Greatest NFL RB of all time

[Skip]

1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Earl Campbell
4. Barry Sanders
5. O.J. Simpson
6. Gale Sayers
7. Emmitt Smith

[rcartman28]

Originally posted by WiredTiger

1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Barry Sanders
4. Emmitt Smith
5. O.J. Simpson [/b]

i would agree with that list....with Brown and Payton head and shoulder above the rest...

[VNV Nation]

Originally posted by WiredTiger
To list Barry Sanders as tenth is really low. He is much better than Thurman Thomas or any of the guys in front of him.

1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Barry Sanders
4. Emmitt Smith
5. O.J. Simpson

Sorry, I can't agree. Barry was as entertaining and explosive a back as I've ever seen, but he didn't always help his teams. Some of Barry's most exciting rushes were for no gain or negative yardage. Too often, Sanders would have a long string of unproductive rushes, and then rip off an 80-yarder to end up with 25 carries, 110 yards. Those 80 yarders are nice but he's not helping to move the chains the other tries. There are probably 40 backs I'd rather have late in the fourth quarter with a lead, and his postseason performance was absolutely dismal.

Not buying the no-help from teammates, either...In 1995, the Lions were second in the league in points, had 33 passing TDs, with two receivers combining for 3,000 yards.

[SmedIndy]

VNV -

You can't blame Sanders' lack of TDs on Barry. Blame it on the run-and-shoot and Wayne Fontes.

[VNV Nation]

Smed -- didn't even mention his "lack" of TDs, but now that you mention it, he wasn't a great goal line back either.

I don't think the run-and-shoot hurt Barry at all, it was the perfect offense for him. I think, with Barry, the last thing you wanted to do with him was put him in an I-formation and clutter up lanes with a fullback.

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by VNV Nation

and his postseason performance was absolutely dismal.

Everyone says the same thing about ted Williams and Barry Bonds. It's such a small sample size for the postseason that I don't think it is fair to deduct him for that.

Barry was a home run hitter. I would rather have someone who broke off runs like that then someone who plods for three yards a carry.

[VNV Nation]

Not me -- I prefer wide receivers who are home-run hitters, but you need running backs who can be consistent. A guy who plods along for 3-4 yards a carry for 25 carries can help you score 3-4 touchdowns. A guy who gets stuffed 20 times and rips off an 80-yarder will singlehandedly score one touchdown, but force you to punt a bunch of other times.

Besides, the other guys on this list, even Csonka, could rip off big gains,too.

[sweaver]

3 yards and a cloud of dust, VNV?

[VNV Nation]

Ha, never really thought of myself that way.

As an Eagles fan, I absolutely hated playing against the Cowboys with Emmitt and their huge line, or the Redskins with their titanic line and steady-eddie Ernest Byner (sorry Browns fans). You always knew they were gonna move the ball and get first downs. At the goal, or in 3rd-and-short, or with a lead in the fourth, they would just overpower you.

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by VNV Nation
Not me -- I prefer wide receivers who are home-run hitters, but you need running backs who can be consistent. A guy who plods along for 3-4 yards a carry for 25 carries can help you score 3-4 touchdowns. A guy who gets stuffed 20 times and rips off an 80-yarder will singlehandedly score one touchdown, but force you to punt a bunch of other times.

Besides, the other guys on this list, even Csonka, could rip off big gains,too.

I agree with you here - the Jim Taylor, Larry Csonka, John Riggins, Jim Nance backs have enormous value to an offensive in keeping the chains moving, and they tend to wear out a defense making it easier to operate offensively in the 3rd and 4th quarters. What made Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Emmit Smith so valuable was the ability to serve both the ball control and the breakaway functions.

[Skip]

Originally posted by pwdennis
What made Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Emmit Smith so valuable was the ability to serve both the ball control and the breakaway functions.

I totally agree. The back that creates both the grinder run and the end run is the one you want. I just really have trouble putting Smith up with Payton and Brown. By your argument he certainly deserves to be there, especially as he passes Payton this year in total yards. I think it's a shame though - the very gifted plodder overtaking the lightning.

[qtlaw]

My list:

1. Jim Brown (looks fast and shifty even in B&W film)
2. Payton
3. O.J.
4. Earl Campbell; Bruising and Fast, best combination ever
5. Dorsett

I know Faulk is an awesome weapon but I do not get how he becomes such a dominant player. As a 49er fan I do have a Rams bias but he runs little swing passes and the defense is so concerned about the deep ball that they give up the swing pass and he shakes a tackler and he's got 10-15 yds. Is that awesome? Yes he does get deep also but I'll take a Brown or Campbell any day. Those guys make the tacklers tentative.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Curtis Martin just not gettin any love.

[pathogan]

Brown was far and away the best. He did it in a 12 game season{mostly] O.J. was next ,the greatest combination of size and sppeed I have ever seen.Payton, Sayers[though shortened] Sanders,Dickerson, emmit Smith,.But first and foremost, Jim Brown.

[sweaver]

Jim Brown? Walter Payton? Emmitt Smith? How about Marion Motley?