Add Comment

• khollen said May 26, 2009

  marshall faulk anyone? LT?

  Reply

  
• xraycat said May 26, 2009

  faulk borderline. LT no, not yet, he's top 12-15 right now. must win something

  Reply

  
• Justwannawinna said May 26, 2009

  sanders abover emmit dickerson should be higher too

  Reply

  
• BYOBooyah said May 26, 2009

  yeah i mean if this is in order...i would be put emmit down towards the bottom...ahem overrated

  Reply

  
  • khollen replied May 26, 2009

    top 5
  • webkid30 replied May 27, 2009

    He ran through holes the size of the grand canyon.
    • BowlBound replied May 28, 2009

      He also ran around and through people and had one of the most heroic games of his career against your Giants.
• Wheelman said May 26, 2009

  It`s truly a shame that Shaun Alexander couldn`t have found a way to keep his game going after that one sensational year. Good list.

  Reply

  
• CoachScott said May 26, 2009

  What's the criteria for this list? Yards, yards per carry, touchdowns, team wins, superbowl victories?? It's a very good list. I'm not sure who I would move out or move it if I'd been tasked to create the list. I'm not sure Riggins is better than Dickerson. Is it only NFL?

  Reply

  
• Zukny1 said May 26, 2009

  Barry to me is the Michael Jordan of Football. If he didn't retire early, he would be number 1 on everyones list. Instead its a debate and it shouldnt even be a debate. Barry = number 1

  Reply

  
  • xraycat replied May 26, 2009

    have to agree. you have to admire him actually for doing that, all too often athletes sully their reputations by sticking around too far past their prime. i say plus one to you
  • webkid30 replied May 27, 2009

    What about if Barry played on a halfway decent team instead of the worst organization in professional sports. All you had to do when you played the Lions was key in on Barry Sanders.
• jaymz77 said May 26, 2009

  Barry above Emmitt. Emmitt's success was due to him having the best offensive line ever. If Barry had that line, wow.

  Reply

  
  • BYOBooyah replied May 26, 2009

    Amen...put it this way, you put Barry on those Cowboy teams and Emmitt on the Lions...and well nobody would even know who Emmitt Smith was right now
    • khollen replied May 26, 2009

      i totaly agree.
    • Lakerhater replied May 26, 2009

      You retard Barry was a totally different kind of running back he couldn't hold Emmits jock batch!
      • HarryPotter replied May 26, 2009

        some cockroaches cant get off their players wieners
      • khollen replied May 27, 2009

        my guess is you are about 12 years old and never saw barry sanders play. he could get 100 yards holding the ball and emmitt`s jock.
      • eaglsfan28 replied May 27, 2009

        Emmit was trash....His Offensive line should be on this list not him. I mean seriously, be real..If you had to build a team and you had to pick a franchise RB from this list. If you took Emmit, you'd be a darn fool..I'd take Barry, Earl, and OJ over Emmit...
      • khollen replied May 27, 2009

        emmitt wasn`t trash, but that o-line helped alot.
      • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

        Trash? Now, here folks is a fool who doesn't know his football.
      • Lakerhater replied May 28, 2009

        The kind of trash that carries four opposing players ten yards down the field on his back!
        
  • CoachScott replied May 26, 2009

    Barry was amazing. There's no questioning that. Still, I saw Emmitt destroy a good Alabama team when he was a freshman. He was a very impressive runner. He's tied for the NCAA record for earliest game by a freshman to reach 1,000 yards. He did it in 7 games in 1987. Others who did it are Marshall Faulk and Adrian Peterson. Barry did it in 5 games, but he wasn't a freshman!
    • khollen replied May 26, 2009

      i still say sanders
    • 20dawk4life replied May 26, 2009

      is this a college list or NFL?
      • jcodd15 replied May 27, 2009

        nfl
• jerseu_devil said May 26, 2009

  I hope that list is in no particular order, cause if it is, you've got it ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL wrong dear friend.

  Reply

  
• BowlBound said May 26, 2009

  Do we really need another one of these? We just had one two weeks ago and then another one two weeks before that.

  Reply

  
  • Zukny1 replied May 26, 2009

    so i guess you dont like talking sports?
    
    
    • BowlBound replied May 26, 2009

      When it's the same crap every week and the same comments? No. How many times in a month can we discuss who the best RB, QB is? You get the same articles with the same answers.
      • Zukny1 replied May 26, 2009

        to some extent your right, and people tend to follow a trend around here. Just write some articles that are different to get away from it all :)
  • jcodd15 replied May 27, 2009

    so do u want no sports or do you wanna switch to best offensive linemen of all time?
    • Robbo24 replied May 27, 2009

      Dude this is a good post a lot of people are bursting to persuade their opinions toward who's the best RB and why. I think it's presented well myself. A very contentious topic with differing views.
• phillysbc said May 26, 2009

  Barry Sanders 4th? I think we need a recount.

  Reply

  
• trina5 said May 26, 2009

  Walter Payton should be #1 in my opinion!!

  Reply

  
• 20dawk4life said May 26, 2009

  1) jim brown 2) barry sanders 3) walter payton 4) emmit smith 5) earl campbell

  Reply

  
• HarryPotter said May 26, 2009

  not a terrible list, but barry is definately above emmitt, and you forgot lorenzo booker

  Reply

  
  • BowlBound replied May 26, 2009

    But Emmitt has the lead. Sanders might be better , but we'll never know what kind of numbers he would have put up. At least Emmitt didn't quit.
    • HarryPotter replied May 26, 2009

      numbers are overrated
      • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

        Hmmm.....Smith is overrated??? I'm going to have to call that a retarded statement. The man has 3 rings and the most rushing yards of all time. He also had a few nice games against your team. The best against the Eagles all time. 237. Overrated? Hahaha.
      • 20dawk4life replied May 27, 2009

        how old was emmit when he broke the record? Sanders was like 30 when he retired and played with sh!ty lineman
      • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

        I don't think anyone can question Emmitt Smith's toughness and heart except a Philly fan. He is the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL Most Valuable Player award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award all in the same season (1993
      • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

        I think you need to read up before you spout off on anything. He's been doing it all of this life.
        
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmitt_Smith
      • 20dawk4life replied May 28, 2009

        i never said he wasnt good but i think Barry Sanders could have broken the record if he played longer and broken it with ease if he had a good line. u really need to calm down i didnt insult ur god i just said he isnt the best.
      • BowlBound replied May 29, 2009

        Calm down? I'm just stating facts, man. I agree with the assessment about Barry. I like Sanders. Unfortunately, he quit and Emmitt has the record.
    • Robbo24 replied May 27, 2009

      Emmitt played in the toughest division in football at the same time running against teams that were really trying to stop him. Regardless of how and why Emmitt is #1.
      • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

        I am sure we will get the argument now that the NFC East was the weakest division in football then. It will be something.
    • Qwest336 replied May 27, 2009

      He did once he stopped playing behind that road grading OLine in Dallas.
      • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

        He was even doing it behind the weaker offensive lines in the mid to late 90's.
• crazyphillyfan said May 26, 2009

  good list except for sanders should be above smith

  Reply

  
• xraycat said May 26, 2009

  bettis maybe?

  Reply

  
  • khollen replied May 26, 2009

    faulk was all around better player than bettis.
    • xraycat replied May 26, 2009

      and he got a madden cover..
• ItsWhatever said May 26, 2009

  If this is about pure talent, Bo Jackson is definitely top 3. Or at least on the list.

  Reply

  
• willardj said May 26, 2009

  Where's Reno Mahe?

  Reply

  
  • fxzero replied May 26, 2009

    hes so good he cant be mentioned with all these crappy players
    • eagles4ever05 replied May 26, 2009

      Yep
• greenisback said May 26, 2009

  barry should be number 1, if not 1 then 2. If he wouldnt of retired so early he would of shattered the career rushing record and emmitt wouldnt of been able to break it. I put barry and sweetness as my top 2

  Reply

  
• eagles4ever05 said May 26, 2009

  Love the Jim Brown pick Walter should always be number 2 Barry should be 3 I wish it was Top 15 so player like Bettis Faulk and Lorenzo Booker make it

  Reply

  
• Zukny1 said May 26, 2009

  Lorenzo Booker is going to be the greatest running back of all time, by the end of next season!

  Reply

  
  • BowlBound replied May 26, 2009

    Oh, no. I think some guy named A.D. might just be a little better.
• Dawks08 said May 26, 2009

  Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders, LaDanian Tomlinson (in 5 years you will see), OJ Simpson, Marcus Allen, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, and yeah, Emmitt at 3 way way way too high

  Reply

  
  • craley46 replied May 27, 2009

    Faulk ahead of Sanders are you serious???
    • khollen replied May 27, 2009

      i agree faulk shouldn`t be ahead of sanders, but he should be to[p 10.
• razah12 said May 27, 2009

  Corey Dillon! Big part of the third super bowl run.

