Best runningback of all time

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

What did you forget Bo Jackson?? I never seen anyone amaze the heck out of you when he touches the ball than Bo Jackson Freak Of Nature!

My list go like this: 1. Bo Jackson 2. Barry Sanders 3. Gale Sayers 4. Eric Dickerson 5.Walter Payton With these 5 guys on my team i will win 99% of the time!!! With the mighty 5 i got speed, muscle, power, break away burst, agility & ankle breakers!!

name 4 considerable things bo jackson did in the nfl.

[capa]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I would rank the top 3 as:

Brown
Sanders
Payton

But this is a real good read about the subject:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6907909//

C

[wheelman990]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I would rank the top 3 as:

Brown
Sanders
Payton

But this is a real good read about the subject:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6907909//

C

One thing is for sure IMO. The top 4 backs of all time are the following, no matter what order you choose to place them

Sanders
Brown
Payton
Smith

Sanders will always be my #1. He is the runner almost ever kid wants to be like. There was for sure nobody more entertaining, and isn't that what watching sports is all about? He gave us our moneys worth!!!

I didn't add Thurman Thomas to the above list, but he is another one of my top 10 or 15 RB favorites.

[SPTO]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Nice to see Thurman Thomas get some love. Yeah he's definitely not in the top 5 but he was a really great RB for a long time though after the SB years his production fell off quite a bit. I think it was something like 30 games where he didn't even crack 100 yards rushing.


Anywho I just wanted to post something about OJ Simpson. I've only seen the guy relatively late in his career ('75 and '79) The first time he was just about to hit the long slow decline and the last time he was already on the decline and was playing for the Niners. I happened to just see OJ in the '69 Rose Bowl when he was just a kid. The guy had blazing speed compared to his contemporaries and had a low center of gravity. He had some great footwork and was a great option in the passing game as he chewed up some big yardage on swing passes and such. It's amazing how much more dynamic he was back then compared to how sluggish he would become a decade later.

[bighurt27]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I'll go with Barry. Honorable mentions to Bo Jackson (sans injury) and Terrell Davis (played out of his mind in '98).

[sportyguyfl31]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Walter.

Not just the best running back of all time, but perhaps the most complete football player that has ever lived.

He could run with speed, he could run with power, he could run with finnesse, he had vision, a vicuous blocker, he was a wonderful receiver, had unmatched durability, had all of the intangibles that you could want.

The epitome of professionalism, and he had no holes in his game at all.

[amoore0192]

Re: Best runningback of all time

No love for Gale Sayers?

[dan04103]

In my life time it would be Earl Campbell. With Eric Dickerson real close. Earl was just so fun to watch. I still remember the song. "The Houston Oliers the Houston Oilers the Houston Oilers #1." He was beast!

Bingo.


USDA Approved.

[tebowfanai]

Re: Best runningback of all time

I'll say Barry Sanders, simply because I loved his humble approach to the game.

[bkrich83]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Walter.

Not just the best running back of all time, but perhaps the most complete football player that has ever lived.

He could run with speed, he could run with power, he could run with finnesse, he had vision, a vicuous blocker, he was a wonderful receiver, had unmatched durability, had all of the intangibles that you could want.

The epitome of professionalism, and he had no holes in his game at all.

Absolutely. Payton literally had no holes in his game. He was the complete football player.

[buickbeast]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Payton was amazing. He really didn't have any flaws in his game; however, I picked Barry. To me, it was literally Barry vs. the 11 other guys playing defense every single play.

[SPTO]

Re: Best runningback of all time

Payton was amazing. He really didn't have any flaws in his game; however, I picked Barry. To me, it was literally Barry vs. the 11 other guys playing defense every single play.

You could say the same for Payton. I've seen many games from Payton's career pre-'84 where he was literally the entire offense for the Bears.

[bkrich83]

Re: Best runningback of all time

You could say the same for Payton. I've seen many games from Payton's career pre-'84 where he was literally the entire offense for the Bears.

Payton played on some of the most talent barren offenses in the history of football.

Outside of maybe Jerry Rice, Walter Payton was the finest football player I have ever seen regardless of position.

[The15thunter]

Re: Best runningback of all time

i agree that walter payton was the most complete football player we've ever seen (though that distinction is very much slanted in the running back's favor since they, literally, do more than everyone else).

i still think jim brown was a better running back, if that makes sense.

[RunNShoot GURU]

Re: Best runningback of all time

"This thread is fallible." Sincerely, Thurman Thomas