If you haven't been paying attention - and, frankly, I hadn't been until reading this article by Yahoo!Sports' Michael Silver - Darren McFadden has been tearing it up in the NFL. After a couple of seasons in which it looked like the term "bust" would forever be attached to his pro career, McFadden is once again looking like the back who was arguably college football's best player in 2006 and 2007.
In Oakland's victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, Darren had his finest game as a pro: 19 carries, 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Check out this passage from Silver's article:
"Darren’s the best running back in the league," Raiders fullback Marcel Reece said after the most productive day (19 carries, 171 yards, two touchdowns) of McFadden’s four-year career. "I stand by him. I love him. Whatever this team needs him to do, he can do it, and he will do it. That’s why we’re becoming the offensive force that we are."
I’m not quite ready to declare McFadden the best – that distinction still belongs to the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson – but after watching the Titans’ Chris Johnson struggle through his third consecutive no-impact performance of 2011, I’d say No. 20 is No. 2 with a bullet.
I like this part too:
And what are McFadden’s thoughts on being regarded as one of the league’s best backs, if not the best?
"I believe it," he said. "I try to go out there and show it every Sunday on the field."
Way to go, Dmac! Now I'm not feeling so sheepish about copying your various Arkansas-related tattoos.