Darren McFadden Is Ready To Be The NFL’s Best ‘Back

As a born Gator fan, I loathed Arkansas as a kid. I hate everything about them. I didn’t like their players, their uniforms, their stadium, the people, the atmosphere. It didn’t matter, except for maybe one thing; Darren McFadden. There was just something about this guy that had my attention, full focus. He was a game-breaker for the Razorbacks. He owns every school record for rushing, had a career ending 4,590 rushing yards (second all-time in SEC rushing yards) and 41 touchdowns, he won the Doak Walker Award as a sophomore (first ever) and went on to get drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the 4th overall pick back in 2008. Many labeled him as a Reggie Bush-type tailback, which was a complete falsehood. Bush was great, but D-Mac owned him.

He stands 6-foot-2 and runs a 4.3 forty-yard dash, but ask any player in the league, Darren’s bigger than that. He catches screen passes and out of the flat better than most would have guessed. His ability to make inside zone runs is pure entertainment. He’s the real deal and easily Oakland’s best athlete and player on the team. If the Raiders have any chance of making the playoffs, something they haven’t done since 2002, McFadden’s going to be the reason why. That’s what all great running backs do, they carry their team with their legs when there isn’t enough to get by. It was easy to write him off during his first two seasons in the league because he couldn’t shake the injury bug. Although he did play a total of 25 games during those two years, he wasn’t healthy, nowhere near it.

It all changed at the start of the 2010 season, this southern boy became the real deal.

He took the opportunity and ran with it for 1,157 yards at a stout 5.2 yards per carry. Not to mention he ran in seven touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 507 yards (10 yards a catch) and 3 touchdowns. That’s Pro Bowl money. Through the NFL’s first three games thus far, McFadden’s rushed 61 times for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns. In case you missed it, he torched the Jets defense for 171 yards and two scores. In a recent interview with Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports, Raider fullback Marcel Reece gave his two cents on what he thinks about the guy he paves the way for.

“Darren’s the best running back in the league,” Reece said. “I stand by him. I love him. Whatever this team needs him to do, he can do it, and he will do it. That’s why we’re becoming the offensive force that we are.”

The best running back in the league? I don’t think I could argue against that. I love him too much to bet against his abilities. I used to think Steven Jackson would be the best back in the league had the Rams had a real offensive line and he had the ability to stay healthy, but unfortunately his size doesn’t exactly allow that. According to most, Adrian Peterson still takes the cake as the No. 1 running back, but I think McFadden is a little better all-around, athletically and will more than likely last a little bit longer than AP when it’s all said and done. As for Chris Johnson? If it weren’t for his speed, would he be anything?

McFadden is fast – and I mean fast – but when he breaks lose into that secondary, who really wants to chase after that kid? Even if there are guys who are fast enough to catch him, they’re probably not strong enough to tackle him. He’s versatile and tough as a pallet of cinder block. He runs between the tackles, has above average hands and doesn’t plan on being just a flashy, fly-and-bye player like Johnson. He loves contact but won’t go out of his way to make sure he hits everyone like Peterson, he’ll just run your ass over and go score his touchdown. Ask Richard Seymour, I’m sure he’ll tell you that Darren’s a lot stronger inside than most guys with speed, but how do you prepare for a guy who can take it outside anytime he chooses?

Durability will be an issue as the season progresses but this kid is Bamm-Bamm, rough and tumble. A true power-back in the simplest form of words. A lot of running backs don’t bite back, but this one does. He’s a Razorback, my biggest enemy, yet I might be his biggest fan.

NFL: Adrian Peterson Reaches 7-Year, $100 Million Extension With The Vikings

Viking’ fans knew it was coming, they just didn’t know exactly when. Not too long after Chris Johnson signed his six-year extension with the Titans, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter announced today that Minnesota’s mammoth with cleats, Adrian Peterson, reached a seven-year extension worth $100 million. The contract is said to include $36 million in guaranteed money and worth $40 million over the first three years. Peterson is in the final year of his rookie contract and was due for a big day after the numbers he’s put up the last four years.

He was the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in ’07, a 4X All-Pro Running Back, set an NFL record with the most rushing yards in a game with 296 and the most rushing yards through the first eight games of a season with 1,036. Many have said that they believe AP has reached his peak and expect him too decline this season, but in fact he just entered his prime years (26) and still has a good three, maybe four years left with his running style.

The Vikings are set to take on the Charges this Sunday in San Diego.

Blake, K-Love, Metta World Peace, AP & Tyson Chandler Are Lockout Professionals

You saw the behind the scenes footage with Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, now here is the skit they were working on for last night’s ESPY Awards. Some funny appearances by Adrian Peterson, Tyson Chandler, and Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace aka Metta World Dad as well.  Hopefully they won’t be needing the work for much longer…

Adrian Peterson Gets A McDonalds Employee Fired

This story is just ridiculous and really makes me hate “Corporate America” places like McDonalds. The scoop is Adrian Peterson showed up to a Mickey D’s, banging on the window @ 3 AM to use the bathroom. The drive through was still open but the restaurant was closed. Once the assistant manager realized who was banging on the window, she let AD come in to use the bathroom. The mother of 3 was promptly fired after her superiors found out. As the ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown team would say, C’MON MAN!! Hopefully this story get some attention so this lady can get her job back.

Source – Yahoo! Sports

Vitamin Water – Time To Collect Commercial Starring Gary Busey x Adrian Peterson x Shaq

You need to hit up Gary Busey aka Norman Tugwater if you’re a professional athlete and aren’t receiving any compensation from fantasy sport gamers taking advantage of your skills.  Shouts to Vitamin Water for dropping yet another funny viral video to the internet but this time featuring Adrian Peterson and Shaquille O’Neal.

Adrian Peterson’s Alter Ego

Nike’s sick new commercial for AP.

Brett Favre’s Minnesota Viking’s Press Conference

This old man waited till the Vick fiasco happened first so that he could come in and steal his shine.  He knew all along he was coming back but just purposely waited for the right moment where it could he would create the most controversy.  I’m not mad though because it takes the media away from Vick which will allow him to focus on getting back to his old self on the football field.  As far as the Vikings are concerned, any QB is an upgrade from Tarvaris Jackson and Adrian “All Day” Peterson is a known beast and so is the defense so the Vikings should be one of the favorites to come out of the NFC.