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Emmitt Smith ranks NFL's top five running backs
Rana L. Cash @ranacashSN
LeSean McCoy and Adrian Peterson (AP Photo)
LeSean McCoy stuck his chest out and said what was on his mind. Give Shady some points on this one. It’s not every day someone is courageous enough to elevate himself above the perceived best running back in the game. But that’s what McCoy did when he said that he is now better than Adrian Peterson.
Of course, Peterson scoffed.
So did arguably the best running back of all time: Emmitt Smith. Smith told Sporting News how he’d rank the top five in the game today.
Rana L. Cash @ranacashSN
LeSean McCoy and Adrian Peterson (AP Photo)
LeSean McCoy stuck his chest out and said what was on his mind. Give Shady some points on this one. It’s not every day someone is courageous enough to elevate himself above the perceived best running back in the game. But that’s what McCoy did when he said that he is now better than Adrian Peterson.
Of course, Peterson scoffed.
So did arguably the best running back of all time: Emmitt Smith. Smith told Sporting News how he’d rank the top five in the game today.
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: "He's at the top of the list, without a doubt. He's done it the longest and been the most consistent at it."
2. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles: "Shady McCoy is second. He has increased his productivity over the last couple of years and I anticipate his productivity (will) continue because he's in a system that's a little bit more spread out than Adrian's. He probably has a little bit more opportunity in space to make things happen than Adrian Peterson does."
3. Arian Foster, Houston Texans: "Shortly after that, you can bounce around a little bit. You can go to Arian Foster or … "
4. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears: "But you still have to throw in … "
5. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks: "Beast Mode up in Seattle. Beast Mode was very consistent. He's been a Pro Bowler. That would round out the top five."
Smith also mentioned the Kansas City Chiefs' Jamaal Charles, the San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore and Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens as contenders for the top five.
"When you start naming running backs, there's a number of running backs that have been productive more than one year," Smith said. "Adrian Peterson is the most consistent out of all of the running backs. There are a number of guys we could talk about. Shady McCoy is making giant strides. Jamaal Charles, I'm looking for him over the next few years to do it again, and then I'll move him into my top five. All of these guys on my list have produced on a consistent basis for the last three or four years."
