Best runningback of all time

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by Playmakers

You know I sense some bias towards OJ I can't believe i just looked at that poll and Marshall Faulk and LaDanian Thomlinson have more votes than OJ are you kidding me..... That just ain't right and I find it hard to believe from what i've read and heard about OJ during his playing days that many GM's in today's NFL wouldn't draft him him ahead of LT and Faulk Hell Gayle Sayers might even go ahead of both of those guys

I'd take LT and Faulk over Simpson. Both were more complete backs imo, who were better players for longer periods of time.

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by wheelman990

I went ahead and looked up ALL of the Detroit Lions probowlers. Keep in mind 85-90% or more of these guys werent first team listed, but were in the pro bowl Barry Sanders 1989-1998 RB every year of his carear Mel Grey 1990-1994 KR Herman Moore 1994-1997 WR Lomas Brown 1990-1994 T Speilman 1989-1991, 94 LB Jerry Ball 1989-1991 Robert Porcher 1997 Kevin Glover 1995-1997 Jason Hanson 1997 Pat swilling 1993 Bennie Blades 1991 Thats only 3 other offensive pro bowlers in Barry Sanders ENTIRE carear, and the 2 lineman never played together. Lets be honest. Sanders carried them to the pro bowl. He was rushing champ many times, they had to put them in. They were good, but nothing special. ZERO hall of famers in his ENTIRE carear.

Herman Moore was a great player. He'd have been a pro bowler on any team. As far as the olinemen, unless you really break down the tape it's near impossible to distinguish a merely good offensive linement from a great one.

Barry was a great back, but lets keep things in perspective.

[wheelman990]

______________________________

Just as comparison-Dallas, Emmits years. Lets say 1990(rookie)-2000. 10 year span like Sanders


Emmitt Smith 1990-1995 1998, 1999
Larry Allen lineman 1995-2005(but will just go to 2000)
Darren Woodson 94-98
Deion Sanders 1996-1999
Nate Newton lineman 1992-1998
Erik Williams lineman 1993, 1996, 97,99
J Novacek 1991-95
Irvin 1991-95
Aikman 1991-96
C Haley 94-95
Mark Stepnoski lineman 92-94
D Coakley 1991, 93
Leon Lett 94,98

only 4 lineman, but 2 are hall of famers, and they were with him his best years. Not to mention a all pro fullback. 8 offensive pro bowlers, and 6-8 hall of famers.

I dont see how one can flat out say Emitts better because of superbowls, just look at the HOF's alone. Its a team game to win.

[Reaman]

Barry Sanders

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by wheelman990

______________________________ Just as comparison-Dallas, Emmits years. Lets say 1990(rookie)-2000. 10 year span like Sanders Emmitt Smith 1990-1995 1998, 1999 Larry Allen lineman 1995-2005(but will just go to 2000) Darren Woodson 94-98 Deion Sanders 1996-1999 Nate Newton lineman 1992-1998 Erik Williams lineman 1993, 1996, 97,99 J Novacek 1991-95 Irvin 1991-95 Aikman 1991-96 C Haley 94-95 Mark Stepnoski lineman 92-94 D Coakley 1991, 93 Leon Lett 94,98 only 4 lineman, but 2 are hall of famers, and they were with him his best years. Not to mention a all pro fullback. 8 offensive pro bowlers, and 6-8 hall of famers. I dont see how one can flat out say Emitts better because of superbowls, just look at the HOF's alone. Its a team game to win.

What kind of logic is it that because Emmitt played on a better team, Sanders is automatically the better player? I saw Sanders, I saw Emmitt, honestly I am not sure who I would choose between the two.

If we're going on who played on the worst teams, then it's Walter Payton and then everyone else.

[wheelman990]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

What kind of logic is it that because Emmitt played on a better team, Sanders is automatically the better player? I saw Sanders, I saw Emmitt, honestly I am not sure who I would choose between the two. If we're going on who played on the worst teams, then it's Walter Payton and then everyone else.

Im not saying Barrys better, thats just my opinion, not a fact. My posts are a reply to someone stating the Lions had plenty talent, and E Smith would have done just as good on the Lions. Im just trying to post some stat facts to shed light into the subject. Heres a article on the best O-lines of ALL TIME in the NFL

Dallas Cowboys-Mark Stepnoski, Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei, Erik Williams, Larry Allen?1992-96?As a unit they combined for 30 Pro Bowls, three Super Bowl wins, and they paved the road for arguably one of the best running back in league history. Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin are all HOF players, with Smith still to receive the inevitable bronze bust, and the flash behind the Cowboys? Super Bowl tear. But their success was predicated on an offensive line that destroyed opposing defenses. Larry Allen may eventually wind up in the Hall and Williams was the best right tackle of his era. Newton was the affable funny man, Tuinei the scholar, and Stepnoski the rock. Together they were the best such unit of their, or perhaps any, era.

Ya Payton didnt have a great team either. I really like Walter. Hes my personal 2nd pick

Lions had a playoff birth in 1991, 93, 94, 95, 97
NONE after 99'

[deaduck]

Emmit is no doubt a legendary back...but sometime his O line gave him holes my slow fat butt could have gotten 10 yards on.

[TheWatcher]

Quote: Originally Posted by CW McGraw

Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's career rushing record, right?

Quote: Originally Posted by OSUFan_88

Ernie Davis?

Quote: Originally Posted by mKoz26

Tony Dorsett? Edit: Nope it was Payton.

All great guesses guys. But I admit, this was somewhat of a trick question since we rarely think internationally when it comes to sports.

The first back to surpass Jim Brown's pro football rushing record was one of the greatest players in the history of Pro football. His name was...









... George Reed. He played 13 seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. Sports Illustrated actually began running coverage of Reed race for the record in '73. It was made such a big deal of because back then the CFL's talent level was VERY high, and it was common for American players who could've been NFL starters to go to the CFL because they were paying higher salaries, and it also seemed impossible at the time for a back to gain that kind of yardage playing 3-down football.

Here is an SI article about Reed's race to break Jim Brown's record:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...7666/index.htm

Reed finished with 16,116 yards rushing and 134 rushing TD's. Coincidentally, he retired the same year that Walter Payton began his career (1975).