In the history of NFL Running Backs?

Emmitt Smith's career finished where it began: with the Cowboys. The NFL's all-time leading rusher announced his retirement after signing a ceremonial contract with Dallas.

Who are your top 5 running backs of all time?

here are Mine

1. Emmitt Smith

2. Walter Payton

3. Jim Brown

4. Barry Sanders

5. Earl Campbell

In the history of NFL Running Backs?

Emmitt Smith's career finished where it began: with the Cowboys. The NFL's all-time leading rusher announced his retirement after signing a ceremonial contract with Dallas.

Who are your top 5 running backs of all time?

here are Mine

1. Emmitt Smith

2. Walter Payton

3. Jim Brown

4. Barry Sanders

5. Earl Campbell


Sorry man. But I'd switch Emmitt and Bary on that list.

Sorry man. But I'd switch Emmitt and Bary on that list.


.....I'm a diehard Cowboy fan, but I don't believe that Emmitt was the best runningback of all times. He was a better football player and competitor than Barry but not a better running back. If you look at everything he could do well and how he performed when the chips were down I wouldn't have traded him for Barry Sanders. 1. Sanders 2. Smith 3. Brown 4. Payton 5. Campbell

In the history of NFL Running Backs?

Emmitt Smith's career finished where it began: with the Cowboys. The NFL's all-time leading rusher announced his retirement after signing a ceremonial contract with Dallas.

Who are your top 5 running backs of all time?

here are Mine

1. Emmitt Smith

2. Walter Payton

3. Jim Brown

4. Barry Sanders

5. Earl Campbell


.....Did you see his press conference? Man he sure loved wearing that star on his helmet. He really lost it when it came to talking about Moose. They can talk that Steeler all time best team **** all they want but the Cowboys team that won the back to back superbowls and 2 out of three would have matched up well and stomped the **** out of that team or any other all time team pic.

1. barry sanders....talent alone puts him on top
2. jim brown... machine
3. walter payton...everything a team needs
4. gale sayers... could have been great but the injuries
5. emmit smith... owns record book

All Time top 5

1.Jim Brown(Not even up for debate)

2.Walter Payton(Ran the ball, Caught the ball,Returned kicks even Punted)

3.Barry Sanders(Would have easily been #1 on the all time rushing list had he not retired when he did)

4.Emmit Smith

5. O.J

He retired, because he wanted to respect Walter Payton's record since he died and all...

Barry Sanders was the best running back to ever live on planet earth..

Barry Sanders was the greatest. 2. Jim Brown 3. Walter Payton 4. Emmit Smith

Barry Sanders is the greatest running back EVER. He is by leaps and bounds the most athletically gifted and most talented athlete ever (besides Jordan). As jose would say...it ain't up for debate :D If someone wants to argue the numbers then go ahead...you want to argue the lack of championships then go ahead. Theres nobody that could touch this man when he got going.


My list looks something like:

1 - Barry Sanders
2 - Jim Brown
3 - Walter Payton/Emmitt Smith
4 - Earl Campbell
5 - Gale Sayers

I think by the end of his career, Curtis Martin should be in this list as he will most likely break Barry Sanders consecutive 1,000 seasons streak. I also think by the time he retires he will be very close to Emmitt's rushing record (unless he retires, say, in two years). He's only 31 and still has good legs underneath him. If he plays 4-6 more seasons he'll be there.

Actually I should really have Barry as #1 and Brown as #1-a.

Emmitt always had the luxury of running behind that stud O-Line...even so his numbers alone put him in the top 3.

Earl Campbell for all of his greatness will always be overlooked. He was an excellent back.

OJ Simpson, like Lynn Swann is very overrated IMO. OJ had about 3-4 good season with two outstanding seasons. The rest were marginal and marred by injury.

Barry Sanders is the greatest running back EVER. He is by leaps and bounds the most athletically gifted and most talented athlete ever (besides Jordan). As jose would say...it ain't up for debate :D If someone wants to argue the numbers then go ahead...you want to argue the lack of championships then go ahead. Theres nobody that could touch this man when he got going.


My list looks something like:

1 - Barry Sanders
2 - Jim Brown
3 - Walter Payton/Emmitt Smith
4 - Earl Campbell
5 - Gale Sayers

I think by the end of his career, Curtis Martin should be in this list as he will most likely break Barry Sanders consecutive 1,000 seasons streak. I also think by the time he retires he will be very close to Emmitt's rushing record (unless he retires, say, in two years). He's only 31 and still has good legs underneath him. If he plays 4-6 more seasons he'll be there.

