Who is the greastet running back in NFL history?

Question

If you had to plan a defense, who would scare you the most? If you had to build an offense around one back, who would it be?

Answer 1

It's a toss up between barry sanders and walter payton. Payton played on a much better team so I might have to give it to Barry although he retired way too early!!

Answer 2

Barry Sanders. He's the one back who's in a category all by himself. There have been players today compared to Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, even Jim Brown. However no one has ever even been mentioned in the same sentence as reminding them of a young Barry Sanders. He was a one of a kind.

Answer 3

Hands down, without a doubt it's JimBrown. The guy is still in great physical condition right now. I've seen clips of him return kicks and punishing "would-be" defenders. I've watched old games of him. No one, and I mean no one comes close to the guy. If you ever want to see a back perform, check out the old Cleveland Browns games when Brown was there. Just pick any game and watch in awe as he tears it up. If you want stats, consider that the numbers for Brown are really unheard of, especially when you factor in the following; his short career, and, the then shorter NFL season. Brown amassed over 12,000 yds, over 100 TDs, led the league in rushing 8 times, 5 consecutive yrs he led the league in rushing, Rookie of the year (stats were 942yds and 9 tds) , MVP 4 times, all NFL 8 times, 9 straight pro bowls, 262 receptions, 2,499 yds receiving for 20 TDs. The 6'2 232 lb man in 118 games scored 756pts. Trust me, when you see the way Brown played the game, you know that the defenders feared injury and embarassment more than Brown. Go to You Tube, ESPN Classic, or, NFL Films and check him out. NOBODY and I do mean Nobody compares to him. Run by you, through you, run over you. If you take all of the upper crust of backs from the last 20 years and roll em up into one back you'd have Jimmy Brown. He was just that good!

Answer 4

My top backs of all time in order :

1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Walter Payton
4. OJ Simpson
5. Eric Dickerson(tie)
LaDanian Tomlinson(tie)
7. Emmit Smith
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Franco Harris
10. Tony Dorsett

Answer 5

I am tossed up between two backs. Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Barry Sanders was almost unstoppable, his runs usually lasted 15 seconds atleast and resulted in atleast 5 broken tackles. He was gifted with unbelieveable agility and skills. While Walter Payton was not gifted, he made up for it with heart. He is the toughest running back ever, maybe toughest player ever, he played with the puking flu. He also blocked like a lineman. Who is a scarier presence, probably Barry. But who to build an offense around? Peyton.

Answer 6

barry sanders as long as i had a defense to depend on. that way i wouldnt need an OL, WR, or QB. if i get emmitt smith (complete back), i would need to have a great OL and talent around him. so, my answer is barry sanders. he would be the offense and i could spend the rest of the cap space on defense.

Answer 7

If you are talking pure running back as in just carrying the football I would say Jim Brown. his stats are from 12 game seasons and are ridiculous. But now days if you are talking about a back that can carry the ball and catch it out of the backfield I would be most scared of tomlinson or Faulk in his prime. If you get a linebacker matched up on one of those two, its lights out see ya in the end zone.

Answer 8

Jim Brown
Walter Payton

Answer 9

Jim Brown was the greatest running back of all time. If he play in the NFL today he could smoke everyone and plow them to the ground

Answer 10

Earl Campbell