Sweeter Than Ever: Walter Payton’s Legacy Has Never Been Greater
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Walter Payton carried the ball eight times in his first NFL game. He didn’t gain a yard. A measly debut for the man who many consider to be the greatest running back of all-time. But over the following 13 seasons, Payton amassed a then-NFL record 16,726 rushing yards. And he did it with arguably the toughest running style the game has ever seen. His infectious smile, so voice, and nickname “Sweetness” were the antithesis of the way he abused defenders. He ran with the purpose of dishing out punishment. He almost never ran out of bounds, and he missed just…