Jim Brown is #1 the guy was light years ahead of his time. Seriously how anyone doesn't have Jim Brown at #1 is beeyond me thats like not having Ali at #1 when you talk about heavyweights.

Payton #2 all time because the guy did EVERYTHING on the field and had all the heart in the world to go along with all his talent.

The reason I have Barry at #3 is because he did walk away so early. With an average season for him he would have had that all time rushing title and if he had kept playing he would have destroyed it.


"5.2 yards per carry, never missed game, won the rushing title every year but one when he was in the league, there was a lot of contenders but if you have to select one, you have to pick Jim as the greatest running back in history."

- Bob Costas

Jim Brown is #1 the guy was light years ahead of his time. Seriously how anyone doesn't have Jim Brown at #1 is beeyond me thats like not having Ali at #1 when you talk about heavyweights.

Payton #2 all time because the guy did EVERYTHING on the field and had all the heart in the world to go along with all his talent.

The reason I have Barry at #3 is because he did walk away so early. With an average season for him he would have had that all time rushing title and if he had kept playing he would have destroyed it.


The reason I have Barry at #1 is because not having him at #1 is like not having Jordan as #1 (without all of the championships of course). Brown was one of the most brutal backs to have to face and he mastered the art of breaking tackles. Barry didn't have to break tackles...everyone who tried to tackle him had broken ankles from even attempting it.

Barry didn't have to stick around to rack up yards that were, in a way, rather meaningless (although everybody in Detroit still wishes he'd come back even today). He played with a very marginal Lions team with average O-Line and a inconsistent passing attack. The only help he ever had was Herman Moore.

For the amount of time he played, the superior skill he showed, and the insane numbers he racked up during that time...that certainly warrants him being viewed as the greatest ever. If all we looked at is numbers and championships then Emmitt Smith should be viewed as the best ever.

The only other problems that I had with Brown are that he did NOT block...ever...and he was an average receiver.

One of the most electrifying players ever to play in the NFL, Sanders was a threat to go the distance any time he touched the ball.

Retired in 1999 needing 1,458 rushing yards to overtake Walter Payton (16,726 yards) as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher (now currently in third place).

Set nine all-time NFL records, and sits atop virtually every Lions’ offensive rushing record conceivable (16 in all).

In record-setting 1997 campaign, he became the third player in NFL history (O.J. Simpson with 2,003 yards in 1973, and Eric Dickerson with 2,105 yards in 1984) to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season by gaining league-leading 2,053 yards.

His 25 career games of more than 150 yards rushing is an all-time NFL standard, as are his 15 career touchdown runs of more than 50 yards (Jim Brown is second on both lists).

Barry Sanders was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons and the only player to do it in the first 10 seasons of his career. He is tied for second with Payton for the all-time lead with 10 1,000-yard seasons overall, behind Emmitt Smith who has 11.

During Barry Sanders' record breaking 1997 season, he rushed for 100 yards in a record 14 consecutive games, as well as continuing his consecutive road 100-yard outings streak at 10 (also an NFL record, which he started in 1996).

Sanders is the only player in NFL history to record five 1,500-yard rushing seasons, in addition to being the only player to do so in four consecutive years (1994-97).

Barry Sanders recorded 76 career 100-yard rushing outings, one game shy of Payton’s all-time mark (77).

Finished career in second place all-time on the NFL’s total yardage (18,308 yards) and rushing attempts (3,062 carries) lists, trailing Payton in both instances.

Barry Sanders' 4.99 yards per rushing attempt during his career is second only to Jim Brown (5.22 yards per carry) among all NFL players in history who qualify with the minimum number of career rushing attempts.

Barry Sanders is the only player in NFL history to post two 80-yard TD runs in one game (80 and 82 yards at Tampa Bay 10/12/97), and three 80-yard TD runs in a single season (also an 80-yarder vs. Indianapolis 11/23/97).

Ranked sixth on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdowns list (99) and eighth in total touchdowns (109) at the time of his retirement.

Only Simpson (six) rushed for 200 yards in a game more often than Sanders (Brown, Earl Campbell and LaDainian Tomlinson also have four such career outings).

