Originally posted by Phatillusion So I guess the dolphins whip the Broncos @ss and you don't like them. Who gives a flying flip, Ricky is in the top 3, and Portis is not. Doesn't matter whether he started the 10th game and rushed for 200 yards a game, it's gonna take Portis a year or two more to get higher status, but I would probably put him in my top 7. You have to look at a lot of things when considering a running back, not just yards, but the people blocking for him.
Honestly, Ricky didn't even come to mind when I was considering the top 3 in the AFC. I would have to say that Ricky is probably in the top 3, but not by much. But, rushing for 200 yards/game wouldn't make you a good back? I don't care if you have 5 pro bowlers blocking for you, that would make you the best back in the league. I'll run some #'s by you...
Portis 4 first games: 33 carries, 205 yards. Next 12 games: 240 carries, 1303 yards
He got 110 less carries, 345 less yards than Ricky.
They both finished the season with 17 TD's. Ricky averaged 4.8 YPC, while Clinton averaged 5.5. Clinton averaged 127 yards from scrimmage/game. Ricky averaged 138/game. That's the only reasonable edge Ricky has on Clinton. As a started, Clinton averaged 108 rush yds/game, against Ricky's 115. Not that much of a difference.
All of this has nothing to do with the Dolphins beating anyone, I am a Patriot's fan, and if you recall, they won week 17

. But that doesn't mean I think Antoine Smith is the best back in the league. I would like to know what your top 7 are though, here are mine:
Priest Holmes
LaDanian Tomlinson
Ricky Williams
Clinton Portis
Duece McAllister
Tiki Barber
Charlie Garner