If You Could Pick Any RB to Line Up Behind Josh

[ColoradoBills]

3 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Just a bit before my time.  The earliest Bills RB I remember is Mini Max Andersen.  

 

Didn't Larry Felser used to say that Cookie - in his prime - was as good as Jim Brown?  You're a lucky man to have seen him play.  

 

He did.  If Ralph would of gave him that big 4-year $200k contract he wanted, I think the Bills could have won the 1st Super Bowl.

 

He also was quite the character and entrepreneur.

 

At one time or another Gilchrist had sought to invest in a sporting goods store called “Cookie’s Closet, become a public relations specialist and a mining prospector in northern Ontario.  He was so excited about the latter that he hired an Indian guide, rented a helicopter and flew over the lake where a large body of copper ore was discovered, dropped on pontoons into the water and staked his claim.  He also tried to get Bills owner, Ralph Wilson to invest in 20,000 pairs of autographed Cookie Gilchrist earmuffs to sell at the 1964 AFL championship game.  Wilson declined the offer.  It was also reported that Cookie sold Christmas trees outside of the Bills War Memorial Stadium.

 

[bearcat]

The Thurmanator, Berry Sanders or Bo Jackson. While we're at it, can I get Megatron at WR?

Edited May 7, 2023 by bearcat

[OldTimer1960]

Barry Sanders is the greatest RB I have seen.  OJ Simpson was tremendous, Earl Campbell, too.  But to my eyes Sanders was basically unstoppable.

[without a drought]

54 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Impressive highlights.  

 

I'd rather have a powerful downhill runner like Earl, but Lenny would be super productive in our offense - if Dorsey used him right.   

 

 

I was going to go with Earl, but Lenny was quite the receiver, just thought it was a better fit with Josh.

[Buffalo716]

48 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Just a bit before my time.  The earliest Bills RB I remember is Mini Max Andersen.  

 

Didn't Larry Felser used to say that Cookie - in his prime - was as good as Jim Brown?  You're a lucky man to have seen him play.  

Cookie was absolutely Jim Browns equal 

 

it’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition… but as a pure runner …. Most can’t hold a candle 

 

LOOKIE LOOKIE … here comes cookie 

[machine gun kelly]

OJ.

 

in his 1973 year he did 2003 yards when everyone knew he was coming at him and still ran for 143.07 yards per game as that 2003 yards was in a 14 game season.  No one including the great Jim Brown ever came close even on the 50’s.

 

OJ had the best season of any RB ever.  He may be a horrible human being, but on the field he was a wrecking ball.  He had it all.  Power, explosiveness, speed, elusiveness.  Never before and never after.  Derby was great,  

but with Josh, WOW!

[snamsnoops]

too many to list for many different reasons, but chit I think Fred Jackson would be an unbelievable weapon in this offence. I miss Freddie.......

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

Marshall Faulk. Allen would make a killing dumping it off

[Snappysnackcakes]

Anyone who chooses anyone other than Barry Sanders did not watch football in the late 80’s and 90’s. Mr Sanders made the worst football team in the league one of the funnest to watch. Damn he was just electric. 

[Buffalo Super Fan]

A lot of older Buffalo Bills fans are going to say OJ Simpson having seen him I would say no. Because I felt OJ Simpson in some ways hurt the 1970’s era Buffalo Bills because it was all about OJ. Getting OJ the football making sure OJ was happy and he wasn’t alway complaining about contracts, money or wanting out of Buffalo to pursue a movie career. It was OJ not enough team all about me and at the end his teammates were glad he was traded because it was always something with OJ Simpson but very talented. The Bills only got to one playoff game a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974 with OJ he wasn’t a winner in the pros. I would say Thurman Thomas would be better with Josh Allen than with Jim Kelly that was more limited athletically. Your not asking best running back that is OJ. Who would fit better with the more athletic QB Josh Allen compared Jim Kelly to win a Super Bowl. I would take Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith on defense of the 1990’s Bills teams with Lou Saban coaching with no general manager control he was like Scotty Bowman great coach horrible General Manager like Bill Belichick same deal great coach horrible general manager. So Lou Saban instead of Sean McDermott multiple Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills in my opinion. Go Bills! Let’s Go Buffalo 

[Pete]

Joe Cribbs - a player before his time

[Snappysnackcakes]

3 minutes ago, Pete said:

Joe Cribbs - a player before his time

Yes he was. And if Wilson looked at the team the way modern owners do now (mostly about winning) we could’ve done some damage in the 80’s. Damn, I’d love to sit down and speak with some of these old-timers. 

[wppete]

Bo Jackson

Jerome Bettis - The Bus 🚌 

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by wppete

[Mister Defense]

Beast Mode

 

The last time the Bills had both a Hall of Fame quarterback and running back, they made it to four Super Bowls.

 

Lynch and Allen seem to have the same competitive mentality and love of the game. 

 

That could be a powerhouse offense.

[hondo in seattle]

1 hour ago, Snappysnackcakes said:

Anyone who chooses anyone other than Barry Sanders did not watch football in the late 80’s and 90’s. Mr Sanders made the worst football team in the league one of the funnest to watch. Damn he was just electric. 

 

Anyone who chooses anyone other than OJ did not watch football in the 70s.  OJ was preternatural.  

 

But I picked Earl, not because he was better than OJ, but because I'd love to see this dilemma presented to our opponents.  How do you stop a team with a premier passing attack and a premier power running game?  

[LeGOATski]

The Bills spread it out. No other RB touches Barry Sanders in this offense.

2 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Marshall Faulk. Allen would make a killing dumping it off

Since when does Allen like to dump it off? Lol

[unbillievable]

OJ Simpson, Earl Campbell, Jim Brown, Marshal Faulk, and Bo Jackson were selfish.

Marshawn Lynch proved that he would have probably ended his career in jail or suspended if he had stayed in Buffalo.

 

The only process guy I can see that would fit this team with Josh Allen is Barry Sanders.

 

Thurman and Freddie works too, but Barry was better than both.

4 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Anyone who chooses anyone other than OJ did not watch football in the 70s.  OJ was preternatural.  

 

But I picked Earl, not because he was better than OJ, but because I'd love to see this dilemma presented to our opponents.  How do you stop a team with a premier passing attack and a premier power running game?  

 

play them in a blizzard.

[PBF81]

9 hours ago, BarleyNY said:

Barry Sanders would be incredible in today’s game. 

 

Barry Sanders would be incredible in any days game. 

 

Instead of a RB, I'd love to see Ballard, Wolford, Hull, and Ritcher on our OL.  Allen would be so much more relaxed and better at passing.  

 

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by PBF81

[SinceThe70s]

2 hours ago, Snappysnackcakes said:

Anyone who chooses anyone other than Barry Sanders did not watch football in the late 80’s and 90’s. Mr Sanders made the worst football team in the league one of the funnest to watch. Damn he was just electric. 

 

I disagree - and totally get that I'm in the minority. Sanders was amazing, can't think of anyone else that made tacklers miss like he could. But for my taste he got caught for losses dancing behind the line way too often.  Never elevated his team past mediocrity during an era that relied a lot more on RB's. 

[DisplacedBillsFan]

Just to add some names I didn’t see mentioned yet, having Terrell Davis or Priest Holmes lined up beside/behind Josh would be great.

[Old Coot]

Sanders was a delight to watch. He could cut on a dime and leave you 9 cents. 

 

Marion Motley was Jim Brown before Jim Brown was Jim Brown.

 

OJ, Cookie, Thurman -- all excellent in their different ways.

[hondo in seattle]

I'm surprised OJ isn't receiving more enthusiasm.  I remember watching games where he'd gain maybe 140 yards - a good day for any other back but pedestrian for him.  But there'd be two plays where he made some tremendous juke - or broke some tackle - and nearly broke a long one except for a desperate shoestring tackle.  And then there was a long run called back because of a penalty.  And another because he stepped out of bounds.  The 140 yards were nearly 200, maybe even 300 yards.  He was a threat to go the distance on every play.  

 

But the idea that maybe he wouldn't be the best fit for this offense has some validity.   I don't remember OJ being selfish, but you have to wonder how happy and productive he'd be playing in Dorsey's pass-first offense.  OJ did like being the center of attention.  And he seemed to be the kind of runner who did his best work when he got into a rhythm.  

 

And while I remember OJ being a good receiver out of the backfield, contrary to what some others may say, he was not a great pass-blocker.   And, in this O, backs need to block.  

