Football JoPo: 25 Greatest Running Backs - Page 4

Deberg_1990 · 09:31 AM

Priest Holmes #21

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/08/0...cks/?eref=sihp

1. Jim Brown

The best there ever was or ever will be. I am required by place of birth to believe it, and I do believe it with all my heart. The ultimate combination of power, speed and, mostly, will. Led the league in rushing every year but one.

2. Walter Payton

Emmitt Smith’s hero… he ran the ball, caught the ball, threw the ball and blocked with fury.

3. Emmitt Smith

Didn’t block like Payton, which is why he’s third… but did not really have much need to block.

4. Barry Sanders

Most exciting running back in the history of the NFL.

5. Earl Campbell

Was only truly great for three seasons… but those happened to be the three years when I fell in love with professional football. Of all the football players I’ve ever watched, Earl Campbell is the one who leaves me in awe.

6. Marshall Faulk

Another player everyone remembers being great, but I think was even greater. Was in many ways one of a kind — a receiver who played running back, and a running back who played receiver. Charley Taylor was like that, so was Bobby Mitchell, Lenny Moore… but Faulk blended the talents in a way that I think was unique. His single-season record for most yards from scrimmage was broken last year by Chris Johnson.

7. O.J. Simpson

Power, speed, moves and 2,003 yards in 14 games.

8. Gale Sayers

The most graceful running back in NFL history.

9. Bo Jackson

I was trying to think how high I could legitimately put a player who got only 515 carries in the NFL. This is probably too high. But it’s my list. In those 515 carries, Bo Jackson had a 92-yard run, a 91-yard run, an 88-yard run, a 73-yard run, a 62-yard run and a 55-yard run. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry. There was never, in the history of the NFL, a player with his combination of speed, power, speed, force, speed and speed. Injuries wreck running backs — part of greatness is staying healthy long enough to achieve. But I have no doubt in my mind that had Jackson stayed healthy, he would have been the greatest running back ever. He already was in Super Tecmo Bowl.

10. Red Grange

Basically invented pro football with his running talents.

11. Eric Dickerson

Twenty-six years later, and still his 2,105 yards in a season is the record. As coaches often said, he didn’t look fast… but nobody ever caught him from behind.

12. Marion Motley

Led the NFL in rushing in 1950 while wearing No. 76 — which says just about all you need to say. One of the most important players in NFL history, and one of the best. Would be a great book, I think. Averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his career.

13. LaDainian Tomlinson

Touchdown machine who led the league in rushing twice and once caught 100 passes in a season.

14. Bronko Nagurski

I think he basically invented a brand of power running that would later serve John Riggins, Larry Csonka, Jerome Bettis and others very well.

15. Terrell Davis

The best running backs tend to be shooting stars who are extraordinary for three or four or five years before being ground into dust. It’s the peril of the position. From 1995 through ’98, Terrell Davis was about as good as any running back ever. I don’t have much feel for the football Hall of Fame, but my gut instinct is that Davis — even though those four years are essentially his entire career — belongs there.

16. Thurman Thomas

Led the league in yards from scrimmage four straight years… he was one of the most versatile running backs in NFL history.

17. Franco Harris

I have mixed emotions about Franco. He has been called overrated so many times by so many people that it’s hard not to let that affect your thinking. He DID run out of bounds a lot. But he also was the running force behind four Pittsburgh Steelers championships, he made perhaps the most famous play in NFL history, he ran for 1,000 yards eight times, he scored four Super Bowl touchdowns. So overrated he’s underrated?

18. Tony Dorsett

Did you know that Dorsett never led the league in rushing? He only finished in the Top 5 three times — and one of those was in the strike year. He was first-team All-Pro once. But for many years when you asked any running back in the NFL who was their favorite player as a kid, it was ALWAYS Dorsett.

19. Marcus Allen

It’s amazing that after Allen led the NFL with 1,759 yards rushing in 1985 that he never again got even 225 carries in a season. I got to watch him at the end, when he was basically the designated touchdown scorer for Marty Schottenheimer’s Kansas City Chiefs… few could dive over the top like Allen.

20. Lenny Moore

More receiver than running back, but three times in his career he averaged more than 7 yards per carry. Dazzling and beautiful runner, who twice led the NFL in touchdowns.

21. Priest Holmes

Well, of course, my old chess partner is on my list. But I would challenge you to find a running back who was any better than Holmes from 2001 through 2003. Had more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage all three years, set the NFL record for touchdowns (since broken), and his 2002 season, had he not gotten hurt against Denver in the 14th game, would have been, I feel certain, the best season a running back has ever had in NFL history. He ran for 1,615 yards in 13 1/2 games, averaged 5.2 yards per carry, caught 70 passes, scored 24 touchdowns.

22. Jim Taylor

Vince Lombardi: “What we want to get is a seal here and seal here, and run the ball in the alley.”

23. Larry Csonka

“I hated playing those Dolphins,” one NFL Hall of Famer told me once. “You would be fighting and fighting and then, fourth quarter, here comes that damned Larry Csonka.”

24. Chris Johnson

It’s too soon to put him here… but this is my list. To me, Chris Johnson is the fastest running back I’ve seen on a football field since Bo Jackson.

25. Joe Perry

Fast enough that they called him “The Jet,” even though he played fullback. He’s the first NFL player to go over 1,000 yards two straight seasons — and he did it in the 12-game days.

26. Ollie Matson

Electrifying runner… all you really need to know about Matson is that he scored NINE kick- and punt-return return touchdowns between 1952 and 1958. In those six years (he missed 1953 while serving in the military), he had 16 touchdowns that covered 60 yards or more.

27. Hugh McElhenny

The called him “The King,” and few players in NFL history made as many dazzling runs.

28. Steve Van Buren

Another great book. He was a power back who was born in Honduras, and was sent to New Orleans to live with his grandparents. He led the NFL in rushing four times in five years and led Philadelphia to back-to-back NFL championships in 1948 and ’49.

29. Edgerrin James

Famously taken before Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams in the draft, and promptly led the league in rushing his first two seasons, then dealt with injuries, then had back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons for terrific Colts teams in the mid-2000s. Versatile player who could catch and block as well.

30. Curtis Martin

Would it stun you if I told you that Curtis Martin is fourth all-time in rushing? Stunned the heck out of me. But Martin really was a terrific back who ran for 1,200 or so yards every year, caught the ball, scored 10 or so touchdowns. He ran for 1,000-plus yards 10 times — only Emmitt Smith did it more.

31. Leroy Kelly

Was a great punt returner who was given the job as Cleveland Browns running back when Jim Brown suddenly retired. He led the NFL in rushing two of the next three seasons and in touchdowns all three years. .

32. Frank Gifford

Was so versatile that it’s hard to call him a running back. He spent much of his career as a flanker, receiver, and even when he was technically a halfback he was still as much a threat catching the ball as anything else. And he WANTED to be a quarterback. Still, he was a truly great runner who still insists to this day that he picked up the first down that would have put away the legendary 1958 NFL Championship Game.

Demonpenz · 08-10-2010, 12:31 AM

****ing vince carter of the nfl.

**CrazyPhuD** · 08-10-2010, 01:05 AM

That's all that really needs to be said. As a runner, emmit smith couldn't even hold barry's jock strap. Now to be fair, that's probably partly because he had his hand full of trophies.

Demonpenz · 08-10-2010, 01:27 AM

well there is more to a RB than running. Blocking passing catching throwing making the superbowl shuffle video.....

Saccopoo · 08-10-2010, 02:15 AM

Perhaps unsung and forgotten in this new offensive league, but when he was running, he and OJ were neck and neck for the best back in the league. Took an iceball to the face from a shithole Buffalo fan to keep him from the NFL TD record at the time.

I give you:

Chuck Foreman.

KCinNY · 08-10-2010, 06:38 AM

One of my best friends in the world is a die hard Lions fan. He loved Sanders' highlight reel runs as much as anybody. But he always complained that he would dance and tippy toe behind the line, get tackled and put his team in 2nd and 12 rather than put his head down, get 3 yards and give his offense a decent shot with 2nd and 7. Those runs didn't make Sportscenter, but they happened every game.

Personally, I can think of a dozen guys I'd rather have on my team than Sanders.

Deberg_1990 · 08-10-2010, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCinNY

But he always complained that he would dance and tippy toe behind the line, get tackled and put his team in 2nd and 12 rather than put his head down, get 3 yards and give his offense a decent shot with 2nd and 7. Those runs didn't make Sportscenter, but they happened every game.

Exactly. Which is why i would take Emmit in his prime over Sanders.

Sofa King · 08-10-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Priest Holmes #21

9. Bo Jackson

He already was in Super Tecmo Bowl.

It's Tecmo Super Bowl you ****ing tard....

If you're going to move someone up this high on a list because of a game, at least get the name of the game right...

**buddha** · 08-10-2010, 08:57 AM

Anybody who puts Sayers outside of the top five never really got to see him run. OJ is a murdering a-hole, but they would still be counting up his yards and TDs had he played for the great Dallas teams that Smith was on. OJ was a freak of nature. You knew he was getting the ball and you simply couldn't stop him. As much as I like Earl Campbell, both Sayers and OJ were greater RBs than he was.

Jim Brown was and still is the best of all time.