Sanders captured his first NFL rushing title with 1,304 yards in his second season (1990) and has won subsequent crowns in 1994 (1,883 yards), ’96 (1,553 yards) and ’97 (2,053 yards). 1,883 yards in ’94 was at the time, the fourth-highest single-season tally in league history.

Surpassed Billy Sims in 1993 as the Lions’ all-time leading rusher (Sims is second with 5,106 yards).

Barry Sanders had a streak of 803 consecutive attempts (703 rushes, 100 receptions) during career without fumbling the ball to the opponents.

Team career records: most rushing yards (15,269), rushing attempts (3,062), rushing touchdowns (99) and total touchdowns (109).

Franchise single-game records: most rushing yards (237 vs. Tampa Bay November 13, 1994), most rushing TDs (four at Minnesota November 24, 1991) and most rushing attempts (40 at Dallas September 19, 1994).

Holds Lions’ all-time seasonal marks for most rushing yards (2,053 in ’97), most rushing attempts (343 in 1998) and both rushing and total touchdowns (16 in 1991). Possesses the top seven all-time team seasonal rushing outputs (and 10 of the top 12).

Scored 654 career points, third-place on the Lions’ all-time scoring list.

His 352 career receptions also pegs him in fourth-place on that all-time Detroit chart.

Third-fastest player in league history to tally 10,000 career rushing yards (Sanders’ 103 games trailed only Brown and Dickerson). Only two NFL players rushed for more yards in their first 100 games than Sanders, Brown (10,833) and Dickerson (10,818).

Earned NFC Offensive Player of the Month award for October, November and December 1997, becoming the first NFL player to capture the award three times in a single season.

Was voted the Lions’ Offensive MVP by his teammates an unprecedented nine straight years.

Detroit’s first round selection (third overall pick) in the 1989 NFL Draft.

The reason I have Barry at #1 is because not having him at #1 is like not having Jordan as #1 (without all of the championships of course). Brown was one of the most brutal backs to have to face and he mastered the art of breaking tackles. Barry didn't have to break tackles...everyone who tried to tackle him had broken ankles from even attempting it.

Barry didn't have to stick around to rack up yards that were, in a way, rather meaningless (although everybody in Detroit still wishes he'd come back even today). He played with a very marginal Lions team with average O-Line and a inconsistent passing attack. The only help he ever had was Herman Moore.

For the amount of time he played, the superior skill he showed, and the insane numbers he racked up during that time...that certainly warrants him being viewed as the greatest ever. If all we looked at is numbers and championships then Emmitt Smith should be viewed as the best ever.

The only other problems that I had with Brown are that he did NOT block...ever...and he was an average receiver.


Your from Detriot right?

Yes Barry had great talent. Im not arguing that im saying he could have been #1 had he not retired so soon.

As far as Brown goes RB's back then were not used like they are today. They were not excpected to catch the ball. I think its funny you knock Brown for his blocking, but dont talk about Barry's blocking ability.

Your from Detriot right?

Yes Barry had great talent. Im not arguing that im saying he could have been #1 had he not retired so soon.

As far as Brown goes RB's back then were not used like they are today. They were not excpected to catch the ball. I think its funny you knock Brown for his blocking, but dont talk about Barry's blocking ability.


I'm from Illinois originally but I've lived 95% of my life 45 minutes from Detroit.

As much as it pisses me off to say it...Barry didn't have to continue playing to be the greatest ever. Just the fact that he WOULD have crushed every rushing record had he continued to play speaks volumes about how much better he was than anyone else.

Barry wasn't the greatest blocker ever...in fact he was very average. He'd pick up his weak side blitzer every so often and sometimes he'd **** up and let Scott Mitchells sorry ass get crushed. But the thing is...he wouldnt turn his back on the potential block and let his guy through to pressure or sack the QB ala Brown. I've seen plenty of tape where Brown did this. even my dad who believes that Brown was better than Sanders said that Brown was a QB's worst nightmare in the backfield. Barry was average but he tried.

I hold Barry in VERY elite company as the greatest players to ever play...not just running backs. IMO the 5-6 greatest players ever are Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, John Elway, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, and Lawrence Taylor. Jerry Rice might be the greatest offensive skill player ever...better than Brown and Sanders.

One of the most electrifying players ever to play in the NFL, Sanders was a threat to go the distance any time he touched the ball.

