No contest John Riggins
Running back John Riggins played 175 games in 14 seasons with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. A Big Eight rushing champion who broke Gale Sayers’ rushing record at the University of Kansas, Riggins was the first pick of the New York Jets and the sixth player selected in the 1971 NFL Draft.
He played in New York for five years but signed with the Redskins in 1976 as a free agent. His nine-year tenure with the Redskins was interrupted in 1980, when he voluntarily sat out the season.
The 6-2, 230-pound Riggins was not a spectacular running back but he was a classic workhorse ball carrier who specialized in the tough yardage in the big games. He carried 2,916 times for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns during his career. He also caught 250 passes for 2,090 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 13,435 combined net yards are among the best ever, as is his 116 touchdowns by rushing and receiving.
Riggins played in the 1982 and 1983 NFC championship games and Super Bowls XVII and XVIII and made the most of his comparatively few postseason appearances. He was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XVII with a then-record 38 carries for 166 yards. He capped off his big day with a 43-yard touchdown run that clinched Washington's 27-17 victory over Miami.
Riggins rushed over 1,000 yards five times in his career and over 100 yards in 35 games, including a then-record six in post-season. He rushed 251 times for 996 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine post-season contests. Riggins followed his Super Bowl XVII success with a sensational season in 1983 when he rushed for a career-high 1,347 yards and a then-record 24 touchdowns. Following that season he was named All-Pro for the first time in his illustrious career.
Career highlights and awards
* Pro Bowl selection (1975)
* 1× All-Pro selection (1983)
* NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
* 70 Greatest Redskins
* Super Bowl XVII MVP
* Redskins' Ring of Fame
* 1978 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
* 1983 Bert Bell Award
Pro Football Hall of Fame - Class of 1992..
wil.
Running back John Riggins played 175 games in 14 seasons with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. A Big Eight rushing champion who broke Gale Sayers’ rushing record at the University of Kansas, Riggins was the first pick of the New York Jets and the sixth player selected in the 1971 NFL Draft.
He played in New York for five years but signed with the Redskins in 1976 as a free agent. His nine-year tenure with the Redskins was interrupted in 1980, when he voluntarily sat out the season.
The 6-2, 230-pound Riggins was not a spectacular running back but he was a classic workhorse ball carrier who specialized in the tough yardage in the big games. He carried 2,916 times for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns during his career. He also caught 250 passes for 2,090 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 13,435 combined net yards are among the best ever, as is his 116 touchdowns by rushing and receiving.
Riggins played in the 1982 and 1983 NFC championship games and Super Bowls XVII and XVIII and made the most of his comparatively few postseason appearances. He was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XVII with a then-record 38 carries for 166 yards. He capped off his big day with a 43-yard touchdown run that clinched Washington's 27-17 victory over Miami.
Riggins rushed over 1,000 yards five times in his career and over 100 yards in 35 games, including a then-record six in post-season. He rushed 251 times for 996 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine post-season contests. Riggins followed his Super Bowl XVII success with a sensational season in 1983 when he rushed for a career-high 1,347 yards and a then-record 24 touchdowns. Following that season he was named All-Pro for the first time in his illustrious career.
Career highlights and awards
* Pro Bowl selection (1975)
* 1× All-Pro selection (1983)
* NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
* 70 Greatest Redskins
* Super Bowl XVII MVP
* Redskins' Ring of Fame
* 1978 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
* 1983 Bert Bell Award
Pro Football Hall of Fame - Class of 1992..
wil.
Like Wil said above Riggins
But.........Although he did have much succes in both the rushing & receiving game, if he would have been focused on more as the feature back, Mike Alstott would be my personal answer......
But.........Although he did have much succes in both the rushing & receiving game, if he would have been focused on more as the feature back, Mike Alstott would be my personal answer......
