papazoid Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 EDIT: i'm talking players only.....on-field. i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! #1- Thurman #2- Bruce #3- O.J. #4- Cookie #5- Kelly **EDIT (stolen from the "wildrabbit"): What most fail to realize is... the Bills used the running game to set up the pass. The Bills used to run more then they threw the ball in the Kelly era. While the Bills O line was better then most, it wasn't even close to what Emmitt Smith had in Dallas. If you go back and look at what Thurman Thomas did, 5x pro bowls-1991 NFL MVP-1992 NFL offensive player of the year. Thurman Thomas is the only NFL player to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons. Now considering he almost never caught the ball while in college it is amazing that he is one of six NFL backs to have over 400 receptions and 10,000 yards rushing. He is also one of five backs to have rushed for over 1,000 yards for 8 consecutive seasons. I know I'm leaving out a bunch of playoffs stats and other stuff. Just think, this kid kept Barry Sanders on the bench in College. The guy was like 70% of the offense in Buffalo, he gets my vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 i clicked in here to post Thurman as well. such a dynamic back, he was a one man offensive machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahbonas Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! OJ Simpson - everyone else a distant 2nd. regarding Thurman thomas I can argue he's only the 4th best RB we ever had behind Cookie & OJ & Joe Cribbs Cribbs was 4 yrs and 4 probowls....returned punts and led the Bills in both receiving and rushing in 1983. Thurman had good fortune to come along as the RB in the no huddle....while Thurman was taken out of the game on 3rd downs his rookie year....joe Cribbs was running & receiving and returning punts to a start in the pro bowl his rookie year starting alongside earl campbell... In general I think the players from the Knox era are a bit overlooked when it comes to all time selections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan in n.h Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 its tough to say o.j had the electric co. cribbs had fergie and thurmun had kelly and reed.you could say bruce smith but he had guys up front that made him who he is.its a tough callbut i would say BRUUUUUCE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VADC Bills Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 OJ Simpson - everyone else a distant 2nd. regarding Thurman thomas I can argue he's only the 4th best RB we ever had behind Cookie & OJ & Joe Cribbs Cribbs was 4 yrs and 4 probowls....returned punts and led the Bills in both receiving and rushing in 1983. Thurman had good fortune to come along as the RB in the no huddle....while Thurman was taken out of the game on 3rd downs his rookie year....joe Cribbs was running & receiving and returning punts to a start in the pro bowl his rookie year starting alongside earl campbell... In general I think the players from the Knox era are a bit overlooked when it comes to all time selections OJ and Cookie can't argue those choices. OJ was clearly the best Bill but he is not the politically correct answer. Joe Cribbs and Thurman I would reverse just because of longevity but Cribbs was a monster. He carried the the Bills. I hated to see him go. He had HOF potential but decided to go for the USFL bucks. Can't leave out Bruce as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthICE Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! Kelly hands down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahbonas Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 its tough to say o.j had the electric co. cribbs had fergie and thurmun had kelly and reed.you could say bruce smith but he had guys up front that made him who he is.its a tough callbut i would say BRUUUUUCE You realize what OJ had on opening day of his 2003 season? QB was a rookie 3rd round draft pick starting 1st game ever TE Paul Seymour starting his 1st NFL game ever OG Joe D was starting his first game ever gee you think they might have put 8 in the box? He still rushed for 250yrds that day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Are we talking stats? If so then it has to be Bruce Smith. Fan favorite...Steve Tasker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahbonas Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 its tough to say o.j had the electric co. cribbs had fergie and thurmun had kelly and reed.you could say bruce smith but he had guys up front that made him who he is.its a tough callbut i would say BRUUUUUCE Please inform us all who bruce had up front to help 'make him' ???? If anything bruce produced in spite of not being placed in a 4 man front like Reggie White had the luxury of playing in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vorpma Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Greatest Bill of All Time: Jim Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincec Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 It's tough to decide. Gilchrist was the best all around player, absolutely no question, plus he won a championship. However, he was only with the Bills 3 seasons, so I'm not so sure. OJ was the best pure runner, Kelly the best QB and Smith was the best overall defensive player but none of them produced a title. Thomas might also merit consideration, but again, no championship. I'm going to go ahead and say Jim Kelly. He never played for another NFL team and was the face of the franchise from the day he arrived, for 11 season. He led the team to it's most prolonged period of success and although never won the big one, he did help the team get there 4 times and played pretty well in two of the four games (and left a third due to injury with his team in the lead). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTW2012 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Bruce. No other Bill was at the top of his position for more seasons. 9-time First-Team All-Pro, plus 2 Second-Team All-Pros. All-Decade Team for the 80s and 90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Tom Sestak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Bruce Smith hands down. One of the most feared and productive DE's in history playing out of a 3-4. Incredible! Imagine what this guy could have done in a 4-3?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! I love Thurman. Don't get me wrong. Incredible running back who had quickness, versatility and great vision. That being said, I think that Thurman benefited greatly from the Bills offensive philosophy, dangerous passing game and incredible beast of an Oline. Thurman is not nearly as productive without those factors... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Chuck Lester. Has any player and/or coach been with the team longer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RkFast Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 If yer talking pure talent, it begins and ends with Bruce Smith. All the other players are great...but Bruce is an all world great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 If yer talking pure talent, it begins and ends with Bruce Smith. All the other players are great...but Bruce is an all world great. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Bill Polian. He drafted some of the greatest players in Bills history. With out Bill, I don't know if we would have been to 4 consecutive superbowls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Bill Polian. He drafted some of the greatest players in Bills history. With out Bill, I don't know if we would have been to 4 consecutive superbowls. If this isn't exclusive to players. I have to say Ralph. He made it all possible. Polian is a good choice though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 James Edward Kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BYGD1 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 For me its Bruce Smith with a close 2nd to Kelly, not Defensive Ends could be game changers the way Bruce was for a long period of time, simply the best, with the cast he had around him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 The greatest pure talent: O.J. Simpson Bruce Smith was the greatest defensive player Jim Kelly was the most important player. On top of that he was the only one of these three who stayed in WNY and can be seen on most gamedays in the stadium, long after his retirement. So, for his time on the field, off the field & post retirement career, plus the fact he's the only player Ralph has seen fit to retire his number, my vote goes to Jim Kelly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo 66 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 That me that murdering bastard Orenthal ! Then machine gun a close second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasmo Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 EDIT: i'm talking players only.....on-field. i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! #1- Thurman #2- Bruce #3- O.J. #4- Cookie #5- Kelly OJ Simpson. Even though he is a of a human. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregkash Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Gibran Hamdan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewHampshireBillsFan Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 OJ Simpson - everyone else a distant 2nd. regarding Thurman thomas I can argue he's only the 4th best RB we ever had behind Cookie & OJ & Joe Cribbs Cribbs was 4 yrs and 4 probowls....returned punts and led the Bills in both receiving and rushing in 1983. Thurman had good fortune to come along as the RB in the no huddle....while Thurman was taken out of the game on 3rd downs his rookie year....joe Cribbs was running & receiving and returning punts to a start in the pro bowl his rookie year starting alongside earl campbell... In general I think the players from the Knox era are a bit overlooked when it comes to all time selections OJ was the best Bill. Anyone who saw him play on a consistent basis would probably agree with that. In terms of being illusive in the open field no one who ever played the game came close, including Jim Brown. How many times did two defenders come from two different directions to tackle OJ and he faked out both of them at the same time such that the two defenders smacked hard into each other and ended up on the ground while he sped through them for a touchdown. When OJ got past the line of scrimmage a thrill used to go down my back because of the potential for something amazing to happen on every play. I loved Cribbs and Thurman and of course Kelly and Bruce but OJ was a one time only in history NFL talent. Other RBs may have had better numbers and better strength, but no one did what OJ did on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteBills4ever Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Bruuuuuuuuuuce Smith, best Bill by far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 BRUCE is numero uno with OJ, Therman, Kelly, and Reed run out the top 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Lenny Walterscheid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Lenny Walterscheid. Do you remeber the time he scored that TD in OT? Me neither. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 OJ Simpson - everyone else a distant 2nd. No question about it. He's one of the all time great talents in NFL history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharper802 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 1. OJ based on pure talent alone 2. Jack Kemp - If QB's are judged by titles he has two and a league MVP 3. Bruce Smith 4. Thurman - not far behind OJ in raw talent 5. Kelly - perfect leader for WNY fans and weather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewildrabbit Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 I love Thurman. Don't get me wrong. Incredible running back who had quickness, versatility and great vision. That being said, I think that Thurman benefited greatly from the Bills offensive philosophy, dangerous passing game and incredible beast of an Oline. Thurman is not nearly as productive without those factors... What most fail to realize is... the Bills used the running game to set up the pass. The Bills used to run more then they threw the ball in the Kelly era. While the Bills O line was better then most, it wasn't even close to what Emmitt Smith had in Dallas. If you go back and look at what Thurman Thomas did, 5x pro bowls-1991 NFL MVP-1992 NFL offensive player of the year. Thurman Thomas is the only NFL player to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons. Now considering he almost never caught the ball while in college it is amazing that he is one of six NFL backs to have over 400 receptions and 10,000 yards rushing. He is also one of five backs to have rushed for over 1,000 yards for 8 consecutive seasons. I know I'm leaving out a bunch of playoffs stats and other stuff. Just think, this kid kept Barry Sanders on the bench in College. The guy was like 70% of the offense in Buffalo, he gets my vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VADC Bills Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 OJ was the best Bill. Anyone who saw him play on a consistent basis would probably agree with that. In terms of being illusive in the open field no one who ever played the game came close, including Jim Brown. How many times did two defenders come from two different directions to tackle OJ and he faked out both of them at the same time such that the two defenders smacked hard into each other and ended up on the ground while he sped through them for a touchdown. When OJ got past the line of scrimmage a thrill used to go down my back because of the potential for something amazing to happen on every play. I loved Cribbs and Thurman and of course Kelly and Bruce but OJ was a one time only in history NFL talent. Other RBs may have had better numbers and better strength, but no one did what OJ did on the field. Bruce and OJ are the only two Bills that are clearly in the top 3 all time at their respective positions maybe Tasker but thats it. At the time of retirement OJ was #2 in rushing yards second only to Jim Brown. Bruce is #1 all time sacks. No other Bills have this type of status. Believe it or not I believe Andre Reed was in the top 3 in yards or catches when he retired as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Romes Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 For over a decade he consumed at least two blockers nearly every play and still dominated. He not only was the best Bill I ever saw. He was the best football player I ever saw. I continue to be amazed at how underrated Bruce continues to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomdayfan Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 If the question is greatest player, I'd go with OJ...just edging out Bruce. For sheer talent, he was spectacular. In any game, at any time, wherever the Bills were on the field, he was a threat to go all the way. On a side note, it's amazing how lucky Buffalo sports fans were in the 70's. You had OJ playing for the Bills. Gil Perreault & the French Connection on the Sabres, and Bob McAdoo on the Braves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB2004 Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 If yer talking pure talent, it begins and ends with Bruce Smith. All the other players are great...but Bruce is an all world great. It is a difficult call, no question. You could make a case for any of them. Clearly though, on the defensive side it was Bruce Smith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplusfool Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Rusty, Staff Bruce, Player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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