Whos the best runningback of all time?

Answer 1

Barry Sanders has to be. He had no help what so ever, but still gained all those yards. He was definitely the human highlight reel.

Answer 2

i think you have to break it down by era. because if you ask some 12 year old who the best runningback is he's likely to say LT2 (Tomlinson), understandably. but he's not the best ever. the 90's were emitt smith and barry sanders (it could go either way), alot of people are going to go with the numbers and emitt has the numbers. if barry woulda kept playing he probably would have been tested for performance enhancing drugs weekly because of his abilities. the late 70's and early 80's were dominated by Sweetness. the early 70's OJ, he was the first to rush for 2,000 in a season (14 was consider a season back then also). and Jim Brown owned the late 50's and early 60's. you have to take in account that the defenses change with time. Payton played when the emergence of the 46 defense came into play (granted he played for the team that originated it, but you get were im going). there was no complex blitz packages and stunts, ends couldnt run down backs like today. there was no dwight freeny and kearse. so those are the best of there time, but you have to understand also that all these backs learned from there predecessors. you study the game and get better by observing, oj learned from jim brown, payton from oj and jim brown, barry and emitt from both not to mention other solid backs from that time. so in some ways its not fair to judge everybody on the same ground. you have to expect tomlinson to be better then those guys cause he can take something from all of there games and make he his own and when your already good how dynamic can that make you? (DANDEROUS). every 10 years or so theres going to be a new best back (most likely) ever. so you gotta brak it down and look and ask,who was the best back back then that paved the way for this dudes now. so i think the best back was who ever was the first back..lOl..in his time he was doing things no one had ever seen.

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Answer 3

I have to go with Walter Payton, with close seconds being Jim Brown and Barry Sanders.

Brown and Sanders retired early, so it's hard to say what either of them would have done in Payton's 13 seasons instead of 9 and 10 seasons respectively. And putting Payton over Brown and Sanders takes away nothing from Brown or Sanders. It just says that much more about Payton.

Payton: 13 seasons, 16,726 yards, 110 TDs rushing; 492 receptions for 4,538 yards; 21,803 combined net yards, 125 touchdowns

Brown: 9 seasons, 12,312 yards rushing, 262 receptions, 15,459 combined net yards, 756 points scored

Sanders: 10 seasons, 15,269 yards, 99 TDs, First player to rush for 1,000 yards his first 10 seasons

Answer 4

If you truly look at football as the game it is, you have to view this by era's. But if you are just searching for thoughts and opinions:
1. Walter Payton/Jim Brown tied. Two runners who ran over players. Both were the best of their time.
2. Barry Sanders he retired too soon, lost 1500 yards in trying to make something out of nothing. This was in one of the films I have of him.
3. Gayle Sayers, watch film before his injuries was awesome.
4. Jim Thorpe for his era
5. Franco Harris due to his running kept teams from stopping Bradshaw and Swann
6. Terrell Davis before his injury felt he could have been running for the record
7. Marshall Faulk, ran, caught, and blocked during his career.
8. Earl Campbell brutal runner punishing
9. Jim Taylor another solid back in his era.
10. Emmit Smith only reason so low did not know when it was time to walk away. His Cardinal time is a negative to me. Too great a player to have hung on that way.

Answer 5

Jim Brown,

Revolutionized the RB position. He played 9 seasons, never missed a game, and seasons were only 14 games not 16. Look home many yards he had in that span. He was a combination of speed and power. I never watched him play, but based on what my dad told me and old footage a I watched, the man was a beast.

If you narrow it down to who I watched, I would say Walter Payton. He played 13 seasons, only missing one game. He was excellent at blocking, dished out hard hits, and could run up the middle or to the outside.

Answer 6

Walter Payton

Answer 7

I'm not going to make any friends with this answer, especially because I'm in Bears Country - but I'd have to say that OJ Simpson in his prime was the most electrifying and dynamic running back I've ever seen. Walter Payton is the best all-around back I've ever seen - he did everything well and with class. He was loved and respected by his teammates, a leader in character on and off the field, and he passed on with great dignity - leaving us way too early.

Answer 8

Jim Brown ran over everybody for 12 games in 10 seasons

Answer 9

Walter Payton

Answer 10

Walter Payton!

Answer 11

I'm a Cowboys fan, and I love Emmitt, but I have to agree with anyone who says that Walter Payton is the best ever.