Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, or Barry Sanders?

[Ganon83]

Who was the best running back among these three?

[Deleted]

I’ll say that Payton was the best, but Barry Sanders was my favorite.

[arrogantmodel]

I gotta go with Payton, even though I was a baby when he was playing. But seeing film and reading about him, he was a tough S.O.B.

If Barry had gotten a decent team and didn't retire, Emmitt wouldn't have even gotten a whiff of the rushing record. And Barry was my favorite too.

Emmitt was no doubt great, but I hated the Cowboys, so I rarely watched him growing up. However, I did get to see him live when they played the Steelers on opening day years and years ago.

[sfvega]

Payton was a better receiver, but if Barry had stayed in the league or god forbid went to a team with a real line, nobody would have ever reached the number he put up. So to me, it's Barry be a little bit.

[Push R Truth]

I always give the edge to Barry over Walter because Barry carried his entire team. Walter was a great man but his team had way more talent. Emmett is a distant 3rd because of his elite offensive line, Hall of Fame QB and Receiver that took pressure off him. Although it's a bit of chicken/egg... was the O Line great because of Emmett? I think they were great no matter what. Rey Mysterio could have rushed a 1000 yards for the Cowboys behind them.

If Barry or Walter had the same O-Line there wouldn't be a debate over who is better between these 3. They'd be the best by a country mile in terms of stats.

That's not saying Emmett is bad. He just benefited the most from his team. Barry was a stud despite the Lions.


But in the grand scheme of things I'm still talking about three hall of fame talents Being the "worst" of the best is hardly an insult.

[Toilet Paper Roll]

Imagine how good Barry would have been if he played for a real NFL team

[Deleted]

Walter could run, block, catch and throw on occasion. If there had been a Wildcat formation in that era, Payton would have been a dual threat.

From his rookie year until 84 (the year it all started coming together), that team was very up-and-down. (The NFC Central division went through Minnesota then.) First year (77), they went 9-5 and made the playoffs for the first time since they won it all in 63. Then they'd be garbage. Then good again, then dog shit. Was like that until those years of good draft picks blossomed and became All-Pro everywhere you looked.

Walter was running behind a line that blocked for Red Grange (ok Gale Sayers), they were so old. He had to make plays happen just like Barry did years later.

(I might have extra insight because this is Bears country and I've seen a lot of their games on TV.)

Hated that high-stepping shit he'd do those last 15 yards for a TD to rub salt in the wounds of defenders chasing him (my dad would yell "I hate that asshole!"), but he had an eye for threading a needle. If he saw a sliver of daylight between two blockers, he went for it.