Treyvon wrote:

WolfBlitz wrote:

wrcwolf wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- JamesHenderson wrote:

The change in blocking rules (extend arms into defender) and defensive coverage (couldn't beat the receiver up downfield) eventually led to an easier passing game, which we see today. You can easily make a case that offensive statistics in the "old days" are more impressive than today's by the rules of the game alone.

These two concepts are extremely important.

Back then OL had to grasp their own jersey at the chest and block with their elbows out. If you extended your arms, you were holding. The DL was also able to bash the hell out of the OL's helmet with their hands, "ringing his bell".

DB's could mug the receiver all the way downfield until the ball was in the air. The five yard check rule came in in the late 70's and the head slap was outlawed.

Different times, different rules but Jim Brown was the man.

Sweetness says hello.

WolfBlitz wrote:

Treyvon wrote:

WolfBlitz wrote:

wrcwolf wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- JamesHenderson wrote:

The change in blocking rules (extend arms into defender) and defensive coverage (couldn't beat the receiver up downfield) eventually led to an easier passing game, which we see today. You can easily make a case that offensive statistics in the "old days" are more impressive than today's by the rules of the game alone.

These two concepts are extremely important.

Back then OL had to grasp their own jersey at the chest and block with their elbows out. If you extended your arms, you were holding. The DL was also able to bash the hell out of the OL's helmet with their hands, "ringing his bell".

DB's could mug the receiver all the way downfield until the ball was in the air. The five yard check rule came in in the late 70's and the head slap was outlawed.

Different times, different rules but Jim Brown was the man.

Sweetness says hello.

My only knock on Sweetness was that he would step out of bounds to avoid the contact something that #32 would NEVER do.

Treyvon wrote:

Sweetness says hello.

dunlow66 wrote: I think Jim Brown was an incredible player, but the 12 game season also was an advantage.
He did not have to get hit for the 2-4 extra games per year that the other guys on the list had to endure. This helped him avoid some possible injuries and allowed him to stay fresh later in his career. Didnt have the huge guys falling on him all the time like modern RB's do today.

Jim Brown may well be the greatest RB ever, but he has been put on such a pedestal that I dont think any modern day runner could ever have a legit shot at knocking him off. What would it take?

That being said, I think Walter Payton was number 1 all time (also had almost 500 catches)
Peterson is not yet top ten in my book, but he is closing fast, and I do mean fast.

JamesHenderson wrote:

dunlow66 wrote: I think Jim Brown was an incredible player, but the 12 game season also was an advantage.
He did not have to get hit for the 2-4 extra games per year that the other guys on the list had to endure. This helped him avoid some possible injuries and allowed him to stay fresh later in his career. Didnt have the huge guys falling on him all the time like modern RB's do today.

Jim Brown may well be the greatest RB ever, but he has been put on such a pedestal that I dont think any modern day runner could ever have a legit shot at knocking him off. What would it take?

That being said, I think Walter Payton was number 1 all time (also had almost 500 catches)
Peterson is not yet top ten in my book, but he is closing fast, and I do mean fast.

For instance, AP blew his knee out in week 15 last year.

For some no one will ever be able to be better than Jim Brown.  Same thing with Jordan.

There was some talk about the yardage diff. between Brown and the other backs back, then, but how talented were those backs?  Do you think if Brown played now he'd have a 800+yd advantage on guys like Peterson/Lynch/Foster/Rice, etc..?

Watching those highlights of Brown, I'd love to be able to put Peterson in a time machine and send him back to 1965 and see how he'd do against those defensive players.

packphinsfan wrote: 
The other difference in time is nobody weight trained back then, and you only trained in season. Jim Brown now would have weighed 235 or 240 and been even faster. And he actually had moves, unlike Herschel Walker (another one of my fave`s) who was a bullet but no wiggle. The most impressive thing about JB was one number, 5.3. Career avg per carry, no one comes close.

