Payton finds place

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Jarrett Payton prefers to skip the comparisons to his father. Besides, he’s already doing a fine impression.

Payton, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton, is a running back with the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, and he’s trying to make it big on his own merits.

“My dad was the greatest, but I just want to be the guy who can play the game and not because of my last name,” Payton said. “I was born into this and I’ve got to take it. I can’t go out there and be like him. I’ve got to be myself.”

Walter Payton, who died of cancer in 1999, played for the Chicago Bears from 1975-87 and was the league’s top career rusher when he retired.

“It is something you’ve got to understand that is always going to be there,” Payton said.

The 24-year-old Payton has rushed for 492 yards on 88 carries – an average of 5.6 yards per carry – and scored a league-leading seven touchdowns to help the Admirals to a 5-3 record.

“I have some good yards, but that’s not the most important thing. The biggest thing I’m happy about is that I’m playing consistently,” Payton said.

The former University of Miami player is hoping to earn a spot with the Tennessee Titans, the team that allocated him to Amsterdam.

“When I get back I want to have a role on the team. The things that Tennessee wanted me to do – I think I’ve done those things. As a player I feel that I can always play,” Payton said.

Payton, who spent last season on the Titans’ practice squad, will have to learn offensive coordinator Norm Chow’s new system when he returns. But the Titans only have draft pick Damien Nash and a handful of rookies competing to back up Chris Brown.

“It is important that he is rested for training camp because he has basically been playing football for a calendar year, so we will ease him into training camp,” said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, a teammate of Payton’s father with the Bears.

“Jarrett will definitely be in the mix at the running back position, especially after the improvement he has shown with the Admirals this spring,” he said.

The Admirals are on the verge of qualifying for a spot in the World Bowl – the league’s championship game – for the second time.

“We’re going to the World Bowl. I said that in earlier interviews and can’t take it back,” Payton said. “The Admirals are the best team and I’m not only saying that because I’m a player. Some teams only have one guy to go to, but on our offense we got guys that can catch and run the ball.”

The Admirals, who are unbeaten at home, host the Hamburg Sea Devils on Sunday. A win could be enough to clinch a berth in the title game.

Payton, who visited the Netherlands as a teenager while playing for a youth soccer team, has drawn much of the attention since he arrived in Amsterdam.

“I was anxious the first time in the Arena,” Payton said. “I never saw a group of people get so loud. And it was the first time that I played in a real game situation since college.”

Off the field, Payton has to be wary of Amsterdam’s renowned nightlife.

“For me, that isn’t a problem. I know what comes first and that’s football. That’s why I’m here,” he said.