Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has set a rather eyebrow-raising date for when he will break Emmitt Smith’s career rushing record, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Peterson rushed for 2,099 yards last season, falling eight yards short of Walter Payton’s single season rushing record (2,105).
When asked what week and year he will eclipse Smith’s 18,355 yard rushing record, Peterson said, “Week 16 in 2017.”
By itself that date may not look alarming—it’s four years into the future. Here’s why it is alarming, according to ESPN.com.
The 28-year old Peterson is currently at 8,849 total rushing yards. If he were to accomplish his “Week 16 in 2017 goal”, the Vikings halfback would have to run for 9,507 yards in 79 games—or average 120.3 yards per game. Oh, and he can’t miss a game.
If Peterson breaks the record by his predicted date, he will also claim another of Smith’s records. The Dallas Cowboy great has the record for most yards rushed after the age of the 28 with 8,195 yards, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Were Peterson to complete his goal, he would obliterate the record by 1,312 yards.
"Whoo. That's pushing it, huh? But hey, pushing it is the only way to do it. You know it," said in the interview with the Star-Tribune.
Peterson was also in the news recently for ridiculing some of his NFL brethren. Some players were complaining about the league’s new requirement for thigh and knee pads. AD said he wore them last year—when he won NFL MVP—and they didn’t seem to be a problem.
"I'll call B.S. on that," he said in an interview with FoxSports.com. “It's like, 'You're a National Football League player. If a pad that doesn't weigh but a couple of ounces slows you down, you don't need to be playing in this league.' Like, come on now. Seriously."
Peterson added the pads are important because of they give important protection.