FLWolf88 wrote: The best I have ever seen over a few years is Earl Campbell.  I know there is a great argument for Barry Sanders, but I would bet a pile of money that defenders would rather play against Sanders in his prime than against Campbell.  Campbell was an absolute beast.

dunlow66 wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: The best I have ever seen over a few years is Earl Campbell.  I know there is a great argument for Barry Sanders, but I would bet a pile of money that defenders would rather play against Sanders in his prime than against Campbell.  Campbell was an absolute beast.

Man, I still remember what he did to my Dolphins on Monday Night Football. He may have been the most punishing runner I have ever seen. To bad about his knees, he can barely walk now.

wrcwolf wrote:
---------------------------------------------
--- ncpack54 wrote:

When I first saw the question of is AP the best running back ever I thought heck no.

But to do what he has done in a pass-happy league that Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Sayers, Sanders and whoever else did not play in, Peterson has to be in the discussion. I think the jury is still out on him being the best ever, but to me this is the greatest single season rushing effort in history given the circumstances.

---------------------------------------------

Chris Johnson gained 2006 yards in 2009. Was the NFL not a pass-happy league in 2009? Jamal Lewis gained 2066 in 2003.

Difference between 1st and 2nd place in rushing yards:

1963 - Jim Brown +845
1973 - OJ Simpson +859
1984 - Eric Dickerson +420
1997 - Barry Sanders +303
2003 - Jamal Lewis +183
2009 - Chris Johnson +590
2012 - Adrian Peterson +480

Great year for AP. One of the best ever, but nowhere near the hyperbole that I'm hearing from some. Give me OJ's '73 season behind the "Electric Company" as best ever among the group above. Again, he did that against bums according to some, though.

James, you didn't disappoint. As someone with a job in sports reporting, one would think one should have a better understanding of the past, but maybe not.

Speaking of rushing, interesting to see where the playoff teams ranked rushing and defending the run this year.

Rushing:

1. Minnesota
2. Washington
3. Seattle
4. San Francisco
7. New England
8. Houston
11. Baltimore
16. Denver
18. Cincy
20. Green Bay
22 . Indy
29. Atlanta

Rushing Against:

3. Denver
4. San Francisco
5. Washington
7. Houston
9. New England
10. Minnesota
11. Seattle
12. Cincy
18. Green Bay
21. Baltimore
22. Atlanta
29. Indy

May be a pass-happy league, but running and stopping the run are still vital to making the playoffs. As the past few years have pointed out, it's not an end-all, be-all once in the playoffs. Pretty impressive season by Green Bay, Atlanta and Indy in making the playoffs and being in the bottom half of the league in both statistical categories.

packfanstk wrote: Bryant talking out of his arse again. You might want to refine your comparison. Bob Cousy????? Please. Jim Brown was to running backs what Pete Maravich was to ballhandlers, Wayne Gretzky to hockey centers, Jack Nicklaus to golfers, and Patsy Cline to female country singers--the one that pushed the bar up so monumentally that he (or she) is still rightly the one against which every subsequent contender is measured. Peterson, Dickerson, et al are all great runners. They also all still trail Jim Brown. I've seen them all, and IMHO only Emmitt Smith comes close. And I am neither a Browns nor a Cowboys fan.

WolfBlitz wrote:

Treyvon wrote:

WolfBlitz wrote:

wrcwolf wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- JamesHenderson wrote:

The change in blocking rules (extend arms into defender) and defensive coverage (couldn't beat the receiver up downfield) eventually led to an easier passing game, which we see today. You can easily make a case that offensive statistics in the "old days" are more impressive than today's by the rules of the game alone.

These two concepts are extremely important.

Back then OL had to grasp their own jersey at the chest and block with their elbows out. If you extended your arms, you were holding. The DL was also able to bash the hell out of the OL's helmet with their hands, "ringing his bell".

DB's could mug the receiver all the way downfield until the ball was in the air. The five yard check rule came in in the late 70's and the head slap was outlawed.

Different times, different rules but Jim Brown was the man.

Sweetness says hello.

