Separated by nine years, 106 games and 10,248 rushing yards, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley have never met.
But when asked about each other all week in advance of Sunday's Rams-Vikings game, they made their mutual respect clear.
"He is the godfather," Gurley said. "I guess I'm the godson."
Comparisons were inevitable as this weekend's game approached. Both men have battled back from major knee injuries, Peterson in 2012 and Gurley this year. They're fast and powerful: Peterson is 6 feet 1, 220 pounds; Gurley is the same height and seven pounds heavier.