Sorry to get off-topic but I was just thinking about this and was curious what people think. I'd have to say bo jackson--seriously, if he focused on football only and didn't get hurt, he'd have blown away every nfl record.

Gale Sayers.

Barry Sanders

Walter Payton

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Three way toss-up:
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith

I thought Bo was fantastic. In fact, he had a chance to make the HOF in two sports had he not been injured. However in the NFL he probably wasn't going to set any records even if he didn't get hurt. He started too late (age 25) and got too few carries to put up big numbers. He never broke 1000 yards in 4 years.

I don't believe ES is in that class....Walter and Barry ran behind terrible lines....Emmitt ran behind the best line in the NFL every year.....plus he gets points taken away for being really stupid.

I'll even give you a list of players that is better than Smith....

OJ Simpson
Eric Dickerson
Jim Brown
Marshall Faulk
Earl Campbell


Emmitt was a great back but ranks at best....8th even though he is the all time leader.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Emmitt was Mr. Consistent. Every year. Every game. Every down. Power. Speed. Short yardage. Long runs. You name it - he did it well. I think most people underestimate his value to that Cowboys team.

I agree but look at the HOF line and surrounding talent he played with.

Nate Newton, Kevin Gogan, Mark Stepnoski, Mark Tuinei, Larry Allen

Could he have done that playing his whole career with the Cardinals? Look at Thomas Jones. He was considered a bust there but led the AFC last year with a pretty good line in NY.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/2009 05:32PM by eesti.

When you look at play of the OL, play of QB to balance the D, weapons at WR to keep safeties back:

Dorsett, had quality QB & WR's, as did Emmit Smith, Thurman Thomas

Walter Payton did not have great supporting cast through much of his career, but he did for some years have a quality QB & passing attack.

IMO, 2 guys played against stacked Defenses with little support from the passing game. they were Barry Sanders & Earl Campbell.

I LOVE both of these guys. and it is difficult to choose between them, despite them being almost opposites. Barry could get stopped for no gain 15 times and then break a long run 2-3 times a game and have over 100 yds rushing and 2-3 TD's, on total magic.

Earl Campbell was rarely stopped for a loss, and he punished oppossing D's. And he occaissionally took off down-field.


I guess if you gave me the choice between them? I would take Earl Campbell. In today's NFL he would have better surgical support and would have a longer career. And a guy who moves the chains and wears down the D and can break a long run? is a great Back.

oh wait...that's Ricky Williams.....wow if not for Pot & Wannestedt Ricky might be in that discussion.

very true....I love Earl but I think you would have to add OJ to that as well. He often ran behind poor lines and had a 2,003 yard season in a 14 game schedule while averaging over 6 ypc. (332 carries) If not for knee injuries....he would have had more career yards.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

In particular order

Barry sanders
Gale sayers
Marshall faulk
Jim brown
Ladanian tomlinson

Larry Csonka, hands down. Talk about mr. consistent.

Barry Sanders...he was pure magic.

But then again I could easily add, Gayle Sayers, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Jim Brown and Walter Payton.

If I was making an all time team...it'd have the following players.

RB-Barry Sanders
RB-Earl Campbell
FB-Larry Csonka.

1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
2. Jerris McPhail
3. Terry Kirby

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Oh yeah....



Stanley Pritchett is the greatest fullback of all time.

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

realist Wrote:
Barry could get stopped for no gain 15 times

IMO, Barry would easily have been the best had it not been for that fact. Whether it was the o-line or his own running style, Barry had lots of negative runs and zero yard runs. He was also not very effective in short yardage situations. Again, this may have been because of his o-line, but it's hard to simply dismiss that fact. In spite of that though, I have him in the top 4 of the guys I have seen. I will add Faulk to the above list, leaving me with Payton, Sanders, Emmitt and Faulk.

I never got to see OJ, Sayers, Brown or Csonka, so I can't say much about them.

A & O wrote:
1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
2. Jerris McPhail
3. Terry Kirby

Tell me you are kidding:

1. The comnbo run game of Czonka, Kick and morris was awesome.
2. So was the line.

***
My honest votes would be

Sayers, Sanders, (pure RBs), Czonka (for F, H. Walker

Mercury Morris is still the most exciting runner that I have ever watched. His "piston legs" running style was unique and unequalled.

So you only watched Dolphin games? Nice.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Barry Sanders for sure... I never saw the old-timers so i cant comment on them. The fact that Emmitt Smith was even mentioned enrages me!!
He always had the best line, and always had a great supporting cast. Not to mention that had such good teams that they were ahead and alot, thus being able to run the ball down their opponents throats

Best Ever...Walter Payton.

10 years from now... Adrien Peterson.

Funny - none of us are talking about Tomlinson.

Cecil Collins.

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Tomlinson is another whiney little *&%#!. I can't stand him or Cutler.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Hands down......Barry Sanders and Walter Payton......and believe it or not, as a power-back Ironhead Heyward.

I would probably have to put John Avery somewhere in the talk of top all time RB's.

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Don't forget Bernie Parmalee.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

OMG!!!! I cant believe I forgot him!!!!


DANG IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"