My only knock on Sweetness was that he would step out of bounds to avoid the contact something that #32 would NEVER do.

dunlow66 wrote: Walter Payton used to rear up his body and deliver a hit like a billy goat getting ready to butt heads. It was amazing how a small back could bring so much force to a bigger defender.


he also threw 8 td passes in his career and would have had close to 1000 catches if he played in the pass happy league of today, could have started at wide receiver for any team in the NFL.

wolfer79 wrote:

dunlow66 wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: The best I have ever seen over a few years is Earl Campbell.  I know there is a great argument for Barry Sanders, but I would bet a pile of money that defenders would rather play against Sanders in his prime than against Campbell.  Campbell was an absolute beast.

Man, I still remember what he did to my Dolphins on Monday Night Football. He may have been the most punishing runner I have ever seen. To bad about his knees, he can barely walk now.

from July 9, 2012 Sports Illustrated.
more than Campell's knees suffered from his style of play

dunlow66 wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: The best I have ever seen over a few years is Earl Campbell.  I know there is a great argument for Barry Sanders, but I would bet a pile of money that defenders would rather play against Sanders in his prime than against Campbell.  Campbell was an absolute beast.

Man, I still remember what he did to my Dolphins on Monday Night Football. He may have been the most punishing runner I have ever seen. To bad about his knees, he can barely walk now.

wulfpackbaseball9 wrote:

wrcwolf wrote:
---------------------------------------------
--- ncpack54 wrote:

When I first saw the question of is AP the best running back ever I thought heck no.

But to do what he has done in a pass-happy league that Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Sayers, Sanders and whoever else did not play in, Peterson has to be in the discussion. I think the jury is still out on him being the best ever, but to me this is the greatest single season rushing effort in history given the circumstances.

---------------------------------------------

Chris Johnson gained 2006 yards in 2009. Was the NFL not a pass-happy league in 2009? Jamal Lewis gained 2066 in 2003.

Difference between 1st and 2nd place in rushing yards:

1963 - Jim Brown +845
1973 - OJ Simpson +859
1984 - Eric Dickerson +420
1997 - Barry Sanders +303
2003 - Jamal Lewis +183
2009 - Chris Johnson +590
2012 - Adrian Peterson +480

Great year for AP. One of the best ever, but nowhere near the hyperbole that I'm hearing from some. Give me OJ's '73 season behind the "Electric Company" as best ever among the group above. Again, he did that against bums according to some, though.

James, you didn't disappoint. As someone with a job in sports reporting, one would think one should have a better understanding of the past, but maybe not.

Speaking of rushing, interesting to see where the playoff teams ranked rushing and defending the run this year.

Rushing:

1. Minnesota
2. Washington
3. Seattle
4. San Francisco
7. New England
8. Houston
11. Baltimore
16. Denver
18. Cincy
20. Green Bay
22 . Indy
29. Atlanta

Rushing Against:

3. Denver
4. San Francisco
5. Washington
7. Houston
9. New England
10. Minnesota
11. Seattle
12. Cincy
18. Green Bay
21. Baltimore
22. Atlanta
29. Indy

May be a pass-happy league, but running and stopping the run are still vital to making the playoffs. As the past few years have pointed out, it's not an end-all, be-all once in the playoffs. Pretty impressive season by Green Bay, Atlanta and Indy in making the playoffs and being in the bottom half of the league in both statistical categories.

Football, whether it's college or pro, is always going to be about two things: running the ball and stopping the other guy from running it.

There will be gimmicks and schemes set up to alter the fundamental DNA of winning championships, but the trenches is where it's almost always won, or lost.

btw, arguing who is the best RB in history is like who's the best Home Run hitter. Brown was Ruthian in stature. He wasn't just a little better than every other running back around, he was head-and-shoulders above them.

I won't ever say "that guy" or "this guy" are the best, but I've talked to a few older pros, and they all said Jim Brown wouldn't just play well in today's game, he'd still dominate it.

SidsSouljahBoy wrote:

wulfpackbaseball9 wrote:

wrcwolf wrote:
---------------------------------------------
--- ncpack54 wrote:

When I first saw the question of is AP the best running back ever I thought heck no.

But to do what he has done in a pass-happy league that Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Sayers, Sanders and whoever else did not play in, Peterson has to be in the discussion. I think the jury is still out on him being the best ever, but to me this is the greatest single season rushing effort in history given the circumstances.

