Greatest running back of all time

[Kev]

I love the cookie cutter Barry Sanders conversations. In fact, the only reason I opened this thread was to see if I was right about the standard Barry Sanders discussion:

"Man, Barry Sanders was awesome... if he kept playing he would've set all the records"
"Yeah man he was awesome, but he is a quitter and has no heart."
"Well it was the Lions fault, they weren't commited to winning."
"Maaan he was great"
"Walter Payton was better"
"STFU noob"

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
1. Barry Sanders
2. Jim Brown
3. Walter Peyton

If you want to flip-flop #1 & #2 on there I'm fine with that.

And you have some pretty odd choices in your poll? Curtis Martin??? Jerome Bettis?? They're not even in the same league as the others.

that's my thinking. Sayers would be honorable mention

 

[dbk]

OMG... who voted for Jerome Bettis?!??!!?

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat

Originally posted by: kranky
I think it's Jim Brown. If he was playing today, in an environment where the passing game is so effective, he would be incredible. They couldn't stop him when everyone knew he was going to get the ball - imagine if defenses had to worry about the pass.

I'm not sure how he would fair against todays defenses. Wish i could see it.

It's really hard to compare guys from different eras in any sport, but it's almost impossible in football. In Brown's era, he was a freak when you looked at his size/speed as compared to everyone else on the field. Heck, he was bigger than most D linemen and as big as most O linemen at that point. Fast forward to 2008 -- linebackers are routinely bigger than 230, in fact there are safeties approaching that. Brown would be a 'regular' sized RB in today's game. Also, because of the nature of the game back then, we really don't know how good his receiving skills were.

I guess you have to take it in the context of the way the game was played back then. Jim Brown was a monster, I'd hate to be that little 180 pound corner trying to bring him down.

 

[Homerboy]

we've done this already
Also poll is useless without Jim Thorpe

 

[SP33Demon]

Barry.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: PokerGuy

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat

Originally posted by: kranky
I think it's Jim Brown. If he was playing today, in an environment where the passing game is so effective, he would be incredible. They couldn't stop him when everyone knew he was going to get the ball - imagine if defenses had to worry about the pass.

I'm not sure how he would fair against todays defenses. Wish i could see it.

It's really hard to compare guys from different eras in any sport, but it's almost impossible in football. In Brown's era, he was a freak when you looked at his size/speed as compared to everyone else on the field. Heck, he was bigger than most D linemen and as big as most O linemen at that point. Fast forward to 2008 -- linebackers are routinely bigger than 230, in fact there are safeties approaching that. Brown would be a 'regular' sized RB in today's game. Also, because of the nature of the game back then, we really don't know how good his receiving skills were.

I guess you have to take it in the context of the way the game was played back then. Jim Brown was a monster, I'd hate to be that little 180 pound corner trying to bring him down.

Yep, he was kind of like Shaq when he first entered the league. A freak of nature, bigger and stronger than all of his peers at the time.

 

[GasX]

If they added up all the yards Barry Sanders ran sideways and backwards and added it to his yards from scrimmage he'd have broken all the records.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
we've done this already
Also poll is useless without Jim Thorpe

Yea, I did a search and couldn't find anything.

As for the post about this being a Barry Thread, I actually voted for Walter myself. I just wanted to see the responses as to who thought the best running back would be.

 

[Deeko]

I voted for Barry because he's the best I ever saw play. I know there are arguments for Payton and Brown but they were before my time, so I'm voting based on what I know.

As far as Emmitt goes - some of you Dallas haters don't give him the credit he deserves. No, he is not the best ever, although he was the best at certain things - no running back had the same heart, the same drive. Every time he went down he churned forward for a few extra yards, this is why he dominated the TD record long before the yardage record. Of course Emmitt played with some great players around him - why should that detract from his legacy? No one detracts from Jerry Rice because he had two HOF QBs throwing to him. What would Barry have done on Dallas? Who knows! Emmitt fit their system better. Of course, the system would have been different with Barry, but still, it's a useless argument to make.

