All Time Rushing Record - Will It Ever Be Broken?

[Apollo Creed]

Everyone will agree the times are a changin', the league is built around slinging the football around, can't touch the receivers, can't hit the QB, and the league is built around throwing the football aorund the yard.

We used to view balance as a 50/50 pass to run ratio, now you'd just be happy if you're 60/40.

The game has evolved in front of our eyes, started sometime around 06/07 - the rules began to shift, Brady threw for 50 TDs, Brees through for 5,000 yards and suddenly every QB was putting up Madden numbers. The league wanted more points, more fantasy numbers, bigger plays, higher ratings which = more dollars.

With all that said, it's taken a toll the premier 20 carry running backs. Guys like LT came close and failed. Chris Johnson showed flashes and even the great Adrian Peterson would need to run for 1,000 yards for the next 10 years until he's 37 to even come close.

The game has also become more physical, or the players have become softer, or perhaps both. Which makes Emmitt's durability one of his most impressive traits. Truly one of the most impressive feats in all of sports right up there with Favre and Cal Ripken.

I think Peterson has a chance but he's also already suffered one major injury to his knee. Going to be close and I think AP will play well beyond his bodies capabilities to get to that number, but I just don't think he'll be able to get there.

What do you all think? Is 18,355 yards untouchable? Or will it inevitably fall like all other records?

 

[Doomsday101]

Everyone will agree the times are a changin', the league is built around slinging the football around, can't touch the receivers, can't hit the QB, and the league is built around throwing the football aorund the yard.

We used to view balance as a 50/50 pass to run ratio, now you'd just be happy if you're 60/40.

The game has evolved in front of our eyes, started sometime around 06/07 - the rules began to shift, Brady threw for 50 TDs, Brees through for 5,000 yards and suddenly every QB was putting up Madden numbers. The league wanted more points, more fantasy numbers, bigger plays, higher ratings which = more dollars.

With all that said, it's taken a toll the premier 20 carry running backs. Guys like LT came close and failed. Chris Johnson showed flashes and even the great Adrian Peterson would need to run for 1,000 yards for the next 10 years until he's 37 to even come close.

The game has also become more physical, or the players have become softer, or perhaps both. Which makes Emmitt's durability one of his most impressive traits. Truly one of the most impressive feats in all of sports right up there with Favre and Cal Ripken.

I think Peterson has a chance but he's also already suffered one major injury to his knee. Going to be close and I think AP will play well beyond his bodies capabilities to get to that number, but I just don't think he'll be able to get there.

What do you all think? Is 18,355 yards untouchable? Or will it inevitably fall like all other records?

It may be a long time from now but sooner or later it will fall as all records do. It will take a great play and longevity to do it

 

[Richmond Cowboy]

Probably once the regular season is up to 20 weeks it will.

 

[TheFinisher]

Peterson is the current guy to watch. I thought he was done after the injury last year but the guy looks like he had a rebirth and is more dominant than ever. Obviously durability has as much to do with that record as anything, but its not unrealistic to think he has a shot at catching emmitt.

 

[SDCowboy]

Nope. Running the ball a lot is dead and RB's only last a few years now.

 

[Doomsday101]

Nope. Running the ball a lot is dead and RB's only last a few years now.

NFL goes in cycles while running may be less today as defense become more focused on defending the pass the running game will become more prominent.

 

[SDCowboy]

NFL goes in cycles while running may be less today as defense become more focused on defending the pass the running game will become more prominent.

Agreed, but RB's just don't last long enough now. Even the really good ones typically are only starting for 3-5 years. I don't think we'll ever see a 10 year back again. RBs are as replaceable as a pair of socks now.

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed, but RB's just don't last long enough now. Even the really good ones typically are only starting for 3-5 years. I don't think we'll ever see a 10 year back again. RBs are as replaceable as a pair of socks now.

"Ever" is a long time, I think it will take years before the record will fall but again things change and who knows when the next Emmitt Smith or Walter Peyton enters the NFL a guy who can carry the load and who has the durability? I don't think anyone currently in the league will be able to surpass Smith but I think like most records his will fall.

 

[pancakeman]

The finances of free agency may also work against it. I think nowadays a mid-career, record-pace RB might more commonly be replaced by an almost-as-good, much-cheaper draftee then before.

 

[Aussie Cowboy]

Never...well I hope not anyway.

 

[Doomsday101]

Never...well I hope not anyway.

Not even if that RB is someone playing for the Cowboys sometimes in the future?

 

[Aussie Cowboy]

"Ever" is a long time, I think it will take years before the record will fall but again things change and who knows when the next Emmitt Smith or Walter Peyton enters the NFL a guy who can carry the load and who has the durability? I don't think anyone currently in the league will be able to surpass Smith but I think like most records his will fall.

