Best Running Back in NFL History

[camero]

I say it's Walter Payton...dammit.

[rucky]

1. Can't argue with that

Emmitt is close, tho.

[camero]

3. Yeah Emmitt's close

But Emmitt had an offense most of his career. The Bears didn't mostly. He carried the team alot.

[jus_the_facts]

2. Sweetness gets my vote as well....

:hi:

[gibbyman]

4. The best will have to be

Jim Brown, you have to understand he got all his yards playing 9 years with only 9-10 games a year

[Fight_n_back]

9. Jim Brown played from

58-66 and only the first two were 12 game seasons.

He is probably the best.

Forgotten backs that were truly great:

Steve Van Buren Eagles (40s)
Marion Motley Browns (50s)
Glenn Davis Rams (50s)
Clark Hinkle Packers (30s)



Payton accounted for something like 70% of the Bears offense in 1977, when thay made the playoffs with Bob Avellini as QB.

BOB AVELLINI!

And don't forget Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, the murderer and Marcus Allen.

[camero]

10. Earl Campbell would be right there

If his career wasn't so short.

[pmbryant]

5. I agree. Payton. Case closed. :-)

I grew up watching him and was a huge, huge fan of his. :-) After he retired, football never held the same magic for me. I don't even watch the game anymore.

And it is so sad that he died so young. :-(

--Peter

[VermontDem2004]

24. Case closed?

I presented some new evidence to re-open the case on post #22.

[grytpype]

6. OJ.

No one could cut like he did.

[camero]

7. Yeah but the gloves

Thats how he held on....lol

[minkyboodle]

8. Love Payton

Grew up watching him but I gotta go with Jim Brown. Sweetness was truly great but if I had to pick one RB of all time I'd have to go with Jim Brown.
Scott

[joshdawg]

11. My two cents......

Jim Brown!

[LTR]

12. The best

Past: Walter Payton

Last decade: Barry Sanders

Could've been: Bo Jackson

[ProudGerman]

13. I second that list completely

Walter Payton was the best. Barry is the best we'll probably see in a long time. Bo could've been a two sport hall of famer. Oh the possibilities that were taken away in that Cinci game, its a shame.

[Nailzberg]

14. Well, they call me Sweetness,

And I like to dance.
Runnin' the ball is like makin' romance.
We've had the goal since training camp
To give Chicago a Super Bowl Champ.
And we're not doin' this
Because we're greedy.
The Bears are doin' it to feed the needy.
We didn't come here to look for trouble,
We just came here to do
The Super Bowl Shuffle.

[LTR]

15. OK, then...

...worst rapper.

[Nailzberg]

16. If the question was worst rapper in NFL history,

I'd go with the punky QB known as McMahon.

[jus_the_facts]

19. Awww MAN.....

........RIP SWEETNESS!!:cry: :loveya:

[Zero Gravitas]

17. Walter Payton

no contest.

[VermontDem2004]

22. No contest? Barry Sanders?

Barry Sanders got 15,269 career yards in only 10 seasons with a 5.0 ypc average. He averaged 1,526 yards a season!?!?!?!?! Plus he went to the Pro Bowl every year he was in the NFL. Walter Payton rushed for 16,726 yards in 13 years, that was only 1,457 yards more then Barry Sanders and that was off of 4.4 yards per carry, only once did Walter Payton in his 13 year career go through an entire season and average over 5 yards per carry, Barry Sanders did it 5 times in a 10 year career and even averaged 6.1 yards per carry in one season. In Barry's last season he got over 1400 hundred yards and would've likely broken the record in his 11th season, Barry Sanders is definately the best running back ever without question.

[trotsky]

39. It's tempting to agree with you.

Why I might agree: Like Payton, Sanders did what he did behind a no-name offensive line with generally little of a passing game to take pressure off of him.

Why I might disagree: Sanders' 5.0 ypc is a misleading stat. As a Vikings fan, I got to see him twice a year. Sanders got 5.0 ypc in the following way: 1, -6, 6, -2, 65t, -5, -8, 2, 0, -3. 10 carries, 5.0 ypc average. More often than not, Sanders' 1st & 2nd down runs put his team in 3rd-and-long situations. Sure, his moves resulted in a lot of awesome highlights, but he just wasn't a grind-it-out-get-me-3-or-4-yards-each-play kind of back.

MHO, of course. And Sanders was probably the classiest guy to ever play in the NFL. His endzone celebration consisted of handing the ball to the ref. 100% pure class.

