It is a popular adage that there are only two certain things in life-death and taxes. But for the last decade or so in the National Football League, there has been another sure thing-as soon as he was eligible in 1993, Walter Payton was destined to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That is exactly what happened in January, 1993. All that remains was the exclamation point on his spectacular career-enshrinement day on July 31, 1993, when Payton and four other members of the Class of 1993 received pro football's highest honor.
In 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987, Payton literally rewrote the NFL record book with his ball-carrying feats. He rushed 3,838 times for 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns-all records. He also caught 492 passes for 4,538 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Altogether, he scored 125 touchdowns, second most ever, and he accounted for a record 21,803 combined net yards.
Payton rushed for an all time high 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20,1977. He rushed for more than 100 yards a stunning 77 times. He won the NFL kickoff return championship as a rookie. He even completed 11 out of 34 passes for 331 yards and eight touchdowns. No other running back has even remotely threatened Payton's overall production.
Ironically, Payton's exceptional rushing statistics tend to obscure the fact that he was an exceptional all-round football player, arguably the best who ever lived. He was blessed with a wide variety of athletic skills and he put them all to good use during his NFL career.
"He is a complete football player," Jim Finks, the former Chicago Bears general manager who drafted Payton, said. "He is better than Jim Brown. He is better than O.J. Simpson."
Payton...
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...ed: "I want to get it before Franco gets it," he said, " so I'll be starting the season with the afterburners on." Payton did beat Harris to the record on a 6-yard run in the season's fourth game. Perhaps it was an omen of things to come, Pro Football Hall of Fame Executive Director Pete Elliot was there to receive the ball Payton carried before the next game of play began.
Still, Payton was not entirely satisfied. "Brown set his record in nine seasons," he said. "I wish I could have done it in nine. I could have, too, if the strike hadn't shortened the 1982 season."
Payton, who retired three years later after the 1987 season, was determined that his new rushing record would be something of ages. "My father always told me never to settle for second best," he said," that you either try to do your best or don't try at all."
All Credit to www.chicagobears.com
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