since ya'll needed a thread I'll now reiterate =D who was the best back of all time

Wow.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:11 AM - reply - flag:

I like OJ beacuse of his ability to slash left to right.

posted by HATER 187 at 11:17 AM - reply - flag:

franco harris, merril hoge, lynn chandnois, barry foster, rocky blier, bam morris, jerome bettis, willie parker, joe geri, dick hoak, duce staley, and tom tracy

posted by steelcityguy at 11:21 AM - reply - flag:

Barry Sanders. Best ever. Maybe best that will ever be. Hands down. No contest. Not even close. Everyone else is fighting for 2nd place.

posted by commander cody at 11:32 AM - reply - flag:

Ricky Williams can light up a defense like a blunt.

posted by bucsforever at 11:37 AM - reply - flag:

If there was someway to meld OJ's slashing, Ricky Williams's light-everythingness and Onterrio Smith's -inator ability... that would be the best back ever. Can you even imagine? Absent that though, I think I might agree on Bam Bam.

posted by panoptican at 11:39 AM - reply - flag:

Running back? Quarterback? Cornerback? Slotback? Defensive back? Fullback? Halfback? Eighthback? Dimeback? Pennyback? Tenthback?

posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:41 AM - reply - flag:

There seems to be some confusion here. We all didn't need anything. You want to discuss the best running back of all-time. Your thread got deleted. So you Googled some phrase that led you to a 2002 Week 8 poll on ESPN.com and posted that. Fantastic. Thanks.

posted by yerfatma at 11:55 AM - reply - flag:

It was all worth it for an OJ joke.

posted by HATER 187 at 12:00 PM - reply - flag:

Gonna go with Payton because of his determination, perserverance and I'm from Chicago, but Barry Sanders is a close second. I mean, he played for the Lion's and still averaged 1500 yards and 10 td a season. The best quote I ever heard was Richard Dent saying you hope you tackle him

posted by timdawg at 12:01 PM - reply - flag:

Hater, I laughed at your OJ joke. (If the so-called Lions fan posts in this thread again, I'll eat my hat. He's not even reading this.) And picking from everyone that's been mentioned so far? Bam Morris. What the hell.

posted by chicobangs at 12:12 PM - reply - flag:

Gale Sayers was pretty damn good. Short career because of his knee.

posted by Desert Dog at 12:21 PM - reply - flag:

Barry Sanders was a pleasure to watch, it was a shame he retired so early or this would be a different conversation. Walter Payton was tough and had so much heart. Neither of them had much talent around them on offense and both were class acts. Jim Brown was by far the most dominant back of his time. He would run people over and then burn past the rest of the defense. So much power and speed. To say that no back in history even comes close to Sanders is just stupid. I love Sanders, but I think those three backs are so close that it is hard to determine the best. They were all in different era's of football. They all had a different style of running and they all did damage.

posted by Jeffro71984 at 12:37 PM - reply - flag:

I thought English was the language used round these parts?

posted by salmacis at 12:51 PM - reply - flag:

He hasn't even gotten started yet, but LaDanian Tomlinson will be at the top of this list when his career is over. For now....I have to go with Barry. He juked people out of their shoes every Sunday, and put up awesome numbers on a terrible team... But O.J. will always be the best Slasher....

posted by socal4life at 01:02 PM - reply - flag:

English? Pish posh. I think someone must've posted a link to this really cool sports message board on some popular website. But instead, they used all sorts of numbers and shortspeak. I don't know that language though.

posted by panoptican at 01:17 PM - reply - flag:

DrJ.... You forgot one...

posted by MeatSaber at 01:43 PM - reply - flag:

Why does Emmitt Smith never get mentioned in these things? He had a complete game and unlike some great backs was willing and able to block (I'm looking at you, Jim brown) he played at an incredibly high level and was incredibly consistent, if not the flashiest guy out there. If we're talking about best at the RB position, not just best at running the ball, he gets my vite.

posted by drjimmy11 at 01:46 PM - reply - flag:

or my vote.

posted by drjimmy11 at 01:47 PM - reply - flag:

There are three categories that really make a good back and here are my picks for those categories along with the best back. Marshall Faulk = Best All-Around Back Ever Barry Sanders = Best "running" back Marshall Faulk = Best "recieving" back Marshall Faulk = Best "blocking" back

posted by mcstan13 at 01:58 PM - reply - flag:

"Jim Brown is to running backs what Superman is to cartoon heroes." Jim Brown was the best ever. He's before my time, but that's what the guys I admired say, so I'll take their word for it. And the evidence is there for anyone that wants to look. My faves were O.J. Simpson and Walter Payton. But the most awesome RB that I have ever seen -- on TV and in-person -- was Earl Campbell. Even when you watched him, you winced. Not just at the linebackers trying to put up a brick wall and stop him -- which he ruthlessly punished -- but also the abuse that Campbell put himself through. He laid his body on the line. If he was the sort that ran outta bounds all the time (hello Eric Dickerson) he might have preserved himself and put together more seasons. But what he gave was simply amazing, and his refusal to run out of bounds is the stuff that lives in memory.

posted by the red terror at 02:21 PM - reply - flag:

I like Craig "IronHead" Heyward. But just because of his nickname. Maybe Frank Gifford. Marcus Allen, he was brave enough to hose OJ's old lady and smart enough to stop when he started killin' MFers. (Then again, hosing her after OJ killed her isn't much fun, er so I have heard) Larry Czonka flat ran over folks in the early 70's Boppin' Bo Jackson was some for real tough

posted by Wrigley South at 02:39 PM - reply - flag:

