Top Running Backs of All Time?

[FirstTimer]

Figured this could be an interesting thread and since it doesn't involve listing Kurt Warner it may actually be fruitful...


Top 10 Running Backs of All-Time

1. Jim Brown

2. Walter Payton

3. Emmitt Smith
4. Barry Sanders
5. Marshall Faulk
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Jerome Bettis
8. LaDanian Tomlinson
9. Tony Dorsett
10. Curtis Martin

Just missed the list: Gale Sayers(What could have been...) Earl Campbell, OJ Simpson, Franco Harris, Lenny Moore, Thurman Thomas

 

[Apocalypse]

I'll go with that list, but switch Barry Sanders and Emmit Smith.

 

[f16harm]

Thurman Thomas?

 

[FirstTimer]

Thurman Thomas?

Marshall Faulk was a better version of him. Where would you put him at?

 

[mgoblue2290]

1. Barry Sanders
2. Walter Payton
3. Jim Brown
4. Earl Campbell
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Marshall Faulk
7. Ladanian Tomlinson
8. Eric Dickerson
9. Tony Dorsett
10. OJ Simpson

 

[f16harm]

Marshall Faulk was a better version of him. Where would you put him at?

Drop Dorsett to #11, slide Martin up to #8, drop Dickerson to #9, then put Thurman at #10

 

[FirstTimer]

1. Barry Sanders
2. Walter Payton
3. Jim Brown
4. Earl Campbell
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Marshall Faulk
7. Ladanian Tomlinson
8. Eric Dickerson
9. Tony Dorsett
10. OJ Simpson

I disagree with practically your entire list except having Dorsett at #9. Ha.

Do we even need to revisit the "How the hell is Sanders above Payton" thing?

 

[mgoblue2290]

I disagree with practically your entire list except having Dorsett at #9. Ha.

Do we even need to revisit the "How the hell is Sanders above Payton" thing?

Well thats the point of this whole thing. I'm 95% sure we had this argument before at MM. I think Sanders is the greatest and you think Payton is. I think Payton is great too, but not better than Sanders.

Wait a minute, you actually think Emmitt Smith is better than Barry Sanders. I can see how you think Payton is better, but Emmitt Smith?

 

[FirstTimer]

Well thats the point of this whole thing. I'm 95% sure we had this argument before at MM. I think Sanders is the greatest and you think Payton is. I think Payton is great too, but not better than Sanders.

Wait a minute, you actually think Emmitt Smith is better than Barry Sanders. I can see how you think Payton is better, but Emmitt Smith?

I don't think Payton is the GOAT. Not flat out. Gun to my head I most likely say Brown but Payton and him are neck and neck IMO.

There is no way I can rationalize putting Sanders above Payton. None...outside of MAYBE Yards per season/game stuff. Payton was arguably one of the greatest all around players ever. Sanders was a great back but was overrated in many ways because of his flashy runs IMO

As far as Emmitt goes I liked Emmitt's all around game better than Sanders. Better blocker, better pass catcher, better short yardage guy(wasn't taken out in goal line situations etc)

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

I didnt get to see a lot of these guys play other than NFL Films.. so its hard to really say with some the older guys.. but heres what I got:

1. Walter Payton
2. Jim Brown
3. Barry Sanders (is #1 if he doesnt retire early)
4. Eric Dickerson
5. Earl Campbell
6. Marshall Faulk
7. Emmit Smith
8. OJ Simpson
9. Thurman Thomas
10. Ladainian Tomlinson

 

[NAHSTE]

Solid list, FT. I can appreciate the Sweetness love, but I'll drop him to just a solid 2, and let JB stand alone at #1. I'd also throw Red Grange in there around 3-4, unless you weren't counting early era players.

My list:

1. Brown
2. Payton
3. Sanders
4. Grange
5. Emmitt
6. Faulk
7. Dickerson
8. Dorsett
9. OJ
10.Campbell

 

[mgoblue2290]

I don't think Payton is the GOAT. Not flat out. Gun to my head I most likely say Brown but Payton and him are neck and neck IMO.

There is no way I can rationalize putting Sanders above Payton. None...outside of MAYBE Yards per season/game stuff. Payton was arguably one of the greatest all around players ever. Sanders was a great back but was overrated in many ways because of his flashy runs IMO

As far as Emmitt goes I liked Emmitt's all around game better than Sanders. Better blocker, better pass catcher, better short yardage guy(wasn't taken out in goal line situations etc)

Thats how Barry was though, he was a scat back, he made his own holes on several mediocre Lions teams.

