It's simple... they were a little before my time. Sure, I've seen highlight films that make me appreciate what they've brought to the sport. However, my list only includes players I've followed since I became a NFL fanatic back in the early 80's.
So let's start things off with three backs who just missed the list:
The Nigerian Nightmare and Beast Mode himself. Anyone else appreciate a quality power back?
Alright... my top 5:
#5 Shaun Alexander
Alexander holds nearly every Seahawks single and career franchise rushing record. During his eight seasons with the Hawks, the team went to the playoffs five times and had a 69-54 record.
#4 Eric Dickerson
The guy rushed for 2,105 yards in his second season and wore goggles like Kareem. Heck yeah, I thought Dickerson was cool.
#3 Barry Sanders
No doubt... the best running back I've ever watched. He's seriously in a league of his own.
#2 Bo Jackson
Fuji knows Bo, because Bo single-handedly destroyed my favorite team on Monday Night Football during his rookie season. It was one of the greatest performances I've had the (dis)pleasure of witnessing. He left me no choice, but to bow down and idolize him. Bo = Beast.
#1 Curt Warner
Surprised? Let me explain. As a kid, he was my favorite running back on my favorite team. Sentimental pick? No doubt. And it's quite possible that he'll still be my number one in twenty years too.
Okay... it's your turn.
Who are your five favorite running backs?
Remember... they don't necessarily have to be the five greatest running backs of all-time. Although I'd love to hear those responses too.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and sayonara!
22 comments:
My favorite football player is also Curt Warner....errrr.....that's KURT Warner.
I won't attempt to rank them, but my favorite running backs would probably be Marshawn Lynch, Terrell Davis, Adrian Peterson, and Bo Jackson. A fifth name escapes me at the moment.
5) Earl Campbell- he simply ran over people, and during a UT-Houston game he ran through the endzone and crashed in Bevo, the live longhorn just below us. The steer let out a howl.
4) Eric Dickerson- another player from a small Texan city who I saw play quite a bit in college. Awesome at waiting for a hole to open and bursting through it
3) Lenny Moore- he never had the eyepopping numbers that these others put together but the Colts had a lot of weapons during his days. He played pert of his career as a flanker and he was smooth and graceful.
2) Gale Sayers- I can't even begin to describe how amazing he was. Anyone who saw him play will rank him as one of the best to ever play. He had speed, vision, moves. My father, a serious NYG fan, said he was the guy he enjoyed watching the most.
1) Jim Brown. He's the best I've ever seen despite the fact he hardly ever threw a block. If they kept stats for broken tackles Earl Campbell would hold all the records. If they kept stats for most defensive guys simply embarrassed by a running back, Brown gets the trophy named for him.
Barry Sanders and Paul Hornung should be up there, They were worth the price of a ticket but I don't know who I could remove from my five.
My favorites are Fred Taylor, Terrell Davis, Jamal Anderson, Duce Staley and Brian Westbrook. It's a shame Davis and Anderson both tore their ACL's and were never the same. They could've racked up some crazy stats. The broncos were the best running team in the league back then. Duce and Westbrook are my homer picks. Loved the way Duce played always giving 100% no matter what. Westbrook is possibly the best RB in Eagles history. The guy could do it all and did.
My favorites are Barry Sanders, Bo Jackson, Beast Mode Lynch, Shady McCoy and my number 1 favorite back is Jerome Bettis. The Bus was one of the greatest backs of all time, but I just loved watching defenses TRY to tackle him. The dude just wouldn't go down.
1. Marshall Faulk 2. Stephen Jackson 3. Ottis Anderson 4. Barry Sanders 5. Bo
Here is "My Favorite Five RBS"
1. Rodney Hampton- My all time NY GIANTS favorite. He played with his heart and got stronger as the game went along. I've talked with the guy twice and he is just highly respectable.
2. Eddie George- Secretly I was also a big houston oilers fan. Eddie was "PA feller" and he was brutal!
3. Marshall Faulk- The greatest show on turf!
4. Emmitt Smith- As much as I hate the cowboys there is no denying the king of RB's. Let us not forget that he is only player ever still to date to win a rushing crown, MVP, Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP all within the same season.
5. Christian Okoye- THE NIGERIAN NIGHTMARE! BRUISER! BULLDOZER! Also per wiki: Okoye is well known for his performances in Tecmo Super Bowl (1991), in which he's nearly impossible to tackle.
3.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2.-5. Doesn't even matter, none come close.
5. Shyrone Stith
T-3. David Wilson
T-3. Ryan Williams
T-1. Kevin Jones
T-1. Lee Suggs
C'mon, you knew it would be all Hokies...
My favorite RBs were in the 1970's -
1. Larry Csonka - Miami Dolphins. Simpley the best to watch and emulate in the back yard - CRUNCH !
2. Walter Payton - Chicago Bears. no one did it better or SWEETER !
3. Emerson Boozer - N.Y. Jets - was there a cooler name than that ? And a Super Bowl winner.
4. Earl Campbell - Houston Oilers, hit like Csonka, speed of Payton. Bad team, though.
5. Tony Dorsett - Dallas Cowboys - TD was amazing to watch.- especially in the open field. One of the Cowboys first superstar players.
honorable mention: John Riggins - N.Y. Jets / Wash. Redskins
Kurt was cool too.
Damn... can't believe I didn't have TD in my honorable mentions list. Nice call.
Great history lesson. I'm sure I saw Campbell at some point in the 80's, but outside of him, Dickerson, and Sanders I never actually saw any of your guys play.
Nice seeing Jamal Anderson on somebody's list. I once paid big money during the late 90's for one of his autographs.
2014 is going to be the year for The Bus!
You're a Rams' fan? I was hoping the Packers would go after Jackson during the offseason.
Ottis was pretty amazing too. That guy could run and catch. The Rams have a history of having those dual purpose backs.
Emmitt Smith? You're un-officially banned from replying to my posts. Just kidding... but I hated watching the Big 3 win those 3 rings in the 90's.
Hmmm... the only older Chargers RB's that come to mind are Chuck Muncie and Natrone Means. Always liked Muncie and the glasses.
A. Never heard of Shyrone Stith.
B. Ditto for Ryan Williams.
C. Kudos to you sticking with the Hokies.
D. What happened to Suggs? I thought he was going to be the next big thing in Cleveland.
Do you and the Commish hang out? If not, you should. Love the classic BIG names. Each one of these guys has a piece of cardboard in my vintage card binder... except for Csonka. I've gotta find one on COMC.
Loved Reggie Bush when he was playing for my Saints but I still love him.
I also like Mike Tolbert. I usually get to know them if they play for teams I like or if I get them on my fantasy team. I still have to buy some NFL cards..
Speaking of fantasy football... I never liked Tomlinson until he helped me win a FF championship. That guy scored 20% of my points that year.
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