---------------------------------------------

Chris Johnson gained 2006 yards in 2009. Was the NFL not a pass-happy league in 2009? Jamal Lewis gained 2066 in 2003.

Difference between 1st and 2nd place in rushing yards:

1963 - Jim Brown +845
1973 - OJ Simpson +859
1984 - Eric Dickerson +420
1997 - Barry Sanders +303
2003 - Jamal Lewis +183
2009 - Chris Johnson +590
2012 - Adrian Peterson +480

Great year for AP. One of the best ever, but nowhere near the hyperbole that I'm hearing from some. Give me OJ's '73 season behind the "Electric Company" as best ever among the group above. Again, he did that against bums according to some, though.

James, you didn't disappoint. As someone with a job in sports reporting, one would think one should have a better understanding of the past, but maybe not.

Speaking of rushing, interesting to see where the playoff teams ranked rushing and defending the run this year.

Rushing:

1. Minnesota
2. Washington
3. Seattle
4. San Francisco
7. New England
8. Houston
11. Baltimore
16. Denver
18. Cincy
20. Green Bay
22 . Indy
29. Atlanta

Rushing Against:

3. Denver
4. San Francisco
5. Washington
7. Houston
9. New England
10. Minnesota
11. Seattle
12. Cincy
18. Green Bay
21. Baltimore
22. Atlanta
29. Indy

May be a pass-happy league, but running and stopping the run are still vital to making the playoffs. As the past few years have pointed out, it's not an end-all, be-all once in the playoffs. Pretty impressive season by Green Bay, Atlanta and Indy in making the playoffs and being in the bottom half of the league in both statistical categories.

Football, whether it's college or pro, is always going to be about two things: running the ball and stopping the other guy from running it.

There will be gimmicks and schemes set up to alter the fundamental DNA of winning championships, but the trenches is where it's almost always won, or lost.

btw, arguing who is the best RB in history is like who's the best Home Run hitter. Brown was Ruthian in stature. He wasn't just a little better than every other running back around, he was head-and-shoulders above them.

I won't ever say "that guy" or "this guy" are the best, but I've talked to a few older pros, and they all said Jim Brown wouldn't just play well in today's game, he'd still dominate it.

Green Bay and the Giants both shipped SB's recently with awful statistical rushing attacks.

New Orleans, Indy, and New England too, although I guess they could be debateable?  Either way, all those teams are known more for Brees, Manning, and Brady than Pierre Thomas, Addai, and Corey Dillon.

It's just a diff. game.  I wonder how the QBs now compare to the QBs in the 60s.

Hedjhog wrote: QBs in the 60s compared to today? I think Trent Dilfer, care-taker type player. Those guys were generally not asked to throw the ball 30-40 times a game, standard today. It was power run, pass when forced to.

Greatest RB was Barry Sanders. Put Sanders on a championship caliber team, have him play 4 more years like Emmitt Smith . . . untouchable. Just 1,200 yards/season (well below his average) for 4 more years and he's over 20,000 career.

AP's a freak. But it'll be interesting to see if the heavy use affects him like so many other big-time RBs. RB careers, even the greats, tend to peter out after 7-8 years.

JamesHenderson wrote:

SidsSouljahBoy wrote:

wulfpackbaseball9 wrote:

wrcwolf wrote:
---------------------------------------------
--- ncpack54 wrote:

When I first saw the question of is AP the best running back ever I thought heck no.

But to do what he has done in a pass-happy league that Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Sayers, Sanders and whoever else did not play in, Peterson has to be in the discussion. I think the jury is still out on him being the best ever, but to me this is the greatest single season rushing effort in history given the circumstances.

---------------------------------------------

Chris Johnson gained 2006 yards in 2009. Was the NFL not a pass-happy league in 2009? Jamal Lewis gained 2066 in 2003.

