Best NFL RB of all time....(ability wise)

[primetime]

who do you think is the best NFL RB of all time? my choice? Barry Sanders. if he didnt retire early, that rushing record would have been shredded. too bad he didnt have a good team around him, then he would have won championships. but based on pure ability, he is the best ever.

 

[tickletoy3]

Bo Jackson - Oakland Raiders. The man gained 1900 yards in a single season - playing HALF a season. He is the only man to START the NFL Pro Bowl and MLB All Star game in the same year. The man was incredible on any field.

 

[jaymoney]

Without a doubt it's Barry Sanders. The man was amazing. He most definitly would have broken the rushing record if he would have continued to play and to do it for the Lions, that's an accomplishment in it's self.

 

[Hahathna]

I'm from Detroit... and have been and will always be a Lions' fan, so the answer for me has to be BARRY!!!

The Lions were a pretty mediocre team while he was there (they made the play-offs a few times, but always got beat in the first round), but the same thing was true for Walter Payton and the Bears. Barry's greatness came from the fact that he accomplished what he did playing in a "Run and Shoot" style SINGLE BACK offense for most of his career. Barry didn't have a fullback to blow open holes in the line for him. He was pretty much doing it on his own.

Oh... the other great thing about Barry Sanders... humility. If you asked him this question, his answer would be Jim Brown and then Walter Payton.

 

[b0xr]

I would have to say OJ Simpson was the best RB I have seen on a regular basis. The man had his post career issues as everyone knows,(double homicide) but on that playing field he was the best of the best.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Another easy one for me ... Barry Sanders is the greatest running back ever. I come from Buffalo , so O.J. or Thurman might be my obvious choices here ( despite his , um ... "trouble with the law" , O.J. was a great back ... top 5 easy ) , but Barry Sanders is/was the greatest ball-carrier I've ever seen ... & he did what he did w/almost NO help around him. Jim Brown would get my second-place vote.

 

[Ray<3tiklishft]

Barry was the best pure runner. Ask Rod Woodson.
Emmitt was the best all around back.
Bo Jackson was a Beast. Ask The 'Boz'.
O.J. was a great RB but Orenthal is a murderer.

Why isn't 'He Hate Me' on the list?

 

[Docsoul]

No question... Barry Sanders. Had Barry Sanders had Emmitt Smith's O-line or did not have Scott Mitchell throwing pic after pic after pic....the Lions would have had a 49ers / Patriots/ Steelers like Dynasty. He would have long eclipsed Payton's rushing record. Emmitt is not a better rusher than Barry....No way.

 

[Deuce]

I would have to pick Barry also, when you look at who he had blocking for him compared to the likes of other great backs but he was still able to find that hole and make a tackler look like a rookie. I think it he didn't retire Emmitt would still be chasing Barry

 

[Druidici]

Being I'm a Jets fan I'd have to say my man Curtis Martin is a good pick other than that I like Jim Brown too.

 

[natural tickler]

Walter is the best, no question. He did things as a RB, but with the power of a fullback. He loved giving punishment, and that sets him apart from the rest

 

[german]

I say Bo Jackson

 

[Prime]

i voted for barry sanders...also he gets kudos for leaving the game before it took a serious toll on his body. Nice to see someone bow out in their prime instead of when its all going downhill.

 

[Horatio]

Barry - I'm glad others agree

but - are you sure that Bo rushed for 1900 yards in 1/2 a season? That would be amazing.

Bo gets my "Best Athlete Ever" award, though.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

but - are you sure that Bo rushed for 1900 yards in 1/2 a season? That would be amazing.

Bo gets my "Best Athlete Ever" award, though.

I'm pretty sure the most yards Bo Jackson ever rushed for in a single season was 800-somethin'. Of course , since Bo also played baseball , a single football season for him was about 8 to 12 games ... so I think some people just project that IF he were to ever have played a full 16-game season , he WOULD have rushed for 1900 yards. We can only imagine the greatness that Bo could have achieved if he were to commit to the Raiders full-time ... 'cause maaaaaaaaaan , that dude could RUN!