In Honor of LaDainian Tomlinson's Retirement, Peter King Put Darren Sproles On a Top Five List Of Most Versatile Backs

What can we say about Tomlinson? Cross-generational comparisons are going to come up, but he was the best running back of his particular generation, up until age 28. He could stop on a dime in his prime and make fantastic cuts. He had a nose for the end zone. He was, early in his career, a one-man crew carrying a Chargers team offensively, where he was asked to do everything from running it 25 times to catching 8 dump off passes as the Chargers tried to come from behind.

I know that fantasy football stories are only entertaining if you are the teller, but indulge me. We had an auction league where I always ended up with Tomlinson, willing to spend more than anyone else. I always heard how I spent too much on him. I usually watched him every Sunday and won more than anyone else, paired with my $1 receivers. He was greatness in his prime, and we sometimes forget that when we see the later years. Set aside the fantasy geekery–I wanted greatness, I’ll pay (with my fictional money) for that. Six years from now, once time has passed, all that will be celebrated in Canton.

Well, Peter King tried to sum up Tomlinson’s greatness by putting him as 1B to Marshall Faulk’s 1A as the top versatile runners of the last thirty years. While this term “versatile” is undefined, I assume that it is somehow meant to apply to backs as both rushers and receivers, so as to distinguish between a list that would otherwise have to set off an Emmitt vs. Barry debate, neither of whom had 500 receiving yards in a season, but who would have topped a list without the term.

So, King’s list, as a result, is (1) Marshall Faulk, (2) LaDainian Tomlinson, (3) Thurman Thomas, (4) Darren Sproles, (5) Marcus Allen.

One of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not the same.

Let’s set aside not including Walter Payton, because King limits it since 1982, and Payton was 28 then. Payton still had, after 1982, three different seasons with over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, and averaged almost 500 receiving yards in those years. I would have still put “old” Payton on the list if those others are on there.

But Darren Sproles? If you define “versatile” to produce those other four names, then Sproles has no business on here. Sproles is versatile in a vacuum, don’t get me wrong, he’s a limited touch guy who produces as a return man, receiver, and sometimes a runner. If he’s the standard for versatile, then it needs to be other names like James Brooks or Eric Metcalf or Ronnie Harmon on here too.

Worse yet, King puts Marcus Allen behind Sproles on the list with the comment, “Strange to put him behind Sproles, but Allen wasn’t as explosive.” True, that 36-year old Marcus Allen who played for the Chiefs and produced his eleventh 1,000+ yards from scrimmage season wasn’t nearly as explosive as Sproles in his first. Neither was Tomlinson last year or Faulk in 2003. Thurman Thomas, either. Sproles should probably be #1 on the list, now that we think about it.

Sarcasm, of course. Who else should be on a “versatile” list if the standard is rushing + receiving dominance of the last thirty years? Well, here’s a list of the backs with the most seasons with 1,600 yards from scrimmage and at least 500 receiving yards. Faulk is clearly #1 with 5, while Tomlinson only has 2 (if we lowered it to 400 receiving yards, Tomlinson rises). Sproles is there with zero, tied with all-time greats Emmitt and Barry.

It is actually Tiki Barber who is getting totally ignored here, tied with Thurman Thomas at 4 such seasons. King could have also gone with Priest Holmes, or for current players, either Ray Rice or Arian Foster as versatile feature backs who are runners and receivers. Then again, Tiki Barber wasn’t as explosive as Sproles, either.

[photo via US Presswire]