Wil Great Contribution As Usual
I'm all too aware of "Riggo's" great NFL accomplishments. No doubt his records in the NFL far overshadow the other 2. But I was just trying to get a discussion going re. Cannon & Looney. Who were also very large for RB at that time, or any time for that matter. No, Riggo wasn't quite as fast as the other 2 but I needed a 3rd man. Those 2 were sprinter fast, large & white, so the pool was limited. We've had this discussion re. black players, so just thought I'd make it this way. If anyone can come up w/another big (220 +), w/above avg. speed, let's here it!! Hugh McHelany (sp) comes to mind, but wasn't THAT big as I recall. Herschell & Bo types rarely come along.:think2:
I'm all too aware of "Riggo's" great NFL accomplishments. No doubt his records in the NFL far overshadow the other 2. But I was just trying to get a discussion going re. Cannon & Looney. Who were also very large for RB at that time, or any time for that matter. No, Riggo wasn't quite as fast as the other 2 but I needed a 3rd man. Those 2 were sprinter fast, large & white, so the pool was limited. We've had this discussion re. black players, so just thought I'd make it this way. If anyone can come up w/another big (220 +), w/above avg. speed, let's here it!! Hugh McHelany (sp) comes to mind, but wasn't THAT big as I recall. Herschell & Bo types rarely come along.:think2:
Alstott A Hell Of A RB, But
didn't have the speed of these guys. Looney & Cannon were sub 9.9 guys!
Like Wil said above Riggins
But.........Although he did have much succes in both the rushing & receiving game, if he would have been focused on more as the feature back, Mike Alstott would be my personal answer......
didn't have the speed of these guys. Looney & Cannon were sub 9.9 guys!
John David Crow
John David Crow 6-2, weighed 210-pounds, ran the 100-yard dash under ten seconds, and averaged 4.9 yards a carry in his three years at Texas A&M. The Aggies had a 24-5-2 record for his career. In 1957, Crow was unanimous All-America halfback, won the Heisman, was named Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation and Washington Touchdown Club, and Back of the Year by United Press.
In the 1958 NFL Draft, Crow was a first–round draft pick for the Chicago Cardinals. He played 11 seasons and appeared in 4 Pro Bowls. He later played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.
He completed more passes than any other non-quarterback in history with 33 completions, including 5 touchdowns.
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls: 4
Awards: 1957 Heisman Trophy
Honors: NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
College Football Hall of Fame 1976
In 2004, Crow was awarded the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award, presented annually by the SMU Athletic Forum. The award is given to former college football running backs who had excellent college careers and later became leaders in their community.[
wil..
John David Crow 6-2, weighed 210-pounds, ran the 100-yard dash under ten seconds, and averaged 4.9 yards a carry in his three years at Texas A&M. The Aggies had a 24-5-2 record for his career. In 1957, Crow was unanimous All-America halfback, won the Heisman, was named Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Foundation and Washington Touchdown Club, and Back of the Year by United Press.
In the 1958 NFL Draft, Crow was a first–round draft pick for the Chicago Cardinals. He played 11 seasons and appeared in 4 Pro Bowls. He later played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.
He completed more passes than any other non-quarterback in history with 33 completions, including 5 touchdowns.
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls: 4
Awards: 1957 Heisman Trophy
Honors: NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
College Football Hall of Fame 1976
In 2004, Crow was awarded the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Doak Walker Legends Award, presented annually by the SMU Athletic Forum. The award is given to former college football running backs who had excellent college careers and later became leaders in their community.[
wil..
Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon played three seasons for LSU: 1957, 1958, and 1959. In 1958, Cannon led LSU to its first AP national championship. #1 LSU clinched the title in the Sugar Bowl, beating #12 Clemson 7-0. The only score was a pass from Cannon to Mickey Mangham. Cannon was also voted the 1958 UPI Player of the Year. In 1959, Cannon led #1 LSU to a victory over #3 Ole Miss. The Tigers were trailing 3-0 when Cannon returned a punt 89 yards for a TD, breaking seven tackles. It was the only TD of the game, resulting in a 7-3 victory for LSU in Tiger Stadium. That year, Cannon won the Heisman Trophy and was again voted the UPI College Football Player of the Year|UPI Player of the Year. Other big games from Cannon's time at LSU were unranked LSU's 20-13 victory over #17 Georgia Tech in 1957, #1 LSU's 14-0 victory over #6 Ole Miss in 1958, and #1 LSU's 10-0 victory over #9 TCU in 1959. The No. 20 worn by Cannon was retired after the 1959 season. It was the only football number retired by LSU until 2009, when Tommy Casanova's number was also retired.
In 1960, his signing by the Houston Oilers followed a fierce bidding war that began when Oilers owner Bud Adams met Cannon in the end zone following LSU's Sugar Bowl victory, and ended in court, with the AFL winning against the NFL. That put the fledgling league on the football map.
Cannon, at halfback, scored an 88-yard touchdown on a pass from George Blanda in the first AFL Championship game, a 24-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He scored the only touchdown in the Oilers’ repeat victory over the San Diego Chargers in the second-ever AFL Championship game.
Cannon amassed 2,043 all-purpose yards in 1961, and led the league in rushing. He played for the Oilers from 1960 through 1963 and went to the Oakland Raiders in 1964. Al Davis converted him to tight end during the 1964 season, and he finished his career as one of the best players of all time at that position. Cannon was All-League in 1961 and played in the AFL All-Star Game as a halfback in 1961. He was an AFL All-League selection at tight end in 1967, when he scored 10 receiving touchdowns. He played tight end in the in 1969 AFL All-Star Game. He accounted for a total of 64 touchdowns in his career, 47 of them receiving. For his career, he amassed 3,656 yards receiving, 2,455 yards rushing, and 1,882 return yards for a combined total of 8,003 yards and 63 touchdowns. He also passed for 46 yards and one touchdown. He played in a total of six AFL Championship games, winning twice with the Oilers and once with the Raiders.
Billy Cannon is one of twenty players who played the entire ten years of the American Football League's existence.
In 2008, Cannon was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted during a ceremony on December 9.
Career highlights
TSN All-AFL 1961, 1967
AFL All-Star 1961, 1967, 1969
Awards 1959 Heisman Trophy
1959 TSN Player of the Year
1959 UPI Player of the Year
1958 TSN Player of the Year
1958 UPI Player of the Year
Honors American Football League
Champion, 1961 and 1962
AFL Rushing leader, 1961
College Football Hall of Fame class 0f 2008
wil.
Billy Cannon played three seasons for LSU: 1957, 1958, and 1959. In 1958, Cannon led LSU to its first AP national championship. #1 LSU clinched the title in the Sugar Bowl, beating #12 Clemson 7-0. The only score was a pass from Cannon to Mickey Mangham. Cannon was also voted the 1958 UPI Player of the Year. In 1959, Cannon led #1 LSU to a victory over #3 Ole Miss. The Tigers were trailing 3-0 when Cannon returned a punt 89 yards for a TD, breaking seven tackles. It was the only TD of the game, resulting in a 7-3 victory for LSU in Tiger Stadium. That year, Cannon won the Heisman Trophy and was again voted the UPI College Football Player of the Year|UPI Player of the Year. Other big games from Cannon's time at LSU were unranked LSU's 20-13 victory over #17 Georgia Tech in 1957, #1 LSU's 14-0 victory over #6 Ole Miss in 1958, and #1 LSU's 10-0 victory over #9 TCU in 1959. The No. 20 worn by Cannon was retired after the 1959 season. It was the only football number retired by LSU until 2009, when Tommy Casanova's number was also retired.
In 1960, his signing by the Houston Oilers followed a fierce bidding war that began when Oilers owner Bud Adams met Cannon in the end zone following LSU's Sugar Bowl victory, and ended in court, with the AFL winning against the NFL. That put the fledgling league on the football map.
