A Football Life: Barry Sanders

[Biggems]

It's a Cowboy site, so this is what I would expect.

During his career, nobody had more yards are abetted UPC than Sanders. If you want to look for negatives, fine.

Outside of our Cowboy fan world, nobody else looks at Barry the way some of us do. He was a home run hitter who also hit for average...but just a 300 average with 50 homers instead of a 340 average with 20 homers.

yes it is a Cowboys site, and I didnt bring up Emmitt or Dorsett in the conversation. This was merely about Barry. Just because I am a lifelong Cowboys fan, doesn't mean that I am incapable of evaluating players from other teams in a non biased light.

just as you accuse me of being a blind homer, you are a blind fan of barry. you refuse to accept the facts about the flaws in his game. those of us who are critical of Barry do agree that he was awesome and fun to watch. He was a great player and was a capable homerun hitter with every touch, but at the same time, he was also a strikeout waiting to happen.

 

[Muhast]

Once again, I think it's an absolute joke when people trash Sanders. What, do people think he had holes to run through but just chose to dance around in the backfield for the hell of it? The only reason for any back to do that is because they don't have room.

If the guy hadn't retired early, he'd easily be the all-time leading rusher. People who want to act like that kind of player could be some kind of detriment are just looking for reasons to dislike the guy.

emmitt likely wouldn't have caught him yardage wise, but Emmitt was destroying him td wise lol. Barry didn't get redzone carries b/c he danced around to much. Barry had like 2000 more yards when he retired, but Emmitt had close to 40 more tds

It's one of those questions where there isn't a true wrong answer. Both are great players. Barry was a better athlete, a lot more wiggle. Emmitt was a much better overall player. Barry wasn't much of a blocker, to say the least. Emmitt was a great blocker, good reciever, great runner. Barry was a great runner, less than average blocker, solid reciever.

I'd be more than happy to have either on my team, but I'd choose Emmitt over Barry based on the complete package. But like I said, I'd certainly be content with Barry as well.

 

[DFWJC]

emmitt likely wouldn't have caught him yardage wise, but Emmitt was destroying him td wise lol. Barry didn't get redzone carries b/c he danced around to much. Barry had like 2000 more yards when he retired, but Emmitt had close to 40 more tds

It's one of those questions where there isn't a true wrong answer. Both are great players. Barry was a better athlete, a lot more wiggle. Emmitt was a much better overall player. Barry wasn't much of a blocker, to say the least. Emmitt was a great blocker, good reciever, great runner. Barry was a great runner, less than average blocker, solid reciever.

I'd be more than happy to have either on my team, but I'd choose Emmitt over Barry based on the complete package. But like I said, I'd certainly be content with Barry as well.

Barry scored a ton of TDs. He was one of the better TD producers in the league.

The thing is, few RBs ever scored as many TDs as Emmitt.
Of course, this thread isn't about Emmitt, but no denying he was a TD machine.

BTW, unrelated to your comment, I have not accused anyone her of being a blind homer regarding Emmitt. I just said , factually, that of all the fans in the NFL, Cowboy fans give Sanders the least respect.

 

[Idgit]

emmitt likely wouldn't have caught him yardage wise, but Emmitt was destroying him td wise lol. Barry didn't get redzone carries b/c he danced around to much. Barry had like 2000 more yards when he retired, but Emmitt had close to 40 more tds

It's one of those questions where there isn't a true wrong answer. Both are great players. Barry was a better athlete, a lot more wiggle. Emmitt was a much better overall player. Barry wasn't much of a blocker, to say the least. Emmitt was a great blocker, good reciever, great runner. Barry was a great runner, less than average blocker, solid reciever.

I'd be more than happy to have either on my team, but I'd choose Emmitt over Barry based on the complete package. But like I said, I'd certainly be content with Barry as well.

It's not necessarily trashing Barry to prefer Emmitt. I do agree that it's beyond silly to consider Sanders a detriment. He was obviously a great player. It's only when the conversation moves from 'great' to 'greatest' that the arguments come up.

And, when it comes to the all time yardage hypotheticals, they don't matter. It takes a lot of hard work and effort and resolve to get through an NFL season. If Barry retired because he didn't want to go through that, then more power to him as a person. But he doesn't get credit for what he might have done. Emmitt *did* do all the work, and has the record to show for it. End of story.

 

[Ren]

BTW, unrelated to your comment, I have not accused anyone her of being a blind homer regarding Emmitt. I just said , factually, that of all the fans in the NFL, Cowboy fans give Sanders the least respect.

I think that's because everyone else looks to tear down Emmitt to build up Barry.

Any shortcomings in Barry's game is glossed over while at the same time people look to excuse what Emmitt did, oh he had a good OL, Aikman and Irvin and he was a stat ***** who didn't know when to quit. People literally use his success against him when ever the comparison comes up

 

[DFWJC]

I think that's because everyone else looks to tear down Emmitt to build up Barry.

Any shortcomings in Barry's game is glossed over while at the same time people look to excuse what Emmitt did, oh he had a good OL, Aikman and Irvin and he was a stat ***** who didn't know when to quit. People literally use his success against him when ever the comparison comes up

True Dat

 

[jimmy40]

as per always Walter was better than either one. Of course with the new rules Walter couldn't play in the NFL.

 

[Biggems]

as per always Walter was better than either one. Of course with the new rules Walter couldn't play in the NFL.

The Tyler Rose would have been banned after 1 game....

 

[jimmy40]

The Tyler Rose would have been banned after 1 game....

no kidding, just wait till the first time a running back bounces a run outside and puts his head down to score and it's a 15 yard penalty. I hope it happens in the first game of the season on national tv. dumbarse rule

 

[Eskimo]

I agree that Barry was fun to watch. Off the top of my head, Barry isn't even in my top-10:

Emmitt Smith
Walter Payton
Gale Sayers
Earl Campbell
Terrell Davis
Marshall Faulk
OJ Simpson
Ladanian Tomlinson
Tony Dorsett
Bo Jackson

The problem is many people do not fully understand the running back position and what it entails. Each of these guys made their O-Line appear better than they really were. Barry made his O-Line look worse than it really was.






YR

Based on your list longevity was not a factor in your selections. Most people would argue the opposite - longevity is a huge factor in determining who the great ones are. I'm specifically referring to your choice of Sayers, Campbell and Bo Jackson. I wouldn't put any of them ahead of Sanders for that reason alone.

 

[jimmy40]

I agree that Barry was fun to watch. Off the top of my head, Barry isn't even in my top-10:

Emmitt Smith
Walter Payton
Gale Sayers
Earl Campbell
Terrell Davis
Marshall Faulk
OJ Simpson
Ladanian Tomlinson
Tony Dorsett
Bo Jackson

The problem is many people do not fully understand the running back position and what it entails. Each of these guys made their O-Line appear better than they really were. Barry made his O-Line look worse than it really was.






YR

Barry made his online look worse than it really was? One of the dumbest things ever posted here.

 

[DFWJC]

Barry made his online look worse than it really was? One of the dumbest things ever posted here.

I also thought that quote was top ten (worst) material....since we are talking lists.:laugh2:

By the way, if there were 100 NFL-wide (not just Cowboy fans or any individual fan only) lists of top ten best RBs, Sanders would make all 100 of them. It's up to any individual as to where he would be in that top 10, but to not have him in there is nuts, IMO.