26CornerBlitz Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) @Gil_Brandt Ranking the top running backs in NFL history (don't kill me for No. 26; trust me, he belongs): http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000815786 OJ in at #3 with Thurman at #17. He has Barry Sanders at #8 (seems rather low) and Zeke Elliott at #26 after his rookie season. He also did a list for QBs with Jim Kelly in at #15. No Aaron Rodgers in his list: http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000815754 Edited June 20, 2017 by 26CornerBlitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC in St. Louis Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 NO way is Riggins ahead of Thurman. Bo Jackson's career too short. Thurman could have been as highly ranked as #10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayoffsPlease Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) NO way is Riggins ahead of Thurman. Bo Jackson's career too short. Thurman could have been as highly ranked as #10. The redskins won super bowls because of Riggins and the hogs. That can be said of virtually no other running back. At his peak Riggins was unstoppable. Edited June 20, 2017 by PlayoffsPlease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasovon Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Elliot being on the list after one year is a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Murica Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Elliot being on the list after one year is a joke. I concur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBonhamRocks Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Elliot being on the list after one year is a joke. I concur. Thirded. The kid blows out his knee in training camp and we could never see him carry a football again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Not sure who I would take off the list, but not to include Aaron Rodgers (or Steve Young for that matter) on the QB list. Hell, I like Bret Favre better than Rodgers, but I would probably rank ARodg ahead of Favre at this point, as all time QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I don't think Warren Moon belongs on the QB list, but not bad for the top 15 names. though I would drop P-Gump out of the top 10. His top 3 RBs are dead-on, huge drop-off after them and very debatable. (ie. LT is just way too high, Sanders too low.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsgoodtime Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Elliot being on the list after one year is a joke. This. List is not worth looking at based on this alone to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) Agree Elliott does not belong on list yet. I think Bo Jackson & Curtis Martin are overrated but I believe top RBs should be able to not just run but block, pass protect, pick up blitzes, etc. And just the RB list: 27. Ollie Matson 26. Ezekiel Elliott 25. Jim Taylor 24. Marion Motley 23. Joe Perry 22. Marcus Allen 21. Floyd Little 20. Larry Csonka 19. Terrell Davis 18. Jerome Bettis 17. Thurman Thomas 16. John Henry Johnson 15. John Riggins 14. Bo Jackson 13. Adrian Peterson 12. Curtis Martin 11. Marshall Faulk 10. Emmitt Smith 9. Tony Dorsett 8. Barry Sanders 7. Earl Campbell 6. Eric Dickerson 5. LaDainian Tomlinson 4. Gale Sayers 3. O.J. Simpson 2. Walter Payton 1. Jim Brown Edited June 20, 2017 by Limeaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helpmenow Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Another dumb list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) A few typos as Brandt clearly copied and pasted from one guy to the next. Sayers played for the Bears for 6 more years than he actually did, and Barry made 50 pro bowls As for QB's, I'd argue that Steve Young and Otto Graham belong on that list. I'd go as far as ranking Young ahead of Moon, Aikman, and Farve Edited June 21, 2017 by justnzane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouds Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 No Lynch? LOLOLOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Deek Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I seriously doubt that Cowboys fans would list Tony Dorsett ahead of Emmit Smith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Linen Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) I just don't see Terrell Davis as an all time great - heck I think Priest Holmes was the better player. For those 3 years, Holmes was one of the best backs I've ever seen play. Just goes to show you what super bowls do for your perception as a player. Edited June 21, 2017 by Triple Threat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDogg20 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 This. List is not worth looking at based on this alone to me100% agreed. Gotta make those Cowboy fans happy though. What a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookie Man Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Curtis Martin? Questionable. He had a nice career but talent wise, he's just above jag status IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Gil failed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonborn10 