Who Is The Best RB Of All-Time.... Barry Or Emmit?

KLL · August 13th, 2003, 10:16 PM

With Week 1 vastly approaching, I hope many from the various
Detroit Lions sites come onto here and I know the this one question has been discussed/debated many times before and inevitably will be brought up again... But who is the best RB of All-Time, Barry Sanders or Emmit Smith? I know some might say
"Sweetness" and others would agree with what even Barry Sander's own father claimed, Jim Brown.....

I know it's difficult to compare the 2.....They have such contrasting styles and Emmit had the benefit of Aikman throughout most of his career in Dallas with that stellar Offensive Line and other weapons that took some pressure off of him....

I just imagine how Barry would have thrived with the Lions if
Joey Harrington was the starting QB throughout his career, especially since he suffered with the likes of Rodney Peete,
Scott Mitchell, and Andre Ware and also an Offensive Line that still hasnt recovered from the career-ending injury of Mike Utley and the death of Erik Andolsek (both back in '91).....

Personally for me, I was elated when the Cardinals acquired
Emmit, however, at the same time it's awkward to support him since I always felt Barry was better (similar to those on here who are anti-Cowboys that were forced to hate him, but now hope that he helps the Cardinals cause)....

To add more.... Barry would have been the All-Time leading rusher, however, he was never into accolades or awards.... Case in point.... During the final drive of Barry's rookie season (1990), he had a chance to pass Christian Okoye for the leading NFL rusher, however, he demanded to sit out that drive needing less than 10-yrs to accomplish that feat and later remarked that he would have plenty of chances left to do so.... He more than likely retired to pay tribute to "Sweetness" and I thought once Emmit eclipsed that record, that would prompt Barry to return... But the Lions still holds his rights and they still havent reconciled their differences and probably never will... Thanks to former head-coach Bobby Ross, but that's an entirely different subject all together....

SECTION 11 · August 14th, 2003, 08:45 AM

Walter Payton

Dback Jon · August 14th, 2003, 09:10 AM

I voted other.

Walter Payton. Best. Ever.

Krangthebrain · August 14th, 2003, 09:13 AM

I voted Emmitt. He achieved the rushing record faster than Payton and he won more Super Bowls, so he has a leg up in my book.

But I seriously have to consider Jim Brown. He was a man among boys, and he quit when he was still arguably the best player in the game.

maddogkf · August 14th, 2003, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
I voted Emmitt. He achieved the rushing record faster than Payton and he won more Super Bowls, so he has a leg up in my book.

But I seriously have to consider Jim Brown. He was a man among boys, and he quit when he was still arguably the best player in the game.

I'd say Payton. Emmitt had a supporting cast around & arguably the best line in the NFL.

Paytom was a lone wolf & had a good cast for 2-3 years.

However, I think if Bo Jackson would've stayed healthy, he would've been the greatest.

Bo Knows Football

Stout · August 14th, 2003, 09:17 AM

Sweetness, though I really think it would have been Sanders, hands-down, if he had kept playing. I mean, he did it all behind those horrid lines! Many of those runs were actually twice as long...a 10 yard run was actually 20...10 yards of juking and running for his life behind the line, and 10 yards after.

Shane H · August 14th, 2003, 09:43 AM

Barry Sanders is by far the best RB to ever play NFL football IMO!

The guy played behind the worst lines in football for his entire career. That includes the year he rushed for well over 2000 yards.

I really wish he would not have retired at such a young age and in his prime. The guy would have over 20,000 yards already. Look at the career rushing average of 5.1 yards. That is phenominal to say the least especially counting how many negative rushes this guy had being nailed in the backfield in his career!

I am a firm believer that if Barry had the luxury of running behind the best o-line in football for the better part of a decade like Emmitt he would have rushed for 2000 way more than once and the current record would be 25,000+ yards!

But know way to truely ever know!

CardLogic · August 14th, 2003, 10:03 AM

This question is immpossible to answer. There is no objective way to compare RB's on different quality teams from different eras, etc. So it all comes down to opinion!

Just to throw my hat in the ring.... Jim Brown

Krangthebrain · August 14th, 2003, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CardLogic
This question is immpossible to answer. There is no objective way to compare RB's on different quality teams from different eras, etc. So it all comes down to opinion!

Just to throw my hat in the ring.... Jim Brown

I agree. It really is subjective. From a numbers standpoint, it isn't really debateable. Barry or Emmitt.

But from an individual skills standpoint, I'd have to say Jim Brown.

Gale Sayers is also in the mix IMO. His career was short, which is why he isn't generally thrown into the mix of all the great runners.

AZCB34 · August 14th, 2003, 10:37 AM

1. Payton
1a. Sanders
2. Smith

Payton and Sanders did more on horrible teams than Emmitt ever really had to. Emmitt would still be chasing Barry if he hadn't "retired".

Bo may have ultimately been the best ever but we'll never know.

KLL · August 14th, 2003, 10:46 AM

I'm going to try to stir the pot here.... What about O.J.? I'm not claiming he's the best..... But am just wondering if people overlook him due to the obvious or was he just over-rated all along?

CardLogic · August 14th, 2003, 11:11 AM

OJ was among the best no doubt. It's my opinion that he was actually more exciting (better) as a college RB than as a pro. Keep in mind that OJ, like Barry and also Sweetness, also toiled on some crappy teams.

I wonder if he has gotten any leads to Nicole's killer while on the golf course....

Krangthebrain · August 14th, 2003, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZCB34
1. Payton
1a. Sanders
2. Smith

Payton and Sanders did more on horrible teams than Emmitt ever really had to. Emmitt would still be chasing Barry if he hadn't "retired".

Bo may have ultimately been the best ever but we'll never know.

But a key element that the pro-Barry side is missing, is that Barry lost a lot of yardage juking in the backfield. Consistent gains are better than inconsistent gains mixed with long runs.

Emmitt consistently gained yardage, while Barry danced around looked for the big run.

AZCB34 · August 14th, 2003, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
But a key element that the pro-Barry side is missing, is that Barry lost a lot of yardage juking in the backfield. Consistent gains are better than inconsistent gains mixed with long runs.

Emmitt consistently gained yardage, while Barry danced around looked for the big run.

Or was Barry juking because he was running behind a poor to average Oline?

You make a good point though. Payton mostly got positive yardage like Emmitt.

Krangthebrain · August 14th, 2003, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZCB34
Or was Barry juking because he was running behind a poor to average Oline?

You make a good point though. Payton mostly got positive yardage like Emmitt.

To be honest, I think people make a mountain out of a mole hill in the comparison of offensive lines. Sure Emmitt did undoubtably have a better offensive line than Barry, but Barry's line was not that bad.

He had two Pro Bowlers in front of him (Glover and Brown) but he also generally had a better passing attack (Moore, Morton, and for awhile Perriman) than Emmitt. Emmitt WAS the Dallas offense for a long time, and they were unstoppable.