Is he? He has several records, and recently broke Walter Payton's record for rushing yards. Have at it.

My response is that while he is not my favorite running back, I have to reluctantly agree that he is the greatest running back ever. Although I would like to have seen Barry Sanders with the Dallas Ofensive line of the 90's. Emmitt is a complete back able to do a variety of things, run, block, recieve etc...I personally will not call him the greatest player ever though. Just the greatest running back.

Emmitt Smith? Greatest? :lol:

Greatest ever player - Joe Montana

Greatest ever RB - Walter Payton

I thought that this was common knowledge...

I think there's a circle of about six backs who could qualify as having the best talent ever: Gale Sayers, Earl Campbell, Jim Brown, Herschel Walker (trust me, if you ever saw him in college, you would not argue this point), Payton and Emmitt.

Which one was the best? Who knows. Just being in this six is pretty damn good.

I will say this - of all of those six, Emmitt was the most durable and most consistent, which just might give him the edge.

I have to agree with tcjsavannah in some ways. Payton and Smith were the MOST DURABLE... but not the best. If Barry Sanders had continued, he would have crushed the record... If Sayers had not been injured, we wouldn't be having this discussion...

Both Payton and Smith are great because they lasted, which is tough to do... and they both deserve all the praise they get... but best running back... depends on your criteria. ;) Personally, IMHO, it was Gale Sayers... just watch the tapes of him running.
None better.

Yes there was, Jim Brown.

The man was UNSTOPPABLE.

The greatest, bar none.

Ming - I did leave off Sanders in my list, but that was an oversight. Still, I don't know who I bump off that list for Sanders. Maybe I just make it the Magnificent Seven then. :)

Herschel was still the greatest I ever saw in person. He reduced grown men to tears in 1980 in the stands the way he ran over 22-year olds like he was a monster, and he was only 18.

Walker was indeed one of the best... if he had been able to play 13 seasons, he also would have gotten the record. But I still think Sayers had more speed, better moves, and just as much power ;)

Sayers was incredible - I just wish my entire experience of seeing him play wasn't limited to NFL films and "Brian's Song"...

Hazards of being born too young.

Herschel Walker was the most important running back in Dallas Cowboys history. Without the infamous trade of Walker to Minnesota, the Super Bowl run for the Cowboys may not have happened. Emmitt may have been drafted by a team with a less talented offensive line and he would not have gotten the record. I wonder what the Vikings will give the Cowboys for Emmitt? Of course, they can keep Randy Moss.

I think Emmitt has the accomplishments, but Brown, Sayers, Sanders, and Payton could have done better than Emmitt in the same situation. And I thought it was universally accepted that Terrell Owens is the Greatest Player of All Time. He's signed the autographs to prove it.

Greatest player - Dan Marino

Greatest RB - Ricky Williams.

Not that my knowledge of football is limited or biased, of course...

I always thought that Payton was the greatest RB, but I'm only really saying what I've heard - I don't know enough to proffer a reliable opinion, really.

Don't know why I bothered posting this to be honest....:crazyeye:

Originally posted by Alcibiaties of Athenae
Yes there was, Jim Brown.

The man was UNSTOPPABLE.

The greatest, bar none.


From what I have read and seen in old films, he was. but he didnt put up the numbers. He left the game too soon I guess. But I sure do like his style. That guy was one tough runner who delivered as much punnishment as he took. And he never jumped up, danced around and thumped his chest, always slowly got up and trotted back to the huddle.

I wish there were more like him.

I just voted Dallas sucks as idont know who the man is and i dont care anyway...

Jim Brown had two serious handicaps in this discussion. First he was not a team player. He refused to even attempt to block a blitzer. Second, he was not a particularly good receiver. Many RB's are not. Emmit isn't/wasn't.

Gale Sayers was, Walter was. If he had been more durable, I would have to go with Gale. Instead, I'll go with the complete back, Walter Payton, who was even a good thrower on the option.

J

PS Jim Brown is still the pick for the one dimentional roll as ball toter.

PPS Thurman Thomas, OJ, and the Big Dickerson should be mentioned.

Originally posted by Alcibiaties of Athenae
Yes there was, Jim Brown.

The man was UNSTOPPABLE.

The greatest, bar none.

Brown is easily the best runner ever... NOBODY ran the ball like Jim Brown, and no one probably ever will.

Sweetness was probably the best complete back ever, and my choice for greatest back/player ever. Nobody did as many things as well as he did. And his work ethic was top of the line, along with his attitude.

But my favorite was Eric Dickerson. When I started watching football (and understanding it) Dickerson was my favorite player. That guy was just AWESOME. Speed, Power, agility, he had it all.

