What comes after 2,000?
Chris Johnson last year became the sixth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Here's a look at how the previous five fared the next season.
Eric Dickerson: 2,105 in 1984, his 2nd season. Next season: age 25, 14 games 292 carries, 1234 yards, 20 receptions, 126 yards, 12 touchdowns
Jamal Lewis: 2,066 in 2003, his 3rd season. Next season: age 25, 12 games, 235 carries, 1006 yards, 10 receptions, 116 yards, 7 touchdowns
Barry Sanders: 2,053 in 1997, his 9th season> Next season: age 30, 16 games, 343 carries, 1491 yards, 37 receptions, 289 yards, 4 touchdowns
Terrell Davis: 2,008 in 1998, his 4th season. Next season: age 26, 4 games, 67 carries, 211 yards, 3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 touchdowns
O.J. Simpson: 2,003 in 1973, his 5th season. Next season, age 27, 14 games, 270 carries, 1125 yards, 15 receptions, 189 yards, 4 touchdowns
Notable: Dickerson's subsequent season was pretty good, but Marcus Allen (1,759 rushing yards, 14 TDs) was the running back to have in 1985 . . . Same with Sanders, who responded with a good 1998, but not nearly the numbers Terrell Davis had . . . Davis ripped up his knee in Week 4 the next season. He played a total of 17 games after his 2,000-yard season . . . As it relates to Simpson, the NFL regular season was 14 games until 1978.
YOU DON'T SAY
Looking at a few quotes picked up during training camp courtesy of Daily News wire services:
* Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace, on his elevation to starter in the wake of Santonio Holmes being traded to the Jets: "Not just the third guy, [or] the deep guy, but a guy they can depend on any down. I look forward to going against the No. 1 [cornerback]. They're going to try to press me and see if I can get off the jam. I'm stronger. I'm going to be ready for them."
* Coach Jim Caldwell on improving the Colts' stagnant running game, which ranked dead last in 2009 and 31st in 2008: "It's a point of emphasis. There is an old coaching adage that goes like this that says, 'You achieve what you emphasize.' That's one area that we are emphasizing. We need to get a little better in that area. That is something we've been working on for a couple years now. We are going to continue to progress."
