DaytonDailyNews.com

Running backs. They used to be the monsters of the NFL. Guys like Frank Gifford, Jim Taylor, Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, O.J. Simpson and Barry Sanders. Defensive coordinators had to tailor their strategies to stop them.

But sometime when I wasn't looking, running backs were devalued, at least by pundits.

Last week, after a playoff game, I heard a radio talk show guy say there is no longer a need for teams to draft a running back in the first round. He used Green Bay's Ryan Grant as a case in point.

Grant was signed as a free agent from Notre Dame in 2005 by the Giants. He wound up with the Packers and rushed for 956 yards, averaging 5.1 yards a carry this season. That's good, considering he wasn't the Packers' featured back when this season started.

But in the NFC title game against the Giants, Grant wasn't a factor.

Now switch to the AFC title game, the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers. San Diego star LaDainian Tomlinson (1st round, 5th pick) removed himself from the game early because of injury, forcing Michael Turner (5th round) to start. He was good at running straight ahead when he hit an opening. The Chargers had trouble scoring touchdowns in the red zone.

On the other side, the Patriots had Laurence Maroney (1st round, 21st pick). He took over, carrying the Patriots in the fourth quarter, running with speed, power, jukes and cutbacks.

Football hasn't changed that much.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2160 or

gsimms@DaytonDailyNews.com.