My top 10 backs of all time

[NY Greenman]

Look I know I'm biased because I'm a Jets fan but Curtis Martin is 4th all time in rushing yards, 3rd in rushing attempts, and 12th in rushing TD's. Maybe in time AP beats him out, but not yet, and I can't put Bettis ahead of him either.

[NormSizedMidget]

There is a

REALLY REALLY REALLY good list.

I can't argue any of it.

if anything I'd swap Emmitt and Faulk but that makes sense to.

I'd always slide in Sayers somewhere but I understand the idea of not.

[WOwolfOL]

Jim Brown was like Ray Lewis at FB but in a time where defenders were not that big, it just wasn't fair. Watch the highlights and its like Tecmo Bowl the way players bounced off of him.

[bagwell368]

Jim Brown was like Ray Lewis at FB but in a time where defenders were not that big, it just wasn't fair. Watch the highlights and its like Tecmo Bowl the way players bounced off of him.

Yup, in his time he sweeps everyone away (although he fumbled a bit much). Little known fact: he's widely believed to be the best lacrosse player of all time.

If I was just picking a tandem of guys in their prime - it would be Campbell and Brown (against defenders of their time). 3rd down and long back? Faulk

[Bigdaddyburch]

I wonder how high up that list Bo Jackson would have been if he had stayed healthy...

Not that high really. The guy only played half a season. Yes he was good but Allen who would play the whole season was much more valuable. Hard to rank a guy who did not put football first and dedicate himself to it as a all time great.

[Bigdaddyburch]

1a. Walter Payton
1b. Jim Brown-I personally cant put Brown above Payton or Payton above Brown.
2. Barry Sanders-I have to move him to tree just because how special elite elusive he was even with his glaring shortcomings.
3. O.J. Simpson
4. Marcus Allen-How you missed him on your list baffles me. Yes Dickerson was great I just dont think that great.
5. Earl Campbell
6. Emmitt Smith
7. Marshal Faulk
8. Erik Dickerson
9a. LaDainian Tomlinson
9b. Curtis Martin
9c. Tony Dorsett- Earl Campbell , and Payton were my all time favorites to watch growing up.

10. Adrian Peterson

Peterson is not done. Time will tell if he can move up the list.

[CCRider]

I gotta go with...

1.Jim Brown....nobody dominated their era like he did.
2.Barry Sanders....to do what he did on that team...wow!
3.Walter Payton...the total package.
4.Gale Sayers.....the greatest broken field runner of all time. Remember he was also a great kick returner, something unique for a featured back. Would you believe he had an older brother Roger who was faster than he was. Roger once beat Bob Hayes in a 100.
5.Adrian Peterson...he's doing his thing against the greatest defensive athletes the NFL has ever seen.
6.Earl Campbell....the ultimate power back.
7.Marion Mottley....he retired with a 5.7 average. Had seasons with 6 plus averages a carry.
8.Eric Dickerson....soooooooooooo smooth.
9.Marcus Allen...deadly inside the 20, could catch. could run.
10.O.J. Simpson...actually saw him run track while at SFCC, the fastest of the great backs.
11.Jerome Bettis...a monster.
12. Marshall Faulk...how did a kid from Louisiana end up at SDS?
13.LaDainian Tomlinson...why isn't he higher?
14.Tony Dorsett...see Eric Dickerson
15.Emmitt Smith...he had too many runs where he didn't have to run the first 4 yards.
16.Curtis Martin...he has to be here.
17.Roger Craig...why isn't he in the HOF?
18.Joe "The Jet" Perry...first player in NFL jistory to have back to back 1000 yard seasons. Still on the all time rushing list. Came out of Compton JC.
19.Cookie Gilchrist...250 pounder who went straight from HS to the CFL,then the Billls. The old AFL's Jim Brown.
20.George Reed...he still holds CFL records and he played back in the 60's.

Sorry...

Bo Jackson
Hugh "The King:" McElhenny
Thurmon Thomas
Edgerrin James
Franco Harris
John Riggins
Jim Taylor

So what running back scored....

rushing
receiving
passing
punt return
kickoff return
PAT
FG

...???

[Bigdaddyburch]

All those backs listed (and a really good list even if I disagree with some still well put together) and no room for Terrell Davis on it?

[ReBirthofNumber81]

1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Barry Sanders
4. O.J. Simpson
5. Earl Campbell
6. Gale Sayers
7. Emmitt Smith
8. Marcus Allen
9. Erik Dickerson
10.LaDainian Tomlinson

Just missed list

Marshall Faulk
Curtis Martin
Terrell Davis
Bo Jackson
Jerome Bettis
Franco harris
Adrian Peterson (still got a career to finish out)

[Joker117]

Top 5 power backs-

Jim brown possibly the definition of power back lol (if u never saw his highlights plz go look do yourself a favor),

Eric Dickerson running over ppl or getting his jersey torn off was pretty amazing ,

Jerome bettis ,

Earl Campbell

Top 5 speed/elusive backs (yes I know can be different but I don't want to spread it out to much)-Barry sanders ,

gale Sayers (amazing) ,

Walter Payton (he wasn't as elusive and fast as Barry..better RB though),

Bo Jackson

Oj Simpson


Top 5 receiving backs

Marshall Faulk

LDT

Throw in Marcus Allen here hmm


Whose on those lists ...can't be on more than one just to make it interesting (adds new names)

Didn't really order it and didn't even finish keep feeling torn ..

The guys who are top backs that I feel did it without super talents like amazing power , speed , elusiveness , ability, hands ect would be

Curtis sooo underrated Martin

Emitt smith I think is overrated but he did get the record and so on..

TD had talent but wasn't the fastest or strongest just overall good solid back who was amazingly productive

There's others and i wouldn't usually put TD here but I can't recall him standing out specifically in one way

[bwallstreet]

Earl Campbell does not belong on this list

and I am pretty sure I'm the only one in here with an Earl Campbell throwback hanging in my closet and Im 25...before someone says Im a hater or dont know what im talking about

[MinnesotaFtw]

1. Walter Payton
2. Jim Brown
3. Barry Sanders
4. OJ Simpson
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Earl Campbell
7. Marshall Faulk
8. Adrian Peterson (Will end up in the top 4)
9. Ladanian Tomlinson
10. Marcus Allen

Honorable Mentions

Curtis Martin
Jerome Bettis

[MJL80]

Look I know I'm biased because I'm a Jets fan but Curtis Martin is 4th all time in rushing yards, 3rd in rushing attempts, and 12th in rushing TD's. Maybe in time AP beats him out, but not yet, and I can't put Bettis ahead of him either.

Not a Jets fan, but I agree with you.

Don't get me wrong, Jerome Bettis was a beast, but I've always thought he was a little overrated.

[TheMoneyTeam]

lol No Marcus Allen?

[Fired-Up]

For Terrell Davis I left him off because he fell short of 8000 yards. His body of work just didn't stack up. He was awesome, but his workload destroyed him.

Marcus Allen I left off because he only cleared 1000 yards just three times in 16 years.