Four downs while wondering if your average fan would really want to go through what Jahvid Best went through on this YouTube video from last year's Cal-Oregon State game ...
FIRST DOWN:
Just got off the phone with Toby Gerhart. Doing a story on Gerhart-Best for tomorrow's kill-a-tree edition. Long story short, Gerhart and Best were not traded for each other on draft day. It only seems like that since both teams needed a running back and the Vikings gave the Lions the 30th overall pick that they used to select Best. Then the Vikings traded up and took Gerhart 22 picks later. You know the story, I'm sure.
Well, Toby hadn't really followed it until this week, I guess.
"It's funny because I wasn't aware this whole comparison thing was going on until [Monday]," Gerhart said. "But, yeah, I guess it's only natural. He went to Cal. I went to Stanford. We competed against each other the last four years. It only makes sense that we'd be competing now that he's in Detroit and I'm in Minnesota."
Obviously, it's hard to calibrate the comparison when Best is the Lions' premier back and Gerhart is a complementary player behind one of the league's top two running backs (I'll let you guys fight amongst yourself as to whether AD or CJ is the best).
I think Toby will be a good player. But I will say he sure looked a lot bigger and faster in college.
SECOND DOWN: