The greatest running back in the NFL of all-time

I'm so old I saw Brown play in college.  In the NFL, he was almost as big as  defensive linemen and bigger than most linebackers.  Adrian Peterson is about Brown's size but the linemen and linebackers are bigger today. 

Since then there have been  many players who are potentially as talented at running back as Brown but high school and college coaches switch them to linebacker and defensive end. 

Because of his size and strength, Brown's college coach wanted him to switch to linebacker but Brown refused and ended up the greatest running back.

1) Barry Sanders

2)Walter Payton

3) Jim Brown

4) Ladainian Tomlinson

5) Earl Campell

6) Adrian Peterson

7) Gale Sayers

8) Eric Dickerson

9) Marshall Faulk

10) Larry Czonka

#4 on my list.

Roger Craig who was known as a runner and a reciever. Jim Brown is over rated in my opinion. He was as strong and fast as today's athetes back when trainers believed weights would make you "muscle bound."

Walter Payton lacked the fourth gear that OJ and Brown had, but he got double helpings of everything else. He routinely exceeded 1000 yards rushing with poor blocking. He was unique.

Earl Campbell was unique in that he just ran over everybody. He knocked would be tacklers unconscious! Unfortunately all that contact shortened his career - 7 years I believe.

Barry Sanders was like a pinball bouncing off the defense - again a very unique runner. Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk deserve to be mentioned.

As far as #1? Gotta be Payton or Sanders.

Herschel Walker??? He's like Top 125 on my list.

I equate Bo Jackson with Herschel Walker but don't know why. Thinking their careers in the NFL may have been of similar length

I remember the media made a big deal about how Bo Jackson ran over Brian Bozworth during a game, when hype about Bozworth was at its peak. Never saw the play, though. Walker was a good back (power back in my opinion.) I think to have the ultimate backfield, you need to have a power back (like Jim Brown, Earl Campbell or Herschel Walker) and then a back like Gale Sayers, O.J. or Adrian Peterson. I like how Adrian Peterson runs. He fights for every yard and doesn't go down easy, but I don't think I'd call him a power back

There's a good video about Earl Campbell putting his head down and knocking over some hapless defender (it's in the same video as his collision with Jack Tatum at the goal line.) It's a shame a lot of these great backs never played in a Super Bowl (Sanders, Peterson, Campbell, Sayers and maybe a few others.)

Anyone know how good Franco Harris' stats were? I think a running back who held a record (forget which one) was annoyed at Harris cause he would run out of bounds instead of taking a hit when he was trying to break the record. If my memory's right, Harris didn't break the record but it was broken by Walter Peyton

May have been career rushing yards

Wow! Bo was one of the fastest players I have ever seen! You cannot compare Bo to Herschel. Bo was way better. Unless it's a joke.

'68 championship? Are you talking pre-Super Bowl? I think the Super Bowl started in '67 or '68 and the first two were won by the Packers, followed by maybe the Chiefs or the Jets. Don't think Sayers ever played in a Super Bowl. The Bears couldn't get past Lombardi's Packers

No biggie; I don't even remember the years Sayers was active. One of my earliest childhood memories is of the Vikings vs. Chiefs Super Bowl. Been a Vikings fan since the age of 3. But I followed them more closely when they had Alan Page, Carl Eller and Jim Marshall on their front four (along with Gary Larsen/Doug Sutherland.) Conundrum when Page was traded to the Bears; didn't know whether to follow the Bears or Vikings. I think Sayers was long gone by then.

Don't tell us you're holding that against him? He's easily the best player at the position. Many have chimed in with their thoughts on others, and, yes, I loved watching Payton, Sanders, Campbell, Sayers, and a few others.

But, seriously folks. He's considered the best football player ever by many, regardless of position.

Walter and Barry did things I had never seen before, but Jim still has a few NFL records 50 years after he retired. And, contrary to what at least one person stated, he didn't retire due to injury. He wanted to pursue acting.

What's everyone thoughts on the proposed rule that says running backs can't lead with their heads?

I can see the need to avoid concussions but you'd think there'd be some way to make the helmets better

I read of a proposal last year that was for getting rid of helmets. Or, going back to a leather-style helmet. Sounds crazy at first, but, it would eliminate players using their bodies as missiles.

Would be interesting to know stats on head injuries back when players wore those leather helmets. Of course they don't wear helmets in rugby so it's not unprecedented and there are similarities between rugby and football, though the scrum isn't really like the line of scrimmage in football before a play. Don't think the players are as big in rugby either.

Think I read that the NFL just approved a rule saying a running back can't lead with the "crown" of the helmet. Will be interesting to see how often that rule is violated and enforced if I read it right (only saw the headline, didn't read the story.)

Fall's the best time of year and the start of football season is a big reason why:)