Anyway, here are The Ten Best Running Backs I've Ever Seen:
1. Barry Sanders. No contest. With Sanders at #1, there isn't even really a #2. He was a head better than the rest. The speed, the crazy moves, the incredible leg strength, the refusal to give up on a run, the lack of showboating. One of the few ever to average 5.0 yards per carry for a career. 5 yards per carry for a career, and the best QB he ever played with was Scott Mitchell!! Only played in 6 playoff games. Best playoff game: 169 yards. Playoff yards per carry 4.2. As for his *mysterious* retirement, I believe he simply wanted to match the pattern of the role model his nutty dad set for him: Jim Brown. Sanders wanted to quit while he was still the best, and not hang on for a few years chasing records that would be broken, anyway, while struggling to average 4 yards per carry, the way Emmitt Smith did his last 5 years, and which is why you ain't gonna see Emmitt on my list of 10 Greatest RBs.
2. O.J. Simpson. Played on even worse teams than Barry Sanders, hung on two years too long, but still had a 4.7 yards per carry career average. His best QB was Joe Ferguson, ha! Only played in one playoff game, gaining 49 yards in 15 carries against the Steel Curtain in 1974. Speed, fluid moves, under-rated toughness. If Jim Kelly had the Juice instead of Thurman Thomas, the Bills win four straight Super Bowls. Still boggles my mind that this guy, who really had it all, the Heisman, the 2000 yard season, fame beyond the football field, ended up a double MURDERER, with that surreal Bronco freeway chase. . .the American Dream revealed to be the American Nightmare. Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
3. Earl Campbell. Unmatched combination of power and speed. A runaway bull, probably had the greatest Monday Night Game ever, 199 yards, 4 tds vs the Dolphins in 1978. Had three monster seasons to begin his NFL career, then the knees fell apart, and his last four years he was just a shell of his previous self. Best QB he ever played with: Dan Pastorini!! 4.3 yards per carry for career. Six playoff games. Best playoff game: 118 yards. 3.1 yards per carry in the playoffs.
4. Eric Dickerson. Big, fast, with a punishing upright style of running, similar to Adrian Peterson, except he didn't hit children. Hung around too long, watering his career yards per carry down to 4.4. Seven playoff games. Best playoff game: Playoff record 248 yards vs Dallas, 1986. 4.9 yards per carry in playoffs.
5. Billy Sims. A mini-Earl Campbell, his career cut short after 5 years by a devastating knee injury. Best QB he ever played with: Gary Danielson!! 4.5 yards per carry. Two playoff games. Best playoff game: 114 yards. 5.1 yards per carry in playoffs. Best karate kick run of All-Time:
6. Tony Dorsett. Actually played in and won a Super Bowl with Dallas in 1977. 4.3 yards per carry for career. 17 Playoff games. Best playoff game: 160 yards. 4.6 yards per carry in playoffs.
7. LaDanian Tomlinson. 4.3 yards per carry for career. 10 Playoff games. Best playoff game: 123 yards. 3.6 yards per carry in playoffs.
8. Duane Thomas. The Greatest Running Back Who Never Was. You know those old highlight reels of Jim Brown, where he looks like he's barely running, and nobody can catch him? Or it looks like he's just jogging through a hole, but the tacklers just bounce off him? Duane Thomas is the only running back I ever saw who matched that. Tom Landry's greatest coaching achievement was keeping this head case on the field for two years, both Super Bowl years, with one Super Bowl win. Strangest great football player of All-Time. Went the entire 1971 season without speaking to his coaches and teammates. When asked by Media prior to the 1972 Super Bowl what he thought about playing in the ultimate game, he responded: if it's the ultimate game, why are they playing it again next year? A surly, menacing negro, Thomas was voted the MVP of Super Bowl VI, but fearful of what he might say at the trophy banquet, the award was presented to goody-two-shoes Roger Staubach, instead. Look how nervous Tom Brookshier was interviewing him after the Super Bowl win:
Hard to believe, but Thomas became even moodier and more difficult to handle, and the Cowboys traded him to San Diego, but he failed to report, and missed the entire 1972 season. George Allen tried to get him to play for his famous Over-The-Hill-Gang Redskins teams in 1973 and 1974, but Thomas was a mere ghost of himself. I wonder what this crazy motherfucker is doing now? 4.5 yards per carry for career. 6 Playoff games. Best playoff game: 143 yards. 4.0 yards per carry in playoffs.
9. Bo Jackson. Beast. Amazing freak. His body couldn't take his own freak size and speed. What could he have done if he could have ever carried the ball 300 times in a season? 5.4 yards per carry for career. One playoff game, 6 carries for 77 yards.