  Reply

  
  • khollen replied May 27, 2009

    nowhere near top 10.
    • razah12 replied May 27, 2009

      Just playin', but he does have a nice ring?

      

      • HarryPotter replied May 28, 2009

        so does matt walsh
  • razah12 replied May 29, 2009

    Haha! Harry, your humor is not bad, I gotta give you that man.
• Zeru25 said May 27, 2009

  I have to agree with the most of you.. Barry Sanders should be at least Number 3... Not taking anything away from emmitt smith but Sanders could have destroyed the record books and the only reason why i think he didnt was out of respect for Walter Payton

  Reply

  
• jhurricane said May 27, 2009

  I agree with who's on this list (except maybe Riggins and Marcus Allen) I just don't agree with the order. I'd like to see Terrell Davis and Marshall Faulk on there and Barry is definitely #1, Jim Brown #2 and Payton # 3.

  Reply

  
• webkid30 said May 27, 2009

  Honorable mention to Thurman Thomas...

  Reply

  
  • jaymz77 replied May 27, 2009

    Poor Thurman. All those superbowls and no wins. Didn't he lose his helmet on the sidelines during a superbowl?
    • khollen replied May 27, 2009

      yeah.
  • xraycat replied May 27, 2009

    nice one webkid, youre speakin my language. dont think he's top 10 though
    • khollen replied May 27, 2009

      not far from it though.
  • Qwest336 replied May 27, 2009

    Yeah...Thurman Thomas was the prototype for a ton of successful backs, including but not limited to:
    Edgerrin James
    Marshall Faulk
    LaDanian Tomlinson
    Brian Westbrook
    
  • Lakerhater replied May 28, 2009

    for losing his helmet!
• eaglsfan28 said May 27, 2009

  Emmit was trash....His Offensive line should be on this list not him. I mean seriously, be real..If you had to build a team and you had to pick a franchise RB from this list. If you took Emmit, you'd be a darn fool..I'd take Barry, Earl, and OJ over Emmit...

  Reply

  
  • Lakerhater replied May 28, 2009

    better than any shegle running back EVER!
  • BowlBound replied May 30, 2009

    You should read up on Emmitt Smith, dude, before you start talking smack. He was one of the five most prolific high school running backs in American football history and then he went to Florida where people said he couldn't cut the mustard and then the Cowboys. He even gained yards behind the shoddy offensive lines of the late 90's.
• jaymz77 said May 27, 2009

  In todays age of the 2 back system I imagine the folks listed above would lose some of their numbers if put in that system. If we could go back in time and put them in that system could you imagine how effective it would be? If you stuck Barry Sandars and Marcus Allen on the same team? Or Roger Criag (I know he isn't listed) and Walter Payton in the same backfield?

  Reply

  
  • khollen replied May 27, 2009

    wouldn`t last long. the browns tried it with mack and byner. not enough carries to go around. would be frightful, but wouldn`t last long.
  • Robbo24 replied May 27, 2009

    That's true but you got to keep in mind the level of competition these guys face in their particular situation. Basically they're all rolling the dice as far as matching up their individual skills. The difference in my mind is they the top RB's found a way to beat the odds and found a way to win being effective helping the team in the running game. So, that being said the way it is "Winners Win" no matter what comes up. Sometimes things line up right, sometimes it's a more difficult struggle to win.
  • jaymz77 replied May 27, 2009

    Sanders* Craig* I shouldn't Yardbark and work at the same time =)
• Qwest336 said May 27, 2009

  Can anyone tell me how John Riggins makes this list??? His name doesnt even deserve mentioning with the names here.

  Reply

  
  • khollen replied May 27, 2009

    right. marshall faulk, marcus allen,bettis LT,E. james, all have more yards than him.
    • Qwest336 replied May 27, 2009

      AND he only averaged 3.9 YPC. Hell, I could suit up and get 3.5!! LOL
      • khollen replied May 27, 2009

        more to my point faulk averaged 4.3.
      • ItsWhatever replied May 28, 2009

        yeah but Riggins was a 3 yards and a cloud of dust kind of guy. He deserves it.
      • Qwest336 replied May 29, 2009

        Even if he did deserve it (which i still question), no way he is above Eric Dickerson.
    • Qwest336 replied May 27, 2009

      If this was the movie Coming to America, someone would be yelling "Here we goooo...erry time we start talkin' about runnin backs, a white man gotta pull John Riggins out his @$$!" LOL
• BowlBound said May 27, 2009

  Ricky "Gonga" Williams.

