FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Two Vikings lost again today.
Running back Adrian Peterson was one of three finalists for the FedEx Gound NFL Player of the Year award, while Brett Favre was one of the three finalists for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year award.
At least they lost to a 2,000-yard rusher and a guy who set the NFL season record for completion percentage. Titans running back Chris Johnson won the ground award, while Saints quarterback Drew Brees won the air award.
Brees has a little bigger fish to fry this week, so he wasn't able to attend the press conference at the Broward County Convention Center. But Johnson was there, and it was interesting to hear his comments.
"People said I couldn't be an every-down back, and two years later I rushed for 2,000 yards," he said.
Asked what his goals were, Johnson said, "I want to continue to make plays and be the best player in the league."
Although Peterson had a good year, he clearly was the second-best back in the league in 2009. And that's not a knock on AD as much as it is a credit to the smallish Johnson for having one of the best seasons by a running back ever.
People assumed Peterson would be the next 2,000-yard back. But it was Johnson who stole center stage from him. The great news is they're both young, so we should get to see them battle back and forth as they try to establish themselves as the best back in the league. CJ is right now, but AD will be determined to get it back next year.