Greatest Viking Of All Time Tournament: (4) Chuck Foreman vs (5) Robert Smith

We're down to the last four match-ups in our Greatest Viking Of All Time Tournament, and this one promises to be quite a doozy. It's a battle for not only the right to face Adrian Peterson in the Sweet 16, but to see who can best stake the claim as the second-best running back in Minnesota Vikings' history.

Chuck Foreman

Alma Mater: University of Miami (FL)
Acquired by Vikings: Round 1, 1973 NFL Draft
Seasons in Minnesota: 7 (1973-1979)
Position: Running back
How He Got Here: Defeated Ed White 168-18 in Round 1

Chuck Foreman's career with the Minnesota Vikings got off to a very nice start, as he was named the 1973 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Not just a great runner, he actually led the National Football League in receptions in 1975. In that 1975 season, he also finished second in the NFC in rushing yards with 1,070 and managed to find the end zone 22 times (13 on the ground, 9 through the air). He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time All-Pro, playing in three of Minnesota's four Super Bowl appearances. He also held the team record for rushing touchdowns in a career with 52 until Adrian Peterson came along.

Robert Smith

Alma Mater: The. . .dramatic pause. . .Ohio State University
Acquired by Vikings: Round 1, 1993 NFL Draft
Seasons in Minnesota: 8 (1993-2000)
Position: Running back
How He Got Here: Defeated Gary Larsen 106-92 in Round 1

Though Robert Smith retired as the Vikings' all-time leading rusher, one can only wonder what things could have been like had he been able to stay healthy during the early part of his tenure in Minnesota. He was plagued by numerous injuries during his first four seasons, but really came on at the end, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of his last four seasons. He was second in the NFL in rushing in 2000, after which he suddenly announced his retirement. His 6,818 career yards on the ground stood as the team benchmark until Adrian Peterson came along.

If you need a primer on how the voting for our contest works, we have one for you at this link here. Remember, rec the comments to register your vote. Putting "Vote - Name" in the subject line of a post does not count.

If you want to vote for Chuck Foreman, rec the comment that says "Vote - Chuck Foreman"
If you want to vote for Robert Smith, rec the comment that says "Vote - Robert Smith"

Voting is open for 24 hours, just like always, folks. Have at it!