CenTexDave
August 15th, 2010, 11:45 AM
With the recent induction of Emmit Smith into the Hall of Fame, it's opened up a bit of a debate at the VFW I hang out in as to who is the all-time greatest running back in NFL history.
The game has changed since the 1940's. Every decade it seems a bit different.
How about your choice and reasons?
Mine - Jim Brown. Totally above all the rest. The only RB is NFL history to average over 5 yards a carry for his career, and over 100 yards per game.
And remember, most of his career was a 12 game season and then 14 game season, and the only playoff game was if they were conference champs and made it to the NFL Championship Game. Hash marks were wider out then also, meaning if the ball was placed on a far right or left hash mark it about took away any chance of a sweep to that side so defenses could stack the line.
Other ones I would consider:
Marion Motley - FB for the old Browns. This guy was 6'1" and 250+ lbs, bigger than the offensive or defensive linemen. Only played about 6 years with the Browns. Was already a fairly old guy when the Browns joined the NFL.
O.J. Simpson - great RB. Glad he's finally enjoying his prison time.
Gale Sayers - injuries cut short his great career.
Walter Peyton - another Bear. Sweetness he was.
Erik Dickerson - at one time looked like he would break every record.
Barry Sanders - 2nd to Brown.
Emmit Smith - If I had the offensive line he had in Dallas and carried the ball as often as he did I'd be up there also.
The game has changed since the 1940's. Every decade it seems a bit different.
How about your choice and reasons?
Mine - Jim Brown. Totally above all the rest. The only RB is NFL history to average over 5 yards a carry for his career, and over 100 yards per game.
And remember, most of his career was a 12 game season and then 14 game season, and the only playoff game was if they were conference champs and made it to the NFL Championship Game. Hash marks were wider out then also, meaning if the ball was placed on a far right or left hash mark it about took away any chance of a sweep to that side so defenses could stack the line.
Other ones I would consider:
Marion Motley - FB for the old Browns. This guy was 6'1" and 250+ lbs, bigger than the offensive or defensive linemen. Only played about 6 years with the Browns. Was already a fairly old guy when the Browns joined the NFL.
O.J. Simpson - great RB. Glad he's finally enjoying his prison time.
Gale Sayers - injuries cut short his great career.
Walter Peyton - another Bear. Sweetness he was.
Erik Dickerson - at one time looked like he would break every record.
Barry Sanders - 2nd to Brown.
Emmit Smith - If I had the offensive line he had in Dallas and carried the ball as often as he did I'd be up there also.