The Top 100 Greatest NFL Players.

[Aso]

Faulk was a better receiver but I still think Tomlinson was the better runner.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Faulk was a better receiver but I still think Tomlinson was the better runner.

The entire basis of my argument is that Faulk's total game is what sets him apart.

I aslo think he was far more dynamic. And if I have to win a game, I want #28 in my backfield a hundred times before LT.

 

[FirstTimer]

Anyone who watched the NFL in 1994 would remember Faulk tearing shit up and being talked about like he was something special. You are off base on that. His first NFL game was the story of Week One if I recall, he went apeshit and put up something like 200 yards.

I didn't say he was the best back in the league between 94-97, I said he was considered one of the leagues better players. He was without question the best back between 98-01, and possibly the best player, period.

And there has never been a RB with his receiving ability. LT, a great receiver, averged 7.5 ypc in his career (and that number will drop). To put that in perspective, Faulk never dipped below 7.5 in a single season until 2002 when he started his decline. His career average is 9.5, and he topped 10.0 something like 5 or 6 times. He was 100 yards short in 98 of being the only back to back 1000/1000 man ever. He had 2000+ total yards 4 consecutive years. He was on a different level as an all purpose player.

Walter Payton finds this statement disturbing. Faulk was a great pass catcher no doubt but to keep talking like he's a slam dunk as the GOAT in that regard is a bit off base IMO.

 

[SuperKevin]

Darrell Green outside the top 30 makes me vomit

 

[Senser81]

Walter Payton finds this statement disturbing. Faulk was a great pass catcher no doubt but to keep talking like he's a slam dunk as the GOAT in that regard is a bit off base IMO.

Payton was a great all-around player, but I don't think Payton was ever really used in the same way as a Faulk. When I think of great receiving RBs, I think of Faulk, Lenny Moore, Chuck Foreman. These guys were really used to their fullest, running a lot of downfield routes and lining up at WR. I think Payton was still used like a conventional RB in the passing game...he'd catch dump-offs, and the Bears would throw to him a lot because Payton was more effective with the football than Brian Baschnagel.

 

[FirstTimer]

Payton was a great all-around player, but I don't think Payton was ever really used in the same way as a Faulk. When I think of great receiving RBs, I think of Faulk, Lenny Moore, Chuck Foreman. These guys were really used to their fullest, running a lot of downfield routes and lining up at WR. I think Payton was still used like a conventional RB in the passing game...he'd catch dump-offs, and the Bears would throw to him a lot because Payton was more effective with the football than Brian Baschnagel.

Granted I didn't see very much of Payton live but I've been lucky enough to have lots of old VHS tapes of him and games and while they didn't use him like they did Faulk I'm not sure that isn't so much the product of his era and the Bears archaic offensive schemes and terrible QB's during his career. They also found Payton qutie a bit down the field during his career as seen by his 9.2 YPR

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Granted I didn't see very much of Payton live but I've been lucky enough to have lots of old VHS tapes of him and games and while they didn't use him like they did Faulk I'm not sure that isn't so much the product of his era and the Bears archaic offensive schemes and terrible QB's during his career. They also found Payton qutie a bit down the field during his career as seen by his 9.2 YPR

A lot of that was Payton being such a good runner, and being so tough to take down on first contact. That's not me being critical, you will never quote me ripping anything about Payton's game, but like I mentioned earlier in the thread, and senser alluded to, Faulk would routinely line up not only in the slot, but also at split end. He was a different kind of threat from that position.

 

[FirstTimer]

A lot of that was Payton being such a good runner, and being so tough to take down on first contact. That's not me being critical, you will never quote me ripping anything about Payton's game, but like I mentioned earlier in the thread, and senser alluded to, Faulk would routinely line up not only in the slot, but also at split end. He was a different kind of threat from that position.

It's so much that I disagree with where Faulk was lining up but in regards to Payton not doing it I would say that was more a function of his era and the team he played for than the fact that he couldn't do it if he would have been asked to in that era or by a different team.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Curious if Eric Dickerson and Earl Campbell are gonna make this list or not.

I'm not sure how many people would argue that they were better than Faulk or LT.

I'm really annoyed that Faulk (and LT) came in this low, considering some of the RB's that havent come in yet, but that you just know are on the list somewhere.

 

[dell71]

For the most part, I'm trying to reserve judgment until the whole list is in. Some things that disturb me already, though:

Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young & Kurt Warner behind Troy Aikman among quarterbacks? Just can't see it. Particularly Tarkenton, possibly the most underrated qb ever. He held practically every passing record when he retired and took his team to 3 SB's without another "great" skill position player (I know he didn't win one). He also held almost all the qb rushing records as well. Tarkenton was amazing.

