NBCSports.com chose the top 5 best NFL running backs in history. If you think we got it wrong, then tell us! You can send in your own top 5 and tell us who should have made the list!
Who is the best NFL running back of all time?
Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:00 PM EDT
Leave a Comment:
Saving...
Nobody who ever saw Jim Brown carry the football has the slightest doubt that he should be #1. No runner before or since had his combination of speed, power, toughness, and field sense. Just watch some of those old NFL Films highlights of him ... you'll come away shaking your head. After him, as far as I'm concerned it's pretty much pick 'em between the rest of the names listed. I'd put OJ and Gale Sayers ahead of Tomlinson, but I'm not ready to fight anybody over it. And you know, there was a time when OJ was considered by some to be the equal of Brown, but of course that was way before ... umm ... you know.
All close. Brown, Sayers, Sanders, Payton, Dickerson, OJ and THEN the durable backs such as Emmitt and LT. Adrian Peterson will be challenging these guys in a few years.
A friend just informed me I had six on my list. Then, I boot out OJ cause the dude killed his wife.
even as a Steelers' fan it doesn't pain me to say Jim Brown Then, Jim Brown Now, Jim Brown forever. and he played against some the greatest names in defensive history: Sam Huff, Ray Nitschke, Deacon Jones, Bob Lilly etc. He gained 1863 yards in 1963 playing a 14 game season.
Jim Brown then, Jim Brown now, Jim Brown forever! 1863 in '63 playing a 14 game season. played against some of the best defenders of all time in Nitschke, Huff, Deacon Jones, Lilly
how long did it take before someone broke his record - well over 20 years - it took many 12 of more years to do what he did in nine....last stat 5.2 yards per carry and over 100 ypg for his career. who else can boast that?
As much as I hate the CowGirls I have to say Tony Dorsett should be on this list. T. D. could go for a touchdown everytime he touched the ball. Barry Sanders is definately the most exciting person to touch the ball. Emmit didn't get touched most of the time untill he was 4 or five yards past the LOS.
As a native 'burgher, I'm inclined to agree that your comment on T.D. is partially correct. Too bad that he had to play for the 'Girls. He was a force of nature during his high school and Pitt years. You could say that he was the precursor of Barry Sanders but Tony didn't have Barry's change of pace or incredible cutbacks. Another Pittsburgh native deserving of mention is Curtis Martin, who is fourth on the all time rushing yardage list.
Most comments seem to made by fans biased towards their home team. As a young Steelers fan when they were still losers, I watched Jim Brown bludgeon them and every other team year after year. As Jim Laughlin said, he was the baddest ass to ever play.
Nobody else even comes close. Once Brown broke past the line of scrimmage, he looked for dbs that were brave or dumb enough to try to tackle him in the open field. Most of the time, he was the one imparting the blows. Only physically tough teams that gang tackled him could contain him. He was way ahead of his time.
There's no way that Barry Sanders would not be the all time rusher if he had played 15 years like Emmitt or even 13 years like Walter.
So on a 1 to 10 scale, Brown is 10, Sanders is 8, Payton is 7, Dickerson & Thomas are 6.
O.J. deserves no kudos for obvious reasons. If you count the number of Super Bowl wins as criteria, Franco Harris is the only one with four rings.
I don't like how Emmitt always gets thrown away in these discussions. I don't think you can penalize him for playing on good teams, because that would be like dumping Montana because of Rice, or Rice because of Montana & Young. Also, why is it that Emmitt is not recognized for that fact that he maximized the situation he was in (3 rings, folks!) and was extremely consistent for a long time.
Now, having said that, here are my top 5:
Sanders, Brown, Simpson, Smith, Payton
I know, I know. After all of that Smith talk, he's only 4th of my list, but Barry was the best I ever saw, Brown is just, well, he's Jim Brown. As much as I hate to do it, O.J. put together an amazing career between college & pro. Smith & Payton were just ranked by stats.
As much as I hate the Cowgirls Tony Dorsett should be number 5. He could break a long one everytime he touched the ball. T.D. would go from 0 - full speed faster than anyone that ever played. And very few people ever got a clean hit on him.
#1 Jim Brown, short season, hardcore yards. #2 Barry Sanders, no front line, human highlight reel everyweek (ask the 360 spin victim). #3 Walter Payton, SWEETNESS nuff said,
take you pick of 4 thru 10......... B. S. P. top dogs
I agree that Jim Brown is the best due to the shortness of his season and all he accomplished in a shorter period of time. Plus the fact that there were fewer teams. No easy teams during his time. O. J Simpson should not be considered on any list. His name should be removed forever from discussion.
1) Jim Brown
2) Barry Saunders
3) Walter Payton
4) Gale Sayers
5) Eric Dickerson
in 6-8 years....(maybe)
1) Jim Brown
2) Adrian Perterson
3) Barry Saunders
4) Walter Payton
5) Ladainon Tomlinson (I think I spelled his first name wrong but you all know who I'm talking about)
Payton should be first in that he was a one man band for years on Bear teams that were awful. Sayers was grace and power and he also was on weak teams. Jim Brown deserves any and all honors. Dickerson was also awesome. OJ is a miserable person, but an unbelievable back. Smith is great, but his team should be credited with half of his yards.
Look at the highlight reels. There's no doubt. WALTER "SWEETNESS" PAYTON was the greatest ever. He ran behind the most consistently poor front line in the league, but still made yards. None of the other 4 had to run behind such poor blockers. Walter defied gravity. And was one of the sweetest guys ever to play the game. There will never be another "Sweetness".
How about:
1. Steve Van Buren
2. Marion Motley
3. Buddy Young
4. Steve Van Buren
5. Hugh McElhenny
Sorry I listed Steve Van Buren twice....number 4 should be.......Doak Walker
Gayle Sayers was one of the greats to play the game. Just to throw another name into the mix-Jim Taylor
All-Around (running, blocking, receiving, passing & kicking & kick returning) Walter Payton was the man. Great teammate too.
For the Bears, he was their emergency quarterback, punter & placekicker. Ask DBs how they liked one of his stiff arms.
All the rest mentioned are great too.
Jim Brown had power and speed. He would be great in todays NFL also. He did all that in a short time in the pros.
Barry Sanders walked away in his prime also and would have blown all the records away had he stayed and had a better O-line. He was not a me person, nor was he or Walter Payton selfish like the players of today.
I would also like to throw Franco Harris and The Bus in the mix. Great backs that were team oriented.
As a diehard Steeler Fan...I'm goin to add Franco Harris
1. Marion Motley
2. Hugh McElhenny
3. Bronko Nagurski
4. Steve Van Buren
5. Buddy Young
Leather helmets, primitive pads, and playing both ways..........