Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted October 28, 2002 For me it's Jim Brown. I've only seen video but he's amazing. The Best I've seen personally would be Barry Sanders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jimmy no nose Report post Posted October 28, 2002 Jim Brown, the total package. He could do everything. Barry Sanders was also the best I've seen personally. He was possibly the greatest open field runner of all time. The problem was he needed a good hole to get past the line, but if he got through he was amazing to watch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DragonflyKid Report post Posted October 28, 2002 I can only go on by what I've seen and in that regard it's easily Sanders. Not only the best but the most exciting too. I'm getting into ESPN Classics and will continue looking out for Jim Brown games as I hear he is the best and don't doubt it by the limited footage I have seen of him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Leena Report post Posted October 28, 2002 I haven't seen much of Jim Brown, so I'll have to go with Barry Sanders. Emmitt's only the 3rd best back in his generation behind Sanders and Thurman Thomas (a better all-purpose back) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bravesfan Report post Posted October 28, 2002 Have to agree with Barry Sanders also. It's scary to imagine how many rushing yards he would have at this point, had he not retired so early...20,000, maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted October 29, 2002 I can understand how Thurman didn't make the poll... but what about everyone's favorite double murderer? No love for the Juice here I guess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Leena Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Imagine if Barry was with a good team too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Barry lost too many yards for me to consider him as the best. I voted for Jim Brown. He dominated the game like perhaps no one else. In "Any Given Sunday" he still looked like he could suit it up and play on Sundays. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Voted "other" for the career leader in all-purpose yardage: Mike "Pinball" Clemons... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted October 29, 2002 I picked Barry because the guy was simply awesome. No one ever got a solid hit on him. He had moves on top of moves. I loved the way he juked, stopped, and ran by defenders...truly a thing of beauty. Sure, he lost a lot of yards (hey some of the most spectacular negative yardage runs I saw) but EVERY time he touched the ball he was a threat to go long...I remember 1997 when Barry singlehandedly put the Lions on his back and carried them into the playoffs, reeling off 14 straight 100 yard games, three runs over 80 yards and over 2,000 yards on the season. It's a shame he never got to play in a Super Bowl. Next for me would be Jim Brown...I've seen films and the guy was SCARY. Not only could he bowl over defenders, he could run right by them too. Imagine how great his stats would be if he hadn't retired after nine years...no one would have obtained his records. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Barry Sanders. If he hadn't retired, he'd have about 18,000 yards right now, and Old Man Emmitt wouldn't have a chance in hell of catching him. After Sanders, I'd probably go with Jim Brown, then MARSHALL MARSHALL MARSHALL~! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted October 29, 2002 For what it's worth I picked Other and voted for He Hate Me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Gotta mention Eric Dickerson. He had the best running style I've seen, long strides. He almost looked like he was gliding. Than we have Earl Campell. My personal favorite. Only played 9 seasons,but he was a wrecking ball. He would just run right over defenders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Payton. That's all... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Other-La Parka Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bricks Report post Posted October 29, 2002 I voted for Other since I think Marshall Faulk is the best RB of all time. He can run, he can catch, he can block, he can do it all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted October 29, 2002 In due time, Faulk may turn to be one of the greatest of all times... However, it seemed to me during the whole record chase...there was this sense of negativity towards Smith...As if noone felt he was deserving of the record...He was worthy because he fought for each of those yards. He certaintly never had the speed or the grace but I always loved the tenactity he has. My Top 8 of all time... 1. Barry Sanders 2. Jim Brown 3. Walter Payton 4. O.J Simpson 5. Emmitt Smith 6. Eirc Dickerson 7. Marshall Faulk 8. Marcus Allen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ant_7000 Report post Posted October 29, 2002 I went with Payton because he never really had a good O-line. Wasn't big or fast but he still was running people over.My 2nd choice Sanders if he was still playing he would've broke that record 3 years ago and Emmitt wouldn't have a chance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smark Hammill Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Imagine if Barry was with a good team too. He was. That argument doesn't hold much water. The Lions, when they weren't actually in the playoffs, were at least challenging. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smark Hammill Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Has anyone here actually SEEN Jim Brown play, or are you just basing your opinion on what a bunch of grumpy old columnists who refuse to give any props to a modern-era athlete say? I don't think Jim Brown was the best ever. I never saw him. Also, why is Gale Sayers being mentioned in this argument by everyone and their dog, and yet Bo Jackson is getting ZERO mention when both players' careers are mirror images of each other? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smark Hammill Report post Posted October 29, 2002 Barry Sanders. If he hadn't retired, he'd have about 18,000 yards right now, and Old Man Emmitt wouldn't have a chance in hell of catching him. After Sanders, I'd probably go with Jim Brown, then MARSHALL MARSHALL MARSHALL~! Seriously, I can't imagine Barry Sanders playing with a twisted pinky, let alone a separated shoulder, like "Old Man" Emmitt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smark Hammill Report post Posted October 29, 2002 I voted for Other since I think Marshall Faulk is the best RB of all time. He can run, he can catch, he can block, he can do it all. If versatility is the main criteria for the "greatest RB of all time", then Faulk, when all is said and done, may be the champ. It'll be interesting; assuming he doesn't pull a Barry Sanders and just up and quit, he has a lot of time to accomplish more than he already has. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted October 29, 2002 That is if he gets the ball... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted October 30, 2002 Seriously, I can't imagine Barry Sanders playing with a twisted pinky, let alone a separated shoulder, like "Old Man" Emmitt. I didn't mention anything about either player's willingness or ability to play hurt. Emmitt is certainly a tough SOB, as his performance against the Giants in the NFC Championship game, with a separated shoulder, attests to. The fact is that Sanders had over 15,000 years when he retired, and had shown himself to be a durable runner. His rep as a whiner seems justified, but isn't really relevant here. If Barry hadn't retired, he'd easily have over 18,000 yards now, and maybe 19,000. It's not like the Lions became a great passing team in his absence. I'd rank Emmitt 5th all time, behind (in order) Sanders, Brown, Faulk, and Payton. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Hijo Del Lunatic Report post Posted October 30, 2002 Really, how could it NOT be Jim Brown? Has anyone here actually SEEN Jim Brown play, or are you just basing your opinion on what a bunch of grumpy old columnists who refuse to give any props to a modern-era athlete say? I don't think Jim Brown was the best ever. I never saw him. I never saw him either. He stopped playing professional football 37 years ago. But that doesn't mean he's not the greatest running back of all time. Josh Gibson was probably the greatest hitter EVER, but that was during the 1930's when nobody watched the Negro Leagues play. And just because my first-hand knowledge only goes back about 20 years, that doesn't mean there weren't great players before I was born. Here's the statistical truth on Jim Brown: * 5.22 yards a carry - best all-time. Only one other back (Sanders) has been able to average 5+ yards a rush and have 10,000 career rushing yards. * 104.33 yards per game. The only back ever to rush for more than 100 yards per game. Sanders comes in at about 99.8 yds/gm. * 126 total touchdowns in 118 games. Again, nobody else has scored more touchdowns than games played. Marshall Faulk's the only guy even close. * His best season was probably 1963, when he rushed for 1863 yards in 14 games, averaging 6.40 yards per carry. If he played 16 games that year, he would've rushed for 2129 yards - or 24 more than Eric Dickerson's single-season record. Longevity statistics can always be brought down. These are the kinds of stats that won't ever come down. LUNATIC - When I'm too drunk to walk, I rock a party on crutches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted October 30, 2002 For me its Payton. Jim Brown is also one hell of a running back as well, but I've always liked Payton Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Sassquatch Report post Posted October 30, 2002 For all the shit he has done off the field over the years, I chose Jim Brown. The man was a force to be reckoned with and is still looked at in high regards to his on-field achievements. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Youth N Asia Report post Posted October 30, 2002 I voted Barry, but I'm from Pontiac, so there's a hometown thing with it. All of sudden every spots writer is calling their top 3 as Brown, Payton, and Smith. Granted, they're all great. But Smith had a hall of fame team backing him up...Barry had jabroni's to work with his whole career, and he could have destroyed Payton's record if he wanted to. And I think that might tarnish the record a little...at least while it's still fresh in everyone's mind. In my honest to God opinion, had the Lions kept Mitchel (who owns almost all of their passing records) Barry would have stayed and had the record, may still be playing today. I think it took Smith about 40 more games then BArry to catch up with his number. And I'm not old enough to have seen Brown in anything more then highlight clips. So I can't give an honest opinion there. And where is John Riggins! (sp) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