Retired in 1999 needing 1,458 rushing yards to overtake Walter Payton (16,726 yards) as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher (now currently in third place).

Set nine all-time NFL records, and sits atop virtually every Lions’ offensive rushing record conceivable (16 in all).

In record-setting 1997 campaign, he became the third player in NFL history (O.J. Simpson with 2,003 yards in 1973, and Eric Dickerson with 2,105 yards in 1984) to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season by gaining league-leading 2,053 yards.

His 25 career games of more than 150 yards rushing is an all-time NFL standard, as are his 15 career touchdown runs of more than 50 yards (Jim Brown is second on both lists).

Barry Sanders was the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons and the only player to do it in the first 10 seasons of his career. He is tied for second with Payton for the all-time lead with 10 1,000-yard seasons overall, behind Emmitt Smith who has 11.

During Barry Sanders' record breaking 1997 season, he rushed for 100 yards in a record 14 consecutive games, as well as continuing his consecutive road 100-yard outings streak at 10 (also an NFL record, which he started in 1996).

Sanders is the only player in NFL history to record five 1,500-yard rushing seasons, in addition to being the only player to do so in four consecutive years (1994-97).

Barry Sanders recorded 76 career 100-yard rushing outings, one game shy of Payton’s all-time mark (77).

Finished career in second place all-time on the NFL’s total yardage (18,308 yards) and rushing attempts (3,062 carries) lists, trailing Payton in both instances.

Barry Sanders' 4.99 yards per rushing attempt during his career is second only to Jim Brown (5.22 yards per carry) among all NFL players in history who qualify with the minimum number of career rushing attempts.

Barry Sanders is the only player in NFL history to post two 80-yard TD runs in one game (80 and 82 yards at Tampa Bay 10/12/97), and three 80-yard TD runs in a single season (also an 80-yarder vs. Indianapolis 11/23/97).

Ranked sixth on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdowns list (99) and eighth in total touchdowns (109) at the time of his retirement.

Only Simpson (six) rushed for 200 yards in a game more often than Sanders (Brown, Earl Campbell and LaDainian Tomlinson also have four such career outings).

Sanders captured his first NFL rushing title with 1,304 yards in his second season (1990) and has won subsequent crowns in 1994 (1,883 yards), ’96 (1,553 yards) and ’97 (2,053 yards). 1,883 yards in ’94 was at the time, the fourth-highest single-season tally in league history.

Surpassed Billy Sims in 1993 as the Lions’ all-time leading rusher (Sims is second with 5,106 yards).

Barry Sanders had a streak of 803 consecutive attempts (703 rushes, 100 receptions) during career without fumbling the ball to the opponents.

Team career records: most rushing yards (15,269), rushing attempts (3,062), rushing touchdowns (99) and total touchdowns (109).

Franchise single-game records: most rushing yards (237 vs. Tampa Bay November 13, 1994), most rushing TDs (four at Minnesota November 24, 1991) and most rushing attempts (40 at Dallas September 19, 1994).

Holds Lions’ all-time seasonal marks for most rushing yards (2,053 in ’97), most rushing attempts (343 in 1998) and both rushing and total touchdowns (16 in 1991). Possesses the top seven all-time team seasonal rushing outputs (and 10 of the top 12).

Scored 654 career points, third-place on the Lions’ all-time scoring list.

His 352 career receptions also pegs him in fourth-place on that all-time Detroit chart.

Third-fastest player in league history to tally 10,000 career rushing yards (Sanders’ 103 games trailed only Brown and Dickerson). Only two NFL players rushed for more yards in their first 100 games than Sanders, Brown (10,833) and Dickerson (10,818).

Earned NFC Offensive Player of the Month award for October, November and December 1997, becoming the first NFL player to capture the award three times in a single season.

Was voted the Lions’ Offensive MVP by his teammates an unprecedented nine straight years.

Detroit’s first round selection (third overall pick) in the 1989 NFL Draft.


Are you actually gonna try and pass off some of these stats as legit?

Was voted the Lions’ Offensive MVP by his teammates an unprecedented nine straight years

Yeah like he had some serious competion for that one.

Barry Sanders' 4.99 yards per rushing attempt during his career is second only to Jim Brown (5.22 yards per carry) among all NFL players in history who qualify with the minimum number of career rushing attempts.

Oh im sorry who's he behind?

