ESPN TOP 10 RUNNING BACKS OF ALL TIME

[fRESH88]

Hahaha seriously, is Deebo writing these columns?

Don Shula, Marv Levy, Emmitt Thomas, Jack Bushofsky, Dan Reeves, Jerry Richardson, Robert Smith and Floyd Reese helped ESPN.com evaluate the best running backs in NFL history. ESPN.com weighed their contributions, balancing rankings with anecdotal evidence and statistics to create the following list: (ZOOM gallery)
1. JIM BROWN
Career: Upon retiring before '66 season, the Browns' RB was all-time leader in rushing yards (12,312), all-purpose yards (15,549) and touchdowns (126).
Quick quote: "Incredible combination of speed and power. As a defensive back, I'm happy he retired just as I came into the league, because my career might have been a lot shorter if I had to tackle him.'' -- Thomas

2. BARRY SANDERS
Career: Sudden retirement in '99 came with the Lions' RB trailing only Walter Payton on the all-time rushing list. Ran for more than 1,500 yards in a season five times.
Quick quote: "He's the only guy I've ever seen who could hurt defenders without touching them. He'd have them twisting their ankles and running into each other.'' -- Reese

3. WALTER PAYTON
Career: Played on mediocre Bears teams until late in career but retired as leading rusher (16,726) in history.
Quick quote: "The most complete back ever."' -- Shula

4. EMMITT SMITH
Career: Smith, who played 13 seasons for Dallas and two for Arizona, took over as all-time rushing leader in '02. His 164 rushing touchdowns are the most in history.
Quick quote: "Phenomenal and extremely tough player. Incredible balance and leverage.'' -- Reeves

5. GALE SAYERS
Career: Knee problems forced him to retire in '71 after seven seasons with the Bears. At 33, he was the youngest person selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Quick quote: "I used to watch him and say, 'How can anybody be that good?'" -- Levy

6. LADAINIAN TOMLINSON
Career: The Chargers' RB has at least 1,200 rushing yards and 50 receptions in each of his first seven seasons.
Quick quote: "He brings as much versatility as any running back ever has.'' -- Smith

7. MARSHALL FAULK
Career: Began career with Indianapolis in '94 but was traded to St. Louis in '99 and became cornerstone of "Greatest Show on Turf." First running back in history to lead his team in receptions in five different seasons.
Quick quote: "Could have been an All-Pro as a wide receiver.'' -- Bushofsky

8. O.J. SIMPSON
Career: The Bills' great became the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season when he gained 2,003 in '73.
Quick quote: "He had it all. He had the same type balance as Jim Brown, and he could just keep going and going.'' -- Reeves

9. LENNY MOORE
Credentials: One of Johnny Unitas' key weapons for the Colts, he scored a touchdown in 18 straight regular-season appearances between '63 and '65.
Quick quote: "He may be underappreciated, but he was very similar to what Marshall Faulk has been more recently.'' -- Richardson, who was Moore's teammate for two years in Baltimore.

10. ERIC DICKERSON
Credentials: Reached 10,000 rushing yards in 91 games (the fastest pace in history) and rushed for 2,105 yards in '84. Played for Rams, Colts, Falcons and Raiders.
Quick quote: "He didn't look fast, but he was so long-legged that he could go the distance.'' -- Reeves

How the hell is Barry Sanders gonna be #2???????? If anything it should be Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers ...ect.

 

[Espiohti]

Barry Sanders is #1. Smith would be #4 or #5.. Only a cowboy fan would say Smith was better then Sanders.

 

[Hollywood]

Yeah Sanders would have demolished the carear rushing record if he didnt retire early...

 

[MRTHECOSE]

I BELIEVE SMITH WAS A PRODUCT OF THE O-LINE.. NOT HIS FAULT HE HAD A GREAT OFFENSE . BUT THATS JUST HOW I FEEL.. HE WOULD CRACK MY TOP TEN BUT BARELY.

 

[ColdBlooded]

Yeah Sanders would have demolished the carear rushing record if he didnt retire early...

Or play for the Lions

 

[Tony]

Barry is number 1 if you ask me... but I've never seen Jim Brown play "live".

 

[Fucky McFuckerson]

Emmitt Smith should feel fortunate even being in the top 10

LOL @ being surprised that Sanders is number 2...are you fuckin serious?

 

[Robby2Slobby]

I actually like that list. My bias would probably place Sanders number one, but I've heard nothing but great things about how amazing Jim Brown was as a back.

 

[Arson]

Emmitt Smith should feel fortunate even being in the top 10

LOL @ being surprised that Sanders is number 2...are you fuckin serious?

Fresh88 is the def. of a blind fan boy.

 

[Rich]

haha fresh, you ever think how Sanders would have played behind that Cowboys' oline, and Emmitt behind that Lions' oline?? I guess not.

 

[fRESH88]

Barry Sanders has no rings, why the hell should he be number 2? the only thing he did in his career is when MVP. He only rushed for 15,269 yards and got 99 touchdown, when Emmitt ran for 18,335 yards, all time leading rusher, and 164 touchdowns with 3 rings. How can he not be #2?

 

[Chree]

Because Emmit played on a good team with a good offense......

 

[fRESH88]

and?

 

[[-KoRp$-]559]

and?

We talking about BEST RUNNING BACKS not best stats, overall Barry needed nobody but his 2 legs while your idol Emmit Smith had behemoths at his forefront giving him the edge and holes for his lil ass to run in. While Barry created his own plays sometimes at the snap and made defensive players still miss when shit didnt go right in the Offense. Acknowledge

When people talk about Jim Brown its as if he owned the field so I can see why they would choose him as #1.

 

[fRESH88]

so i guess we should move jerry rice to #2 on on the all time receivers list, since he had montana and young throwing to him.

 

[Tony]

And Elvis Grbac^^^^

But what we're saying is Emmitt Smith had "huge" holes to run through. He didnt have to make too many defenders miss...

Barry had to create holes by shaking defenders. I think if you ask any defender who played against both Smith and Barry, they'll probably tell you that Barry was the better running back.

Plus defenses knew they could just focus on stopping Barry he still got his yards. Defenses just couldn't focus on stopping Emmitt because of Aikman, Irvin, etc....

 

[bo$$tycoon]

the juice should be higher. only one to get away with murder; dats how frisco cats do.

 

[Espiohti]

You're a fuckin idiot saying Smith was better then Sanders... Smith was an above average back with a GREAT offensivie line. Sanders was a GREAT back with a shitty ass offensive line. You switch them up and Sanders woulda have rushed for 2500 yards easily, take Emmitt Smith's dick outta your ass. There's a reason you're the only one saying that crap. No Lions fans here.

 

[fRESH88]

but theres a bunch of cowboy haters. Take the hater cock outta ya ears cuz the fuckin with your mind to much

 

[Espiohti]

Wow.. you're just an idiot for this.. Find me one person who isn't a Cowboy fan that will say Smith was a better RB then Sanders. www.youtube.com and search Barry Sanders.. since you obviously havn't seen him play.. Emmit Smith didn't have half the skills Sanders did. It's been stated by many other people, he benefited from an incredible offensive line, like any Broncos RB over the past couple of years. He was a complete product of his offensive line, Sanders had no offensive line, so shut that shit up.