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Keep grandpa away from the internet. No Steve Young? He is in the conversation for top 5 all time. Bo Jackson? Chris Johnson and Jamal Lewis each had a season over 2000 yards which is just shy of Jackson's career total. Someone has to explain to me Curtis Martin. I never once thought this guy was a HOF player when playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njbuff Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) I just don't see Terrell Davis as an all time great - heck I think Priest Holmes was the better player. For those 3 years, Holmes was one of the best backs I've ever seen play. Just goes to show you what super bowls do for your perception as a player. Wrong. TD was the best player in the sport from 96-98 and was the catalyst for that Broncos team. TD is one one of the top 10-15 RB's to ever play. Anyone would take him over Curtis Martin, for example. His career was cut short, but there is no denying his greatness. If you saw TD play, there is no other opinion on him. He is an all time great. Edited June 21, 2017 by njbuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I don't think Warren Moon belongs on the QB list, but not bad for the top 15 names. though I would drop P-Gump out of the top 10. His top 3 RBs are dead-on, huge drop-off after them and very debatable. (ie. LT is just way too high, Sanders too low.) 1800 and 28 TDs in 1 season. Also caught 100 balls in 03 He's pretty good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elroy16 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 1800 and 28 TDs in 1 season. Also caught 100 balls in 03 He's pretty good... He's obviously really good, but top 5 ever? I don't know about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 The redskins won super bowls because of Riggins and the hogs. That can be said of virtually no other running back. At his peak Riggins was unstoppable. OJ Anderson could say it. Giants don't come close to winning without him against us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fridge Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Sports fans love lists. Why spend millions on a beer ad when you can just make a list and sponsor it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Boo Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I don't think Warren Moon belongs on the QB list, but not bad for the top 15 names. though I would drop P-Gump out of the top 10. His top 3 RBs are dead-on, huge drop-off after them and very debatable. (ie. LT is just way too high, Sanders too low.) Warren Moon doesn't belong on the list??? Ladainian too high? Good lord... Let me jog your memory about the greatness of Ladainian Tomlinson...http://www.nfl.com/player/ladainiantomlinson/2504778/profile Warren Moon, on any planet, is a better QB than Troy Aiman - If you disagree, then you didn't watch them play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills Fan in MD Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Barry Sanders at 8 is absurd. I used to go out of my way in the early 90s to watch him play on TV. Hell, I don't think I've watched a full Thanksgiving Day Lions game since he retired. I haven't been able to say that about any football player since that time. There have certainly been great RBs in subsequent years, but there's never been anyone as elusive as Sanders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalostu2 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I seriously doubt that Cowboys fans would list Tony Dorsett ahead of Emmit Smith. Tony Dorsett won every award imaginable. Heisman, Rookie of the year, MVP, Superbowl, etc. He was way better than Emmit Smith and a cowboy fan over the age of 40 would tell you that. Emmit Smith benefitted from one of the top offensive lines in NFL history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Brown, Simpson, Sanders, Dickerson, Motley, Sayers. Any order. All time anything after one year in the league is absurd. Elliot may go on to set all the records and be a first ballot HOFer, but he simply doesn't belong at this stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Warren Moon doesn't belong on the list??? Ladainian too high? Good lord... Let me jog your memory about the greatness of Ladainian Tomlinson...http://www.nfl.com/player/ladainiantomlinson/2504778/profile Warren Moon, on any planet, is a better QB than Troy Aiman - If you disagree, then you didn't watch them play. Moon did nothing in big games... nice if you like stats though. As for LT, he was a total B word in the biggest game of his career, sitting on the bench watching his warrior QB try to beat the Pats & go to the Super Bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Def hard to crack into that top group. Need to win an MVP, few first team all-pros, and have absurd longevity for this era. Agree Elliott does not belong on list yet. I think Bo Jackson & Curtis Martin are overrated but I believe top RBs should be able to not just run but block, pass protect, pick up blitzes, etc. And just the RB list: 27. Ollie Matson 26. Ezekiel Elliott 25. Jim Taylor 24. Marion Motley 23. Joe Perry 22. Marcus Allen 21. Floyd Little 20. Larry Csonka 19. Terrell Davis 18. Jerome Bettis 17. Thurman Thomas 16. John Henry Johnson 15. John Riggins 14. Bo Jackson 13. Adrian Peterson 12. Curtis Martin 11. Marshall Faulk 10. Emmitt Smith 9. Tony Dorsett 8. Barry Sanders 7. Earl Campbell 6. Eric Dickerson 5. LaDainian Tomlinson 4. Gale Sayers 3. O.J. Simpson 2. Walter Payton 1. Jim Brown Demarco murray had a better year behind the same O-line... why isn't he on the list?