Although Emmitt is a great back no doubt, he also benefited from having an amazing offense around him. Was Emmitt crucial to his team's success? Yes. Could the Cowboys won Super Bowls with say, Thurman Thomas? Hell yes.

I'm not trying to say Emmitt didn't earn his amazing stats, he did. Barry however, in every game he played in, was the guy entire defenses game planned against. Emmitt was only part of that gameplan, teams were worried about Irvin as well and the Dallas aerial attack in general.

Barry had to deal with all sorts of schemes against him, which is why he did run east to west a lot of the times. Teams would run little containment defenses so he didn't break free and he'd have to cut back. Also his offensive line was just average, they weren't bad, but they were no where near as good as the Cowboy's line.

 

[Senser81]

1) Jim Brown
2) OJ Simpson
3) Walter Payton
4) Barry Sanders
5) Emmitt Smith
6) Earl Campbell
7) Eric Dickerson
8) Marshall Faulk
9) LaDainian Tomlinson
10) Steve van Buren

 

[killgod]

no not again. after a year at MM I never want to participate in a top 10 discussion of NFL players.

it just gets ridiculous and repetitive.

i'm surprised Kurt Warner isn't on anyone's list yet.


love FT's respect for Curtis Martin at #10. most underrated elite RB in the whole group. gets little respect yet produced exceptionally well his ENTIRE career.


*runs away from thread*

 

[FirstTimer]

Solid list, FT. I can appreciate the Sweetness love, but I'll drop him to just a solid 2, and let JB stand alone at #1. I'd also throw Red Grange in there around 3-4, unless you weren't counting early era players.

My list:

1. Brown
2. Payton
3. Sanders
4. Grange
5. Emmitt
6. Faulk
7. Dickerson
8. Dorsett
9. OJ
10.Campbell

I'd have a tough time putting Grange up there. He was arguably a better defensive back in the NFL than he was a RB after he hurt his knee.(1927)

Thats how Barry was though, he was a scat back, he made his own holes on several mediocre Lions teams.

Although Emmitt is a great back no doubt, he also benefited from having an amazing offense around him. Was Emmitt crucial to his team's success? Yes. Could the Cowboys won Super Bowls with say, Thurman Thomas? Hell yes.

I'm not trying to say Emmitt didn't earn his amazing stats, he did. Barry however, in every game he played in, was the guy entire defenses game planned against. Emmitt was only part of that gameplan, teams were worried about Irvin as well and the Dallas aerial attack in general.

Barry had to deal with all sorts of schemes against him, which is why he did run east to west a lot of the times. Teams would run little containment defenses so he didn't break free and he'd have to cut back. Also his offensive line was just average, they weren't bad, but they were no where near as good as the Cowboy's line.

I have a hard time downgrading Emmitt as a rusher simply because he got drafted where he did. The guy put up numbers no matter what. Even when Aikman and Irvin were banged up the guy still put up numbers as well. Barry was a great runner but had a lot more holes in his game than Emmitt did IMO.

Also I find it odd that the same reasoning you use for Sanders>Smith could be turned around and provide plenty of proof for Payton>Sanders.

1) Jim Brown
2) OJ Simpson
3) Walter Payton
4) Barry Sanders
5) Emmitt Smith
6) Earl Campbell
7) Eric Dickerson
8) Marshall Faulk
9) LaDainian Tomlinson
10) Steve van Buren

Forgot how much Senser loved "The Juice."

I've always wondered why you have him ranked so high. Seems like He had a 5 year stretch then really didn't have much else in the NFL, especially compared to guys like Brown, Smith, Sanders, Payton etc. Why so high up there?

 

[Senser81]

Forgot how much Senser loved "The Juice."

He was great in the Naked Gun movies. He was also the fastest RB to ever play in the NFL, and he was 6-2, 215. I can't imagine if he played on those 1990's Cowboys teams...he would have had 2500 yards a season.

 

[FirstTimer]

He was great in the Naked Gun movies. He was also the fastest RB to ever play in the NFL, and he was 6-2, 215. I can't imagine if he played on those 1990's Cowboys teams...he would have had 2500 yards a season.

Yeah plus he could "stab while running" which I still find more impressive than "throw while running"

 

[Senser81]

Yeah plus he could "stab while running" which I still find more impressive than "throw while running"

True...OJ had a slashing running style that cut through the defense.

 

[killgod]

True...OJ had a slashing running style that cut through the defense.

I think it was the black gloves he wore. They seemed to give him a ......sharp edge.

 

[FirstTimer]

LULZ, murder jokes.

I have a teacher that is awesome, but he insists that OJ is the best college football player EVER, and that he is the number two running back all time behind Payton. I insist he's crazy.

I didn't know Senser took a job teaching?