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For the record, the "Top 100 players in NFL History", as featured in last Novembers polling on the NFL Channel, includes 19 running backs. Here's the list:
2. Jim Brown
5. Walter Payton
17. Barry Sanders
19. Bronko Nagurski
22. Gale Sayers
28. Emmitt Smith
37. Jim Thorpe
44. O.J. Simpson
48. Red Grange
52. Eric Dickerson
55. Earl Campbell
61. LaDanian Tomlinson
70. Marshall Faulk
74. Marion Motley
77. Tony Dorsett
85. Marcus Allen
89. Ernie Nevers
94. Lenny Moore
Looks familiar...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. GE
1) Jim Brown
2) Barry Sanders
3) Emmit Smith
4) Walter Payton
5) OJ Simpson
6) Marshall Faulk
7) Gale Sayers
8) Eric Dickerson
9) Tony Dorsett
10) Earl Campbell
The guy that makes the top of my list is almost never mentioned in these conversations, probably because he was only good for 3-4 years: Terrell Davis was the best running back I ever saw.
I'm also in the 'Barry Sanders was overrated' crowd.
Cory Dillon was probably the most underrated RB I've ever seen outside of TD.
The guy that makes the top of my list is almost never mentioned in these conversations, probably because he was only good for 3-4 years: Terrell Davis was the best running back I ever saw.
OK guys, no beating up on TD! lol
I'll list his portfolio on a new thread I'm going to start soon, and he definitely fits there more on that thread than here. What I'll call it is the "if only" thread. I might open it up to more than just running backs too!
1989 NFL Rookie of the Year
10 time pro Bowler
10 time NFL All-Pro
4 time NFL rushing champion
1997 AP NFL MVP
1997 PFWA NFL MVP (Pro Football Writers Association)
2000 yard rusher (2053 yards in 1997)
Named to the 1990's All Decade team
Heisman trophy winner 1988
Third in NFL history in total yards- 15,269
1989 NFL Rookie of the Year
10 time pro Bowler
10 time NFL All-Pro
4 time NFL rushing champion
1997 AP NFL MVP
1997 PFWA NFL MVP (Pro Football Writers Association)
2000 yard rusher (2053 yards in 1997)
Named to the 1990's All Decade team
Heisman trophy winner 1988
Third in NFL history in total yards- 15,269
Barry Sanders was a great football player, but in my opinion despite the numbers he was not good enough to be in the top 5 of all time. 'Too many negative plays' sounds cliche, but in practice it is very relevant because negative plays often lead directly to punts or turnovers, whereas 1 or 2 yard gains often do not. If he could have changed his game enough so that he had less yards but also less negative plays, I personally would have given him more consideration for a top 5 spot.
The other knock on Sanders is his size and style. He was not the type of guy that could wear down a defense to make it easier to run out the clock in the 4th quarter.
Barry Sanders was a great football player, but in my opinion despite the numbers he was not good enough to be in the top 5 of all time. 'Too many negative plays' sounds cliche, but in practice it is very relevant because negative plays often lead directly to punts or turnovers, whereas 1 or 2 yard gains often do not. If he could have changed his game enough so that he had less yards but also less negative plays, I personally would have given him more consideration for a top 5 spot.
The other knock on Sanders is his size and style. He was not the type of guy that could wear down a defense to make it easier to run out the clock in the 4th quarter.
Just my opinion.
dys
You forgot he is a quitter too, now I do understand that the Lions is a horrible franchise but he could have asked for a trade to a better football team that has a chance to win a championship, he just took the coward way out
Barry Sanders best ever? That has to be a joke. Great player, but the best ever begins and ends with Jim Brown. And I never saw the man play live, only on film.
Barry Sanders was a great football player, but in my opinion despite the numbers he was not good enough to be in the top 5 of all time. 'Too many negative plays' sounds cliche, but in practice it is very relevant because negative plays often lead directly to punts or turnovers, whereas 1 or 2 yard gains often do not. If he could have changed his game enough so that he had less yards but also less negative plays, I personally would have given him more consideration for a top 5 spot.
The other knock on Sanders is his size and style. He was not the type of guy that could wear down a defense to make it easier to run out the clock in the 4th quarter.
Just my opinion.
dys
Based on your opinion, that also would eliminate a player like Emmitt smith because both weren't power backs like a Bettis or Okoye. The fact about negative plays is ridiculous. You have to take into consideration the whole offense. Without much of a passing game, the DEFENSE KNOWS you are going to run the ball. Now take into consideration who you think is the best and tell me who else played on their offense (WR's, TE's, QB). This is why Barry is the best. If you take any other RB and switch them with Barry by putting them on the Lions, they still wouldn't have rings during that time frame and the stats probably would have been much worse with less playoff appearances as well.
***This is also why I believe Dan Marino was the best at his position.***
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