BTW, putting Frank Gifford on the list is ridiculous. Go with somebody who played the position...how about Okoye?

08-09-2010, 09:05 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3474454	JoPo: 32 Greatest Running Backs Priest Holmes #21 http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/08/0...cks/?eref=sihp 1. Jim Brown The best there ever was or ever will be. I am required by place of birth to believe it, and I do believe it with all my heart. The ultimate combination of power, speed and, mostly, will. Led the league in rushing every year but one. 2. Walter Payton Emmitt Smith’s hero… he ran the ball, caught the ball, threw the ball and blocked with fury. 3. Emmitt Smith Didn’t block like Payton, which is why he’s third… but did not really have much need to block. 4. Barry Sanders Most exciting running back in the history of the NFL. 5. Earl Campbell Was only truly great for three seasons… but those happened to be the three years when I fell in love with professional football. Of all the football players I’ve ever watched, Earl Campbell is the one who leaves me in awe. 6. Marshall Faulk Another player everyone remembers being great, but I think was even greater. Was in many ways one of a kind — a receiver who played running back, and a running back who played receiver. Charley Taylor was like that, so was Bobby Mitchell, Lenny Moore… but Faulk blended the talents in a way that I think was unique. His single-season record for most yards from scrimmage was broken last year by Chris Johnson. 7. O.J. Simpson Power, speed, moves and 2,003 yards in 14 games. 8. Gale Sayers The most graceful running back in NFL history. 9. Bo Jackson I was trying to think how high I could legitimately put a player who got only 515 carries in the NFL. This is probably too high. But it’s my list. In those 515 carries, Bo Jackson had a 92-yard run, a 91-yard run, an 88-yard run, a 73-yard run, a 62-yard run and a 55-yard run. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry. There was never, in the history of the NFL, a player with his combination of speed, power, speed, force, speed and speed. Injuries wreck running backs — part of greatness is staying healthy long enough to achieve. But I have no doubt in my mind that had Jackson stayed healthy, he would have been the greatest running back ever. He already was in Super Tecmo Bowl. 10. Red Grange Basically invented pro football with his running talents. 11. Eric Dickerson Twenty-six years later, and still his 2,105 yards in a season is the record. As coaches often said, he didn’t look fast… but nobody ever caught him from behind. 12. Marion Motley Led the NFL in rushing in 1950 while wearing No. 76 — which says just about all you need to say. One of the most important players in NFL history, and one of the best. Would be a great book, I think. Averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his career. 13. LaDainian Tomlinson Touchdown machine who led the league in rushing twice and once caught 100 passes in a season. 14. Bronko Nagurski I think he basically invented a brand of power running that would later serve John Riggins, Larry Csonka, Jerome Bettis and others very well. 15. Terrell Davis The best running backs tend to be shooting stars who are extraordinary for three or four or five years before being ground into dust. It’s the peril of the position. From 1995 through ’98, Terrell Davis was about as good as any running back ever. I don’t have much feel for the football Hall of Fame, but my gut instinct is that Davis — even though those four years are essentially his entire career — belongs there. 16. Thurman Thomas Led the league in yards from scrimmage four straight years… he was one of the most versatile running backs in NFL history. 17. Franco Harris I have mixed emotions about Franco. He has been called overrated so many times by so many people that it’s hard not to let that affect your thinking. He DID run out of bounds a lot. But he also was the running force behind four Pittsburgh Steelers championships, he made perhaps the most famous play in NFL history, he ran for 1,000 yards eight times, he scored four Super Bowl touchdowns. So overrated he’s underrated? 18. Tony Dorsett Did you know that Dorsett never led the league in rushing? He only finished in the Top 5 three times — and one of those was in the strike year. He was first-team All-Pro once. But for many years when you asked any running back in the NFL who was their favorite player as a kid, it was ALWAYS Dorsett. 19. Marcus Allen It’s amazing that after Allen led the NFL with 1,759 yards rushing in 1985 that he never again got even 225 carries in a season. I got to watch him at the end, when he was basically the designated touchdown scorer for Marty Schottenheimer’s Kansas City Chiefs… few could dive over the top like Allen. 20. Lenny Moore More receiver than running back, but three times in his career he averaged more than 7 yards per carry. Dazzling and beautiful runner, who twice led the NFL in touchdowns. 21. Priest Holmes Well, of course, my old chess partner is on my list. But I would challenge you to find a running back who was any better than Holmes from 2001 through 2003. Had more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage all three years, set the NFL record for touchdowns (since broken), and his 2002 season, had he not gotten hurt against Denver in the 14th game, would have been, I feel certain, the best season a running back has ever had in NFL history. He ran for 1,615 yards in 13 1/2 games, averaged 5.2 yards per carry, caught 70 passes, scored 24 touchdowns. 22. Jim Taylor Vince Lombardi: “What we want to get is a seal here and seal here, and run the ball in the alley.” 23. Larry Csonka “I hated playing those Dolphins,” one NFL Hall of Famer told me once. “You would be fighting and fighting and then, fourth quarter, here comes that damned Larry Csonka.” 24. Chris Johnson It’s too soon to put him here… but this is my list. To me, Chris Johnson is the fastest running back I’ve seen on a football field since Bo Jackson. 25. Joe Perry Fast enough that they called him “The Jet,” even though he played fullback. He’s the first NFL player to go over 1,000 yards two straight seasons — and he did it in the 12-game days. 26. Ollie Matson Electrifying runner… all you really need to know about Matson is that he scored NINE kick- and punt-return return touchdowns between 1952 and 1958. In those six years (he missed 1953 while serving in the military), he had 16 touchdowns that covered 60 yards or more. 27. Hugh McElhenny The called him “The King,” and few players in NFL history made as many dazzling runs. 28. Steve Van Buren Another great book. He was a power back who was born in Honduras, and was sent to New Orleans to live with his grandparents. He led the NFL in rushing four times in five years and led Philadelphia to back-to-back NFL championships in 1948 and ’49. 29. Edgerrin James Famously taken before Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams in the draft, and promptly led the league in rushing his first two seasons, then dealt with injuries, then had back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons for terrific Colts teams in the mid-2000s. Versatile player who could catch and block as well. 30. Curtis Martin Would it stun you if I told you that Curtis Martin is fourth all-time in rushing? Stunned the heck out of me. But Martin really was a terrific back who ran for 1,200 or so yards every year, caught the ball, scored 10 or so touchdowns. He ran for 1,000-plus yards 10 times — only Emmitt Smith did it more. 31. Leroy Kelly Was a great punt returner who was given the job as Cleveland Browns running back when Jim Brown suddenly retired. He led the NFL in rushing two of the next three seasons and in touchdowns all three years. . 32. Frank Gifford Was so versatile that it’s hard to call him a running back. He spent much of his career as a flanker, receiver, and even when he was technically a halfback he was still as much a threat catching the ball as anything else. And he WANTED to be a quarterback. Still, he was a truly great runner who still insists to this day that he picked up the first down that would have put away the legendary 1958 NFL Championship Game. Last edited by Deberg_1990; 08-10-2010 at 09:31 AM..
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08-10-2010, 12:31 AM	#46
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $2692136	****ing vince carter of the nfl. __________________
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08-10-2010, 01:05 AM	#47
CrazyPhuD Meow Join Date: Jun 2005 Casino cash: $10005050	That's all that really needs to be said. As a runner, emmit smith couldn't even hold barry's jock strap. Now to be fair, that's probably partly because he had his hand full of trophies. __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t*rd by the clean end"
Posts: 8,523