10. Walter Payton. Always felt he was a little over-rated, but he sure was a durable workhorse. Talked like a faggot. Didn't have great speed, and I was a little surprised to see he managed to average 4.4 yards per carry for his career. Played in one Super Bowl, a win, but by that time old Walter didn't have much left. In fact, William *The Refrigerator* Perry was a better running back in that game. 9 Playoff games. Best playoff game: 104 yards. 3.5 yards per carry in playoffs.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Peterson, Marcus Allen, John Riggins, Marv Hubbard, Jamaal Charles, Larry Csonka, Larry Brown, Franco Harris.
New Orleans -2 at Carolina: Big game in the little NFC South, to see which losing team can get to .500 and take command of the Rusty School Bus/Feed The Children/Appalachia Division. New Orleans is 3-0 at home, 0-4 on the road. . .and this game is on the road, so. . .but Carolina's offense is lousy, Cam Newton has no receivers or running backs to work with, so this has to be the one road game the Saints can win. New Orleans.
Arizona +4 at Dallas: The Cowboys lost to Colt McCoy. . .I didn't even know he was still in the League. Tony Romo got a *contusion* on his back. Arizona will bring the house to knock him out, so Dallas will need a huge game from DeMarco Murray to win this one. . .only problem is, Arizona is the #3 rush defense. Arizona won ugly again last week, getting a late bomb from Carson Palmer to John Brown to beat the Eagles. I don't think either team is quite as good as their record, but I have a little more faith in the Cardinals. Arizona.
Philadelphia -2.5 at Houston: Arian Foster is running better than everybody except DeMarco Murray. Despite a weak schedule, the Texans are just 4-4, and their defense hasn't been as good as it was advertised to be. Plus they still have a shitty quarterback. The Eagles only two losses are at San Fran and Arizona, and they could have won both. Nick Foles only had two INTs last year, he's got nine already this season. He may ultimately be what keeps the Eagles out of the Super Bowl, but he won't keep them from beating the chronically disappointing Texans. Philadelphia.
San Diego +1.5 at Miami: Two three loss teams. . .if Miami wants to be a Wild Card contender, they need to win this home game against a playoff contending rival. Unlike most of the NFL, the Dolphins have played only one close game. . .it's all or nothing for Miami. With their defense and strong run game, they should be better than 4-3. This is a big game for goofy-looking Dolphins coach Joe Philbin. Lose this one, fall to 4-4, and the Dolphins are probably looking at another out-of-the-playoffs season, and he'll be out of a job, as Miami owner and Michigan alum Stephen Ross opens up the checkbook for Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers have lost two in a row, and there's no more Phillip Rivers-for-MVP talk. The Chargers problem is they have no run game, it's all on Rivers. The Dolphins really should win this game, but their coach is so goofy-looking, it's hard to take them seriously. San Diego.
Denver -3 at New England: Oh, boy, yet another Brady vs Manning *classic.* So tired of these games, because they're really just League-sponsored Peyton Manning-is-as-good-if-not-better-than-Brady infomercials. But nobody taking an honest look at the two can conclude anything other than Brady has had the far better career. The Broncos have the better team, they finally have a tough run defense, and it will be up to Brady to keep the Pats in this one. Two of the best coaches in the League. Denver's won their last four, all by fourteen or more points. I still think the real New England team is the one that wheezed by horrible Oakland, then got hammered by Kansas City. Denver.
Baltimore EVEN at Pittsburgh: The Steelers have turned into an offensive juggernaut since the first match between these teams, a Ravens blow-out. The Steelers can run and pass--though they've played an incredibly soft schedule. I was surprised how poorly Baltimore played last week against Cincy, they really had no business being in that game. But I just have a gut feeling the Steelers recent offensive explosion is due to playing AFC South softies. Baltimore.
Completely agree with Sanders being the number one RB of all time. I didn't get a chance to see a lot of the other guys on the list play a game but did get to see Sanders in several games and his mere presence influenced and terrified the defense. I've never seen an RB in a single game influence a game like Sanders. . . . except for Bo Jackson. Bo would probably be greater than Barry if he'd been able to play healthy, but we'll never know because Bo couldn't stay healthy.
ReplyDeleteI was watching the game Bo got hurt in - it was the Bengals vs. Raiders. Bo was running over the Bengal defense. Just blasting through them. I was a fan of the Bengals. . . . this was before I knew Esiason being such an asshole. . . . and I glad when he went down. I didn't know he was that injured.
Other RB's. . . . tough to say. My reach only goes so far, so going back to Duane Thomas is impossible. . . ignoring longevity? Terrell Davis, Tomlinson, Dunn, Roger Craig, Woods, Thurman, Eddie George. . . .there are some others.
I looked at some other RB's stats just now and Sanders made the right move to retire. The drop-off after 30 is pronounced. The beating these guys take mounts and there is no way they can perform at previous levels. We think of the impacts they sustain but it's probably the sprains that get them the most.
Don't know why I bother, but here goes:
NO v CAR: Carolina, They're home. NO has a terrible defense. Newton does have that TE Olson who does a nice job.
AZ v DAL: hate to go with home team again, but Dallas is home. Palmer seems like a drunk who somehow manages to win bar fights. He's gotta go down soon.
