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Chuck Foreman is, at least for now, the greatest running back in Minnesota Vikings history. He played in the Pro Bowl five straight years from 1973 to 1977, he led the league in touchdowns twice and he was so good at catching passes out of the backfield that he even led the league in receptions in 1975.

But that "at least for now" part is important, because it seems only a matter of time until Adrian Peterson supplants Foreman as the greatest running back in Vikings history -- as even Foreman seems ready to attest.

At an ESPN-sponsored event in Minneapolis today, in preparation for tonight's Vikings-Bears Monday Night Football game, Foreman said of Peterson, "I can only just say 'wow.' He makes those long runs and when he's in the end zone he's not even breathing hard."

Foreman also called Peterson "a wonderful young man," but he did have one word of caution about Peterson's future. Peterson missed time with injuries in all three of his college seasons and has missed two games this season, and Foreman noted that his old coach used to say that the great running backs are the ones who can withstand the pounding of a full NFL season.

"I'll tell you what Bud Grant told me," Foreman said. "You can have all the talent in the world, but durability equals greatness."