Difference between 1st and 2nd place in rushing yards:

1963 - Jim Brown +845
1973 - OJ Simpson +859
1984 - Eric Dickerson +420
1997 - Barry Sanders +303
2003 - Jamal Lewis +183
2009 - Chris Johnson +590
2012 - Adrian Peterson +480

Great year for AP. One of the best ever, but nowhere near the hyperbole that I'm hearing from some. Give me OJ's '73 season behind the "Electric Company" as best ever among the group above. Again, he did that against bums according to some, though.

James, you didn't disappoint. As someone with a job in sports reporting, one would think one should have a better understanding of the past, but maybe not.

Speaking of rushing, interesting to see where the playoff teams ranked rushing and defending the run this year.

Rushing:

1. Minnesota
2. Washington
3. Seattle
4. San Francisco
7. New England
8. Houston
11. Baltimore
16. Denver
18. Cincy
20. Green Bay
22 . Indy
29. Atlanta

Rushing Against:

3. Denver
4. San Francisco
5. Washington
7. Houston
9. New England
10. Minnesota
11. Seattle
12. Cincy
18. Green Bay
21. Baltimore
22. Atlanta
29. Indy

May be a pass-happy league, but running and stopping the run are still vital to making the playoffs. As the past few years have pointed out, it's not an end-all, be-all once in the playoffs. Pretty impressive season by Green Bay, Atlanta and Indy in making the playoffs and being in the bottom half of the league in both statistical categories.

Football, whether it's college or pro, is always going to be about two things: running the ball and stopping the other guy from running it.

There will be gimmicks and schemes set up to alter the fundamental DNA of winning championships, but the trenches is where it's almost always won, or lost.

btw, arguing who is the best RB in history is like who's the best Home Run hitter. Brown was Ruthian in stature. He wasn't just a little better than every other running back around, he was head-and-shoulders above them.

I won't ever say "that guy" or "this guy" are the best, but I've talked to a few older pros, and they all said Jim Brown wouldn't just play well in today's game, he'd still dominate it.

Green Bay and the Giants both shipped SB's recently with awful statistical rushing attacks.

New Orleans, Indy, and New England too, although I guess they could be debateable?  Either way, all those teams are known more for Brees, Manning, and Brady than Pierre Thomas, Addai, and Corey Dillon.

It's just a diff. game.  I wonder how the QBs now compare to the QBs in the 60s.

packphinsfan wrote:

JamesHenderson wrote:

dunlow66 wrote: I think Jim Brown was an incredible player, but the 12 game season also was an advantage.
He did not have to get hit for the 2-4 extra games per year that the other guys on the list had to endure. This helped him avoid some possible injuries and allowed him to stay fresh later in his career. Didnt have the huge guys falling on him all the time like modern RB's do today.

Jim Brown may well be the greatest RB ever, but he has been put on such a pedestal that I dont think any modern day runner could ever have a legit shot at knocking him off. What would it take?

That being said, I think Walter Payton was number 1 all time (also had almost 500 catches)
Peterson is not yet top ten in my book, but he is closing fast, and I do mean fast.

For instance, AP blew his knee out in week 15 last year.

For some no one will ever be able to be better than Jim Brown.  Same thing with Jordan.

There was some talk about the yardage diff. between Brown and the other backs back, then, but how talented were those backs?  Do you think if Brown played now he'd have a 800+yd advantage on guys like Peterson/Lynch/Foster/Rice, etc..?

Watching those highlights of Brown, I'd love to be able to put Peterson in a time machine and send him back to 1965 and see how he'd do against those defensive players.

The other difference in time is nobody weight trained back then, and you only trained in season. Jim Brown now would have weighed 235 or 240 and been even faster. And he actually had moves, unlike Herschel Walker (another one of my fave`s) who was a bullet but no wiggle. The most impressive thing about JB was one number, 5.3. Career avg per carry, no one comes close.

That, to me, is the hard thing to predict.   That's why you, IMO, can't make "adjustments" based on what if a guy was born now or back then.  Too many diff. things could happen (play diff. sports, etc..).

That's why I always take the guys as is.  Jim Brown was listed at 232 back then without lifting weights as much as now (I assume?).  Maybe he grows to 250 in college and is a linebacker?  Maybe he plays Lacrosse only?   Who knows.

