News broke that former Minnesota Vikings and Oklahoma Sooners star running back Adrian Peterson has signed with the New Orleans Saints.
Welcome @AdrianPeterson to New Orleans! #Saints pic.twitter.com/0pIBpVMHII
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 25, 2017
According to ESPN, the one-year deal with an option for one more is worth $7 million.
Peterson has rushed for over 1,000 yards 7 times in his career, including 2,097 during the 2012 campaign. He's amassed an astounding 97 touchdowns on the ground and another 5 through the air.
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While the Saints could certainly use the help in the backfield, Peterson is coming off a slew of injuries and is now 32-years old, which is ancient in running back years.
The Saints' signing of Peterson has us thinking of other NFL running backs that decided to prolong their careers with new squads. Many of these powerful runners and future Hall of Fame players are so closely intertwined with the team they succeeded with that it's hard to remember where they ended their NFL careers.
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Emmitt Smith – Arizona Cardinals
Easily the most successful running back on this list, Smith ran for just under 1,000 yards in 2004 for the Cardinals to go along with 9 touchdowns. Smith completed his astounding career with 18,355 total rushing yards.
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O.J. Simpson – San Francisco 49ers
Simpson barely eclipsed 1,000 yards in two season with the 49ers while averaging a career-worst 3.7 and 3.8-yard-per carry in 1978 and 1979.
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Tony Dorsett – Denver Broncos
It's hard to remember Dorsett's last year in the league, but he played it in Denver while rushing for just 703 yards in 16 games.
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Franco Harris – Seattle Seahawks
All Pittsburgh Steelers fans will try to forget the image of Franco in a Seahawks uniform. So will Seattle fans as Harris ran for a paltry 170 yards and no touchdowns in 1984.
Franco Harris – Seattle Seahawks – 1984 pic.twitter.com/cjYdR4evdv
— Guys Last Team (@GuysLastTeam) August 28, 2016
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Shaun Alexander – Washington Redskins
A prime example of when an NFL running back is done, he is done. Alexander ran for only 24 yards in 4 games for Washington in 2008 before retiring.
Another great article from @dcsportsbog //Shaun Alexander came to Washington to finish his NFL career. He never left https://t.co/D9fvFB72vN
— boywaja (@boywaja) November 11, 2016
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Ricky Williams – Toronto Argonauts
When you think of Ricky Williams, you probably remember him in his Texas Longhorns or Miami Dolphins uniform, but do you recall his one-year stint with the Argonauts of the Canadian Football League?
