above him.”

Gentleman, one of you isn’t telling the truth.  Somebody has to be wrong here.  We can’t have two best backs in the NFL, but it can be pretty darn close.  My opinion?  It’s way too early to tell.  AP is an absolute freak.  He has three NFL seasons under his belt and he has eclipsed the 1300-yard and 10-score mark in each of those seasons.  To this point, he’s the epitome of consistency.  Johnson is very, very fast.  He’s only played two NFL seasons but rushed for over 2000 yards last year.  He scored 9 times in 2008 and 14 times in 2009.

The stat lines for both runners are beyond impressive, but neither has done it long enough.  Year after year, we see running backs fall off the face of the planet.  The longevity of a star runner is extremely limited.  Both Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson are the kings of the NFL right now.  Who will be the best?  More like who can do it the longest.  That’s the real question.

Sources:
Adrian Peterson says Chris Johnson isn’t “faster, stronger, anything” [ProFootballTalk]
Chris Johnson says he’s the best back in the league [ProFootballTalk]