Cannon, at halfback, scored an 88-yard touchdown on a pass from George Blanda in the first AFL Championship game, a 24-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He scored the only touchdown in the Oilers’ repeat victory over the San Diego Chargers in the second-ever AFL Championship game.
Cannon amassed 2,043 all-purpose yards in 1961, and led the league in rushing. He played for the Oilers from 1960 through 1963 and went to the Oakland Raiders in 1964. Al Davis converted him to tight end during the 1964 season, and he finished his career as one of the best players of all time at that position. Cannon was All-League in 1961 and played in the AFL All-Star Game as a halfback in 1961. He was an AFL All-League selection at tight end in 1967, when he scored 10 receiving touchdowns. He played tight end in the in 1969 AFL All-Star Game. He accounted for a total of 64 touchdowns in his career, 47 of them receiving. For his career, he amassed 3,656 yards receiving, 2,455 yards rushing, and 1,882 return yards for a combined total of 8,003 yards and 63 touchdowns. He also passed for 46 yards and one touchdown. He played in a total of six AFL Championship games, winning twice with the Oilers and once with the Raiders.
Billy Cannon is one of twenty players who played the entire ten years of the American Football League's existence.
In 2008, Cannon was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted during a ceremony on December 9.
Career highlights
TSN All-AFL 1961, 1967
AFL All-Star 1961, 1967, 1969
Awards 1959 Heisman Trophy
1959 TSN Player of the Year
1959 UPI Player of the Year
1958 TSN Player of the Year
1958 UPI Player of the Year
Honors American Football League
Champion, 1961 and 1962
AFL Rushing leader, 1961
College Football Hall of Fame class 0f 2008
wil.
A true great in his day - Jim Taylor.
Jim Taylor was selected in the second round of the 1958 NFL Draft, the 15th overall pick. He holds many Packers' records, including career rushing yards, touchdowns, single-season touchdowns. He won the NFL rushing title in 1962, the only season that Jim Brown did not lead the league during his nine year career. Taylor's single-season yardage mark (1474) was not surpassed by a Packer until Ahman Green ran for 1883 yards in 2003. At retirement, Taylor's 83 career rushing touchdowns placed him behind only Jim Brown.
Taylor was a member of four NFL championship teams (1961, 1962, 1965, and 1966), where he was teamed in the backfield with halfback Paul Hornung. In the Packers 16-7 championship win over the New York Giants in 1962, Taylor set a championship record with 31 carries (for 85 yards) and scored Green Bay's only touchdown of the game. In Green Bay's 1965 championship win, he rushed for 97 yards. In January 1967, Taylor and the Packers played in Super Bowl I, in which they easily defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor was the top rusher of the game with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown (with his score being the first rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history).
Although not exceptional in size, Jim Taylor was a physical fullback who often won legendary duels with linebacker Sam Huff. Taylor was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1960-64. He fumbled only 34 times in the 2,173 times he handled the ball (1.56% of his touches.)
New Orleans Saints
In 1967, Taylor played a season with the expansion New Orleans Saints; a year later Jim Taylor retired from pro football.
He finished his career with 8,597 yards and 83 rushing touchdowns, highlighted by his five straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 1960-1964. Taylor also caught 225 passes for 1756 yards and 10 touchdowns, and returned 7 kickoffs for 185 yards, giving him a total of 10,539 net yards and 93 touchdowns. His 8207 rushing yards with the Packers remains a franchise record.
Career highlights and awards
* 5× Pro Bowl selection (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
* 2× All-Pro selection (1961, 1962)
* 4× All-Pro selection (1960, 1963, 1964, 1966)
* 3× NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965)
* 1× Super Bowl champion (I)
* 1962 AP NFL MVP
* NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
* Packers Hall of Fame
* Packers career rushing yards leader (8,597)
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1976.