O.J. and Sanders fall into the category of-Too Bad they didn't play for a better team-.

Johan Cruijff is definitely the best football player. And although Dallas Burn finished third last year I bet they suck, so I voted 'Dallas sucks'.

Are you people kidding me?? Pelé was the best EVAR, I thought you knew that ;)

/me runs like hell from this thread

Originally posted by Globber
Are you people kidding me?? Pelé was the best EVAR, I thought you knew that ;)

/me runs like hell from this thread

If you didnt mention pele I would have had to flame you:D

Jim Brown was the greatest running back ever. Not many people know he was also one of the greatest lacrosse players ever.

Had to vote Dallas sucks, would have voted ain't the greatest.

The greatest player from the era I have been watching football (since early 80s) would have to be Joe Montana. The greatest running back from that same time would have to be Barry Sanders, who was well ahead of Emmitt when he quit. The greatest defensive player Reggie White (I had to mention an Eagle in this post!)

I watched Spike Lee's documentary on Jim Brown last night and realized something.

He retired at age 29. Over 12,000 yards rushing in 9 years. With a much shorter season (12-14 games).

But the number that jumps out at you is this:

5.22


That's his yards per carry. Nobody else comes close.

And he was a world class lacrosse player too.

I saw that too, Flatlander... it was a great documentary, really made the guy more impressive in my mind than he already was.

He was a great one... but I will still take Gale Sayers over him everytime as a better runner ;)

Sayers might have been shiftier, but Brown was shifty AND powerful.

I've saw film of them both, and read about both of them, and just think that Brown was just a superior back. Opinions are like what again, and everyone has them? :D

Best pure runner would have to be Jim Brown, but as a complete football player nobody touches "Sweetness"...and he played for some pretty sorry teams in Chicago...

Wow, strong showing for the anti-Dallas lobby. Or maybe people just like voting for options like that...

OJ Spimson was the greatest RB ever. if the juice played in a 16 game season, he would have had 2500 yards easy.

Yeah, OJ could get away from anybody in his prime.. and even after he retired...

More about Jim Brown...

Sam Huff, HOF LB for the NY Giants, used to say that Brown was THE ONLY guy he hated to tackle, because he hurt YOU.

If Brown didn't retire, he would have likely had 20,000+ yards, he NEVER missed a game.

Someone said Emmit Smith was a poor pass catcher, emmitt was pretty good actually.

Brown played on poor passing teams, hard to say how he would have done with a real QB.

Yes OJ had exellent cutting ability...umm.....oops...maybe an unfortunate choice of words...

Emmit is an alright back (and i'm a Cowboys fan)
I just remember the loaded 1992 team when he was one of the many greats on that team.

Too bad he now has a piss-poor line that can't block to save their lives.

He is not the best player or running bacck. Barry Sanders was much better, and I'm not just saying this because i live in detroit.
Greatest Player
Joe Namath

I really believe the Payton is the greatest back ever, maybe greatest player. If not him, some other RB for greatest ever. I just can't see a QB as greatest ever b/c a QB's skills, at least the ones since the 1960's, are mainly limited to passing. A back has to run, block, catch, and hit. Lot harder on the body and takes more skill than a QB. I do believe it is close w/ Payton, Sanders, Sayers, Brown, and Simpson. Those are great backs. It's also worth mentioning that Emmitt has always had a great offesnive line for him down in Dallas, something the others didn't.

Oh, and for those debating Sayers and Payton, it's really though to compare them. Sayers was a speed/finesse back while Payton was more a power back. You hear about defensive players reminsing about how they hated playing the Bears in the 80's b/c Payton would run thier asses over... and these are huge linemen!

Originally posted by Alcibiaties of Athenae
More about Jim Brown...

Sam Huff, HOF LB for the NY Giants, used to say that Brown was THE ONLY guy he hated to tackle, because he hurt YOU.

If Brown didn't retire, he would have likely had 20,000+ yards, he NEVER missed a game.

Someone said Emmit Smith was a poor pass catcher, emmitt was pretty good actually.

Brown played on poor passing teams, hard to say how he would have done with a real QB. JB would not have 20,000 yards unless they played 16 games like today. Also the players tackling him were 50 pounds lighter. Emmit did have good hands, but he was more effective behind blocking, so mostly he caught dump and safety valve passes. He was only a so so route runner.

JB was deadly on the screen pass, but like Emmit he was most effective being able to read blocking rather than in space, although his speed gave him more long runs.

It all goes to prove that what is unseen is forgotten. Its like people who claim MJ is the best Basketball player ever because they dont remember Wilt.

J