Who was/is the greatest...?

Question

Who was/is the greatest running back and full back of all time!

Answer 1

When you talk about great running backs you have to talk more then just stats. Rushing is only one part of a running backs job. A great running back has to be a great blocker and a great pass receiver.

That is why for me it is almost a three way tie between, Jim Brown, Walter Peyton and Emmit Smith. All three were complete backs. All three were great beyond the numbers.

I do not include Barry Sanders. Sanders was probably the best pure runner of all time. But he was a lousy blocker and only an average receiver.

LT has a very good chance of joining the big three (Brown, Peyton and Smith). Right now he is as good as any of those guys at their peak. But part of what makes a great back is longevity. LT may be the greatest of all time when he finally retires. But let's wait and see what happens between now and then.

Answer 2

Walter Payton played on some of the worst teams on record and still, until Emmitt Smith, broke his lifetime yardage gained record, managed to be the leader. With the exception of a couple of decent teams in the mid 80's the Bears were terrible and he prevailed. Watch clips of him running people over as oppossed to Emmitt running in the wide open field and the choice is pretty simple. Jim Brown was in another era, so hard to compare the two, but he was good as well, but I'll stick by Walter.

Answer 3

Jim Brown and Larry Csonka.

Right after high school, I was a mason's assistant for a couple of brothers that played football with Csonka in high school. They used to brag about how they blocked for Csonka at Stow. I just had to ask if that was the reason he wound up playing for Syracuse instead of Ohio St or Michigan (both schools liked to recruit in NE Ohio).

In fact, both Brown and Csonka were unrecruited unknowns that emerged at Syracuse.

As for my favorites, Walter Payton and John Riggins would get the nod. Payton just had a lot more class than lot of big stars and Riggins never even seemed to realize he was a star.

Answer 4

I would have to Walter Payton. Although Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Emmit Smith, and Bo Jackson were awsome running backs. But right now it is LT of the Chargers.

Answer 5

RB-Barry Sanders FB-Fred Beasly

Answer 6

some of my favorites growing up...

tony dorsett
walter payton
eric dickerson
earl campbell
bo jackson
herschel walker
john riggins
franco harris
emmitt smith
barry sanders
ladanian tomlinson

i saw all of these guys play...i never saw
jim brown
gayle sayers
o.j. simpson
larry csonka

i would give the overall edge to barry...

as for full back...i can only think of 'moose' johnston, robert newhouse, and mike alstott...i would think 'moose' gained the most attention for this unheralded position...

Answer 7

Jim Brown

Answer 8

It will be LaDainian Tomlinson. I hate those oldies who always think its disrespectful to compare todays players to the decades before. The League is much tougher now, face it people. The players are stronger, the pressure is more, there is a more variety of good coachers, not just a few. Better defensive plays, and they play much more rougher. Todays football=More talent, than the years before

Answer 9

Stats wise your going to see L.T. be the best of all time but the best RB of all time if he would have played some where else Barry Sanders

Answer 10

Barry Sanders at RB.

Didn't Czonka play Fullback? I'll go with him at fullback