Unbreakable Records

"Records are meant to be broken." -someone said it

I really don't think that there are unbreakable records. There's always someone out there that can do one better. Sure, there are football records that can't be beat. 99-yard runs, 99-yard passes, 98-yard punts, those can only be matched. I saw Tony Dorsett score from the 1-yard line on the Minnesota Vikings side of the field. It was a depressing handful of seconds. On the other end of emotions was watching Bernard Berrian take in a Gus Frerotte pass and completing a scoring play that covered 99 yards. Good times. I'm hoping that Vikings rookie punter Jeff Locke can one day equal Steve O'Neal. Hit a nice little 98-yard punt.

There was a time when John Unitas' record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass was considered one of the most unbreakable records. Drew Brees sailed by it last year. It was actually an accomplishment that I thought was under appreciated. Passing a record held by Unitas isn't trivial stuff. Today's passing game has made pretty much made all passing records a revolving door. 5,000 yards in a season is common now. Is 50 touchdown passes in a season going to be routine? Sorry, Tom. Since 1979, I've felt that Minnesota Vikings safety Paul Krause's 81 career interceptions was the most unbreakable NFL record. With today's passing game, balls are in the air a lot. There are so many more chances for interceptions. I just don't think that one guy is going to get all of them. Krause's 81 will last. It's hard to imagine longevity records passing the 26 years of George Blanda. Morten Andersen has 25. Gary Anderson and John Carney have 23. Come on! Do kickers really count? Football players like Jackie Slater and Darrell Green  played 20 seasons with one team. Jim Marshall played 19 seasons with the Vikings. It's real hard to imagine anyone in today's game matching those records. It just doesn't happen anymore. Not since Favre retired.

Today's passing game has changed everything. Passing has become something closer to "what have you done lately?" It's also minimized the role of the running back. Emmitt Smith's career rushing record is way out there in the best of running times. It's way, way out there when the quarterback is throwing the ball nearly 50 times in a game. That dynamite back is begging for touches. If Adrian Peterson retires without Smith's record, will that record ever be touched.

"Records are meant to be broken."...