Best ever NFL running back

[sven233]

10 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

 

Nope, couldn’t. It hurts to say but Marshall Faulk was simply a better version of Thurman Thomas....  

 

No way.....  Faulk was a Thurman knockoff.  Good, but the original was better.

[ProcessYaDigg]

For me, it has to be Barry Sanders.  What he could do was simply ridiculous.  He left the game too soon.

[Needle]

I love Barry Sanders and I think he is an all time great.

 

The North and South RBs are better imo. It's more demoralizing to have a guy like Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, or Adrian Peterson run through you for 4 quarters. They control the entire game

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

25 minutes ago, sven233 said:

 

No way.....  Faulk was a Thurman knockoff.  Good, but the original was better.

 

I do wish it were true. He was just slightly better in every way. Sux

33 minutes ago, Needle said:

Wow I couldn't disagree more! I just said compared the two with work buddies last week. I made the same statement in reverse. Difference of opinion is all, both were outstanding.

 

I think Faulk has him everywhere. Yards, rings, tds, catching yard passing yards.  I hate it. Loved Thurman 

[Iron Maiden]

Heart says OJ.....Minds says Barry.....

Edited March 29, 2019 by Iron Maiden

[Needle]

6 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

 

I do wish it were true. He was just slightly better in every way. Sux

 

I think Faulk has him everywhere. Yards, rings, tds, catching yard passing yards.  I hate it. Loved Thurman 

Different era of football. Forget the yards for a second and tell me if you think Faulk was ever the guy that carried those Rams teams. As a Bills fan, I often felt that Thurman was the most important piece. I think the greatest show on turf was easily the most talented offense ever assembled. Faulk was awesome but his stats are inflated.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

11 minutes ago, Needle said:

Different era of football. Forget the yards for a second and tell me if you think Faulk was ever the guy that carried those Rams teams. As a Bills fan, I often felt that Thurman was the most important piece. I think the greatest show on turf was easily the most talented offense ever assembled. Faulk was awesome but his stats are inflated.

 

Hear you but man he was a Thurman knock off yes, but just a little better. 

 

Could you you imagine if he stayed with Peyton? 

 

He made tge GSoT work. Sort of like Thurman, versatility killed the defense. They’d hammer the defense underneath was it run to him or pass to him, or swing pass. Either way he’s matched up on your Middle linebacker... toast 

 

As soon as defenses start cheating up, boom over the top. 

 

I  cant think of one thing Thurman did well that Faulk didn’t do as well or better. 

Edited March 29, 2019 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[Buffalo Junction]

38 minutes ago, formerlyofCtown said:

Peterman was an exageration but it takes 5 to make a line.

It does, but for the majority of Barry’s career that line was substantially better than our Incognito and Wood led O-line that Shady thrives behind. Not to mention that Herman Moore was an all pro WR keeping the safeties honest with help from guys like Perriman. 

 

I’m not saying that Barry wasn’t the GOAT... Just that comparing last seasons Bills team to a Lions squad that was routinely in the playoff hunt and had a minimum of 6 probowlers (2all pro) is disingenuous. Their biggest flaw was facing Favre and Reggie White twice a year.... A Packers team that held Sanders to negative yardage in the playoffs and won the game by carrying Moore out of bounds after a clutch catch. 

[Nelius]

There's a significant lack of Sweetness in this thread. Barry and Walter Payton are my picks.

 

And even though he was apparently too boring to ever be associated with these lists, Emmitt's records will probably never be surpassed at this point. Dude may forever have the most rushing yards and TDs, that's got to stand for something.

[somnus00]

I don't understand why Jim Brown loses points just because he played against smaller defenses. That was part of him being so amazing. Someone his size wasn't supposed to be that fast and athletic. You compare athletes against other athletes of their age.

 

Jordan wouldn't be Jordan playing in today's NBA. Barry wouldn't be Barry in today's NFL. That doesn't diminish their greatness. They were generational talents. Greats.

 

But in my opinion, no running back dominated his era like Jim Brown. Bo Jackson could've been... we were all robbed of his greatness. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

4 hours ago, sven233 said:

Depends on what you're looking for.  Barry Sanders was the best that I saw, but you could make arguments from Jim Brown, OJ, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson or a bunch of other guys.  You could make a great argument for Thurman with the way he could run it, catch it, and block.  Thurman might be the best all around back ever.  Just depends on what you want in your RB.

^^^^^This. Thurm was an amazing pass catcher on top of everything else, and led the league in combined yards from scrimmage seemingly his entire career as a result. I agree that it’s not an easy answer when you stop to consider how many dimensions your RB should have in order to be considered best ever. Barry always seems to be a consensus choice too. 

[Shaw66]

Loved Thurm, but he wasn't even the best back in BILLS history.  

[SinceThe70s]

37 minutes ago, Needle said:

I love Barry Sanders and I think he is an all time great.

 

The North and South RBs are better imo. It's more demoralizing to have a guy like Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, or Adrian Peterson run through you for 4 quarters. They control the entire game

 

It's not just more demoralizing, it's more productive.

 

I've been eviscerated by good friends for this opinion but I had a problem with Sanders dancing behind the line. He put the Lions into long down and distance way too often for me. His balance and agility were beyond compare, no doubt an all-time great talent, just not my top RB for that reason.

 

I can't go with Jim Brown simply because I never saw him play. By all accounts he's a great choice, maybe the best.  OJ is at the top of my list and Earl and Bo get honorable mentions because they were freakishly dominating but I'll go with Sweetness. A remarkable combination of everything you want in a RB. He did it all.

[Yav]

Walter Payton and it’s not even close.

[Boludo]

5 hours ago, Roch Jim said:

JIm Brown---hands down. Led the league in rushing 8 of his 9 years. Averaged 100 yards a game. Not flashy like Barry just brutally effective

This is such an ill informed opinion. People that say Jim Brown are really quite ignorant of the truth.

 

Take 1958. He led the league in rushing by quite a bit, but he led the league in carries by an absurd amount. He had more than twice as many carries as the guy that finished 3rd in rush yards that year.

 

More importantly, and we have to be real here, that season he was basically the ONLY black running back. Everyone else at the top of the leaderboard was a white guy. Come on guys.

 

He was absolutely dominant against the people he was playing against, but to consider him the best all time is to just completely ignore the conditions he played in.

[Nelius]

1 hour ago, somnus00 said:

Jordan wouldn't be Jordan playing in today's NBA. 

 

Eh, I definitely don't agree with this. The generational gap with Jordan isn't anything like it is with Brown. Peak MJ would still dominate. 

[34-78-83]

Can't really decide between -

 

Payton

Brown

O.J.

Sanders

 

 

 

[GoBills808]

1 hour ago, somnus00 said:

I don't understand why Jim Brown loses points just because he played against smaller defenses. That was part of him being so amazing. Someone his size wasn't supposed to be that fast and athletic. You compare athletes against other athletes of their age.

 

Jordan wouldn't be Jordan playing in today's NBA. Barry wouldn't be Barry in today's NFL. That doesn't diminish their greatness. They were generational talents. Greats.

 

But in my opinion, no running back dominated his era like Jim Brown. Bo Jackson could've been... we were all robbed of his greatness. 

 

Jordan would be better. The NBA was significantly tougher and more violent defensively in Jordan's day. He would absolutely dominate today's NBA.

 

Sanders would as well imo. His game translates. Athletically he'd be fine. Plus the difference between the 60s NFL when Brown played and the 90s NFL >> the 90s NFL and today's NFL.

[RobbRiddick]

Barry's the best I ever saw. 

 

Never saw Brown play

[metzelaars_lives]

There is no definitive greatest all time running back the way Brady and Rice are the definitive greatest all time quarterback and receiver, respectively.  That is the answer.  

