The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Critics are ready to write off Eddie George. He's nowhere near ready to go. Over the past few months, George and the Tennessee Titans have heard the talk from those who think seven years with at least 300 carries a season have worn him down, causing the four-time Pro Bowler to lose a crucial step.George just laughs.

"It's crazy because you think I'm the first guy, the first running back to play eight years in the league when guys have played well into 15-16 years," George said.

"I'm right in the middle of that. Emmitt's been playing for a while. I haven't had any major, major injuries and playing the game, you're going to go through some ebbs and flows, and hopefully this is the upside in my eighth year."

George, the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner, dismisses the criticism because he remembers how people once said he wouldn't last long because he is 6 feet 3 and has an upright running style.

Instead, George is just 1,022 yards short of becoming only the 16th running back in NFL history with at least 10,000 yards rushing.

No current back is close to George's 112 consecutive starts - every game in his career. If he starts in the next three Titans games, he will push past Ricky Watters (114) and remain behind only the late Walter Payton (170) in the record books.

This year he is poised to earn his eighth consecutive season with at least 300 carries, the most ever by an NFL running back.

"I feel like I'm in my prime," George said.

The Titans keep a close watch.

Coach Jeff Fisher said George may have dipped in a couple games in the middle of last season, something backs his age are prone to do. George carried 343 times for 1,165 yards, the second-lowest season total of his career, and averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, also the second lowest. But Fisher also noticed last season that George got stronger toward the end of the year.

Running backs coach Sherman Smith said he thinks George has been taken for granted because of his durability.

"The things he's not doing now are things he wasn't doing when he came in the league. He's never been a guy who can make you miss with speed and moves. He's a power guy, and the thing he got away from last year was running with power," Smith said.

George's best season was 2000 when he had career highs with 403 rushes for 1,509 yards and 14 touchdowns. But he needed surgery on his right big toe to reattach a tendon, and he struggled through his worst year as a pro in 2001 with just 939 yards.

He insists he's fully recovered from that injury, and Fisher thinks George looks very healthy in training camp.

"He's strong, and he's got speed," Fisher said. "He's had a good offseason, and he looks good."