[VermontDem2004]

52. They are not misleading

If someone breaks for a 65 yard touchdown that improves his stats which means it was good that he broke free 65 yard touchdown. Nothing misleading about that, he is clearly the best running back ever.

[trotsky]

56. I think you missed my point.

A back like Sanders who could take one the distance on almost any play is great to watch. But when that same back has a lot of negative yardage carries, it puts his teams in difficult situations (2nd & 3rd and long). Statistically, a team put in those positions has a much harder time moving down the field, and a much less chance of success.

I think the Lions during the Sanders era were a good example of this. At one time, their wideout threats were Herman Moore, Johnnie Morton, and Brett Perriman. Scott Mitchell, while not a hall-of-famer, was an adequate QB. Detroit also had a better-than-average defense, and a servicable offensive line. They could have won a championship or two under Wayne Fontes, IMHO. They certainly had the talent. But when a couple of stuffed Sanders runs puts you into 3rd & 13, then teams can overload against the pass and kill your drives. The couple of times Detroit was in the playoffs this was readily evident.

My point is, when considering who was the greatest back, I think you not only need to look at what the back did individually but how his performance helped his team. I have nothing but respect for Sanders, and wish I could see him play again, but I think back in the Fontes days, they probably would have been better as a team without him.

[jayfish]

62. How Many 200+ Yard Games Did Barry Have Against The Vikes?

:)

Please Barry come back. I'll make those ingrates treat you nice. Part of the problem that you speak of is that 5 out of ten times Barry ran the ball it was from that god-awful draw play. Half the time the d-line was in the backfield before he even reached the line of scrimmage. I remember a MNF (1995)game against the Cowboys were they actually ran some traps and dives, right up the gut and he ran for 194 yards.

Jay

[HuckleB]

18. Another nod to Payton.

.

[VermontDem2004]

20. Barry Sanders without question

He would've got to Walter's career rushing mark faster then Walter himself.

[Faygo Kid]

59. It's Barry, HANDS DOWN: ESPN Classic this month

No knock at Walter, Jim Brown, or the other great backs - but NOBODY could do what Barry did, and look who he played for! Always worth the price of a ticket just by himself. He would have had 20,000 yards if he had kept going. He didn't need to, or want to. The Human Highlight Film. Later this month (not sure of the date), ESPN Classic will air a Barry Sanders retrospective. C'mon - who doesn't want to see him run again?

[DemNoir]

21. Oh you young people are all so silly!

Its Jim Brown.

[VermontDem2004]

23. I agree he is better then Walter Payton

But not Sanders.

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. I agree, but only because Barry Sanders retired.

;)

[Snow]

45. All right, my fellow geezer - what about Red Grange?

or for that matter Bronko Nagurski - didn't he once run through a brick wall, knock over a horse? Ahh, they don't make legends like that, I tell you!

Of the group under discussion, I tend to agree with the Barry Sanders crowd - and of current players, Ahman Green is a fine player and, since I knew him from when he was in high school, a very decent kid.

[bmbmd]

25. Most yards

most rushing td's, three SB rings, durable, dependable leadership-sounds like Emmitt to me.

[Gato Moteado]

29. put emmit on those old bear teams or detroit lions teams....

...and he wouldn't have lasted 4 years. emmit had a monstrous offensive line and a balanced offense most of his career, a luxury payton and sanders didn't have. emmit isn't worthy enough to even carry sweetness' jockstrap.

sweetness was not only the greatest running back ever, he was the greatest football player ever. watch the films. and, watch the plays where he isn't even carrying the ball....he made every play happen. and unlike these guys that tiptoe down the sidelines and sidestep defenders to get out of bounds, payton put his shoulder into every defender and fought like hell for every yard. none of that ducking out of bounds for him.

[VermontDem2004]

30. I think Sanders is better

Look at post #22, but I can break down Emmitt's career numbers, ypc, career yardage per season, etc and it would be no where near Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, or Walter Payton's numbers.

[Gato Moteado]

34. no doubt that sanders was faster and would have passed....

...walter's career rushing record. but as an all around running back (a player that does it all) nobody could touch walter.

[VermontDem2004]

53. Barry Sanders recieving stats are very similar's to Walter

[bmbmd]

36. I think you can make a case for Walter,

but I will always remember Barry for what he was-a gutless quitter.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. nope, a man with integrity. The Lion's organization and the fans

treated him like dirt. Man the Packers should have picked him when they had the chance. Barry=class, and that can't be taken away no matter how many radio personalities try to change it.