I also think that at this rate, this whole discussion will be moot because Tomlinson will be the indisputable best ever.....but, he has to keep up this rate of play for a few more years, which is no small task for a running back as they get older.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I voted for Barry because he's the best I ever saw play. I know there are arguments for Payton and Brown but they were before my time, so I'm voting based on what I know.

As far as Emmitt goes - some of you Dallas haters don't give him the credit he deserves. No, he is not the best ever, although he was the best at certain things - no running back had the same heart, the same drive. Every time he went down he churned forward for a few extra yards, this is why he dominated the TD record long before the yardage record. Of course Emmitt played with some great players around him - why should that detract from his legacy? No one detracts from Jerry Rice because he had two HOF QBs throwing to him. What would Barry have done on Dallas? Who knows! Emmitt fit their system better. Of course, the system would have been different with Barry, but still, it's a useless argument to make.

I also think that at this rate, this whole discussion will be moot because Tomlinson will be the indisputable best ever.....but, he has to keep up this rate of play for a few more years, which is no small task for a running back as they get older.

Uh, I think I'd like to dispute that now, and forever. He's good, but not anywhere near the greatest. And he's already showing signs of a steep decline.

 

[NeoV]

a few thoughts - and for a change, some good comments in ATOT on a sports thread, I'm impressed.

I voted Jim Brown - it's impossible in the NFL to say "how would player X do today" when you go back more than 15-20 years, because the size/speed of today's players continues to increase - so you really just have to compare numbers - remember that Jim Brown played in 12 game NFL seasons for 4 years, and 14 game NFL seasons for 5 years, so if you take his avg per game, and add 26 games - that's going to add approximately 2600 yards to his totals. His career yards per carry is 5.2 yards - to me perhaps the best statistic for an RB. Contrary to some people's thoughts, there was a passing game back then too!

He was a fine receiver - he caught 262 passes.

Won an NFL Championship in 1964.

Retired at age 29.

He's my #1.

My number 2 is a tie between Bo Jackson and Gale Sayers - probably the two most physically gifted running backs I've ever seen, both careers cut way too short because of injury. The speed at which Adrian Peterson cuts is the first player I've seen that reminds me of Sayers in that aspect. Bo was just a physical freak, bigger, stronger, faster than almost everyone else on the field.

Watler and Barry are up next - Barry's footwork was just incredible.

Dickerson, OJ Simpson, Faulk, Emmitt, and Earl Campbell in the next group

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: NeoV
a few thoughts - and for a change, some good comments in ATOT on a sports thread, I'm impressed.

I voted Jim Brown - it's impossible in the NFL to say "how would player X do today" when you go back more than 15-20 years, because the size/speed of today's players continues to increase - so you really just have to compare numbers - remember that Jim Brown played in 12 game NFL seasons for 4 years, and 14 game NFL seasons for 5 years, so if you take his avg per game, and add 26 games - that's going to add approximately 2600 yards to his totals. His career yards per carry is 5.2 yards - to me perhaps the best statistic for an RB. Contrary to some people's thoughts, there was a passing game back then too!

He was a fine receiver - he caught 262 passes.

Won an NFL Championship in 1964.

Retired at age 29.

He's my #1.

My number 2 is a tie between Bo Jackson and Gale Sayers - probably the two most physically gifted running backs I've ever seen, both careers cut way too short because of injury. The speed at which Adrian Peterson cuts is the first player I've seen that reminds me of Sayers in that aspect. Bo was just a physical freak, bigger, stronger, faster than almost everyone else on the field.

Watler and Barry are up next - Barry's footwork was just incredible.

Dickerson, OJ Simpson, Faulk, Emmitt, and Earl Campbell in the next group

I'd just like to add a bit to the Adrian Peterson comment. AD simply has the tools needed to be the greatest back of all time IMO. He has the feet of Barry, the speed of Sayers, the strength of Brown, and the vision of both Emmit and Barry put together. That kid is scary amazing. Barring injury, I foresee him being leading rusher this year. He would have done it last year had he not been injured.