08-10-2010, 01:27 AM	#48
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $2692136	well there is more to a RB than running. Blocking passing catching throwing making the superbowl shuffle video..... __________________
Posts: 54,357

08-10-2010, 02:15 AM	#49
Saccopoo Kindness in words... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zion Casino cash: $10025483	Perhaps unsung and forgotten in this new offensive league, but when he was running, he and OJ were neck and neck for the best back in the league. Took an iceball to the face from a shithole Buffalo fan to keep him from the NFL TD record at the time. I give you: Chuck Foreman.
Posts: 15,450

08-10-2010, 06:38 AM	#50
KCinNY Chiefs Goon Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Center Ice Casino cash: $10008350	One of my best friends in the world is a die hard Lions fan. He loved Sanders' highlight reel runs as much as anybody. But he always complained that he would dance and tippy toe behind the line, get tackled and put his team in 2nd and 12 rather than put his head down, get 3 yards and give his offense a decent shot with 2nd and 7. Those runs didn't make Sportscenter, but they happened every game. Personally, I can think of a dozen guys I'd rather have on my team than Sanders. __________________ We must sacrifice the one they call "True Fan."
Posts: 1,497

08-10-2010, 08:57 AM	#53
buddha You may think you know... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Casino cash: $10006184	Anybody who puts Sayers outside of the top five never really got to see him run. OJ is a murdering a-hole, but they would still be counting up his yards and TDs had he played for the great Dallas teams that Smith was on. OJ was a freak of nature. You knew he was getting the ball and you simply couldn't stop him. As much as I like Earl Campbell, both Sayers and OJ were greater RBs than he was. Jim Brown was and still is the best of all time. BTW, putting Frank Gifford on the list is ridiculous. Go with somebody who played the position...how about Okoye?
Posts: 2,183