Story of the Greatest RB ever.

Thanksgiving isn’t the same anymore without Barry Sanders.

yeah but it is nice not having to worry about choking on your food when he makes an awesome play, lol.

Offiss, I don't remember actually seeing the game but I've seen enough highlights of that famous Oilers vs. Dolphins MNF game in '78 when Campbell stormed for 4 TDs to know that he was a beast of a back

Still I find it interesting that you're saying Campbell is the most gifted back, regardless of longevity. If I'm understanding you right, are you saying that on his best day Payton couldn't be as good as Campbell on his best day?

Offiss, I don't remember actually seeing the game but I've seen enough highlights of that famous Oilers vs. Dolphins MNF game in '78 when Campbell stormed for 4 TDs to know that he was a beast of a back

Still I find it interesting that you're saying Campbell is the most gifted back, regardless of longevity. If I'm understanding you right, are you saying that on his best day Payton couldn't be as good as Campbell on his best day?

I will tell you what, if you get a chance to see highlight's of both and are able to compare, you will see something that I really haven't heard to many people talk about, and that is how similar both of their running style's were, Earl is a bigger stronger version of walter, he could do just about everthing walter could do running wise, only he was an absolute battering ram, not that walter was a slouch in that department, [infact walter pound for pound may have been the strongest RB I ever saw] but Earl was special, he just punished people, he had great balance as well as break away speed, infact he may have been faster than walter, but when he got into the open field he went looking for people to hit, which also lead to his early retirement, as well as he didn't condition himself like walter did, and I love Walter peyton, but 1 game? I am going with Earl!

Little suprised Terrel Davis hasn't been mentioned. He didn't play for long, but those few years were incrediable.

while I agree that his postseason performances weren't great, a couple of those r misleading since the team fell behind so far they had to give up the run but in both of those games he average around 4 yards per carry.

and on a side note, r we ranking rbs as far as actual stats or just who we think were the 5 best rbs?

I was just listing them as 5 favorite RB's, not stats wise. Stats can be misleading. For example Emmit Smith played most of his career on some great teams and with some of the best offensive lineman in the game. Walter Payton, O.J Simpson and Earl Campbell did not always play with a dominating O-line like Emmit Smith did for most of his career.

Ragarding Barry Sanders post season stats, the Green Bay game and his minus 1 yards on 13 carries is exactly what the one thing I do not like about him.
Let me preface this by repeating Barry is one of the top 8 greatest RB's to ever play the game. HIs highlight reel is one of the best.
But the one and only thing I did not like about Barry is he was very one dimensional back. He was always trying to break the long run. He would sometimes run side ways and backwards behind the line of scrimage way to much. It seemed ALMOST selfish on Barry's part when the team only needed 1 to 2 yards for a first down and Barry lost 5 yards because he was darting and weaving behind the line looking for the perfect hole. His inability to just dive into a small hole and take the small 3 to 4 yard gain was sometimes frustrating. I am not sure if the NFL or anyone else tracks this stat, but I bet Barry would lead all the top 10 RB's of all time in running plays that took a loss. It seemed like for every great long run he broke off he would get 2 to 3 runs for losses.

Little suprised Terrel Davis hasn't been mentioned. He didn't play for long, but those few years were incrediable.

terrel was definitely a beast... i think he'll always be looked at as a product of the system (in addition to his shortened career) though. Anderson, Portis, and (to some extent last season) Griffin all did well as Broncos within the span of a decade. This year, Griffin, Bell, and Hearst will all probably make a fine trio.

terrel was definitely a beast... i think he'll always be looked at as a product of the system (in addition to his shortened career) though. Anderson, Portis, and (to some extent last season) Griffin all did well as Broncos within the span of a decade. This year, Griffin, Bell, and Hearst will all probably make a fine trio.
Don't forget Olandis Gary popped a 1,000-yarder in there, too.

Tonight's edition of Sports List had their Top 10 RBs of all time:

10) Earl Campbell
9) Tony Dorsett
8) Marcus Allen
7) Eric Dickerson
6) Gayle Sayers
5) OJ
4) Emmitt Smith
3) Barry Sanders
2) Walter Payton
1) Jim Brown

Barry still tops my list, but it's cool that this thread pretty much went back and forth between the top 3 (this board is pretty damn knowledgeable).

If you haven't seen Sports List yet, it's a pretty cool show... You won't always agree with their rankings (Skins/Cowboys was 6 or 7 all time greatest pro sports rivalry), but I like the way they use athletes, coaches, and entertainers for soundbytes. It's stylistically much like that whole "I Love the 90s" series on VH1. Plus I've had a crush on Summer Sanders since she was in the Olympics hehehe.

What channel do they play Sports List on, itvnetop?

comcast sportsnet, late night i believe... i've seen a couple, and they're not too bad compared to what else is on.