Doomsday I can't believe you have posted in 68,583 different threads, that is prolific in anyone's book. I recall your contributions from the Austin.360 website days as well!! You are certainly a dedicated fan of our world famous Cowboys! Keep up the good work, love your work.

 

[Doomsday101]

Doomsday I can't believe you have posted in 68,583 different threads, that is prolific in anyone's book. I recall your contributions from the Austin.360 website days as well!! You are certainly a dedicated fan of our world famous Cowboys! Keep up the good work, love your work.

Thank you. I don't check to see how many post I have made. Call me the fox News of the internet I try to be fair and balanced.

 

[Aussie Cowboy]

Not even if that RB is someone playing for the Cowboys sometimes in the future?

I thought of that when I was replying, yes I would be happy about that. Let's hope the QB that hands the ball off to whoever that may be is better than the guy who handed the ball off to Emmitt when he broke Walter Payton's record.

 

[joseephuss]

With all that said, it's taken a toll the premier 20 carry running backs. Guys like LT came close and failed. Chris Johnson showed flashes and even the great Adrian Peterson would need to run for 1,000 yards for the next 10 years until he's 37 to even come close.

I think Peterson has a chance but he's also already suffered one major injury to his knee. Going to be close and I think AP will play well beyond his bodies capabilities to get to that number, but I just don't think he'll be able to get there.

I think the probability is very low that this record will ever be broken. Jim Brown held the record for some time and still ranks 9th all time. That says a lot about how difficult a task it is to accumulate large totals at the running back position.

LaDanian Tomlinson did not come close to breaking the record. I would say that 4671 yards is a significant difference between what Emmitt accomplished and LT's total.

Chris Johnson never had a chance at the record. He was 23 years old when he joined the NFL. Emmitt was 21. It is difficult to make up 2 years in a career.

Adrian Peterson is behind Emmitt's pace after 6 seasons. In addition, Emmitt was a year younger when he broke into the league. That makes a difference.

 

[kazzd58]

Yes it will!!! Because everything makes a circle like fashion... The game at some point will turn back to the running gm... Its just gonna b a while b4 it happens

 

[Apollo Creed]

I think the probability is very low that this record will ever be broken. Jim Brown held the record for some time and still ranks 9th all time. That says a lot about how difficult a task it is to accumulate large totals at the running back position.

LaDanian Tomlinson did not come close to breaking the record. I would say that 4671 yards is a significant difference between what Emmitt accomplished and LT's total.

Chris Johnson never had a chance at the record. He was 23 years old when he joined the NFL. Emmitt was 21. It is difficult to make up 2 years in a career.

Adrian Peterson is behind Emmitt's pace after 6 seasons. In addition, Emmitt was a year younger when he broke into the league. That makes a difference.

I was saying that LT was on a pretty solid pace there for a while. And unlike Emmitt he just suddenly hit a wall, had no burst, lost his legs and was in the announcer's booth in no time.

Emmitt seemed to catch another gear towards the end where other guys were falling off.

 

[DFWJC]

The season would have to be extended and the game would have to change from the direction it's going for anyone to approach that record.

Peterson seemed like he had maybe a 25% chance. And if he strung together 3-4 more years like this one, those odds would go way up. But with his injury history having already subtracted many games fro his career and almost sure to take more, he would have to be even more of a superman than he already is.

Peterson will have about 8700 yards by the end of this year.
3-4 more great years follwed by 3-4 more ok years and he's there. lol


Chris Johnson started too late and doesn't have the body to pull it off.
He''s end up with about 13-1400 yards this year, which is about his avergae for his 5 year career. I don't see it happening for him.

Ray Rice is built more like Emmitt, but he came in when CJ did and is already 1200 yards behind him. So...no to him too.

Emmitt had everything imaginable going for him in addtion to his talent and durability. it helped that Sanders quit at the top of his game too.

 

[Apollo Creed]

If the season gets extended to 18 or 20 games wouldn't that reduce a player's chances?

Longer season, more mileage, more injuries, less time to recover in the offseason, etc.

There is a handful of 20 carry backs in the league today - Peterson, Foster, Johnson (kinda), Rice, etc.

With teams dividing up carries and throwing the ball to backs out of the backfield more, almost like extended hand offs I think it's going to take an absolute athletic freak of nature like AP or Richardson to break this one.

Too early to tell but out of anyone in the league I think Trent Richardson may have the best chance, would've been a lot better if he got drafted by a better team. Sucks to waste your career away in a city like Cleveland.

 

[Doomsday101]

The season would have to be extended and the game would have to change from the direction it's going for anyone to approach that record.

Peterson seemed like he had maybe a 25% chance. And if he strung together 3-4 more years like this one, those odds would go way up. But with his injury history having already subtracted many games fro his career and almost sure to take more, he would have to be even more of a superman than he already is.

I agree Peterson right now looks like he has the best chance of any current RB. I would add Foster in Houston to the mix considering how much of a work horse he is