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Spartacus Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Hey! What about Cookie Gilchrist??? Some old timer's swore he was better than Jim Brown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Boo Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) Moon did nothing in big games... nice if you like stats though. As for LT, he was a total B word in the biggest game of his career, sitting on the bench watching his warrior QB try to beat the Pats & go to the Super Bowl. I guess Marino did nothing in big games either then? You expected Tomlinson to do what, exactly with a bum knee? Edited June 21, 2017 by Chicken Boo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Formerly Allan in MD Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 NO way is Riggins ahead of Thurman. Bo Jackson's career too short. Thurman could have been as highly ranked as #10. You obviously didn't see Riggins play much. He was a beast and the the Redskins wouldn't have won those Super Bowls without him. That's not putting Thurman down by any means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I guess Marino did nothing in big games either then? You expected Tomlinson to do what, exactly with a bum knee? The 5th greatest RB of all time would've played. And Marino may have been the greatest regular season QB of all time. Unlike Moon, he did start in a Super Bowl game, so yes, I would include him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Murica Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I guess Zeke is better than Shady all-time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Linen Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Wrong. TD was the best player in the sport from 96-98 and was the catalyst for that Broncos team. TD is one one of the top 10-15 RB's to ever play. Anyone would take him over Curtis Martin, for example. His career was cut short, but there is no denying his greatness. If you saw TD play, there is no other opinion on him. He is an all time great. That's just it - "his career was cut short". I never said he wasn't a great player but I think to be an all time great the longevity has to be there. I think there's some validity to your Curtis Martin argument in terms of when at their best who was better - but go back and revisit Martin's career numbers, they're absolutely awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincec Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Elliot being on the list after one year is a joke. Yup. Also, Barry Sanders is top 5, at least. Absolutely no way L.T. or Dickerson are ahead of him and probably not Gale Sayers or Campbell either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUFFALOKIE Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Barry Sanders at 8 is absurd. I used to go out of my way in the early 90s to watch him play on TV. Hell, I don't think I've watched a full Thanksgiving Day Lions game since he retired. I haven't been able to say that about any football player since that time. There have certainly been great RBs in subsequent years, but there's never been anyone as elusive as Sanders. Yet, he was a backup to Thurman at Oklahoma State. Barely got off the bench till TT left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
folz Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 Interesting that he lists receiving touchdowns for some RBs and not others. He did not give that stat for Thurman, despite Thurm having more receiving TDs than anyone on that list, except for Marshall Faulk. Emmit Smith and Curtis Martin are so overrated (not just by this list, but in general). And Bo doesn't deserve to be up there...it's not a who could have been great list, but who was great (which also eliminates Zeke as others said). As far as Thurman goes, I would say there are only 5 or 6 guys on that list ahead of him that are definitely greater players than he was. Then there are about 7 more guys that I think you could have a healthy debate about if they were better than Thomas or not, maybe agreeing that 3-4 of them were. So, I would slot Thurman in somewhere between 9 and 12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 OJ Anderson could say it. Giants don't come close to winning without him against us. A little bit of apples and oranges. Riggins and the hogs carried those skins teams, Anderson had a defense that was really damn good, and Simms during the regular season. Anderson blew up for that game, where Riggins and the line were the main reason the skins were a perennial contender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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