Greatest Runningbacks

[SuptownSpartans34]

Riggins (because he's the complete package on and off the field)

Character counts

Oh really, in that case it must be OJ

[Jivedude]

Barry Sanders
Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Eric Dickerson
Emmitt Smith

Would have ben the best: Bo Jackson

[Dr. Duran Duran]

It's so hard to make a top ten list of running backs, but here's mine for the record...

1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Barry Sanders
4. Curtis Martin
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Gale Sayers
7. O.J. Simpson
8. Tony Dorsett
9. Franco Harris
10. Terrell Davis

[wkelly91]

Wow There have been some ludicrous statements made on this thread.

The title was "Greatest Runningbacks"

What is that?

1) Greatest at longevity?
2) Greatest at accumulating yards?
3) Greatest at leading his team to superbowls?
4) Greatest single season?
5) Greatest package of speed/power?
6) Could have been the greatest but injuries cut him short?
7) Greatest, most advanced for his era?

First off, Jim Brown was the greatest for sheer talent. His career wasn't too short, he played almost 10 years. Gail Sayers unfortunately was too short.

Jim Brown played when seasons were 12 games not 16. Jim Brown played when the hashmarks were spread out much further thus narrowing the point of attack on rushing. Go back and look at the impact of bringing in the hashmarks in the 70's, there was a boom of 1,000 rushers the next year. Jim Brown could sprint like OJ Simpson and hit like Earl Campbell. IMO if he kept playing as long as Emmit he would have had 20,000 yards.

Did you know Barry Sanders also holds the record for most yards lost from scrimage? Tremendously exciting too watch but IMO would never lead a team to a superbowl. You can't win games consistantly when you are waiting for the homerun, which is what Barry was too the Lions. Too bad we couldn't have seen him on a better team, and we could have but he walked away.

OJ Simpson also played in the shorter season era. He was without a doubt one of the best. Blazing speed, could cut on the fly without loosing a step. The year he gained 2003 yards some shlub blocking for him gained over a thousand . Imagine that, 3,000 yards in a backfield in one year. Everyone knew OJ was coming and they still couldn't stop him.

Walter Payton was similar too Pete Rose, they both played a long time and accumulated big numbers. I love Walter, I don't mean to diss him. He had a huge heart and more toughness than any player I've seen but I don't think he was as physically gifted as many, nor as consistantly spectacular.

[Lofunzo]

Walter Payton was similar too Pete Rose, they both played a long time and accumulated big numbers. I love Walter, I don't mean to diss him. He had a huge heart and more toughness than any player I've seen but I don't think he was as physically gifted as many, nor as consistantly spectacular.

You made some great statements here but I completely disagree with this statement. I don't only say this because he is dead, either. He was awesome. He had the talent and the heart. Few players have that combination.

[TBallgame]

1. Walter "Sweetness" Payton, by far the best overall runningback
in the history of the game between his rushing, receiving, blocking and passing, this guy threw for 8 tds.

2. Jim Brown, not enough seasons for number 1
3. Barry Sanders, same as Jim Brown, if neither him or brown retire early they are 1 and 2
4. Emmitt Smith, good o-line or not, he was good, but not the best
5. Eric Dickerson, even though i hate this guy, he was good

[wkelly91]

I'm not sure where you get this idea that Jim Brown didn't have enough seasons. He had nine seasons, Sanders had 10. He had more rushing attempts than O.J. Simpson and Earl Campbell.

Jim Brown held the rushing record for over 20 years and would still have it IMO if the rules hadn't been changed.

Look at the career yard's per average carry:

Brown 5.2
Sanders 5.0
Perry 5.0
.
.
.
.
Payton 4.4
Smith 4.2

It was only through sheer volume of carries by these two that they are on top. Payton has almost 1000 more carries than any other back in the top twenty who arn't still active, Smith had an incredible 1400 more carries.

Does this make them the best? Or just the most durable?

http://profootballhof.com/history/relea ... se_id=1266

http://profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=33

1957 Cleveland 12 202 942 4.7 9 16 55 3.4 1
1958 Cleveland 12 257 1527 5.9 17 16 138 8.6 1
1959 Cleveland 12 290 1329 4.6 14 24 190 7.9 0
1960 Cleveland 12 215 1257 5.8 9 19 204 10.7 2
1961 Cleveland 14 305 1408 4.6 8 46 459 10 2
1962 Cleveland 14 230 996 4.3 13 47 517 11 5
1963 Cleveland 14 291 1863 6.4 12 24 268 11.2 3
1964 Cleveland 14 280 1446 5.2 7 36 340 9.4 2
1965 Cleveland 14 289 1544 5.3 17 34 328 9.6 4
Career Totals 118 2359 12,312 5.2 106 262 2499 9.5 20

Additional Statistics: Passing: 12-4-117, 3 TDs; Kickoff Returns: 29-648

[Lofunzo]

Personally, I need more than 9 seasons before I can say that he is the best ever. Most talented?? I don't doubt that in the least but I separate most talented and best ever. The same goes for Koufax. He was 1 of the most talented pitchers ever but I can't put him near the top of the best ever lists because of a lack of a body of work. I also use the same analogy in hockey. I personally think that Mario Lemieux is the most talented player ever but injuries, etc. didn't give him the body of work to surpass Gretzky as the best ever.

[Kingctb27]

Brown
Payton
Sanders
Smith
Simpson

[Rico The Retard]

im still sticking with Rashaan Salaam as best running back ever