Best running back of all time?

[few_dollars_more]

Well considering the succes of both the Best QB of all time, and Best QB of today, I thought it was time to give those bruising RB's their shot.

So who do you think is the best, and please explain why.

[few_dollars_more]

I'm going with Walter Payton, or "Sweetness". If you ever get the chance to watch him run I really encourage you to cause he is plain...sweetness. He was an all-around fantastic back, he could juke a guy and then run over the next one. He didn't just stiff-arm the defense he would punch them. He probably got more personal fouls then any other running the ball.

I don't think Emmitt Smith deserved to take the rushing title, he played I think 2 more seasons than Walter, and wasn't nearly as good.

[CaptainWaits]

Walter Payton for sure. But for present day running backs, I'd give a vote to Shaun Alexander!

[few_dollars_more]

I would take LT for right now, but we'll start that thread in a week or two. Shaun Alexander is the real deal though.

[no compromise2]

Emmit Smith

[Illmatic]

Jim Brown, son.

[justlikealex]

LeDanian Thomlinson, who else can rush recieve AND pass?

[3074326]

Jim Brown

LT simply hasn't been around long enough for me to consider him the best ever.

Eventually, I think Edgerrin James will be in this conversation. Only Jim Brown and Eric Dickerson were faster to 9000 career yards. LT will probably be up there, as well.

[ThePatient]

OJ Simpson didn't kill two people, he won the Heisman.

It was a toss up between him and Emmit, unfortunately by love for the Cowboys swayed my vote.

[FA]

Hoo-rah for W.Payton

[seanman99]

Sanders maybe if he played longer, and Davis could be up there 2 if he played longer but right now im torn between Payton and Brown.

[simplephotographinthesun]

brown

[Rats!]

reggie bush

[seanman99]

reggie bush

I knew someone would bring that up.

[few_dollars_more]

I knew someone would bring that up.


I woudn't be surprised if he did end up as the best though. I've never seen anyone stop and go as fast as he does. Not only does he juke people, but after they are juked, he will do it again. It's ridiculous.

[CombatRock]

Emmit Smith all the way!

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

O.j.

[3074326]

I woudn't be surprised if he did end up as the best though. I've never seen anyone stop and go as fast as he does. Not only does he juke people, but after they are juked, he will do it again. It's ridiculous.

Let's judge his ability when he gets to college.

Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf both looked very promising in college, too. Bush definitely looks better, I'm just using them as examples..

I do think he'll be good. He's still in college though. That = not the greatest ever. If we were including college backs, Archie Griffin would be my choice.

[Illmatic]

Biased much?

Ricky Williams, Bo Jackson, O.J., and Herschel Walker, at the very least, were all better college backs.

edit: Tony Dorsett and Barry Sanders too

[seanman99]

Let's judge his ability when he gets to college.

Tim Couch and Ryan Leaf both looked very promising in college, too. Bush definitely looks better, I'm just using them as examples..

I do think he'll be good. He's still in college though. That = not the greatest ever. If we were including college backs, Archie Griffin would be my choice.

Dont agree with the Griffin part but everything else i agree with. He looks great now but we have to give him 5 years to see what he is really made of. Still chances are good he will perform.

[3074326]

Haha, it's hard to argue against Archie Griffin. I didn't really put much thought into it, though, I was just saying that it's hard to compare future NFL backs to the best NFL backs of all time.

There have been so many great college backs, it's impossible to narrow it down.

I already said who I thought the best back is. I don't think anyone can argue with that, whether you agree or not.

[Illmatic]

What, just because he won two Heismans he's the best?

[3074326]

Once again, I didn't put much thought into it. I didn't say he was the best back ever. I personally feel that he is one of the great college backs, if you give me some time to think about it, I'll tell you who I think is the best college back ever.

He was extremely talented. One of the best college backs. That is all. It's my opinion.

I didn't say he was the best back of all time. Jim Brown gets my vote for that.

[Reaganista]

you'd have to smoke more **** than James Brown to vote for anybody but Jim Brown.

[griftadan]

i'm kind of pertial towards emmitt...

although i thought it was funny when he played agaisnt dallas for the cardinals, and he got -6 yards.

[seanman99]

you'd have to smoke more **** than James Brown to vote for anybody but Jim Brown.

I like how u put that lol

[Against Miik!]

I don't know how he would stack up today, but for his time, it's Jim Brown, no question. He was simply dominating, more dominating than any player around today. He only played 9 seasons, which weren't even 16 games, and he is one of the top career rushers, averaging over 5 yards per carry.

As far as who I know for sure would be the best today...probably Barry Sanders. To bad he retired. Although you don't want to go out like Marshall Faulk, so maybe thats what he was thinking.

[few_dollars_more]

Yeah, that's the main Reason I didn't vote for Jim Brown is because he most likely wouldn't stack up to today mainly because of his size. But Walter Payton IMO was just as fast, probably faster, and as tough, probably tougher, as the backs today are. And plus, he had to go against that Bear's defense every day in practice. Ouch.

[Illmatic]

mainly because of his size?

Wasn't Jim Brown built like a fullback?

[few_dollars_more]

mainly because of his size?

Wasn't Jim Brown built like a fullback?

Yeah, but fullback back then was like 5 10, 190 lb.

[Illmatic]

Jim Brown was listed at 6'2 and 232 pounds.

He was often the strongest player on the field.

Something tells me his size wouldn't hold him back in today's NFL.

[few_dollars_more]

Damn, he was that big? No wonder he dominated. The average size back then was like under 200. Which is like cornerbacks now. Good job doing your research, I should do that more often. But I'm too lazy.

[GiB]

I say Walter Payton.

[Interviewer/surveyer]

Barry Barry Barry. Emmit just stuck around to break records. Barry would've smoked his *** if he would've stuck around. Average over 1500 yards per season, thats more than anyone, including Jim Brown.

[nitzguy]

emmit smith had the best o-line ever... and it took him 15 seasons or something close to that to break Payton's record... Sanders retired 4 years early and was one season off... give Barry dallas's o-line and it's broken 2 years earlier.
brown was a beast

[nitzguy]

Jim Brown was listed at 6'2 and 232 pounds.

He was often the strongest player on the field.

Something tells me his size wouldn't hold him back in today's NFL.

i don't know how fast he was, but if wasn't too fast, he'd be a goal line guy

[YDload]

Jim Brown was awesome, but I don't know how he would stand up to O.J. in the "Best RB/actor" category, that's a tough one.

Also, for today's running backs I think Jerome Bettis is great. His best years are probably behind him but he's still got some great ones barring any more injuries.

[Liberi Fatali]

I can't really judge the old running backs, except based on their stats, which isn't really a fair method of judgement. So ultimately I'd have to go with Barry Sanders.

But nothing can beat Marshall Marhshall Faulk and his brilliant '99 season. 1381 yards rushing at 5.5 yards per carry and 7 rushing TDs. As well as 1048 receiving yards and 14 receiving TDs.

[Illmatic]

If I could one running back from any year of his career, give me 1980 Earl Campbell please (with 1973 O.J. and 1977 Sweetness rounding out the top 3)

[seanman99]

If I could one running back from any year of his career, give me 1980 Earl Campbell please (with 1973 O.J. and 1977 Sweetness rounding out the top 3)

Im liking that Trio.