 

You could make a strong case for Brown, Payton or Sanders and not be right or wrong.

Edited March 29, 2019 by metzelaars_lives

[Boatdrinks]

Brown

O J 

Sanders

[BobbyC81]

For me, the best overall running back I saw play was Walter Payton.  His combination of power, fearlessness, speed, receiving ability, elusiveness, blocking and football smarts is unparalleled.

Edited March 29, 2019 by LittleJoeCartwright

[mannc]

6 hours ago, Mojo44 said:

 I remember this,also, growing up in Niagara Falls. Not only was Jim Brown the greatest running back of all time, in my opinion he is the greatest football player of all time. He had to be seen to be appreciated! 

I never saw Brown play, but my dad grew up in Cleveland and said exactly what you just said—and that he might also have been one of the greatest athletes of all time.  

[mannc]

36 minutes ago, metzelaars_lives said:

There is no definitive greatest all time running back the way Brady and Rice are the definitive greatest all time quarterback and receiver, respectively.  That is the answer.  

 

You could make a strong case for Brown, Payton or Sanders and not be right or wrong.

I’m absolutely amazed that on a Bills board, OJ Simpson is left off anyone’s list.  In his prime, which admittedly was too short, there was never anyone better, before or since.  (OK, I never saw Jim Brown play.). OJ had it all—sprinter’s speed on a 215 pound frame, incredible balance and vision, and he was an excellent receiver, too.  He made it all look effortless.  It’s too bad his first three years in Buffalo were wasted playing for coaches who were too stupid to know what they had.

 

Next to OJ, Barry Sanders was just a gadget back—fun to watch, but that’s it.  And of course he never won squat.

Edited March 29, 2019 by mannc

[Doc Brown]

3 minutes ago, mannc said:

I’m absolutely amazed that on a Bills board, OJ Simpson is left off anyone’s list.  In his prime, which admittedly was too short, there was never anyone better, before or since.  (OK, I never saw Jim Brown play.). OJ had it all—sprinter’s speed on a 215 pound frame, incredible balance and vision, and he was an excellent receiver, too.  He made it all look effortless.  It’s too bad his first three years in Buffalo were wasted playing for coaches who were too stupid to know what they had.

 

Next to OJ, Barry Sanders was just a gadget back—fun to watch, but that’s it.  And of course he never won squat.

It's possible to be objective and still be a Bills fan.  Travis Henry was the best running back ever.

[NFLBighits]

Walter Payton!!!?

[BruceVilanch]

Never got to see Jim Brown play. Barry is the best of my generation, I would put Adrian Peterson up there as well. During his peak Ladanian was great too.

Also I think Bo Jackson would be on the top of this list if it wasn't for the injuries.

[Frez]

Boobie Dixon and Darrick Holmes! ?

[BillsFan1988]

8 hours ago, sven233 said:

Depends on what you're looking for.  Barry Sanders was the best that I saw, but you could make arguments from Jim Brown, OJ, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson or a bunch of other guys.  You could make a great argument for Thurman with the way he could run it, catch it, and block.  Thurman might be the best all around back ever.  Just depends on what you want in your RB.

As much as I loved Bo he doesn't deserve to be in this discussion. 

1 hour ago, mannc said:

I’m absolutely amazed that on a Bills board, OJ Simpson is left off anyone’s list.  In his prime, which admittedly was too short, there was never anyone better, before or since.  (OK, I never saw Jim Brown play.). OJ had it all—sprinter’s speed on a 215 pound frame, incredible balance and vision, and he was an excellent receiver, too.  He made it all look effortless.  It’s too bad his first three years in Buffalo were wasted playing for coaches who were too stupid to know what they had.

 

Next to OJ, Barry Sanders was just a gadget back—fun to watch, but that’s it.  And of course he never won squat.

