Photo: Getty Images
Former San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig rushed for 8,189 yards during his illustrious playing career -- and he hasn't stopped running since retiring in 1994. These days, he runs marathons, which made him uniquely suited to become the leading man for the NFL's new Back to Football Run Series -- a string of 12 5K races from late August through September at NFL stadiums throughout the league.
Guy Code caught up with Craig (figuratively -- the dude is still a burner) for a Q&A on running, modern NFL backfields, "Avatar" and Craig's ultimate realization that it's about damn time he meets Purple Jesus.
What's been your involvement with the NFL's Back to Football Run Series?
As a face of the NFL and someone who loves running. I've run in 23 full marathons and I host my own Rock and Roll Marathon. It's really cool – for myself, being a retired athlete -- to go out and run and encourage others.
What's your goal for the series?
To promote health and wellness. We're urging people to get out and work out. But the main thing is enjoying the experience, enjoying the runner community. It's a fabulous thing. You meet people from all over country and they're all very supportive.
Do you think the series will draw people who are generally active, or maybe a lot of couch potatoes?
I think a bit of everybody. Old people, younger people, thin, big people... it doesn't matter. The bottom line is that they come to enjoy the experience. And other people come out and cheer you on.
How about NFL cheerleaders?
They'll be there too. Another cool thing about running this race is that they finish at the 50-yard-line on each stadium.
Photo: NFL
At how many of the races will runners find Roger Craig?
I'll be in Baltimore on September 4 when the Ravens host a run the day before the opening kickoff. I'll also be in Denver on September 7. I'm not sure yet where else.
How much did you rely on distance running as training during your career?
It was a big part of my training. Everyone talks about Jerry Rice's training regimen, well I brought Jerry Rice to that hill -- Edgewood Park in San Carlos. I ran it for years before he joined the team. I ran distance -- 4.5 miles up those hills and trails -- so I understood distance running a bit. Then when I retired, I did a charity run for San Francisco police department, a 15-mile run. I ran very well for that distance.
Photo: Getty Images
Would you say you Jerry were running those hills together or kind of competing?
I dominated him because I understood how to run it. I understood the switchbacks, but when he got going he made it competitive. We ran pretty hard. We reached out to other NFL players, too, guys like Eddie George came out to train. They wanted to see this hill. Then Ronnie Harmon, and Barry Sanders joined his rookie year. Ask him about my hill!
There's not many workhorses left in the league like there was during your playing days...
Adrian Peterson. He's the guy. He reminds me of the '80s. He's the guy who runs like Walter Payton, runs like me a little bit. He's aggressive and he's got Eric Dickerson's speed.
If he remains healthy, what do you think are his prospects for breaking Dickerson's rushing record this year?
Very good. He's got a great O-Line and he's determined. He's dangerous and he's always been a great running back, even when he was a freshman at Oklahoma. He should've won the Heisman. I heard he's a big fan of mine, so one day I'm going meet him. I also played with the Vikings my last couple years. Well s**t, I've got to meet him yet.
You were a big time run and receiving dual threat. Which running back of that kind today do you think most resembles your style of play?
Matt Forte or Arian Foster. Forte has that flair for catching ball out of backfield and his heart is amazing. Also Frank Gore who's had a stellar career. He never gives up and plays like he's starving. I like that attitude. It's not playing hungry because when you play hungry it's easy to relax and chill out because you've got three meals. When you're starving -- you don't know when you get next meal.
A lot of teams spent much of the offseason studying Kaepernick, Russell Wilson and RG-III. Do you think mobile QBs in those read-option systems may get stifled, kind of like the Wildcat fad or, do you think it's distinguished?
It's the new wave of the NFL right now. These quarterbacks are big, strong, fast and it's a 21stcentury type of system. Kaepernick is like Avatar -- he can do it all and he kind of looks that way too. He's tall, lanky and he can run. But he can throw, too, and the first thing is throwing. The way he plays puts constant pressure on a defense. Defenses might figure out different things so read-option teams will have to be creative.
Photos: Getty Images, DeviantArt
Would you have liked to play in a running back committee? Maybe that would have extended your career?
I did a lot of different things in our system. It wouldn't have worked for us. I needed to be on the field: I did so much of heavy lifting and one year I caught 92 balls -- more than any receiver on our team. I lead the whole league in receiving.
Our system had to go through me; I was the glue. I had people double covering me coming out of backfield, maybe a linebacker and defensive back. They had to watch me as well as Rice and John Taylor. Joe [Montana] was just sitting back there, picking people off like candy from a baby. We all took ownership of our positions.
Do you still practice Tae Kwon Do?
I punch the bag a little bit but I don't do kicks like I used to. My weight is about 205, 15 pounds under playing weight. I've been locked in like that for last 15 years. I lost weight from running marathons. But I'm still flexible and light and I can still rumble, baby.
+ Lil Duval is talking Sports tonight on the season finale of "Ain't That America With Lil Duval" at 11:30/10:30c on MTV2
+ Follow Guy Code on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Google+