Greatest running back of all time

[classy]

Jim Brown. Honestly I don't even think this is debateble.

 

[venkman]

Barry by far. You are talking about who put such a deke on ROd Woodsen, that he literally blew out his knee.

Youtube link

 

[oznerol]

Right now - Jim Brown.

In 10 years - Tomlinson is a possibility. Still Jim Brown most likely.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: 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

I can agree with this, but one thing about jim brown was he was so huge, he was larger than most defenders during his time. he put the hurtin on most of the defenders, so he rarely got hurt. As for today's athlete the game has become even more fearsome with 250lb LB's and 350lb DT's coming at them every play. Today's running back is literally running for their lives out there. I think you have to give these guys of today's age abit more credit because of the physical presence of today's defenders and what they have to do in order to obtain the yards that they get.

 

[AndrewR]

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.

What you basically said is that Emmitt was the best fullback around. I won't argue that Emmitt wasn't good, but he doesn't deserve consideration among the best. Like you said, he fit their system very well -- he benefitted from one of the best offensive lines ever.

I picked Barry because I have never anyone do what he did on such a consistent basis. The only RB I've had similar views on lately is Ahmad Bradshaw but on a much more limited basis. Note that I'm not calling Bradshaw one of the best ever -- he has to sustain his gains over a much longer period and actually play entire games to do that. I'm just saying that he pulled moves last year for the Giants that reminded me of some of Barry's runs where I would just blink and ask, "how in the world...?"

As for Jerry Rice, would those two HOF QBs be HOF QBs if they hadn't thrown to Jerry Rice?

 

[Pacfanweb]

If you just consider how good they were even if an injury cut their career short, it's Bo Jackson, hands down.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

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.

What you basically said is that Emmitt was the best fullback around. I won't argue that Emmitt wasn't good, but he doesn't deserve consideration among the best. Like you said, he fit their system very well -- he benefitted from one of the best offensive lines ever.

I picked Barry because I have never anyone do what he did on such a consistent basis. The only RB I've had similar views on lately is Ahmad Bradshaw but on a much more limited basis. Note that I'm not calling Bradshaw one of the best ever -- he has to sustain his gains over a much longer period and actually play entire games to do that. I'm just saying that he pulled moves last year for the Giants that reminded me of some of Barry's runs where I would just blink and ask, "how in the world...?"

As for Jerry Rice, would those two HOF QBs be HOF QBs if they hadn't thrown to Jerry Rice?

haha, not really. Fullbacks primary job is to block, secondary job is to do short yardage running. Emmitt was a great back between the tackles, but not just for short yardage runs. You catch him after he runs for 15 and he still squeezed out a few extra.

You proved my point about Rice. Who is to say they didn't benefit from each other, just like who is to say the Dallas offensive line didn't look better because it was Emmitt running? Who is to say Emmitt taking pressure off the pass didn't help Troy and Irvin? It was a very good all around offense, and Emmitt complimented it perfectly.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: rasczak
I keep going back and forth between Walter and Barry.
-snip-

Me too.

Fern

 

[umbrella39]

What no Billy Sims Fine then, Barry, his moves had moves. Many of his 5 yard gains were actually 50-100 yards of running back and forth in the backfield trying to find a gap.

 

[Q]

I had to put one in for Franco, though I think Barry is it.

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: Quintox
I had to put one in for Franco, though I think Barry is it.

Rocky had more heart than Franco, who ran out of bounds far too often IMO.

Best all time? Sweetness (w/Brown a close 2nd). He could just flat out run you off the field ala Sayers, go through/over you ala Brown/Earl/Bettis, or fake you out ala Sanders. Also had great hands and was a tremendous blocker.

Great list, but in comparision of the above all fall short in some way or another.

Shocked at the love Barry's getting, he had zero power. More carries for a loss than anyone, who knows how many 2nd/3rd & longs he stuck on his team. A liability in goal line situations, how can he be considered the best?

Best back with listed playing weight over 250lbs.? Bettis (13,662), next closest in yardage was the Nigerian Nightmare (4,897). Unheard of for a big back to have that type of longevity. Will Wolford, who also blocked for Thurman Thomas and Marshall Faulk, said that Bettis had the fastest feet of the 3. He was pretty agile for his size, which probably had something to do with his ability to play so long.

 

[zinfamous]

I think it's a tough choice between Barry Sanders and Jim Brown, b/c both finished before their time, and there is always that specter of "if they finished it out...." handing over any running back discussion.

You can always argue for either of them they were well on pace to establish the numbers--and set records--held by those with the long careers. I give the nod to Barry, b/c he did all he did with absolutely NO HELP. EVER.

not to take anything away from the others (Brown, Payton, et al...), but they always played for much better teams than Barry ever saw.

I also think that Emmit Smith is the worst RB on that list (not overall, but among those listed).

LT has so much potential if he stays healthy, that it's scary. It will be fun to watch his career progress if he has the longevity of any of those greats before him.

 

[zinfamous]

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.

I agree on all points. I'm actually surprised to see no love for Jim Thorpe. I'd probably put him #3/#4

After all, he is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Dude excelled at everything.

 

[zinfamous]

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.

but why would you pass when you had Jimmy Brown lining up in the backfield? Considering today's salaries, a man of his class would command about 70% of the team's operating budget, so there wouldn't be any other offensive threat to compare.

But hell, he'd still shred defenses. I don't think the game plan would change too much

 

[FDF12389]

Brett Favre, duh.

 

[Alistar7]

For those that didn't get the pleasure of watching him play:

Sweetness/

 

[jonks]

OJ. Not even the entire LAPD and DAs office could stop him.

 

[five40]

Top 4: Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers

I'm not even going to try and debate who is 1,2,3, or 4. They where all awesome.

 

[Alistar7]

The power of Campbell

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: five40
Top 4: Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers

I'm not even going to try and debate who is 1,2,3, or 4. They where all awesome.

Those 4?

Payton - Power of Brown, speed of Sayers, elusiveness of Sanders, lacked nothing.

Brown - Lacked the sheer elusiveness of the other 3.

Sanders - Lacked power.

Sayers - Lacked power

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: Alistar7

Originally posted by: five40
Top 4: Walter Payton, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers

I'm not even going to try and debate who is 1,2,3, or 4. They where all awesome.

Those 4?

Payton - Power of Brown, speed of Sayers, elusiveness of Sanders, lacked nothing.

Brown - Lacked the sheer elusiveness of the other 3.

Sanders - Lacked power.

Sayers - Lacked power

IMO, I think you're overestimating Payton's speed. He wasn't at Sayers caliber. I also beg to differ on your opinions regarding Sanders and Brown. If Sanders didn't have power, he would not have been able to do some of the things he did. Bounce off tacklers? take a hit, backup and sidestep? As for Brown, that guy was plenty elusive. He just didn't need to be cuz the defenders tried to run away from him

 

[mpitts]

Barry Sanders was the best that I have ever seen play.

Comparing players from different eras in nearly impossible in today's sports world. I can't base my opinion of Jim Brown on scant video footage and the opinions of players that played with him. If those players would have played with Sanders and only heard about Jim Brown's accomplishments, they'd likely say Sanders was the best.

 

[TheVrolok]

Another vote for Jim Brown.

 

[I Saw OJ]

I have to vote for OJ just becase of my name.

 

[JujuFish]

Originally posted by: I Saw OJ
I have to vote for OJ just becase of my name.

Rushing yards-wise, OJ had the best single season of any RB ever, averaging 143.1 yards per game, become the first player to top 2,000 yards (and only one to do it in a 14 game season).

However, he doesn't hold a candle to Jim Brown.