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We hardly knew ye...

File AD under "What could've been". He was the best college football player I've seen in my lifetime but injuries and an underachieving team took some of the luster off his career. Best of luck to him in the League. I hope he stays healthy and rewrites the record book.

Believe the Heupel wrote:No link yet because I'm too lazy to look for one.

I'm calling BS. Without a link, there's no way I buy that story.

War Stoops wrote:He was the best college football player I've seen in my lifetime

I'm guessing my lifetime probably goes back a little farther than yours, but I'd probably have to give the nod to Herschel, or Marcus(although I was pretty young then)...but AD is pretty darn close(which ain't a bad sentence to have your name mentioned in). Nothing but fond memories of him just clowning fools...except when those fools were wearing green and yellow.

Wait a minute...

I still think he's gone but this is certainly interesting.

Indeed... There's nothing like an expired page to pique the interest. :(

the_ouskull

Dinsdale wrote:

War Stoops wrote:He was the best college football player I've seen in my lifetime

I'm guessing my lifetime probably goes back a little farther than yours, but I'd probably have to give the nod to Herschel, or Marcus(although I was pretty young then)...but AD is pretty darn close(which ain't a bad sentence to have your name mentioned in).

If we're submitting nominations on this topic, while I have to confess a bias in this regard, I think Rocket Ismail is deserving of consideration. With the possible exception of Reggie Bush, he was the most electrifying player I've ever seen. Literally a threat to score from anywhere on the field, in any situation, once the ball got into his hands. Unfortunately, he played WR and for most of his career, Tony Rice was our QB, which meant that getting the ball into his hands on offense was often an adventure (unless he lined up at RB, which he did on occasion.) Unfortunately for Rocket, his game, and especially his size, didn't translate well at the next level.

And while I'm thinking about it, I'll put Reggie Bush on my nominations list as well.

ouskull wrote:Indeed... There's nothing like an expired page to pique the interest.

the_ouskull

Meh, it worked when I went to bed. Here's the expanded article:

Stoops: Peterson still undecided
By DAVE SITTLER AND JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writers
1/11/2007

Coach denies reports that tailback has made his mind up about NFL.

University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops met with tailback Adrian Peterson on Wednesday to discuss the player's future, and Stoops later adamantly denied reports that Peterson had made a decision about whether to enter the NFL Draft.

"I met with him today, and he did not say he had made a decision," Stoops said in a telephone interview late Wednesday. "He has a lot of things he still wants to think over."

Multiple media outlets, citing unnamed sources, reported late Wednesday that Peterson would enter the NFL Draft. Stoops said reports about Peterson reaching a decision are "absolutely incorrect. They're false.

"I don't expect him to make a decision until sometime this weekend or maybe even Monday."

Monday is the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft.

Peterson has been in contact with agents, which is within NCAA guidelines.

"I encouraged him to talk with agents," Stoops said.

NCAA rules prohibit players from taking money or benefits from agents. However, it's common practice for players to discuss their draft status with agents.

Stoops said Nelson Peterson, Adrian Peterson's father, called late Wednesday to express his concern about reports indicating that Adrian had made a decision. Stoops called the reports "inaccurate and irresponsible."

"All they're doing is guessing, and they're wrong," Stoops said.

Stoops said he expected Peterson to issue a statement Thursday stating that he is still in the process of making his decision.

Peterson, a junior from Palestine, Texas, did not answer phone calls Wednesday night. Nelson Peterson and his mother, Bonita Jackson, did not return messages.

OU's associate athletics director for media relations Kenny Mossman said, "Nothing is in the works, period. We don't have a press conference scheduled any time. Those things are fluid and can change, but nothing right now."

Family friend Steve Eudey, who coached Peterson as a youth and let Peterson live with his family while in high school, said he understood Peterson was intending to meet with Stoops on Wednesday night.

"I hadn't heard what he decided," Eudey said, "but I've got a pretty good idea.

"He was asking several people he's known for a long time. You could tell the decision was on his mind. He was beginning to think about it. The decision wasn't made, but he was thinking about it."

Eudey, who now lives in Tyler, Texas, said he visited with Peterson on the Fiesta Bowl trip. Asked if he'd be surprised if Peterson returned to OU next season, Eudey laughed.

"I don't know if anything Adrian does would surprise me," he said. "But yeah, I'd probably be a little surprised. From the conversations we've had, he was leaning toward moving on."

Dinsdale wrote:

Believe the Heupel wrote:No link yet because I'm too lazy to look for one.

I'm calling BS. Without a link, there's no way I buy that story.

War Stoops wrote:He was the best college football player I've seen in my lifetime

I'm guessing my lifetime probably goes back a little farther than yours, but I'd probably have to give the nod to Herschel, or Marcus(although I was pretty young then)...but AD is pretty darn close(which ain't a bad sentence to have your name mentioned in). Nothing but fond memories of him just clowning fools...except when those fools were wearing green and yellow.