[NewEra]

Just now, hondo in seattle said:

I'm surprised OJ isn't receiving more enthusiasm.  I remember watching games where he'd gain maybe 140 yards - a good day for any other back but pedestrian for him.  But there'd be two plays where he made some tremendous juke - or broke some tackle - and nearly broke a long one except for a desperate shoestring tackle.  And then there was a long run called back because of a penalty.  And another because he stepped out of bounds.  The 140 yards were nearly 200, maybe even 300 yards.  He was a threat to go the distance on every play.  

 

But the idea that maybe he wouldn't be the best fit for this offense has some validity.   I don't remember OJ being selfish, but you have to wonder how happy and productive he'd be playing in Dorsey's pass-first offense.  OJ did like being the center of attention.  And he seemed to be the kind of runner who did his best work when he got into a rhythm.  

 

And while I remember OJ being a good receiver out of the backfield, contrary to what some others may say, he was not a great pass-blocker.   And, in this O, backs need to block.  

I think it’s because he’s a murderer and many people don’t like that?  They’d rather have a non murderer in the backfield.

 

personally, I’d take him.  He looked to be as special as special can be.  Wish I would’ve been able to watch him live and remember.

 

other than him-  I’ll take Adrian Peterson or Earl Campbell.   I love the violence in their running style.  

[Buffalo716]

10 minutes ago, Old Coot said:

Sanders was a delight to watch. He could cut on a dime and leave you 9 cents. 

 

Marion Motley was Jim Brown before Jim Brown was Jim Brown.

 

OJ, Cookie, Thurman -- all excellent in their different ways.

You have to be 80+to have watched motley with any real memory lol
 

you would’ve had to been 10 in 1946 lol

Edited May 8, 2023 by Buffalo716

[Old Coot]

27 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

You have to be 80+to have watched motley with any real memory lol
 

you would’ve had to been 10 in 1946 lol

I am old but not that old. I have only seen Motley on film, not in person.

 

I do remember seeing the Colts' HB Buddy Young beat a race horse in a 50 yard dash! I think it was a Colts' preseason game in the 1950s.

 

Here's an interesting question: Who broke the color barrier in professional sports?

 

Not Jackie Robinson. Several black players played in the NFL (including Motley and Woody Strode who played the black gladiator in Spartacus (1960) before Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball.

 

Then there is Fritz Pollard who beoke the NFL color barrier before there was a color barrier. He was one of the first black RBs and the first black head coach, both in 1921.

[Airseven]

Favorite RB thread? Terrell Davis.

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

For me it's barry Sanders and nobody is really close, Jim Brown was not in my era and Walter Payton was at the tail end of his career when I started watching. Barry Sanders was the greatest RB I have ever watched in person, live and I don't think I've seen anyone like him since, Tomlinson was really good but he was also playing behind a pretty awesome OL, Barry had Lomas Brown and a bunch of jags blocking for him and was still the best. 

[T master]

Beane already brought in 2 that i have all the faith in going into this year he has finally got the big back that they have needed in Latavious Murray & the other being the RB from the Pats with Cook as the back to compliment the others i think they will be basically unstoppable ..

 

GO BILLS !! 

[bmur66]

I'd be happy with Fred Jackson

[ProcessTruster]

max anderson

[OldTimer1960]

Thurman Thomas would have been great in this offense with his receiving ability.

[Solomon Grundy]

18 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Thurman Thomas.

He's a former Bill and one of the greatest dual threat RBs in NFL history.  He could pass block extremely well too.

End the thread.

 

Even line up as a wideout. 

[Buffalo ill]

Bo Jackson

[Snappysnackcakes]

10 hours ago, PBF81 said:

 

Barry Sanders would be incredible in any days game. 

 

Instead of a RB, I'd love to see Ballard, Wolford, Hull, and Ritcher on our OL.  Allen would be so much more relaxed and better at passing.  

 

 

And don’t forget John Davis.

[Jerboski]

BO, sanders or tomilson 

[K-9]

Marion Motley

[C.Biscuit97]

Anthony Thomas 

[wppete]

 

[cwater10]

21 hours ago, 14774 said:

OJ, he was killer.

More importantly, indefensible.  

[Captain Hindsight]

23 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Only problem with that is Josh Allen will try to out destroy people