Ranked sixth on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdowns list (99) and eighth in total touchdowns (109) at the time of his retirement.

Ranked 6th huh, Wonder who's ahead of him.

Surpassed Billy Sims in 1993 as the Lions’ all-time leading rusher (Sims is second with 5,106 yards).

Oh wow.

Sanders captured his first NFL rushing title with 1,304 yards in his second season (1990) and has won subsequent crowns in 1994 (1,883 yards), ’96 (1,553 yards) and ’97 (2,053 yards). 1,883 yards in ’94 was at the time, the fourth-highest single-season tally in league history.


3 rushing titles, Brown won 8.

and DO NOT FORGET Sanders had the luxury of playing in a 16 game season something Jim Brown did not have.

When it came time for ESPN the largest sports media group in the world to rank the 100 best American Athletes of the last 100 years Jim Brown was the highest rated football player. He was #4 behing Ali, Ruth and Jordan.

http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/athletes.html

The SportingNews 100 greatest Football players of all time. Jim Brown #1

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/1.html

Well if you really want to pick apart those stats then go ahead. Some of those stats are trivial and useless and I understand that. By the way it was 4 rushing titles he won. And can you name the other great running backs in Jim Browns era that would have even put up a fight to outrush him?

I'm not the sporting news...but I know what I saw every sunday when Barry Sanders rushed the ball and that is excellence. Sanders was basically a shoe in to have every title ever. He would own every stat that Jim Brown and any other back has outside of his YPC and yearly rushing titles.

Herman Moore was one of the better receivers to play the game. His season in 95 would have pressed anyone to be team MVP. It was something to the tune of 125 receptions, 1600+ yards and 12-16 touchdowns. He also had sorry ass QB's throwing him the ball.

Anyway, I have no problem with people seeing Jim Brown as being the best back ever. If he wasn't the first he was certainly the second. It's just that Sanders was a one of a kind player playing in a tough era, playing for a bad team. Barry was the man.

I forgot to say a few things with that last post Jose.

I think you overlooked many of those stats I laid down before. I think you just looked for the places where JB had him beat. I mean, I just looked it over again and the things he did are just insane.

What is there to say who was the greatest and who wasn't? Numbers? Potential or talent? How good they were during their career? I mean, Barry has in large part, greater numbers than does Brown. Had Sanders continued to play, he would have certainly owned every record...so that does away with the numbers aspect. As far as talent and potential go...Barry was the most athletically gifted football player ever and its quite easy to see that. He had unparalleled speed, agility, and quickness. As for the third category...they both were excellent for the amount of time they played.

Sanders also had to compete with guys like Smith, Thurman Thomas, Bettis, Terrell Davis, etc. He made bigger, faster, stronger athletes look like complete fools. Imagine guys like Derrick Thomas and Reggie White playing back in Brown's days...they'd destroy entire offenses.

Well if you really want to pick apart those stats then go ahead. Some of those stats are trivial and useless and I understand that. By the way it was 4 rushing titles he won. And can you name the other great running backs in Jim Browns era that would have even put up a fight to outrush him?

I'm not the sporting news...but I know what I saw every sunday when Barry Sanders rushed the ball and that is excellence. Sanders was basically a shoe in to have every title ever. He would own every stat that Jim Brown and any other back has outside of his YPC and yearly rushing titles.

Herman Moore was one of the better receivers to play the game. His season in 95 would have pressed anyone to be team MVP. It was something to the tune of 125 receptions, 1600+ yards and 12-16 touchdowns. He also had sorry ass QB's throwing him the ball.

Anyway, I have no problem with people seeing Jim Brown as being the best back ever. If he wasn't the first he was certainly the second. It's just that Sanders was a one of a kind player playing in a tough era, playing for a bad team. Barry was the man.

No you cant name anyone of his era that was his euqal because he had none thats how good he was. Gale Sayers broke in the year Brown retired and won the next two rushing titles and his rushing yards were still not as good as Browns.


Yes Barry would have done alot more and passed Brown on some of those list, but you also have to remember that Brown left the game early aswell only playing 9 season saying he would rather retire than play for the current owners. Like I said before Barry also had played in a 16 game season.

We just have to agree to disagree.

We just have to agree to disagree.


Agreed... :cool:

I forgot to say a few things with that last post Jose.

