Jim Brown

[Drederick Tatum]

Jim was a physical beast back in that day but in this day he would of been nothing special.

nothing special?.. I guess this means every defensive Hall of Famer from that era should be kicked out because they couldn't stop him either...

 

[JonCJG]

In todays game with his running style, he would have been good, but not great(Hall of Famer) is my point.

 

[Zaxor]

Mr. Lilly, Thank you for always representing the Cowboys and city of Dallas with class. As a child growing up in Dallas in the 70's it was a pleasure to watch you lead the defense. Who would you list as the hardest running back and quarterback to contain during your playing days? Thanks, Steve in Houston.
BL: I played against Jim Brown. Cleveland was in our conference for about my first four or five years. I played against him at least 8 or 10 times plus played with him in the Pro Bowl several times. I think, without a doubt, he was one of the greatest athletes and especially football player I've ever seen. He had it all - he was big, and he was fast, and he was strong, and he was very agile. He could glide, he did it all, just a great receiver. I guess he didn't block very well but he did everything else wonderfully well.


American Football career

Born in Throckmorton, Texas, Lilly originally made a name for himself as an All-American football player at TCU and star defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1961 to 1974. As the number one draft pick in 1961, Bob went on to be All-Pro 7 times, and played in 11 Pro Bowl games. His name was the first inscribed in the "Ring of Honor" above Texas Stadium. Bob Lilly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. The Sporting News named him a member of the All-Century NFL Team and "the greatest defensive tackle in NFL history".


Bob thinks he was one mean hombre

 

[Hostile]

Well, if you just take him as he was then, and plop him down in today's game, I still think he'd be a darn good RB....he was 225lbs...

But if we assume he'd be as advanced physically as today's players are, he'd be around 260lbs and 4.45 fast.

That'd be a rather awesome combination.

Put him at that physical definition behind the Cowboys early '90's OL and I don't think any defense could withstand the onslaught.

 

[JonCJG]

No fing way he gets to 260 AND runs a 4.45.

There is no telling how big or fast he would have been with today's diet, and training.

But I can tell you a few things.

He would not run over DL or run away from DB's.

Can you picture him running over Roy Williams or out running Newman?

Me Either......

 

[JonCJG]

And Bob lilly played at under 260lbs. I would guess a rb running full speed at 220-230 would be hard to stop at that weight.

A DL at 300 plus or a LB at 250 plus would have a easier time bringing JB down.

 

[4lifecowboy]

i respect his abilities on the field..........

but he's one of the biggest racists to ever walk this earth.


to answer your question.........he would have run over today's players just like he ran over the players he faced.

the man was a beast on the football field from what i've seen on old video footage.

What you really meant to say was he wasnt a kiss *** right, because to call any black man racist in those days I would consider ridicoulous when you take in account this was an openly racist country against blacks in thoses days. He was more like Outspoken.

 

[4lifecowboy]

Mr. Brown, as he should be called, is the G.O.A.T.! Ask any runningback and his name will come up as the one who made it cool to play the position.

I couldn't agree more, Mr. Brown's throwback jersey is the only non Cowboy football jersey I own, though I will eventually own a Oilers Earl Campbell as soon as I find one to my liking.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

how do you think he would have fared in todays NFL Game?

Interesting attempts to determine how Jim Brown would have done in "today's" NFL. Not so sure if that could really be measure accurately.

Measurement Tools

Stats by comparison (yards gained, years played, injury rates as it applies to playing time, age, weight class, DL comparisons, stadium participation as it applies to noise deterrants for both sides of the ball, etc). Running backs in today's games have the latest in stat-of-the-art equipment, but aside from technology, you still can't make a credible stated that he would/would not be great or otherwise in the NFL of today.

Thoughts?.............

Jim Brown was the greatest NFL running back of yesterday (philosophically speaking), that can nVer be taken away!

 

[jackrussell]

No fing way he gets to 260 AND runs a 4.45.

You say this, and then say:

There is no telling how big or fast he would have been with today's diet, and training.

:flipflop:

 

[JonCJG]

Name me one guy who is 260 plus and runs a 4.45 please.

Of course we can't ever know exactly how big or fast he would be today, I have yet to see a player 260 lbs run a 4.45 JackRussell.

Can you think of one?

Edit I can think of only one, and that was not until this year I could say that.

 

[JonCJG]

Davis is under 260 technically and he's 6'3.

 

[Angus]

Sunny boy, on a Tom Landry team, Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, and Calvin Hill would have been 2nd, 3rd,and 4th team backups.

If Jim Brown had been available to Landry?

I agree.

 

[dwmyers]

Sorry, but we're talking about a guy who played a decent game of college basketball, played college football at an All-American level, and lacrosse at an All-American level. There are people to this day who say that Jim Brown was the best lacrosse player they ever saw.

And we're thinking he'd only be pretty good?

David.

 

[JonCJG]

Different era.

How would have emmitt, walter and sanders done in JB's day?

 

[Bullet22]

He sure didn't help Duane Thomas's career..

 

[dwmyers]

Different era.

How would have emmitt, walter and sanders done in JB's day?

In a 12 team league in a 12 to 14 game season, I think Payton and Emmitt would have done well, but not as well as they would have done in the modern era. As you say, the rules were different then and favored defenders. I'm not sure Barry Sanders would have started as much at running back. I suspect he would have been used on the flank some, in much the same way Bobby Mitchell played.

David.

 

[jackrussell]

Name me one guy who is 260 plus and runs a 4.45 please.

Of course we can't ever know exactly how big or fast he would be today, I have yet to see a player 260 lbs run a 4.45 JackRussell.

Can you think of one?

Edit I can think of only one, and that was not until this year I could say that.

I merely pointed out where you used both sides of the argument.

Again, if you say (your words, not mine)...... "There is no telling how big or fast he would have been with today's diet, and training."

How can you say......."No fing way he gets to 260 AND runs a 4.45."

If there is no telling, how can you say no way?

 

[tomson75]

I merely pointed out where you used both sides of the argument.

Again, if you say (your words, not mine)...... "There is no telling how big or fast he would have been with today's diet, and training."

How can you say......."No fing way he gets to 260 AND runs a 4.45."

If there is no telling, how can you say no way?

Ah...therein lies the rub!!!

Well done.

 

[Natedawg44]

Name me one guy who is 260 plus and runs a 4.45 please.

Of course we can't ever know exactly how big or fast he would be today, I have yet to see a player 260 lbs run a 4.45 JackRussell.

Can you think of one?

Edit I can think of only one, and that was not until this year I could say that.

Brandon Jacobs