Jim was living testimony to the popular football adage "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Nowhere was this more evident than in the 1962 NFL title game. Playing on a bitter-cold day, Taylor engaged in a personal duel with the New York Giants' outstanding defense, led by All-Pro linebacker Sam Huff. Jim carried 31 times for 85 yards and scored Green Bay's only touchdown in a 16-7 victory.
He took a fearful pounding both from the hard-hitting Giants and the frozen ground. He suffered an elbow gash that took seven stitches to close at halftime and a badly cut tongue. At the end, he could scarcely see and he couldn't talk.
Taylor was often compared with Jim Brown, the Cleveland fullback, who played at the same time. There were many different viewpoints but Lombard's summation was most succinct. "Jim Brown will give you that leg and then take it away from you. Jim Taylor will give it to you and then ram it through your chest!"
Hall of Famer Paul Hornung played along side Taylor as halfback and could make this list also but I am going to leave the rest of the thread to others.
wil.
Jim Taylor was selected in the second round of the 1958 NFL Draft, the 15th overall pick. He holds many Packers' records, including career rushing yards, touchdowns, single-season touchdowns. He won the NFL rushing title in 1962, the only season that Jim Brown did not lead the league during his nine year career. Taylor's single-season yardage mark (1474) was not surpassed by a Packer until Ahman Green ran for 1883 yards in 2003. At retirement, Taylor's 83 career rushing touchdowns placed him behind only Jim Brown.
Taylor was a member of four NFL championship teams (1961, 1962, 1965, and 1966), where he was teamed in the backfield with halfback Paul Hornung. In the Packers 16-7 championship win over the New York Giants in 1962, Taylor set a championship record with 31 carries (for 85 yards) and scored Green Bay's only touchdown of the game. In Green Bay's 1965 championship win, he rushed for 97 yards. In January 1967, Taylor and the Packers played in Super Bowl I, in which they easily defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor was the top rusher of the game with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown (with his score being the first rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history).
Although not exceptional in size, Jim Taylor was a physical fullback who often won legendary duels with linebacker Sam Huff. Taylor was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1960-64. He fumbled only 34 times in the 2,173 times he handled the ball (1.56% of his touches.)
New Orleans Saints
In 1967, Taylor played a season with the expansion New Orleans Saints; a year later Jim Taylor retired from pro football.
He finished his career with 8,597 yards and 83 rushing touchdowns, highlighted by his five straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 1960-1964. Taylor also caught 225 passes for 1756 yards and 10 touchdowns, and returned 7 kickoffs for 185 yards, giving him a total of 10,539 net yards and 93 touchdowns. His 8207 rushing yards with the Packers remains a franchise record.
Career highlights and awards
* 5× Pro Bowl selection (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
* 2× All-Pro selection (1961, 1962)
* 4× All-Pro selection (1960, 1963, 1964, 1966)
* 3× NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965)
* 1× Super Bowl champion (I)
* 1962 AP NFL MVP
* NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
* Packers Hall of Fame
* Packers career rushing yards leader (8,597)
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1976.
Jim was living testimony to the popular football adage "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Nowhere was this more evident than in the 1962 NFL title game. Playing on a bitter-cold day, Taylor engaged in a personal duel with the New York Giants' outstanding defense, led by All-Pro linebacker Sam Huff. Jim carried 31 times for 85 yards and scored Green Bay's only touchdown in a 16-7 victory.
He took a fearful pounding both from the hard-hitting Giants and the frozen ground. He suffered an elbow gash that took seven stitches to close at halftime and a badly cut tongue. At the end, he could scarcely see and he couldn't talk.
Taylor was often compared with Jim Brown, the Cleveland fullback, who played at the same time. There were many different viewpoints but Lombard's summation was most succinct. "Jim Brown will give you that leg and then take it away from you. Jim Taylor will give it to you and then ram it through your chest!"
Hall of Famer Paul Hornung played along side Taylor as halfback and could make this list also but I am going to leave the rest of the thread to others.
wil.