Barry a gadget back? I don't know if I should laugh or cry of laughing. ?

[BillsFan1988]

8 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its without question:  Barry Sanders.  

 

I get all the Brown hype, but thats like saying Wilt Chamberlain was the best Center ever...he was not.  Brown had such a physical advantage and led the NFL rushing many times because of it.  But he was not the most talented RB to ever play.  

 

Barry was most talented RB the NFL has ever seen and may ever see.  And he did it on terrible teams behind terrible OL's every single year.  Yet he would be atop the record books as the all time leading rusher had he not retired young.  And he did all that in an era where the passing game was much more of a factor.  Brown did it when all they did was run.  

I agree watching film of Barry gives me that same feeling as when I watch Michael Jordan.  Just watching these 2 players u sense and see utter greatness unmatched by there peers.

[Halloween Land]

LeSean McCoy and it's not even close!

[ALLEN1QB]

Barry Sanders hands down!!!!!!!!!! For those who said Jim Brown give me a break!!! Brown played when defenders were fat turds. He would be average at best today.  

Edited March 29, 2019 by ALLEN1QB

[mabden]

Jim Brown- the best running back and top 5 best football players ever.

[frostbitmic]

Walter Payton

[oldmanfan]

10 minutes ago, ALLEN1QB said:

Barry Sanders hands down!!!!!!!!!! For those who said Jim Brown give me a break!!!

Did you ever see him play?  If not you have no basis for comparison.  Give me a break.

 

Sanders was great no doubt.  But you watch Barry and sometimes he would get caught behind the line trying to juke guys, etc.  of course when he did juke them it was amazing to watch.  I don' t know that I ever saw Brown get taken down behind the line, and more times than not he dragged a bunch of guys with him.

 

There were so many great ones.  Sayers, Payton, Campbell, OJ, Dickerson, Peterson, LT, and on and on.  You can make an argument for any, but having watched them all I have to put Brown at the top.  A perfect combination of speed and power; he'd be dominant in any era.

[hemma]

Jim Brown.

As a Brown's fan, it was a sad, sad day when he retired.

[Capco]

12 hours ago, DaBillsFanSince1973 said:

brown was a machine. sanders, man, the moves. OJ, no need to explain, greatness on the field. walter payton, sweetness. past players off the top of my head.

 

hard to say of any present rbs that will be considered in the greatest conversation, but there are a few out there.

 

but when speaking of the best ever, I too would go with sanders. 

 

Watch on YouTube

 

So many uncalled illegal blocks in the back in that clip lol.

[Mojo44]

18 minutes ago, hemma said:

Jim Brown.

As a Brown's fan, it was a sad, sad day when he retired.

 It was sad. He retired in his prime at the end of the 1965 season to focus on acting in movies. I was a kid growing up in Niagara Falls. Maybe you remember that back then both the browns and the bills were televised every Sunday in western New York. I’ve always been a bills fan. For a while the Browns were my second team. 

 

If Brown had played out his natural physical career they would still be chasing him for the all-time leading rusher.

 

One of my best years as a fan was 1964 when the bills one the AFL championship in the Browns won the NFL championship.

 

I also remember that Lee Roy Kelly took over for brown after he retired and was a great running back for several years after that.

 

 

[TOboy]

Sanders is the best I ever saw, but I'm too young to have seen Brown or even remember OJ (started watching football religiously in the late 80's). 

[Rebel101]

13 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

In Buffalo we have had our fair share of phenomenal RB’s.  So, think league wide who was the best ever?  I would have to vote for Barry Sanders.  The guy really had no other real help in his career.  It is simply amazing to see some of the moves he could make.  Take a look at his highlights then tell the rest of us who has your vote.

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos/all-time-greats/0ap3000000940393/Barry-Sanders-career-highlights-NFL-Legends

 

 

I’d vote Barry as well. A true savage with no supporting cast and stacked boxes consistently