Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte and NFL’s veteran running backs defying their age

The career of the running-back is traditionally a short one in the NFL, but as Gregg Patton points out, this season the top guys are defying their age.

Adrian Peterson, the 30-year-old Minnesota Vikings running back, averages a league best 93 yards a game. Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

The prevailing theory is that running backs peak around the same time they would be eligible to run for the United States Congress — age 25.

It tends to be an uphill stride after that. Statistically, runners have the shortest NFL careers of any position, averaging about 2.5 years.

That said, it is a good year for the exceptions. Four of the league’s top 10 rushers are at least 30 years of age, and the “old” man at the top — Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears with 507 yards — is 29.

Sure, the season is only six weeks old, meaning there is plenty of time for the senior citizens to tweak a knee, roll an ankle or develop arthritis. For now, the old guys are holding steady.

Justin Forsett, 30, of the Baltimore Ravens ranks fourth (457 yards). Chris Johnson, 30, of the Arizona Cardinals is fifth (445).

Adrian Peterson, 30, of the Minnesota Vikings is sixth (432). Frank Gore, 32, of the Indianapolis Colts is 10th (403).

Gore is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, which is his 11-year career average.

Peterson was a question mark after missing the 2014 season. He was suspended while dealing with a legal case over the physical abuse of his son.

The year off may have freshened his legs. Or he may just be the same Hall of Fame worthy runner he has been.

“Ain’t nothing changed about him, a little bit older, a little bit wiser,” Detroit Lions defensive tackle Darryl Tapp told the Detroit Free-Press as the Lions prepared to play the Vikings Sunday. “He’s a beast.”

Peterson, who is averaging a league-best 93 yards per game, attributes his longevity to his “work ethic”.

“When you’re older, you got to stay on top of your game,” he said.

Johnson was as good as anyone in the game in 2009 when he led the NFL in rushing (2,006 yards) for the Tennessee Titans.

By last year, he was a part-time back for the New York Jets. Arizona signed him just before the season began when injuries depleted their backfield.

As others return, he will lose playing time, but Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer sees intangibles with Johnson that may be a result of his experience.

Palmer said Johnson protects the quarterback well, recognising pass rushers and blitzes. When he gets the ball, Palmer pointed out, Johnson “finds a way to get past that front yardage stick” for a first down.

Running backs do not often stick around long enough to learn some of the nuances that would make them better players. Statistical studies suggest the vast majority are in serious decline by the age of 26 or 27.

Any injury to the lower body can wreck a career, but it is also the constant beating a ball carrier takes that takes a toll.

Marcus Allen is believed to be the oldest runner to carry the ball at 37. In 1997 he still averaged a respectable 4.1 yards per carry and gained 505 yards, playing all 16 games for Kansas City.

Gore may not last until then, but he has a yardstick — summer workout partner Lamar Miller, 24, of the Miami Dolphins.

“I want to see where he’s at compared to me,” Gore told the Indianapolis Star. “Once I know I can’t (match him) anymore, I know I don’t belong.”

No problem, yet.

Trick plays can change games ... if they work

The botched fake punt play by the Indianapolis Colts last week generated as much laughter as head-scratching.

To review: two Colts went to the ball and nine split wide right, hoping to confuse the New England Patriots.

Instead, the two Colts confused themselves. One inexplicably snapped the ball to the other. He was immediately tackled for a loss.

Too bad it produced the wrong kind of giggles.

When fake punts and field goals and other trick plays work, the fun is in the novelty and ingenuity.

One coach who is particularly adept at special team trick plays is Jeff Fisher of the St Louis Rams.

It was his Tennessee Titans team in the 2000 play-offs that produced what is known as the “Music City Miracle”, an across-the-field lateral pass on a kick-off return that resulted in a last-second, game-winning touchdown.

Last year, Fisher’s punt return team pretended that the ball had been kicked to the right against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Hawks bought the fake and chased the “phantom” ball. One lonely Rams returner caught the real ball and ran it 90 yards for a Rams touchdown. St Louis had an upset win.

Fisher’s punter Johnny Hekker keeps fooling everybody, four years into his career. He has completed six-of-eight passes for 99 yards and one touchdown.

Two weeks ago, he nailed a 20-yard pass for a first down against the Green Bay Packers.

Hopefully, the Colts’ disaster will not discourage other coaches who are pondering outside-the-box tricks.

We would prefer they focus on Fisher’s innovative scheming, which is not just fun, but often game-changing.

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