Discussions like this is really why I wish a time machine existed! LOL.  I'd love to take some of these guys and move them from generation to generation to see how they'd do.  Put LeBron in the 80s.  Send Jordan to play for the Bulls tomorrow.  Let Jim Brown run this week for Cleveland, let AP run against the Packers in 65.  Would be unreal to see.

JamesHenderson wrote:

packphinsfan wrote:

JamesHenderson wrote:

dunlow66 wrote: I think Jim Brown was an incredible player, but the 12 game season also was an advantage.
He did not have to get hit for the 2-4 extra games per year that the other guys on the list had to endure. This helped him avoid some possible injuries and allowed him to stay fresh later in his career. Didnt have the huge guys falling on him all the time like modern RB's do today.

Jim Brown may well be the greatest RB ever, but he has been put on such a pedestal that I dont think any modern day runner could ever have a legit shot at knocking him off. What would it take?

That being said, I think Walter Payton was number 1 all time (also had almost 500 catches)
Peterson is not yet top ten in my book, but he is closing fast, and I do mean fast.

For instance, AP blew his knee out in week 15 last year.

For some no one will ever be able to be better than Jim Brown.  Same thing with Jordan.

There was some talk about the yardage diff. between Brown and the other backs back, then, but how talented were those backs?  Do you think if Brown played now he'd have a 800+yd advantage on guys like Peterson/Lynch/Foster/Rice, etc..?

Watching those highlights of Brown, I'd love to be able to put Peterson in a time machine and send him back to 1965 and see how he'd do against those defensive players.

The other difference in time is nobody weight trained back then, and you only trained in season. Jim Brown now would have weighed 235 or 240 and been even faster. And he actually had moves, unlike Herschel Walker (another one of my fave`s) who was a bullet but no wiggle. The most impressive thing about JB was one number, 5.3. Career avg per carry, no one comes close.

That, to me, is the hard thing to predict.   That's why you, IMO, can't make "adjustments" based on what if a guy was born now or back then.  Too many diff. things could happen (play diff. sports, etc..).

That's why I always take the guys as is.  Jim Brown was listed at 232 back then without lifting weights as much as now (I assume?).  Maybe he grows to 250 in college and is a linebacker?  Maybe he plays Lacrosse only?   Who knows.

Discussions like this is really why I wish a time machine existed! LOL.  I'd love to take some of these guys and move them from generation to generation to see how they'd do.  Put LeBron in the 80s.  Send Jordan to play for the Bulls tomorrow.  Let Jim Brown run this week for Cleveland, let AP run against the Packers in 65.  Would be unreal to see.

COrockclimber wrote: Quote: "Greatest RB all-time?"

There are only 4-5 guys worthy of even being in this conversation. In a couple of years, assuming similar production, Mr. Peterson will be one of them, but he isn't there yet.

spider321 wrote:

JaegerWolf wrote:

spider321 wrote:

JaegerWolf wrote: I'm a Redskin fan and I hate the Cowboys with a passion, but Tony Dorsett was the best I ever saw play.

You must not have watched much football over the years.

Saw my first Redskin game in 1969. Unless you are considerably older than me, I can almost guarantee I've watched more than you have.

Ok, so you didn't comprehend much of what you were watching.  No biggie.

theruthless1 wrote: AP is without a doubt-- A BEAST!!!

But as to him being the best running back in the game?

TODAY?  YES

In History?  LOL!

Walter Payton, Jim Brown, OJ, Gale Sayers, Eric Dickerson, Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Marcus Allen all say... HECK NO!

dunlow66 wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: The best I have ever seen over a few years is Earl Campbell.  I know there is a great argument for Barry Sanders, but I would bet a pile of money that defenders would rather play against Sanders in his prime than against Campbell.  Campbell was an absolute beast.

Man, I still remember what he did to my Dolphins on Monday Night Football. He may have been the most punishing runner I have ever seen. To bad about his knees, he can barely walk now.

