Who was the best pro football runningback?

[coloradodem2005]

I would have to say, with all objectivity, Barry Sanders. Though, I will give special mention to Terrell Davis (at least during the Elway years).

[guitar man]

1. The Man

[bearfan454]

10. My hero !

I loved Sweetness.

[chiburb]

21. Not only best running back, but

Best ever football player!

[Old and In the Way]

2. There were so many great ones.....how about Jim Brown?

[Surf Cowboy]

16. Dead on.

[MajorFlaw]

3. Jim Brown. Nobody close.

[Birthmark]

4. Tough one.

Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and OJ Simpson are the top three. If I had to go with one, I'd go with Brown.

[jpgray]

5. Brown, Payton or Sanders

I really liked Barry Sanders.

[lapfog_1]

6. Let's see

Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Gale Sayers, Jim Brown, and O.J.

[Arbustosux]

7. You obviously never watched Jim Brown play

he was the best...hands down and I am a Lion's fan

[redqueen]

8. Jim Brown

Sanders close second

[Beware the Beast Man]

9. Franco Harris

Two Words: Immaculate Recption.
Two more words: Kerry Donor.

[AngryAmish]

20. Four more words: Running out of bounds

Coward.

Edited for Oh My God!

[underpants]

11. Jim Brown with Payton a close second

Payton didn't run behind an All-Pro until the '85 Super Bowl season.

[bearfan454]

12. Exactly.

That is correct.

[underpants]

15. He was the only game in town for years

and I am including the Bob Avellini years, even Bob couldn't relieve the pressure and focus on Walter-if Bob couldn't WHO COULD? :shrug:

[gpandas]

13. jim brown n/t

[Blue-Jay]

14. Barry, Peyton, Emmitt.

In that order.

[Surf Cowboy]

17. Gotta say Brown for Best All-Time

1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Barry Sanders
4. Eric Dickerson
5. OJ Simpson
6. Marcus Allen
7. Emmitt Smith
8. Earl Campbell
9. Bo Jackson
10. Gayle Sayers

Did I miss anyone?

[Blue-Jay]

18. Bo Jackson?!?!

How can you say that?

The rest I'd agree with, however.

[LTR]

27. Bo's career was cut short

But he was easily on his way to becoming one of the greatest running backs ever.

[Blue-Jay]

28. Maybe, but we'll never know.

Therefore, he's not one of the best. The best DELIVER.

[Surf Cowboy]

32. He delivered, only for a shorter time.

Gayle Sayers' career was also cut very short due to knee injuries, but we still consider him a top back. Also, Earl Campbell, who I should have included, left early due to knee injuries and was no doubt one of the greatest.

Bo was amazing. Probably the best mix of size, strength, and speed since Jim Brown. Remember, the Raiders BENCHED Marcus Allen during his PRIME so that Bo could get more carries. He was truly amazing--just ask Brian Bosworth!!

[Blue-Jay]

36. Ahhh Bosworth... I almost brought him up.

So much buzz, so little results. Same as Bo.

[AngryAmish]

19. 34

There cannot be a serious discussion otherwise.

[phillybri]

22. Sweetness...

Walter Payton, baby.

[Burma Jones]

23. Walter Peyton or Jim Brown

Let's not forget John Riggins in all this discussion either.....

[bobthedrummer]

24. Jim Brown

[RedCloud]

25. Marshall Faulk

When he is ready, Rams rule!

[Surf Cowboy]

33. Get outta here.

He's just a poor man's Roger Craig (who, incidentally, I should have included).

[LTR]

26. Walter Payton

Jim Brown
Barry Sanders

Could have been the best:

Bo Jackson

[denverbill]

29. Tough call. Do you mean the best,

Brown was dominant during his era, but since his time, players have gotten faster, bigger and stronger.

I'll go with Barry Sanders though. He played for a crappy team that never had a decent passing game and was still able to set rushing records. That's hard to do when the other team can gear up to stop the run.

[ceile]

30. Earl Campbell

[Surf Cowboy]

34. Yeah, I should've included BIG # 34.

He had to have his thigh pads custom made--thighs were 30"+ in diameter. Unbelievable.

[LWolf]

31. Walter Peyton

[kwolf68]

39. PAYTON....P"ey"ton is the first name of some Manning guy

.

[LWolf]

40. Never heard of him.

;-)

Can I send you all of my essays to grade, too? :hi:

[madrchsod]

35. jim brown and

walter payton..one is an ass and other was one of the finest men in all of sports.

[thisismyboomstick3]

37. Tirk McGuirk

For the 1929 St Louis Brownshoes.

[kwolf68]

38. Well

My heart says Walter Payton....My brain says Jim Brown.

Payton was the GREATEST all around FOOTBALL Player of all time, but Jim Brown was the greatest RUNNER of all time.

In my view there isn't even anyone close to Brown.

Mind you I am a BEARS FAN and loved Walter (still do), but Brown was the man...

I'd take Brown/Payton as a 1/2 punch EASY. No one even comes close to these two.

Barry's not up there with them, but he's a great runner too and a helluva man, totally classy.

[argyl]

41. Jim Brown.Averaged 5 yds. a carry.No one will touch that record.