My.02¢

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: Deeko
I voted for Barry because he's the best I ever saw play. I know there are arguments for Payton and Brown but they were before my time, so I'm voting based on what I know.

As far as Emmitt goes - some of you Dallas haters don't give him the credit he deserves. No, he is not the best ever, although he was the best at certain things - no running back had the same heart, the same drive. Every time he went down he churned forward for a few extra yards, this is why he dominated the TD record long before the yardage record. Of course Emmitt played with some great players around him - why should that detract from his legacy? No one detracts from Jerry Rice because he had two HOF QBs throwing to him. What would Barry have done on Dallas? Who knows! Emmitt fit their system better. Of course, the system would have been different with Barry, but still, it's a useless argument to make.

I also think that at this rate, this whole discussion will be moot because Tomlinson will be the indisputable best ever.....but, he has to keep up this rate of play for a few more years, which is no small task for a running back as they get older.

Uh, I think I'd like to dispute that now, and forever. He's good, but not anywhere near the greatest. And he's already showing signs of a steep decline.

Last he he rushed for over 1400 yards (4.7 per carry) and 15 TDs, with 60 receptions for 475 yards and 3 more TDs. Sure, it was a dropoff from his record-breaking 2006 season, but you can't expect a guy to break a record EVERY year, can you?

The thing that makes Tomlinson so special is that he can do EVERYTHING. He can make you miss like Barry. He can run over you like Emmitt. He can catch...well, better than any of them. And he seems to throw for at least one TD a year! Not to mention the fact that until recently, the Chargers were a pitiful organization, so it isn't like he's playing with the early 90's Cowboys.

 

[Captante]

(1) Jim Brown
(2) Walter Payton
(3) Gale Sayers

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Jim Brown without a doubt. As good as Sanders and Payton were, Brown had them outclassed.

Same here and a close second is Jim Thorpe who is not even on the poll - how did that happen?

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: xboxist

Originally posted by: PokerGuy
Running backs do not operate in a vacuum, so it's hard to measure how good a back really is. Emmit was the perfect back for that Dallas offense for all those years, but I don't consider him the best pure running back ever. Same for Ricky Waters in San Fran.

If you define "best" as the most electrifying and most fun to watch, then Barry wins hands down, it's not even a contest. If by best you mean "it's 4th and goal with the superbowl on the line, who do you want to hand the ball to", I'd take Jim Brown. If by best you mean "best all around, blocker, receiver and runner", then someone like Faulk or Tomlinson has to enter the picture......

Well said.

I think that there is another major point that gets overlooked when this subject is broached....the rules.

Clotheslines, spearing, forearm shivers and a host of other things that have been outlawed in the last 20+ years were perfectly legal in Brown's day. There were very few penalties for late hits or unnecessary roughness.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Queasy
Jim Brown without a doubt. As good as Sanders and Payton were, Brown had them outclassed.

Same here and a close second is Jim Thorpe who is not even on the poll - how did that happen?

I left thorpe out purely for discriminatory reasons .

I forgot about him hehe.

added.

 

[interchange]

Gayle Sayers was revolutionary for the time he was healthy.

 

[krunchykrome]

I'm too young to appreciate Jim Brown, etc. I would have to say, in my lifetime, the best RB would be either Barry Sanders or Emmit Smith

 

[summit]

how is gale sayers getting such little love?

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: Summit
how is gale sayers getting such little love?

Same reason as Jim Brown not being an overwhelming #1 choice ... most people here barely know who he was.

 

[m1ldslide1]

I picked Sanders because he was able to do such great things on such a perenially crappy team. Imagine if he'd been with the steelers or broncos or anybody who had a stellar line during that period. It woulda been sick, and he would've played for several more years.

 

[Red Dawn]

I picked Jim Brown because he dominated the game like no other running back. Even though I liked Sanders style better Brown was able to carry his team to Championships he was so dominating

 

[digiram]

Originally posted by: rasczak

Originally posted by: digiram
Thurman Thomas

Added

I voted for Walter, but Thurman Thomas is my favorite NFL player of all time.