William Beattie "Big Chief" Feathers (August 20, 1909 – March 11, 1979) was an American football running back in the NFL. He played for the Chicago Bears, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Green Bay Packers during his seven-year career. He was the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in one season (1934), where he gained 1,004 yards.^[1] He holds the NFL single season record for most yards per carry when he averaged 8.44 yards per attempt that same year (minimum 100 carries). He attended Virginia High School in Bristol, and led the school to its first state championship as team captain before going on to the University of Tennessee.

After his career in the NFL, Feathers went on to coach football at Appalachian State and North Carolina State. He also coached baseball at Texas Tech^[2] and Wake Forest. (wikipedia)

OldNorthStatesman wrote: Mr. Feathers says hello.

William Beattie "Big Chief" Feathers (August 20, 1909 – March 11, 1979) was an American football running back in the NFL. He played for the Chicago Bears, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Green Bay Packers during his seven-year career. He was the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in one season (1934), where he gained 1,004 yards.^[1] He holds the NFL single season record for most yards per carry when he averaged 8.44 yards per attempt that same year (minimum 100 carries). He attended Virginia High School in Bristol, and led the school to its first state championship as team captain before going on to the University of Tennessee.

After his career in the NFL, Feathers went on to coach football at Appalachian State and North Carolina State. He also coached baseball at Texas Tech^[2] and Wake Forest. (wikipedia)

OldEastHeel wrote: OJ has more pressing daily concerns than who people believe in the greatest RB of all time.  The rest of that list, sure, but OJ is more concerned with things like using newspaper as body armor, sharpening a toothbrush into a shiv, attempting to sell the murder weapon from the murders, and bitching about the food in the Nevada penal colony to which he has been assigned.

theruthless1 wrote: AP is without a doubt-- A BEAST!!!

But as to him being the best running back in the game?

TODAY?  YES

In History?  LOL!

Walter Payton, Jim Brown, OJ, Gale Sayers, Eric Dickerson, Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Marcus Allen all say... HECK NO!

Treyvon wrote:

OldEastHeel wrote: OJ has more pressing daily concerns than who people believe in the greatest RB of all time.  The rest of that list, sure, but OJ is more concerned with things like using newspaper as body armor, sharpening a toothbrush into a shiv, attempting to sell the murder weapon from the murders, and bitching about the food in the Nevada penal colony to which he has been assigned.

theruthless1 wrote: AP is without a doubt-- A BEAST!!!

But as to him being the best running back in the game?

TODAY?  YES

In History?  LOL!

Walter Payton, Jim Brown, OJ, Gale Sayers, Eric Dickerson, Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Marcus Allen all say... HECK NO!

Not disagreeing with you but to be fair, he has to be in the discussion. He was a hellofa running back.

dunlow66 wrote:

OldNorthStatesman wrote: Mr. Feathers says hello.

William Beattie "Big Chief" Feathers (August 20, 1909 – March 11, 1979) was an American football running back in the NFL. He played for the Chicago Bears, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Green Bay Packers during his seven-year career. He was the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in one season (1934), where he gained 1,004 yards.^[1] He holds the NFL single season record for most yards per carry when he averaged 8.44 yards per attempt that same year (minimum 100 carries). He attended Virginia High School in Bristol, and led the school to its first state championship as team captain before going on to the University of Tennessee.

After his career in the NFL, Feathers went on to coach football at Appalachian State and North Carolina State. He also coached baseball at Texas Tech^[2] and Wake Forest. (wikipedia)

No black players in the NFL back then, kinda mutes the accomplishment.
Jackie Robinson may have been one of the greatest running backs of all time if the NFL had been integrated. He averaged a stunning 12 yards per carry in 1939 at UCLA.

he did get to play once against the Bears: At the close of his UCLA career in 1941, Robinson participated in the annual All-Star Game, which pitted the nation's best college players against the NFL's strongest team. While the NFL Champion Chicago Bears won the game by a wide 37-13 margin, the fleet-footed Robinson ran circles around the Bears' unprepared defenders. Chicago defensive end Dick Plasman later said, "That Jackie Robinson is the fastest man I've ever seen in uniform. I thought [then-NFL star] Don Hutson was fast, but he could spot Don five yards and pass him by.