PHI v HOU: Houston. Foles is not good. Houston has a horrific QB who should be doing equations or some shit, not playing ball, but Houston has that Foster guy. I do feel bad for Andre Johnson. He's a SB worth WR but is stuck in Houston.
SD v MIA: SD. Rivers is QB for SD. Some other guy is in Miami. Besides, Miami botched that shit with Martin and Incognito and should forever be fucked after that mess. Worse than when they hired that asshole Jimmy Johnson. Fuck Miami.
DEN v NE: NE. Surprised at your choice. Manning always chokes. He even choked before toppling Favre's record by slipping on his ass on a PA would-be-pass. Big moments get to him. This is one of them. Manning will throw 2 INT's and lose a fumble at least once. Brady will be Brady, whatever that is now. It'll still be more "big game" ready than Manning.
BAL v PITT: Baltimore. I'm rooting for Pittsburgh, though. Baltimore is more complete.
Did you see that crap about Manning getting upset at the Denver scoreboard getting the crowd going with the Bronco offense of the field? Manning got all pissy about it. http://www.atlantafalcons.com/media-lounge/videos/Smith_Makes_No_Excuses_for_Poor_Performance/2abee502-d0d0-4e79-9383-e8c70a654c09
ReplyDeletePhilip Rivers thought it was funny.
I thought about Terrell Davis, but in the end, I pegged him as just a system RB. . .back in that day, with Shanahan's scheme, it seemed whatever RB they put in there was good for big numbers. . .even stumblebums like Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary were good for 1300 or 1400 yards.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Pats - Broncs game, I hope you are right and Manning chokes, but since it's a regular season game, he might do all right. . .and man, just look at Denver's roster compared to New England's. . .I just think the Broncos are a better team. I think Baltimore or Pittsburgh have a better chance of beating Dever in the Playoffs.
I've thought of the system RB or QB. It exists but the QB has to be good enough with a great coach. That's Tom Brady. Remember when he got hurt? NE did fine. System QB. Same can't be said of Manning.
ReplyDeleteMost players need a good coach. Hershel was a great RB with Dallas out of the I. Then he went to MN.
System sounds like good coaching to me.
Manning gonna make plenty of that face today
ReplyDeleteI missed the INT--was it a dumb one?
ReplyDeleteYeah. Manning also threw a horrific pass to Hill - wrong side on little screen and acted like Hill fucked up.
ReplyDeleteDenver also gave up a KO TD. Terrible special teams play. It is infectious.
Manning should have 4 interceptions today. Welker just had to play d back on a shitty pass.
Now the kicker missed with a thunderous thud against the upright.
ReplyDeleteThe Mojo of Manning....
I gotta ask, how pissed off is Dawg Nation over that loss to Florida?
ReplyDeleteThe front of the sports section today huge headline says "Inexcusable Performance."
ReplyDeletePissed, in a word.
Yeah, I bet. You wonder how that shit happens. Georgia has it all on the table, right in front of them, and somehow they can't stop the Florida run. It never seems to go quite all the way right for Richt.
ReplyDeleteHaha, it's still better than the Goff era. A lot of it has to do with Richt refusing to oversign. He doesn't have the depth across the team.
ReplyDeleteBut still, an SEC team not named Vandy or Kenticky needs to stop the damn run.
I just saw an ad for Android showing a gay marriage proposal and acceptance. It's fast.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Manning threw another int, though it was a deflection off Welker. He threw it behind. And it was a hospital ball.
Man, the Broncos look bad.
So the Cardinals are the best team in the League, right?
ReplyDeleteOh, man, I see the 49ers lost at home to the Rams. . .ha, the Rams have wins over the niners and the seahawks. No way Harbaugh is coaching the 49ers next year. . .that's all over.
ReplyDeleteAz lucked up. No Romo.
ReplyDeleteBut the Cards D does look good.
NE looks excellent.
Dalton with two picks today. But the rushing for Cincy is so good....but the Red Rocket is off mark so much. When he misses, he misses badly.
ReplyDeleteKaepernick fumbled at the wrong time. Harbaugh screwed up his play calling. QB sneak at goal line when you have Frank Gore? Bad call.
Seattle barely won their game. They are out. Even if they make playoffs, they are out. First game losers.
Too much shit going on at the jail yesterday to see much of the action. . .need the Lions on the tube to keep things settled down. Damn, the Steelers may be for real, huh?
ReplyDeletePittsburgh looked great. Everything clicked. Flacco got his ass kicked. Ben looked great. He took a beating in the beginning and shook it off like a dumb mastiff.
ReplyDeleteThe runners looked good, too. The Pittsburgh o line is the huge question. They are awful. But with Ben back there, the most impossible QB to sack since McNair, it makes up for a lot.
The Pitt game is more indicative than the NE game because Denver has a choke problem. Pittsburgh doesn't have that problem. Seasoned vets. Their main issue is going to be health.