I think you overlooked many of those stats I laid down before. I think you just looked for the places where JB had him beat. I mean, I just looked it over again and the things he did are just insane.

What is there to say who was the greatest and who wasn't? Numbers? Potential or talent? How good they were during their career? I mean, Barry has in large part, greater numbers than does Brown. Had Sanders continued to play, he would have certainly owned every record...so that does away with the numbers aspect. As far as talent and potential go...Barry was the most athletically gifted football player ever and its quite easy to see that. He had unparalleled speed, agility, and quickness. As for the third category...they both were excellent for the amount of time they played.

Sanders also had to compete with guys like Smith, Thurman Thomas, Bettis, Terrell Davis, etc. He made bigger, faster, stronger athletes look like complete fools. Imagine guys like Derrick Thomas and Reggie White playing back in Brown's days...they'd destroy entire offenses.


You cant knock a guy because of when he played. You cant help when your born. All you can do is look at what he did in his era. When Jim Brown retired he owned every record known to man.

You cant knock a guy because of when he played. You cant help when your born. All you can do is look at what he did in his era. When Jim Brown retired he owned every record known to man.


Of course you can't. But it is a fact that Barry did his thizzle against more talented, faster, stronger guys. And these days, defensive schemes are so much better and are so much more complex. I mean hell, who knows what the **** Barry would have done with the ****ers of JB's days. If Barry can make Hardy Nickerson, one of the best MLB's to ever do it, admit that Barry made him sprain his ankle worse than ever with a simple juke then thats saying something. And yeah yeah, I know that JB broke some dudes sternum with a stiff-arm, but Barry's moves looked better. :D

I'm just skeptical as to whether Brown would have been as dominant these days on a marginal team as he was back then. In boxing, its quite easy to know that guys like Ali and Louis would **** on every HW of the last 10 years, and that Wilt Chamberlain would be a dominant center in the NBA if he played today. I don't know if the same would be true in football. I believe that Brown would be a top tier back in the NFL if he was around now...but guys like Edgerrin James, Ladanian Tomlinson, Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander, and Curtis MArtin would sure as hell give him a run for his money in year 2 year rushing titles.

Your from Detriot right?

Yes Barry had great talent. Im not arguing that im saying he could have been #1 had he not retired so soon.

As far as Brown goes RB's back then were not used like they are today. They were not excpected to catch the ball. I think its funny you knock Brown for his blocking, but dont talk about Barry's blocking ability.


....Yeah, but if you wanna talk about a running back that can run, block, and catch then look no further than Emmitt. Neither Brown nor Sandes could hold his jock in the blocking or pass catching areas.

I just had a thought that puts the Jim Brown/Sanders comparison into perspective. Take each guy and put them in the other guys era and how succesful would they be. Barry would go crazy in that era and may have rushed for 2500 yards in a short season. Jim Browns size and speed would not be that impressive at all in todays NFL and he would probably be a mid to upper tier back. Brown was a freak for that time period but in the grand scheme of things he can't hold Barry's jock IMO.

I'm a diehard Cowboy fan, so I'm biased. I rank Emmitt #1, but in my heart of hearts I know if Jim Brown plays longer he would be. This is an all time discussion, not in their primes. If we are talking best in their primes then it's Brown, Sanders, Payton, Simpson, Dickerson, T.Davis, then Emmitt.

Something needs to be said for longevity.....nobdoy forced Jim Brown or Barry Sanders to quit football. Bottom line is they weren't as passionate about the sport as Emmitt was. Emmitt owns the record books....stats don't lie, plus he did things stats don't show. He maybe the best pass blocking RB of all time, with only Payton being the other consideration.

There are 2 considerations when deciding the best player at a position in football, in my opinion:

Were they a winner? Emmitt was nothing but, 3 rings and several NFC East championships.

How do their stats rank? No need to even go there.

This being said the following skill position players are my choices for best at their position:

WR - Jerry Rice (no contest) winner and owns everything stat wise.

QB - John Elway. Marino had better stats, Montana won more.......neither did both like Elway did and I hated the guy.

TE - Shannon Sharpe. Winner and has all the stats.

