ESPN: Top 10 runnings backs of all time

[Chief]

Sanders is too high on that list, IMO. He wasn't a good short yardage guy -- the Lions routinely took him out of the game when they were close to the goal line (I remember clearly because he was on my fantasy teams in the 1990s).

Simpson is clearly too low and I think Dickerson should move up a couple of notches too.

With Simpson, it's hard not to hold his off-the-field activities against him and that probably had some negative influence on the voting.

 

[DFWJC]

pfft.. Barry Sanders #2? give me a break..

to me, i can accept any form of Emmitt, Payton and Brown being in the top 3, no matter the order.. but Barry Sanders shouldn't be in front of any of them..

There are cowboys fans that think like you do....nobody else on the planet though. I love Emmitt, don't get me wrong...and I do understand we are Cowboys fans here so we obviously pick our guy. Sanders just decided to go out on top--otherwise nobody is close to him in career yards.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Barry should be #1...

























at going backwards. :laugh2:

 

[THUMPER]

Barry should be #1...

























at going backwards. :laugh2:

He is. :starspin

 

[DallasKnight]

I'm sorry, but any list like this that doesn't have Earl Campbell on it, is a worthless piece of dungpile.

 

[Sarge]

If Tomlinson can stay healthy and motivated he could very well be in the top-3 all time. But that's the key, staying healthy and maintaining that drive and desire. Jim Brown could have set the record out of reach if his desire would have remained. It is difficult to continue to push your body year after year the way Walter & Emmitt did.

It also requires a team that is playing well consistently. Teams that are behind a lot run less. He also needs to have a solid O-Line in front of him every year to keep his yardage totals up. Lots of things need to stay in place for him to reach that elite level of Emmitt, Payton, & Brown but if anyone could do it he is the most likely and has the best opportunity.

Since when has desire been a problem for Tomlinson? I don't know why that would be a question in anyone's mind.... The guy is a one man wrecking crew and has been for a long time now.

 

[THUMPER]

Since when has desire been a problem for Tomlinson? I don't know why that would be a question in anyone's mind.... The guy is a one man wrecking crew and has been for a long time now.

It hasn't been so far but then it wasn't for Jim Brown or Barry Sanders at this point in their careers either but it was later on. As long as he maintains that desire and stays healthy he has a very good chance of breaking the record.

But like I said, a lot of things need to go right that are not in his control.

 

[gbrittain]

Ok... you make the argument for Faulk because he was more versatile than the others, but you don't make the same argument for Emmitt?

Emmitt could block, Emmitt was a good receiver, Emmitt was great at scoring from within the red zone..... how can you give credit to one player and not give another player the same deal? In the Barry versus Emmitt debate, Barry is "just a runner" and Emmitt is the more versatile player.....

You saved me the time of having to type what I was about to type.

 

[vlad]

Does it really matter when you get the yards as long as you do and it helps your team? I don't imagine anyone would complain about the games that Emmitt would start out slow for the first half but then just take over the second half.

And I'd be thrilled to have a back slap down 3 50+ yard runs in a game for the Cowboys, regardless of what quarter they happened in. I'll be attempting backflips if Jones adds something like that to our offense this season.

Oh I think it most definitely matters. The "home run" factor is so overrated its not even funny. They key to a good running game and a successful offense is not the 50 yard TD run, its the ability to churn out 4, 5, 6, 7 yard runs over and over. Its the ability to take what may have been a 1,2,3 yard loss and turn it into a 0,1,2,3...yard gain. Not taking that same loss and trying to make a home run and ending up with a 6 yard loss, but then after the 8th try cranking out a 40 yard run.

Moving the chains, controlling the clock, wearing down the D. Give me a back like that any day of the week. Now if we were play "tackle the man" give me Barry in a heartbeat...but you have to be a yard churner, not just a yard burner if that makes sense.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

to me, the best evidence i've ever seen in the Emmitt vs. Barry debate was an article that i believe the Dallas Morning News did in the late 90s or early 2000s.. they polled about 50 players and 50 coaches.. the players chose Barry pretty easily, and their reasons were because he was so exciting and so much fun to watch.. the coaches chose Emmitt pretty easily, and their reasons were because he was the one that was going to win football games for you.. to me, that says it all..
:starspin

if anyone knows what i'm talking about or can find that article, i'd love to read it again..

 

[coach316]

1. Walter Payton
2. Emmitt Smith
3. Barry Sanders
4. Gale Sayers
5. LaDainian Tomlinson

Jim Brown doesn't even crack my top 5

 

[I LOVE ME SOME ME!]

Barry has 1 100 yard playoff game in his career. YAYYYYY

Of course he has a -3 yard playoff game also.

 

[THUMPER]

1. Walter Payton
2. Emmitt Smith
3. Barry Sanders
4. Gale Sayers
5. LaDainian Tomlinson

Jim Brown doesn't even crack my top 5

Wow! I can only imagine it is because he was a big player playing against smaller LBs & DLs that you would not have him on your list.

I watched him play and the guy was the most dominant runner I've ever seen.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I have Emmitt Smith rated as the 2nd greatest running back to ever lace them up in the NFL. He's the example of heart and determination to win!

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

1. Walter Payton
2. Emmitt Smith
3. Barry Sanders
4. Gale Sayers
5. LaDainian Tomlinson

Jim Brown doesn't even crack my top 5

You're joking right? In a lot of polls almost everyone has Jim Brown as the greatest football player EVER, certainly the greatest running back of all time.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

Actually, the top half of the list is not so bad. It's the bottom half that is suspect, IMO.

Dickerson belongs higher. He was dominant for several years. Lenny Moore could be dropped right out. Put in Campbell, Dorsett, or Marcus Allen. I might even drop ** out as well for one of these three.

 

[lurkercowboy]

Where is Dorsett and Campbell? Speaking as a fan from their era, I would put them in my top ten.

Campbell was just plain devastating. I have never seen anyone like him. Although I never saw Brown.

 

[ilovejerry]

Garbage !!! How Tony Dorsett isn't on there is beyond me....

 

[Jaxonsdaddd]

I think Tony Dorsett is the best back in Cowboys history. WHile I love Emmitt SMith, Dorsett to me was the greatest pure runner.

Its a shame he wasnt leaned on more heavily as I think he could have put up HUGE numbers. Landry was always worried about him being smallish but Tony always avoided the big hits.

Nobody ever executed a screen pass like the original TD

 

[DallasDomination]

BArry sanders is the best. everybody can argue who is the second best, but #1 in my book is easilly BArry sanders. I'm basing this on pure running skill. His cuts, the vision, the off the wall cat like moves. Come on man, the guy was just a beast.

Emmitt is top 5..I can debate on #2 but it would be a hard debate with non Cowboy fans. In most RB lists I see emmitt going anywhere from 3-5.