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Article: Jets' Martin, Cardinals' Smith defying the odds ... and their age.(Sports)(Fantasy football)
- Article from:
- Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
- Article date:
- October 8, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Paddock Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: John Dietz
Thirty.
That's a dirty word in NFL circles when it comes to a player's age, especially when talking about a running back. Once a player hits the magic number, production often comes to a screeching halt.
Take Eddie George, 31. The Cowboy is a shell of his former self. Or Jerome Bettis, 32, who has been relegated to goal-line duty. Go back in time and you'll see that once Eric Dickerson hit 30, he never managed another 1,000-yard season. Not even close. Franco Harris' production declined after hitting the big 3-0.
Some do manage to defy Father Time. Tony Dorsett ran for 1,307 yards when he was 31. Walter Payton put ...