A Jordan Howard Walter Payton connection is never a bad thing. Especially when it involves the young running back using methods that made “Sweetness” the greatest football player in Bears history. People always thought that Payton was able to do what he did on Sundays because he was an extraordinarily gifted athlete with toughness for days.
The truth was far different and deeper than that. Payton was a good athlete but far from the best. He knew this better than anybody. That meant the only way for him to become greater than anybody was hard work. Really hard work. Payton quite literally abused his body during offseasons. His workout routines are legendary.
Oftentimes other athletes, not just fellow teammates, joined him for sessions near his home. All of them were throwing up or passing out towards the end of it.
Can’t say it didn’t work. Payton retired as the all-time leading NFL rusher and all-time leading scorer. Since then exercise routines have taken on a more technological spin. However, there are some who choose to revert back to the old school methods he used.
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Jordan Howard Walter Payton workout war
LaDainian Tomlinson, who idolized Payton, started using them during his time with the San Diego Chargers. He eventually became MVP and set the record for most TDs in a season with 31. Now Jordan Howard is taking up that challenge. The former fifth round pick has freely said that his conditioning was a big reason for why he didn’t have a better rookie year.
Sure he finished second in the NFL in rushing but there were several instances where he could’ve scored on a long run but always got caught from behind. Playing in better shape is often a way to fix that problem. So he reached out to Walter’s son, Jarrett Payton, to show him how the greatest ever did it.
S/o to @paytonsun for showing me how to train like the #GOAT. Thanks @Gatorade for the fuel. Hydrate to #BeatTheHeat #Ad pic.twitter.com/O3JxgL1SVo
— Jordan Howard (@JHowardx24) June 28, 2017
It’s a frightening prospect. Howard was already one of the best in the league without Payton levels of conditioning. Throw that in and just how much better can he get? No doubt Bears fans are eager to find out. Expectations are for him to carry the offensive load in 2017. No surprise given the massive turnover at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end. He’s their lone proven option on that side of the ball.
That might sound familiar to Payton himself, who endured much of the same thing during his early years with the team.
