Greatest Running Back of All Time?

[SpaciousK]

Let's hear it!

Obviously Emmitt, O.J., Dickerson, Dorsett, and Travis Jervey

should be on the list, but we're only allowed 5 options.

Write-in votes are certainly welcome.

Personally, I've always loved Barry, but I feel I would have to go with Jim Brown, with everything being equal.

How 'bout you?

 

[briguy]

Barry Sanders in the Top 5 of all time? Are you insane? You should be banned from the RX for listing him in the poll. I would have taken Thurman Thomas over Barry for Gawd's sake. You can't win with a running back like that.

I'd split my vote between Brown, Sayers and Payton.

 

[ChadC]

Two RB's in NFL history finished their careers with over a 5 yards per carry average.

Jim Brown
BARRY SANDERS

 

[jam]

You can probably tell by my avatar who I voted for.

I agree about Sanders... WAY overrated. He would have 20 carries for 40 yards then break one for 60. Looks good in the stats... meanwhile his team was getting rocked because they couldn't pound out 4 or 5 yards and get first downs. They always took him out at the goal line cuz he's a pussy. Couldn't catch either.
Eric Dickerson also has no business being mentioned in the same breath as the great ones. Emmitt was a winner, but if Sweetness had ever behind those Dallas O-lines it would have been scary.

 

[3peet]

Jim Brown, without question.

If he played in today's game he'd plow defenses over and walk into the endzone with defender's dangling off of his shoudlers.

 

[ChadC]

All this topic does is start arguments. To me Barry Sanders and Jim Brown are head and shoulders above the rest. Brown could run through or around anyone and Barry Sanders could end games all by himself. Even more impressively he played for the Lions and still set a ton of records and went over 2000 yards once.

 

[Sweethallie]

With no consideration for longevity or durability I would go in this order. #1- Bo Jackson, #2- Gale Sayers, #3- Jim Brown.
But since durability does matter Big Jim gets my vote.

 

[Mosi]

Grew up in Chicago in the 70's and 80's. Sweetness was the man. Will always be my greatest back. Would round it out with Brown, Sanders and Rocky Blier of the Steelers. The man had half of his foot blown off in Nam and still kicked ass in the NFL. Bad ass.

 

[Sweethallie]

Mosi - I have always been a fan of Sweetness as well. For a coup[le of seasons he was 3rd string QB and back-up punter.
I remember hearing he could walk acroos the feild on his hands and throw a footbal 70 yards - underhanded. A remarkable player and man. When he passed on I felt like I lost an old friend.

 

[JESUS]

Take out Barry Sanders and put in Emmitt Smith.

 

[Mosi]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sweethallie:
Mosi - I have always been a fan of Sweetness as well. For a coup[le of seasons he was 3rd string QB and back-up punter.
I remember hearing he could walk acroos the feild on his hands and throw a footbal 70 yards - underhanded. A remarkable player and man. When he passed on I felt like I lost an old friend.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


He could walk on his hands 50 yards. Bad ass.

 

[JESUS]

I can believe the walking on his hands part, but throwing a ball underhand for 70 yards if he did this then Jim Brown was an exceptional athlete. I would have to see it to believe it. I can throw a ball 70 yards, but not underhand no way.

 

[ChadC]

Look at Barry Sanders' career numbers. I dare you to try to stack this up to the like of Emmitt Smith. I believe he only lost like 3 fumbles in 10 seasons or something like that.



+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1989 det | 15 | 280 1470 5.2 14 | 24 282 11.8 0 |
| 1990 det | 16 | 255 1304 5.1 13 | 36 480 13.3 3 |
| 1991 det | 15 | 342 1548 4.5 16 | 41 307 7.5 1 |
| 1992 det | 16 | 312 1352 4.3 9 | 29 225 7.8 1 |
| 1993 det | 11 | 243 1115 4.6 3 | 36 205 5.7 0 |
| 1994 det | 16 | 331 1883 5.7 7 | 44 283 6.4 1 |
| 1995 det | 16 | 314 1500 4.8 11 | 48 398 8.3 1 |
| 1996 det | 16 | 307 1553 5.1 11 | 24 147 6.1 0 |
| 1997 det | 16 | 335 2053 6.1 11 | 33 305 9.2 3 |
| 1998 det | 16 | 343 1491 4.3 4 | 37 289 7.8 0 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 153 | 3062 15269 5.0 99 | 352 2921 8.3 10

 

[SpaciousK]

I hope this comes out right. Fumbles deserve a mention here.

Player Carries Touches Fumbles T/F

Payton 3838 4330 86 50.3
Campbell 2187 2308 43 53.7
Brown 2359 2621 51 51.4
Faulk 2367 2995 32 93.6
Sanders 3062 3414 41 83.3
Sayers 991 1103 34 32.4
Simpson 2404 2607 39 66.8
Smith 4052 4538 55 82.5
Jackson 515 555 11 50.5
Dickerson 2996 3280 78 42.1

This is why it's tough to take Dickerson or Sayers, but Barry with one fumble per 93 touches looks pretty damn good.

And, if you think Emmitt's the best because of the record, than how do you feel about Dave Krieg and Vinny Testaverde as top 10 QB's.

Hallie brings up a good point though. Bo Jackson should definitely get some love in this discussion.

 

[A.I.D-NICE]

E.Smith #22
Greatest all-around RB in the history of the NFL.

 

[HacheMan]

Barry Sanders.........Bo Jackson could of and would of been if he would of committed full time and avoided the hip injury.........

 

[NEWPORT]

Whether Emmit Smith is the greatest or not, the fact that you did not include in your POOL


MAKES YOU A FOOOOOOOOLLLLLL

WALTER PAYTON WAS THE GREATEST

but Erik Dickerson was a GREAT BACK

and SO was Tony Dorsett

but Emmitt has the record

and Tony has the longest run from scrimmage at 99

 

[steiv5]

I liked Jim Taylor

 

[BigDaddyNole]

imagine what Barry's stats would have looked like if he ran behind the same line and played in the same offense that Emmitt did

nothing against Emmitt, because he's a quality guy and has the stats, but I'd love to see what Barry's numbers would have looked like in the same scenario ....

 

[ChadC]

It took Emmitt what, two full seasons extra to pass Barry Sanders'? With the team Emmitt had that says a lot about him as a player. Anyway, I lost all respect for him because he didn't just hang it up last year. Now he is just making himself look like an ass and some guy named SHIPP is upstaging him.