Best Player In Football

Killswitch

I know how different the positions are in football and it's hard to compare them, but it doesn't matter anymore because Ladainian Tomlinson has solidfied his spot as the clear cut best player in football. The guy has broke the TD record with 3 games left to play, this is simply insane. Not only is he destroying the TD records but he's second in rushing, only trailing the leader by 5 yards. On pace for the 2nd most yards from scrimmage ever. This will go down as the best year ever for a RB.

Styles™

LT the best in college football? Hell no! Everyone knows it is Formal Cowboys 3rd string QB Drew Henson! :-)...

But seriously I'd have to agree for this year, LT is the best player in the game this year, don't know about his other years, but for the 2006-2007 season, there is no denying it, his stats show it, his teams record show it, MVP in my opinion and his closest opponent will be Drew Brees...

Banner Credit goes to xWaynex

Confirm Pentecost

I'm not trying to knock Tomlinson, or find his place in the order of things, however something clearly jumps out at me: he plays in an era that is very rewarding for running backs.

Of the top 50 single-season Rushing TD leaders, 17 (34%) of them are from the year 2000 thru this season. This number could go up even more, as Larry Johnson is only 1 TD away from making an appearance in the top 50; Marion Barber and Willie Parker could also end up in the top 50 by season's end. That could mean that 40% of the top 50 single-season TD leaders would come from one decade: and the decade isn't even over yet, with 3 seasons still left to play.

By decade, since the 1960s, Rushing TDs have increased constantly, as is show by looking at the leaders:
1960s - 10.7
1970s - 13.5
1980s - 15.4
1990s - 17.4
2000s - 21.4

Rush Attempt leaders, by decade:
1960s - 247.6
1970s - 312.8
1980s - 330.2
1990s - 365.9
2000s - 372.6

Offenses use FAR more rushing attempts now than in previous decades. Running backs in the 1960s has about 66% the opportunity to pile up yards compared to one now.

Again, not to take anything away from Tomlinson or any other active players, but this seems akin to trying to see who the best ever NHL players were by looking at scoring lists from 1980 to 1986.