[LTR]

40. They could have had Sanders

Barry or Deion.

But for some reason, they thought Tony Mandarich was THE MAN.

I still scratch my head at that one.

That's like Portland taking Sam Bowie ahead of Michael Jordan.

[ScreamingMeemie]

47. I know...and they were stupid to pass him up.

That's what I was talking about. :( Where is Madarich now???

[bmbmd]

44. Great integrity? Barry was at one time a spokesman for

abstinence, until he had a pecadillo of his own. When asked about his seeming hypocracy, his reply was something like "My opinion changed."

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. As a mother of a child born out of wedlock by choice...That

doesn't define class to me. Not in the least. He walked away at the top of his game because I quote,"My desire to not play the game is greater than my desire to play the game".

[bmbmd]

50. Whatever happened to that

eleven million dollar bonus he was supposed to pay back??

[ScreamingMeemie]

54. He paid the Lion's back a portion for each of the 6 years on his

contract that he did not play, and that they did not trade him. All above board. As it should be. Detroit made a Giant mistake.

[Character Assassin]

46. So what? Terrell Davis worked his magic with the smallest OL in football

emmit had a monstrous offensive line and a balanced offense most of his career, a luxury payton and sanders didn't have.

The year they won the SB, the bears had a plenty big OL.

Had he not been injured, I think Davis would have eventually surpassed them all.

[VermontDem2004]

51. The smallest? Yes but 3 out of the 5 lineman were pro bowlers

[Character Assassin]

55. I'm just saying that huge doesn't necessarily equal good.

[camero]

63. The same style as Freeman Mcneil

Another RB that could have made waves if his career wasn't cut short by injury.

[ProfessorGAC]

27. Best All Around Back, Yes!

Great runner, great hands and a sense for the open area in a zone, terrific blocker as well. One of the best blocks i ever saw by a RB was by Walter in the "Rollerdome" game. That's the one where an injured Jimmy Mac came off the bench and threw 3 TD passes in 4 plays, all more than 40 yards. On the first one, the Vikes came roaring on the blitz, and Payton decleated a linebacker with what might be the best block ever.

As a pure runner, without the other things, i'd put Jim Brown at the top of the list. Then, probably Barry Sanders.
The Professor

[ArkDem]

28. Jim Brown

then Barry Sanders

[bif]

31. Barry all the way

Too bad he had to "retire".

[VermontDem2004]

32. I agree

You can see post #22 for my Walter to Barry breakdown. He had 15,269 yards after 10 seasons, Walter had 16,729 yards after 13 seasons.

[kodi]

33. jim brown, for those of us who saw him, he was the absolute best

too bad he was downed by a nazi sniper.

[Ishoutandscream]

35. In the clutch, in the big game, it's Emmitt

That's a homer call, but I know many of you don't consider him because he was a Cowboy. You can throw every statistic out there, but for the big game, give me Emmitt.

Next time you watch NFL films, watch a man by the name of Jim Brown running all over people. He was truly the most natural, and always seemed to dominate the game.

[mac56]

38. I agree.

Another vote for Sweetness.

[Devil Dog Dem]

41. It's Payton.

Old number 34 was the best all-around player in NFL history. Had he not been a back he could have been a QB, or a wdie-receiver, or a tight end, or a linebacker, or a defensive back (he once caught an interception and scored a touchdown) or a punter, . . .

[Serial Mom]

42. Walter of course

When I lived in Chicago area, I met him 3 times - got a BIG hug from him twice, once in a Honey Baked Ham store! . . . made my day!

He was one of the nicest people in NFL - my daugther worked in same building where his company was for 3 years. Since we were originally from Wisconsin, she met him in elevator so many times she bet $5 on Packer/Bear games with him - he lost every time.

[tom_paine]

43. Barry Sanders, hands down

I wish he hadn't retired, he was so damned GOOD!

[chiburb]

49. Walter. n/t

.

[Forkboy]

57. I'm going with Payton too

though my father says Gayle Sayers.

[tishaLA]

58. Ki-Jana Carter

[kayleybeth]

60. Barry Sanders

I actually have no idea who it would be, but when I asked my DH he said, without hesitation, "Barry Sanders".

[NewYorkerfromMass]

61. Yes. And Jerry Rice did a lot of running too

on the short passes. Man those 2 guys on the same team would have been pretty frightening for any defense.

[blm]

64. Jim Brown.

.

[mitchum]

65. Mister Jim Brown