Kevin's Watch

Who do you think is the greatest running back in NFL history. I figured I'd ask since Payton died in the recent past and Emmitt Smith broke his record last season. My personal favorite is Barry Sanders. He moved like he was born to play football. You can even watch some of his college clips and he was just as amazing. Even Emmitt said he was glad Barry retired otherwise he would still be chasing Barry.

There are plenty of possibilities.

Jim Brown. Nobody in his league. He quit in his prime even more so than Barry. Look at the highlights, the entire other team couldn't bring him down.

Yes, Jim Brown is a close #2 for me.

Its funny, Dromond, old people always pick Jim Brown

LOL! I'm surprised your Kin hasn't slaughtered you!

Practically none left, I got'em all first.
They can't catch me, I got moves like Barry Sanders.

My personal fav is Barry. Not 2 mention all the sheer amt. of discounted yardage he racked up going back and 4th b4 he even crossed the line of scrimmage. I understand what u mean about Jim Brown, but the speed of today's defenses almost (I said almost!) evens that out. He was a tuff bastard! I met Walter Payton just b4 he passed--what a nice guy.

Being a, fairly, long time Tampa fan Alstott has my vote 4 fullback!

I consider myself young and I've placed my vote for Jim Brown. I loved to watch Barry run...he would be my second vote...but Jimmy seemed to be in a league all his own. Some of those old clips are amazing...He was like a man amongst boys.

P.S.
Danlo,

Alstott!?!?! Best fullback ever???? What about Jim Taylor of the Packers. He played in the early 60's and once scored 19 TD's in a season. How about Larry Csonka? Bronco Nagurski? Actually I think Jim Brown played FB as well. Well, since you're a no-longer a long-suffering Tampa Bay fan I guess we can overlook your bias!

I voted for Payton, Sanders would be #2, though I have a bit of a bias. He only missed one game in his career, his conditioning was second to none. He could level an opponent with his stiff arm, and like Sanders, played for teams where he was the offense for most of his career.

Payton.

Don't vote 4 Dorsett! Not only was a Cowboy (yuk) he fumbled like crazy!

Both were great runners that could catch the ball too, but…

Brown
125 typg, .94 tdpg, 3 MVPs, 2-2000 yard equivalent seasons, 2 Championship appearances, losing one

Sanders
119 typg, .72 tdpg, 1 MVP, 2000 yard season

Conventional wisdom would have you believe that the more games you play, the worse you do. But in Barry’s 2000 yard season, all four of his last games were good yardage games, so while one might lower Brown’s adjusted totals slightly, it probably wouldn’t make that much difference.

Also, Barry got shut down at times, leading history in negative yard games.

Winner: Brown

Bo Jackson! Baseball and a weird hip injury just got in the way of things.

Bo ran high, he would have gotten hurt regardless.

Not as high as Ricky Williams runs....oh, you mean the other kind of 'high'.

I would have to vote for Brown being a life long fan of the Browns , but I find it curious that over the years his involvement with the team has continued, while the teams commitment to being a running team has declined . He attends the team training camps, and assists in an advisory capacity, but the running game of the Browns never gets better, great player but not much of a teacher.

Payton, no doubt.

But....If Sanders had a decent line in front of him, he would have (I think) eclipsed everyone. And I think that Bo Jackson would have been something special had he continued playing as well.

But it ain't about "if".....

My full list-looking at Total Yards primarily-would probably be:
1. Brown
2. Sanders
2. Payton
4. Dickerson
4. Simpson
6. Emmit
7. Faulk
7. LT
9. Thurman
10.Edge
11.Barber
11.Martin
13.Campbell
14.Alexander
15.Allen
16.TD
17.Jim Taylor
18.Watters
19.Ottis Anderson
20.Dorsett
21.Craig
22.Fred Taylor
23.Portis
24.George
25.Stephen Davis
26.Lewis
27.Riggins
28.Dunn
29.Harris
30.Foreman
HM.Sayers

payton could run, catch, block. and even played qb when the bears were in an emergency.

sgt.null wrote:payton could run, catch, block. and even played qb when the bears were in an emergency.

And he wasn't a cocky jackass like so many of the rest of them. Payton was a class act.