Everybody has there favorite running backs of all time, but here is my list of the top 10 greatest running backs of all time:
10)
Eric Dickerson - Nobody was prettier to watch. If you watched the Los
Angeles Rams in the 80s, it looked like a bunch of elephants chasing a
gazelle.
9) Bo Jackson - Boy, what could have been. If the
criteria for the greatest running back of all time was just sheer
physical attributes it wouldn't even be close. This man was a freak of
nature. It looked like somebody built him in Frankenstein-like
experiment. It's a shame that an injury destroyed his career.
8)
Gale Sayers - No NFL player had a more memorable career by playing less
games. He scored a then record 22 touchdowns in his rookie year.
Without the possible exception of Barry Sanders, he was the most
dangerous player in the open field in the history of the NFL.
7)
Earl Campbell - No other player has exerted more pain on the opposing
defense than Earl Campbell. Legs as thick as redwood trees, every
tackle was on him was going to be an ordeal.
6) Emmitt Smith - All time NFL leading rusher. What more needs to be said?
5)
Ladanian Tomlinson - Has been breaking records ever since he entered
the league. He is a touchdown machine. In the 2006 season, he scored
more touchdowns than some entire teams scored for that year. If he can
keep this kind of pace, he might break every rushing record in
existence.
4) Marshall Faulk - Part of the greatest show on turf.
Such an amazing football player, that if he played Wide Receiver, he'd
probably still be going to the Hall of Fame. By far, no other running
back has been such a weapon in the passing game.
3) Jim Brown -
Revolutionized the position. A man among boys. Regarded by many as the
not only the greatest running back of all time, but the greatest
football player of all time.
2) Walter Payton - Not blessed with
blazing speed or great physical strength. He was THE blue collar
running back. He typified the character of Chicago.
1) Barry
Sanders - Nobody has done more in a career with less help than Barry
Sanders. His open field moves were something akin to a video game.
Sanders played for some truly horrible Detroit Lions teams. He played
with weak quarterbacks, paper thin offensive lines, and yet he managed
to go over 1,000 yards for every single year of his career.