I was reading up on a few things, and got me thinking. Who do you all believe is the best running back to play in the NFL? I'll go with Barry Sanders, but thats probably because I wasn't alive to see Jim Brown play. However, Sanders was just flat out amazing.

 

What say you?

Sanders, Brown and Peyton would be in my top three.

Toss up between Peyton and Sanders IMO.

No Emmitt Smith?

Guys...do not disrespect the man (R.I.P), it is Payton...

 

And he gets my vote.

No Emmitt Smith?

 

I love the guy, but Emmit Smith is not the all-time leading rusher, his offensive line is. It's Barry Sander's, and for me, it's not even close.

I love the guy, but Emmit Smith is not the all-time leading rusher, his offensive line is. It's Barry Sander's, and for me, it's not even close.

 

Then the same argument can be made for all the great QBs as well. All the all time great quarterbacks have had great offensive lines.

I think I'll vote Sanders on this one. But for me, Jim Brown is not far behind. I am definitely too young to have seen Brown play, but he strikes me as a guy who was ahead of his time and completely changed the game for the better. There are guys like that in every sport and they definitely deserve their credit.

While Emmit Smith was a very talented back...he just wasn't not on the same level as Barry Sanders and Walter Payton for me. And I know he had as many yards, but he held on at the end of his career just to get there.

Barry Sanders gets my vote. He never got to play with a great team...never with a really good QB...I've never seen another RB with the ability to start, stop and cut like Sanders had.

I think Barry Sanders. And as much as we don't want to say his name, Mr. White Bronco has to be in the conversation.

 

If I had to rank my top 3:

1. Sanders

2. Brown

3. Walter

 

and OJ, Earl Campbell, Sayers IMO right behind. (Of course not all the numbers tell the tale, at least not for me)

1. Jim Brown

2. Walter Peyton

3. Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders

No Emmitt Smith?

 

No way.

Then the same argument can be made for all the great QBs as well. All the all time great quarterbacks have had great offensive lines.

Besides the fact that a QB has to actually throw a football and not run behind the big uglies, I agree with you