Alright, let’s gab about them fellas, the best runners with the ball, you know, the running backs, from back in the 2000s. Them years, they were somethin’ else, real smashmouth football, ya hear?
LaDainian Tomlinson, now that’s a name you gotta remember. Folks called him LT. This fella, he was like a greased pig out there. Nobody could catch him. He could run, he could catch, he could do it all. Best darn runner I ever did see, probably. Always fallin’ forward, gettin’ them extra yards. He was the real deal, no question. He’s gotta be number one on any list, ya know?
- Speed like a rabbit.
- Tough as nails.
- Could score from anywhere.
Then there was Shaun Alexander. This boy, he was somethin’ special too. Ran for Seattle, he did. He was a big fella, but quick on his feet. He scored a whole mess of touchdowns. He knew how to find that end zone, that’s for sure. Not as flashy as LT, maybe, but he got the job done, and he got it done good. Scored a bunch, he did.
And don’t forget about Tiki Barber! He played for the Giants, up in New York. Now, Tiki, he wasn’t the biggest fella, but man, could he run! He was like a little jitterbug, dodgin’ and weavin’ through them big ol’ linemen. He could catch the ball too, outta the backfield, make somethin’ outta nothin’. Always seemed to be movin’ forward, gettin’ them first downs. He was a real workhorse, that Tiki.
Clinton Portis, he was another good one. Ran hard, he did. Played for Denver and then Washington. Had a real good burst, you know, that quick acceleration. He could break away for a long one anytime. Tough runner too, always fightin’ for extra yards. People liked watchin’ him, that’s for sure.
Then you had Edgerrin James. He played for the Colts with that Peyton Manning fella. He was a powerful runner, real strong. He could run over ya, or he could run around ya. He was good at findin’ the holes and gettin’ through ‘em. A real steady player, always reliable. He played for a good long time too, and always produced.
Let’s not forget Ahman Green, played up in Green Bay. Another good one, he was. Fast and shifty. He ran for a bunch of yards, he did. Quiet fella, mostly, but his runnin’ spoke for itself. He was a key part of that Packers offense for years, real consistent player. Knew how to find the open field and make the most of it.
Now, some folks talk about Adrian Peterson, and yeah, he was somethin’ special too. But he really got goin’ later on, you know. Still, in them later 2000s years, he was a force. Runnin’ like a runaway freight train. Big, strong, and fast. He broke a lot of tackles, I tell ya. He could carry a whole team on his back sometimes. But he wasn’t in his prime for most of the 2000’s, see? That’s why I’m not puttin’ him higher up on this here list.
There were other good runners too, you know. A whole bunch of ‘em. It was a good time for running backs, them 2000s. Made for some excitin’ football games, that’s for sure. These fellas I mentioned, though, they were the cream of the crop, the best of the best. They made watchin’ football on Sundays a real treat.
Some things I remember about them runners:
- They were tough. They took a beatin’ and kept on comin’.
- They were talented. They could do things with a football that most folks only dream of.
- They were exciting. They made the game fun to watch.
So there ya have it, my take on the best running backs of the 2000s. Might not be what some fancy expert says, but it’s the truth as I see it. And I’ve watched a whole lotta football, I tell ya. These boys, they could play.
Remember them older fellas, too, like Emmitt Smith in the 90s. He ran for a whole bunch of yards, set the stage for these 2000s runners, ya know? But we’re talkin’ about the 2000s now, and them fellas I mentioned, they were the best of that era.