.....I'm a diehard Cowboy fan, but I don't believe that Emmitt was the best runningback of all times. He was a better football player and competitor than Barry but not a better running back. If you look at everything he could do well and how he performed when the chips were down I wouldn't have traded him for Barry Sanders. 1. Sanders 2. Smith 3. Brown 4. Payton 5. Campbell
all time leading rusher is Smith but Sanders would have been there quicker and hence, cowboys had a great line with Smith, Sanders had no line and still did what he did ;)

I just can't put Brown at #1. To walk out on his team like he did is just like what Ricky Williams did. How'd that movie carrer work out for ya Jimbo?

#1 Payton. He had speed, moves, toughness, longevity, and the ability to run over people. Also played behind dome truly absymal teams.

#2 Earl Campbell. Unbelievable speed and moves for a big guy who could run through a brick wall. An injury shortened career hurts his overall rank.

#3 Emmitt. Although he came along at a time when 1,000 yds a season is as big of deal as it once was and had a great team to play for behind. The "new" breed of RB where catching and blocking have more importance.

#4 Jim Brown.

#5 Barry Sanders. Should be higher, but I can't stand quitters.


Notice how nobody ever mention Eric Dickerson? Good, I don't like him neither.

i say barry on top, then emmit

forget about stats. If stats are the only criteria, then Emmitt Smith is the best rb of all time. He has gone forward more than anyone ever.
I would prefer to list who is the best based on ability and performance. Not longevity You can nit pick stats all day.

my top five

Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Gale Sayers
Earl Campbell
OJ Simpson

this list is not based on how many good years, or whether or not they killed their wife and waiters. Based purely on what I saw on the field. In their respective "primes" they were sweet music and made defenses look very bad.

forget about stats. If stats are the only criteria, then Emmitt Smith is the best rb of all time. He has gone forward more than anyone ever.
I would prefer to list who is the best based on ability and performance. Not longevity You can nit pick stats all day.

my top five

Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Gale Sayers
Earl Campbell
OJ Simpson

this list is not based on how many good years, or whether or not they killed their wife and waiters. Based purely on what I saw on the field. In their respective "primes" they were sweet music and made defenses look very bad.

How do you leave Barry out?

How do you leave Barry out?

he is up there , if the criteria was most yards going sideways, he wins no doubt. :D

seriously, I have a great deal of respect for Sanders..he is next below the guys I listed..IMO

seriously, I have a great deal of respect for Sanders..he is next below the guys I listed..IMOSo Emmitt doesn't even crack your top 6. :confused: That's why they call it an opinion. There's really no wrong answer.

New Sub-thread. I've really enjoyed seeing people's response to the top 5 Running Backs. Let's move on to Wide Receivers.

Here are my top 5:

Jerry Rice

Chris Carter

Andre Reed

Tim Brown

Art Monk

1.) Jerry Rice
2.) Chris Carter
3.) Tim Brown
4.) Andre Reed
5.) Marvin Harrison

So Emmitt doesn't even crack your top 6. :confused: That's why they call it an opinion. There's really no wrong answer.

yes, thats correct. i don't feel its a put down to have Smith be put below those guys. Smith was great as well. I'm not basing it on stats alone. I'm more referring to pure ability and dominance at a particular time.

New Sub-thread. I've really enjoyed seeing people's response to the top 5 Running Backs. Let's move on to Wide Receivers.

Here are my top 5:

Jerry Rice

Chris Carter

Andre Reed

Tim Brown

Art Monk

Lynn Swann
John Stallworth
Louis Lipps
Hines Ward
Yancey Thigpen.... :D

Lynn Swann
John Stallworth
Louis Lipps
Hines Ward
Yancey Thigpen.... :D


What, no Plaxico Burress?

What, no Plaxico Burress?


he's no Thigpen

Vincent " Bo " Jackson is Emmitt, Barry, and Jim Brown, all rolled into 1.... Therefore he's my top running back of all - time(I've never seen any other back that turned 10yard losses into 95 yard touchdowns)I rank Michael Vick right behind him===> the best passing running back ever. Bo's the only running back in NFL history who didn't need any O - Line, he was already heading for the end zone by the time the Raiders sh**y line was just getting into their blocking assignments. What about Eric Dickerson....

Dickerson was great. top 10 all time rb probabaly. Bo was possibly the greatest "athlete" that ever lived but the degenerative hip shortened his career and i just don't think he belongs in the same group as the top 5 or even top 10 backs ever.

Vick is an incrediblely ellusive athlete. He is one of the most exciting athletes in the NFL today. Oh by the way, he's a qb. To list him as a top 5 rb is retarded, no offense. :p