Namath making the list, at all. He's one of the most important players, but one of the best?

Among DB's I'd have Ed Reed many names ahead of Darrell Green.

With Kellen Winslow (the original version) down @ 67, there better not be too many TE's ahead of him.

I can live with Derrick Brooks @ 92 but if his ex-teammate Warren Sapp makes the list ahead of him I'm gonna look for someone to kill.

Randy Moss down @ 65 makes me very curious about the wideouts between him & the assumed top WR Jerry Rice. I'm just waiting for something silly happen in those regards (TO? Tim Brown? Isaac Bruce? Raymond Berry? Steve Largent? Rod Smith?), we'll see.

On the LT/Faulk debate, I'd put Faulk ahead but won't have a fit about someone seeing it the other way. They're close. Faulk is the best receiving back I've ever seen (surprised no one's mentioned Thurman Thomas, or did I miss it?). However, there is something to be said for the fact that Tomlinson might be the best runner from inside the 10 I've ever seen. Most guys get tons of 1, 2 & 3 yard scores. I can't remember anyone else getting as many 6, 7 & 8 yard TDs, even Emmitt with HOF line he had. BTW, I know I'm blaspheming here, but I'd put both ahead of Emmitt.

Before you Dallas fans go thinking I hate the Cowboys, it's just not so. Hell, I wouldn't be opposed to putting Irvin higher on the list than he is, and certainly ahead of his QB. Same for Larry Allen.

 

[PEYMAN18]

http://top100.nfl.com/

Nfl has the entire update list here along with the position the players were in for the fan vote. Its funny to see how high up these guys were on the fan list and so low on the official list, like Moss @ 24th, Faulk @ 21, and Young @ 13 in the fan vote yet they didn't even make the top 60 on the official list.

 

[Aso]

I don't like the fans list. Strahan at 47? Aikman at 25?!

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Fans have no credibility, just read half the posts on this forum, or check out any form of all star voting. Fans are the worst.

 

[StealthShot]

Updated and changed it with spoiler tags.

 

[MvP]

Montana and Rice better be top 2.

 

[Survivor]

I know this issue is probably not to be taken into consideration, but the overall abilities, explosiveness, and speed of players today dwarf that of players from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Granted they did use steroids, but if you put Randy Moss in his prime on that 49ers team with Joe Montana he puts up better numbers than Rice.

 

[relaxedanderson]

I know this issue is probably not to be taken into consideration, but the overall abilities, explosiveness, and speed of players today dwarf that of players from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Granted they did use steroids, but if you put Randy Moss in his prime on that 49ers team with Joe Montana he puts up better numbers than Rice.

But at the same time you could take a practice squad linebacker from 2010, drop him straight into the NFL in 1971 and watch him ease his way into the Hall of Fame.

You don't put 1985 Jerry Rice side by side on the field with 2003 Randy Moss and compare them that way, you have to imagine moving baby Rice to 1977 or move baby Moss to 1962 and compare them growing up and playing at the same time with the same systems, the same sort of training, the same nutritional advice and the same know-how passed down from previous players.

Moss probably learned a lot of his game from watching Rice; put him in 1962 and he's learning from players like Paul Warfield and Lynn Swann, the same as Rice. You level the playing field and then see how they stack up.

It's all well and good thinking that today's superior athletes would rip up the old game but remember that they would have to try and maintain that athleticism on a diet of beer and cigarettes and while working a regular job for seven months of the year.

 

[Fox1994]

Any thoughts on Dickerson?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Eric Dickerson was a superior runner to Marshall Faulk.

He wasnt a better player. No way.

 

[Fox1994]

I thought that was a tad high for him.. but I won't argue much.

Like Campbell, he was special early. So muchso that I still can't believe he didn't break Paytons rushing record. But it was ugly in the end. Doubt many remember his career ended after a failed physical by the Packers after he was claimed on waivers.

I just never, ever, ever hear anything about him. I know he had an amazing 1984 and wasn't as great after.

Also, is it interesting to anyone else that in both 1984 and 2009 we had such stupendous seasons by QBs and RBs? Not that everyone was so great in 1984 or 2009, but...

Marino set the passing yards and TDs record in 1984 and Dickerson set the rushing record.

And then in 2009, Brees had a great season (not as good as 2008, admittedly... but Matt Schaub and Peyton Manning, amongst others, also had great seasons) and Chris Johnson became CJ2K.