  Reply

  
  • Qwest336 replied May 27, 2009

    What's Gonga???? LOL
    • BowlBound replied May 27, 2009

      Whoops.....spelling error. Ganja.........how's that?
      • Qwest336 replied May 27, 2009

        Relax yourself...it was just a funny error. GEEZ PEOPLE TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY ON THIS SITE.
• BreweryTwnRebl said May 27, 2009

  Gayle Sayers anybody? Kind of falls into the Bo category, too short of a career. Emmitt is way too high on the list, and you can't put Dorsett over OJ & Marcus Allen. If you include Riggo, you should have Franco in there also to fulfill the "Champion" quotient. The next Top 10 RB list should use first names only, and any list's first 3 ought to be cemented as Jim, Walter and Barry IMO. Not that they deserves to sniff the top 10, but I'll give honorable mentions to William Andrews, Freeman McNeil and Curtis Martin.

  Reply

  
  • jaymz77 replied May 28, 2009

    I agree with Sayers and why not Curtis "My Favorite" Martin? Martin is one of the most under appreciated backs in the NFL. Yes the top three should always be Jim, Walter, and Barry.
• razah12 said May 27, 2009

  This is a tough one. Who are the top three running backs with the most rings? That may help narrow things down.

  Reply

  
• razah12 said May 27, 2009

  Just playin', but he does have a nice ring?

  

  Reply

  
  • HarryPotter replied May 28, 2009

    so does matt walsh
    • razah12 replied May 29, 2009

      Yeah Harry, you are right, this is the guy who is responsible for all the Patriots success. Pahleeyze!

      
• kevino429 said May 28, 2009

  barry was better then emmit smith alot of running backs he jsut had the biggest holes to run through considering his o line was amazing

  Reply

  
  • CoachBud replied May 28, 2009

    Your right and Barry had class. He retired so he didn't break Sweetness's record.
• ibleedgreen01 said May 28, 2009

  There aint no way in h3ll that Barry Sanders should be that low. Its Jim Brown then Barry Sanders. He only played 10 years and went to 10 ProBowls. He was a freak! 2000 yard season as well, C'Mon!!! If he played 2-3 more seasons, he'd still be the rushing yards leader, no doubt. Noone was more elusive then barry sanders...no one!!!

  Reply

  
  • khollen replied May 28, 2009

    sanders should be top 3 if not #1.
    • CoachBud replied May 29, 2009

      Emmit was wrong. Sanders should be 3 and then Smith. Barry was a friend of Sweetness and in a interview shortly after Sweetness was diagnosed he made a stand that any RB that got to the numbers that Sweetness had sould retire to honor Walter Payton. And Emmit has no honor, we left Dallas because it was all about the stats.
      • BowlBound replied May 29, 2009

        That's about the dumbest statement made. Why should anyone retire when they get the record just to honor someone?
• razah12 said May 29, 2009

  Can any trivia buffs tell me who has the most rings out of the top 10, in order? Not being wise, just curious.

  Reply

  
  • BowlBound replied May 29, 2009

    In this top ten? It's a runaway with Smith.
    • razah12 replied May 29, 2009

      I will go with Smith.
• giantsrepeat said May 30, 2009

  Jim Brown #1 is right on the money. Imagine if that dude had played more than the 9 seasons he did play. He was like trying to tackle a freight train.

  Reply

  
  • giantsrepeat replied May 30, 2009

    Oh and I am not old enough to have watched him play, but My Dad always told me there was never anyone better and I have seen the film footage to prove it.
  • ItsWhatever replied May 30, 2009

    Imagine if he played more lacrosse. Although he's already in that HOF 2.
• ShaddixTBell said June 01, 2009

  There is just no way Emmitt belongs ahead of Barry. Emmitt was on a good team with a good passing game to back him up. Not to mention his All Pro Bowl line. Lets just trade spots for a second, could you imagine Barry Sanders on the Cowboys during those years, he would undoubtedly be the best player ever and no one would argue it. Emmitt on the Lions would have been a catastrophy, with no line to run behind and no passing game to set him up, we wouldn't have talked about him anymore than someone like Rodney Hampton or Ernest Byner.

  Reply

  
  • BowlBound replied June 02, 2009

    I don't think you can say Emmitt would have been a bust in Detroit. You are reaching now.
• rapper said June 11, 2009

  BO JACKSON SAY NO MORE

  Reply