Jamal Lewis

Record-setter knew his mark would fall

Jamal Lewis was in Cleveland as getting ready to play Seattle in a late game when Adrian Peterson broke his NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards against San Diego on Sunday. It didn't surprise him the record fell after just four seasons, nor did it surprise him that it was Peterson who broke it.

"At least a guy I really respect got it," the Browns running back said. "So that's cool."

On Sept. 14, 2003, as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis carried the ball 30 times for 295 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-13 victory over the visiting Browns. It broke the mark of 278 set by Cincinnati's Corey Dillon against Denver only three seasons earlier.

"A record like that can be broken," Lewis said. "With my situation, it wasn't too much I did special. The holes were there and I hit them."

Lewis went on to rush for 2,066 yards in 2003, the second-highest total in NFL history. Four seasons later, on the day his record fell, Lewis had only 37 yards on 20 carries, but did score a career-high four touchdowns in a 33-30 overtime victory for Cleveland.

Lewis, who kept no memorabilia from his record performance, said he could have run for 350 against the Browns on that day in 2003.

"It's just a good day when you're feeling it, and when you're in a zone," Lewis said. "I think that's where [Peterson] was. And he probably could've went for more yards. ... He's a phenomenal back. I like him. I've met him and talked to him. He's going to be one of the great backs in this league in the future."

MARK CRAIG

Terrell Davis

Ex-Bronco says 2,000 out of reach, for now

Terrell Davis, who joined Dickerson as a member of the 2,000-yard club while playing for Denver in 1998, admits that witnessing Peterson's exploits leaves him "envious."When Adrian Peterson gets the ball it looks like he is never going to see it again," Davis said. "Every time he touches the football he wants to score a touchdown. Nobody I know has that mentality. Most people understand if it's third-and-5 or third-and-6 they want to get the first down and if they get more it's a bonus. But I don't think he knows that he's not going to score every time he touches the ball. He's lived by that for so long ... so why change?"

But it's not only desire that makes Peterson unique.

"He has great situational awareness," Davis said. "He's very instinctive and is already looking past the first defender or two. He knows he sees a guy on his left or right and all of this is being processed extremely fast obviously and him being able to execute it is crazy. Most running backs when they get into a zone they can get to Adrian Peterson's level, but being in that zone is natural for him. He doesn’t have to stay in the zone, that’s just the way he runs. I’ve been there once or twice."

Davis predicts that, in part because of the Vikings' subpar passing game, Peterson won't join the 2,000-yard club this season. That doesn't mean Davis thinks Peterson won't join him someday in a very select fraternity.

"This is one of the guys that when he's finished they'll be talking about people looking like him," Davis said. "I don't want to anoint him as the greatest running back ever. He's only played eight games. But if he even remotely retains the pace to what he's doing right now, when all is said and done, he could be the best."

JUDD ZULGAD

Emmitt Smith

All-time leader's advice: 'Save your body'

Peterson grew up in Palestine, Texas, a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and star running back Emmitt Smith. But it's Smith -- the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards -- who now says he's "in awe" of Peterson. "Just because of the sheer speed and power he possesses, the way he attacks the line of scrimmage and the defenders coming to tackle him," Smith said.

Smith, who compares Peterson's running style to Chicago Bears great Gale Sayers more than Dickerson, said he believes the only thing that can stop the Vikings rookie are injuries.

"It's a physical league and he is a bruising, punishing runner," said Smith, now an NFL analyst for ESPN. "When I see him running into piles and getting caught up those are going to be areas of challenge for him. His style has been to initiate contact and punishment his whole career, so it's late to change that. But one thing I'd want to put in his ear is to know when the journey is over.

"Don't change his attacking style, the way he approaches the line of scrimmage or attacks in the open field, but when he's on the sideline and can't get another yard, don't take any extra contact if it's not necessary. And when you're in piles, don't try to fight for inches because inches can cost you your career. Don't allow defenders to hold you up so other people can come in and get cheap shots. Those are the things I would say. Save your body."

Smith has yet to meet Peterson but is looking forward to doing so Dec. 17, when ESPN's "Monday Night Football" crew comes to town for the Vikings-Bears game. So does Smith think he will be watching the best running back in the NFL that night?

"Hell, yeah," he said. "Right now there isn't a back close to him. ... The only problem is that his college quarterback was probably better than what he has now. Minnesota can't throw the ball and that's an issue. The better this offense gets from a passing standpoint, this kid can explode."

JUDD ZULGAD

Eric Dickerson

Fellow Texan can 'break my records'

As Eric Dickerson watched fellow Texas-born running back Peterson rush for an NFL-record 296 yards last Sunday, the Hall of Famer flashed back to his rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams in 1983.

"When you are on, you are on," Dickerson said. "It happened when we played the Lions in the fifth game of the season and I had 199 yards [on 30 carries] and three touchdowns. I remember coming to the huddle laughing. Jackie [Slater, the standout Rams tackle] says, 'What are you laughing at?' And I said, 'They can't run with me. I'm too fast for them.' ... It was almost like I was playing against kids. Looking at him Sunday, that's what it reminded me of. Like he was playing with a bunch of kids."

Dickerson finished that season with 1,808 rushing yards, a rookie record Peterson is on pace to break. The next season Dickerson rushed for an NFL-record 2,105 yards, breaking O.J. Simpson's 1973 record of 2,003 yards.

"My best friend and I were talking during Sunday's game and Peterson had a big run," Dickerson said. "My friend said, 'Remember back in 1984 when you set the record?' He said, 'I told you then that the guy who would break that record and maybe even break your rookie record has not been born yet.' [Peterson was born in 1985.] I remembered that conversation. This is a guy I see who can break my records. He has the ability to do both."

Peterson is most often compared to Dickerson.

"I do see myself in him," Dickerson said. "I'm bigger than him. I'm 6-3 [and Peterson is 6-1]. But he has quick feet, I had quick feet. For a big guy those are things you have to have. You can't just be a big guy and be fast. You have to be a big guy and have the feet of a little guy and make quick cuts. There hasn't been a big, fast running back like myself since I played. ... There hasn't been a guy run a 4.3 in the 40 who is over 6 feet tall, can cut and be physical."

At least not until now.

JUDD ZULGAD