Pure running back - Barry Sanders Bruiser - Jim Brown Could have been the best of both but...... Bo Jackson

posted by scottypup at 02:41 PM - reply - flag:

Okay, if we're veering off topic into "coulda been, shoulda been," then I have to go with Billy Sims. If his knee hadn't detonated like cheap TNT in 1984, he could have easily made every top ten list ever made. 5,100 yds, 42 TD in just over four years. And, if we're not veering, then Walter Payton. The man had the deadliest stiffarm in football history, and might as well have been made out of concrete, he was so tough.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 03:06 PM - reply - flag:

As a longtime Bills fan, there was no one who could rip like OJ, slice through the smallest slit to pierce the soft underbelly of the defense, or cover territory dragging Broncos with him. No matter how you dissect it, that prick carved teams up, plus add his ability to escape punishment at the last second. OJ makes the cut.

posted by sfts2 at 03:20 PM - reply - flag:

I think tony dorsett was one of the best,but payton still has the record proof.....

posted by Txwinner at 03:24 PM - reply - flag:

the only thing o.j. is cutting with is a knife LMAO.......

posted by Txwinner at 03:26 PM - reply - flag:

In terms of all-around ability, Jim Brown. As for a big-yardage runner, Barry Sanders. For a recieving back, well I'd have to go with Marshall Faulk. And, for a steady, dependable back, I like Emmitt Smith.

posted by RScannix at 03:27 PM - reply - flag:

If you were starting a brand new team and had to pick a back to build your offense around, it's Marshall Faulk for my team.

posted by STLCardinalfan at 03:42 PM - reply - flag:

Very well put sfts2. I couldn't of said it better.

posted by panoptican at 03:46 PM - reply - flag:

I FORGOT ABOUT FAULK HE IS A GOOD ONE TOO.... THATS A LOT COMING FROM A COWBOY FAN LMAO......

posted by Txwinner at 03:54 PM - reply - flag:

I like Walter Payton with Earl Campbell a close second and John Riggins third.

posted by usroute17 at 04:17 PM - reply - flag:

I admit I am biased cause I am from Chicago, but, in my opinion, Walter was the best all around back ever! He could run over you, around you and through you. He blocked better than any back I have ever seen. He could pass and kick too. He was just a great all around back. Plus he had an awesome high stepping run. Gayle Sayers was the most entertaining. He was so graceful. Barry Sanders left you in awe. He and Payton were the most gracious sportsmen of their time. Let not forget about the Fridge; he got skills.

posted by panteeze at 04:33 PM - reply - flag:

Forgot to mention that Walter always got up immediately after being tackled, or after extending the ball an additional yard, that was his trademark. No one had more heart.

posted by panteeze at 04:35 PM - reply - flag:

Take earl campbell(red lion),jim brown(blue lion), barry sanders(green lion),and marshall faulk(yellow lion),put them all together and you get(VOLTRON) Walter Payton. When he "formed blazing sword"(his stiff arm) he was virtually unstopable.

posted by RZA at 05:21 PM - reply - flag:

Goddamn it, RZA, that was fucking brilliant. Now, can we start discussing the best punter of all-time? Because it's either Reggie Roby, Ray Guy or Herman "Thunderfoot" Weaver. So who you got?

posted by wfrazerjr at 05:55 PM - reply - flag:

Guy & Roby (deep breath) belong in Canton. Roby's moon shots were breathtaking, but Ray Guy was the best there ever was.

posted by chicobangs at 05:59 PM - reply - flag:

Shane Lechler could be the second Raiders' punter to be considered that good. That kid's been a field-position weapon for years.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:25 PM - reply - flag:

Don't forget about Chris Gardocki, he has never had a punt blocked yet as a pro!

posted by jojomfd1 at 12:00 AM - reply - flag:

I always loved Roby cos' he wore a wristwatch on the field...

posted by ajaffe at 07:29 AM - reply - flag:

My vote goes to Joe Theisman. His 2 yard punt in 1983 against the Bears is Hall of Fame stuff!

posted by panteeze at 10:33 AM - reply - flag:

PUNTERS, JUST LIKE KICKERS, ARE NOT FOOTBALL PLAYERS!

posted by bucsforever at 11:53 AM - reply - flag:

What? I couldn't hear you, Mister, uh, Forever. Could you speak up?

posted by chicobangs at 01:04 PM - reply - flag:

Jim Brown, hands down. 9 years, no miseed games, in a 12-game season. No bye weeks. Bus travel, segreagated hotels in the 50's. He didn't run out of bounds, he ran you over. If he played for 13 or 14 years in a 16-game season, this isn't even a discussion.

posted by tadley86 at 01:17 PM - reply - flag:

Since you referred to "Backs", how about the best linebackers. My vote goes to Ted "Mad Stork" Hendricks along with Dick Butkus.

posted by usroute17 at 05:24 PM - reply - flag:

PUNTERS, JUST LIKE KICKERS, ARE NOT FOOTBALL PLAYERS! posted by bucsforever at 11:53 AM CST on December 6 Yeah, I keep forgetting how the Bucs won the Super Bowl without the aid of a kicker or a punter all season long.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:37 AM - reply - flag:

Monday, December 05, 2005

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