Hey, Sonny, you never heared of Red Grange?

Sincerely,

Luther

Dude has had enough injury problems without risking another one plus OU will have a rookie starter at qb, which means a MNC is a major longshot. I think he jumps.

I'll be stunned if AD stays.

Believe the Heupel wrote:I will be too. Apparently he still hasn't decided, which to me means he doesn't like where he's projected to be drafted.

good point.

I am old enough to remember Bo Jackson at AU and dissing my Bucs.

He was a freaking stud.

stupid if he doesn't leave now.

A runningback has roughly 6 to 10 years in the league, a power back has even less time. Earl Campbell played 7 or 8 seasons before he was done Bo Jackson played less than that. It is stupid for him to give up one of those top earning years to play one more year at a school that has no chance at a MNC

Semi thread hijack-

Vito,

What do you hear about JR WR Daniel Buckner? Texas lean? Good player?

Killian wrote:Semi thread hijack-

Vito,

What do you hear about JR WR Daniel Buckner? Texas lean? Good player?

No idea on his leans but right now he and Desean Hales are considered the top two recievers in the state.

I don't know who Mack is after but we will lose a couple of recievers in the next two seasons and need probably 2 or 3 this year.

Any word why it took so long to make such an obvious decision?

I have a feeling Peterson drops out of the Top 15, maybe even to late in the first round or early 2nd. He's had so many injury problems that I think teams might take a flyer on him. He obviously has Top 5 talent, but his injuries will scare teams off. I think if he goes early, Minnesota would be the type of team to take him. They need an offensive spark and he'd be perfect for that, if they choose to go the way of running back. He needs to hire Drew Rosenhaus because we all know what he can do for injury prone RB's on draft day!

^^^

That's a possibility but I'm thinking his stock will go in the other direction. As much emphasis as NFL teams place on the combine and players' measurables, I think AD is going to wow'em with his physical abilities. He has had injuries but has remained productive and the injuries were not the type to have lingering effects.

If the Lions don't take him at #2, the Browns do at #3. If they don't, he falls to the Texans at #8, unless someone trades up or he gets taken in a sign-and-trade.

My thoughts? Browns at #3.

I know that the injury thing is going to be a concern for teams, but none of the injuries he's had are "career-enders" either.

Also, while we're on the subject, I think that, based on the Ewing Theory, we're going to be a better team next year without him. He's a great player, and I would have liked to have seen him take the rushing mark, and the Heisman and a National Championship... :D

...but I think that, as a team, we'll be better without him. Call me crazy.

the_ouskull

skull,

With the OL that Cleveland has, AD has MANY injuries to look forward to. Brantly is supposed to be back next season, but after a knee injury, who knows...

AD is best suited for a team with a west coast offense where he's not pounded on as much. He'd never last that long, but Indy is a great place for him.

IndyFrisco wrote:skull,

With the OL that Cleveland has, AD has MANY injuries to look forward to. Brantly is supposed to be back next season, but after a knee injury, who knows...

AD is best suited for a team with a west coast offense where he's not pounded on as much. He'd never last that long, but Indy is a great place for him.

Bentley

Yeah, him. I almost just said LeCharles because I couldn't remember his last name. I just know his injury last season was huge.

I think his injury killed some of the morale from the get go. It was the first practice and your big FA, Pro Bowl Center goes down the for the year.


I could def see the Browns taking AD at #3 b/c they are missing a big time back. I have a hard time thinking that he wil fall to Houston at #8.

He will be back in the top 5 I cant see him falling past the Texans IMO. They took a big hit when they passed on Vince and Bush and if they pass on Peterson they will probably have to move the franchise.

I guarantee he will not fall past the cowboys Jones likes to take sooners since there are so many in the Dallas area.

Bentley's return next season is unlikely.

He blew out his patella tendon and then had a staph infection in his knee after the surgery. He is rumored to have had or will have a 2nd knee surgery to fix what the staph damaged. His return will most likely be in 08.

Combine that with Ryan Tucker missing the end of the season with depression problems, the Browns OL is anything but adequate for the 07 season.

Peterson would be screwed if he went to Cleveland.

Vito Corleone wrote:He will be back in the top 5 I cant see him falling past the Texans IMO. They took a big hit when they passed on Vince and Bush and if they pass on Peterson they will probably have to move the franchise.

I guarantee he will not fall past the cowboys Jones likes to take sooners since there are so many in the Dallas area.

Believe the Heupel wrote:Jerry does like to take Sooners.

Maybe I missed a trade, but I thought Dallas' pick this year was at #22. Peterson will be long gone by then.

From what I've heard, the Lions want Quinn at #2 if the Raiders take JaMarcus Russell, as expected. I agree with those who say that Cleveland would be a horrible fit for Peterson, but Tampa Bay at #4 (assuming they still have that pick) would seem to me to be a good fit.