Who was better in their prime: Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, or LaDanian Tomlinson?

Question

I'd say Jim Brown because he's considered the best RB of all time and he held all the rushing records when he retired. What do you think?

Jim Brown and Barry Sanders both retired in their primes.

Answer 1

Jim Brown? Did you ever see that guy run? I don't know how he kept it up without getting out of breath.

Answer 2

I'm sorry but I can't say LT. The reason I say that is because Jim Brown and Barry Sanders didn't have LORENZO NEAL blocking for them. I want everyone to go look at the teams Neal has played for each year and check how the team's starting running back did that year. But to answer the question, I would have to say Barry Sanders b/c he played in a time where defensive players were a lot bigger and stronger and overall, better compared to Jim Brown. On top of that, Saunders played for an awful team and single handedly made them good enough for the playoffs. But I do have to say that Sanders and Brown are a close 1 and 2 considering the fact that those are the only players in NFL history to finish their career with an average yards per rush over 5 yards. Finally, who could forget that Barry Sanders was the first cover athlete of NFL Madden. Im sorry, I had to put that in, it has nothing to do with how good he was.

Answer 3

First off, as long as LT stays healthy, I don't think he's hit his prime yet. So it's hard to say that he's already been in "his prime" when he's not even finished playing yet.

I also think Barry Sanders left the NFL well before his time, so it's hard to say since the Lions never got him an O-Line that could block for him. All he did he literally did on his own. And Jim Brown was an incredible runner, but if we're not counting records since he actually got to reach his prime and retire....

I would have to go with Barry Sanders. He made things happen when most backs today would've been caught with a good 3-4 yard loss.

Answer 4

I won't make a clear decision because I like them all, and I will agree that they are very different. Barry was the ultimate agile scat back. Brown was the ultimate work-horse power back (with the right amount of speed to make him dangerous) and LT is the right combo of speed, agilitiy, and strength (and some of the best vision ever). I will add I have a bit of a bias against Jim Brown being THE best (though I admit he's ONE OF the best) because he was just big in a time when defenders weren't big (guys sometimes have trouble tackling LJ who's the same size --imagine how hard it'd be then).

Also -- why is anyone saying The Lions had a passing attack? Barry was the only thing going for them! That's how good he was. And Chargers didn't have a viable passing attack untill recently. Teams used to stack the box against LT all the time. And Barry had a terrible line (and so did LT untill recently). Emmitt should NOT be considered because he had an excellent line, FB, & QB-WR combo to block & take alot of pressure off him (I'll put him top 10ish, but not one of the best).

Oh, and I also agree LT has enough years that he may not be in his prime yet. I hope he can break 2000 eventually (a ring is more important, but for individual accomplishmetns) or can become the all-time leader in rush yards or TDs (TDs being likely at the pace he's going).

Answer 5

great question. All three are or where great athletes. Jim Brown is probably the best, but consider how much better would Barry Sanders had been if he had played for a team with a better OL? LT and Brown both played on "teams" with other high caliber players. Sanders was really the Lions only offensive threat. Emmit Smith and Priest Holmes would also be good contenders. Who knows, maybe in a few years LT will be the stand alone back.... or Larry Johnson?

Answer 6

Jim Brown EASILY.

He shattered most RB records during the time he played (only 9 seasons) and retired at the age of 29....if he had a full career, nobody, not even Barry Sanders (if Sanders had a longer career as well) would even be close to him.

He retired due to contract disputes and because he felt he could pursue a career in acting (he retired from the NFL on the set of a movie he was acting in).

Answer 7

Slow Down... look at the stats and go look up game film... in their prime it definantly Barry Sanders... Think about it he only played for 10 years and has 15269 yards and 99 TDs... Look who close he is to the rushing yard record... if he playes 5 or 6 more years the rushing yard record would not be touched by now... look at the films Why do you think Barry Sanders is called Mr.Untouchable give me a break...
Jr you are wrong it was Barry who had the contract disputes

Answer 8

I would have to say Barry Sanders based on his size, the team he played for and the era he played in. Don't get me wrong, Jim Brown was incredible but considering his size, strength and speed at the time he was playing, he was like a man against boys. I don't think he would have the incredible numbers he had if he was playing today against the bigger, faster, stronger defensive players of this era. LT is great too, but he has a much better team around him than Barry Sanders ever did.

Answer 9

Sanders. He could have easily had the record in 2 or maybe 3 years if he played. He was on a terriable team with no offensive line to let him get started in running. Oh and he wasn't twice as big as everyone else like Brown. Set Jim Brown at a size comparable to Sanders and likely would have been just another back.

BTW Batch IS a decent QB, last to lead the Lions to the playoffs in 1999, and see how he has played for the Steelers as proof. He stunk in Detroit because look who he had to pass to. Then he didn't last long with them because management didn't like him.

Answer 10

Hands down Barry Sanders. Have you seen the clip where he breaks a defenders ankles, both of them, without touching him. He just made the sickest move. Also, Barry Sanders never let anything get to him (other than the lions sucking). LT second just because of his TD record, than Brown

Answer 11

You have to take a lot of things into consideration when answering this question. Jim Brown was great, but I don't think he dominated the game like LT or Barry so let's narrow it down to those two and examine their offenses:

Stats:

Barry Sanders (10 Seasons)
Att. Yds. Avg. TD
3062 15269 5.0 99

LT (6 Seasons)
Att. Yds. Avg. TD
2050 9176 4.5 100

LT 10 Season Projection (based on yearly averages)
Att. Yds. Avg. TD
3416 15293 4.47 167

As we all know, stats don't tell the whole story, so lets look at what each back had going for them in their hay-day:


LT:
- An outstanding o-line
- LT has had three QB's, Flutie, Brees and Rivers. They're decent (especially Brees).
- Possibly the best fullback in football (Lorenzo Neal) to open holes.
- Decent receivers in David Boston and Curtis Conway, but they also have Antonio Gates who draws linebackers and safeties away from the line of scrimmage.
- Defense was 16th (out of 32 teams, there weren't that may in the league for most of Barry's career) in points against.
- A Great D that gave them a lot of short field situations for him to score in.
- Marty, a coach who loves to run the ball.

Barry:
- Horrible o-line.
- No Passing threat to open up passing game.
- No Decent QB's (Gagliano, Peete, Kraig, Mitchell and Batch)
- One decent receiver (Herman Moore) who could just be double covered all day and nullified.
- I couldn't even find out who his fullback was that's how bad he was (kidding).
- Their defense was on average ranked 18th during Barry's stay in points against meaning the Lions were throwing the ball.

After looking at the stats and looking at the conditions I would have to say Barry was better. Tomlinson is about on par with his projected yardage but he'll have way more carries than Barry. Granted LT owns in TDs but I still think that if Barry was in LT's position they'd have to add another digit onto the scoreboard to record 100 point games, he's that amazing. LT is one of my favorite players, there two are both class acts but I think the edge goes to Barry.