Todd Gurley names his top 5 RBs of all time

[Farr Be It]

finally someone mentions Jim Brown


Thank you @Farr Be It I didnt want to have to ignore this whole thread LOL

I was surprised too.

As for Gurley. His list had recency bias, of course. Chris Johnson? Come on. In fairness, maybe he was put on the spot by the interviewer.

Also, I’m curious if he would have included Dickerson, if not for him being close to the team now.

He might have named some running back that likes to wear girls crop-tops or something.

 

[Classic Rams]

Since Gurley's top 5 is in no particular order, neither is mine. All 5 listed below are my top runners.

Eric Dickerson
Walter Payton
Jim Brown
O.J. Simpson
Barry Sanders

Rarely watched LaDamian play, but there's only one LT to me and that's Lawrence Taylor.

AP, Campbell, Faulk etc are in the next 5.

Yeah I agree with Farr...Chris Johnson doesn't even make top 20 for me.

 

[Pancake]

As bad as it has been for us Ram fans in the recent past. One thing that can't be complained about is the RB position. The Rams have had an awesome history with RB's.

 

[Selassie I]

2,105

 

[FarNorth]

Honestly me to and to add to that I was expecting Jim Brown on somebody's list and none. Maybe to old and not many people seen him?

Kinda reminds me of the GOAT in basketball debate and nobody mentions Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell?

No back dominated the NFL as much as Jim Brown.

 

[RamsSince1969]

Exactly dude.
Yes, there have been better pure runners.
There has never been a better FOOTBALL player at Running Back.

Marshall Faulk in your backfield gives you an elite ball carrier who will not fumble and will always be conscious of the sticks, an immediate upgrade in pass protection and safety valve for your QB in every possible way.
Capable of the big play, 100% dependable on the SMART play.

Marshall! Marshall!! Marshall!!!
View attachment 27445

Marshall had some weird amazing start-stop mechanism avoiding tackles. What a joy to watch him on the Rams.

 

[IBruce80]

Mine, in no particular order:

Walter Payton
Eric Dickerson
Marcus Allen
Barry Sanders
Marshall Faulk

The first three were my favourite players when i got into NFL mid 80s.

Sanders and Faulk were joys to watch as I got older.
So happy that we had Faulk on our team.

These days, Gurley, naturally, is my favourite player.

I understand why Brown and Simpson on are many lists, but i have only seen their highlights as opposed to watching full games.
Brown looked like a real beast.

 

[RAMNATION]

I find it fascinating that not a single poster mentions Emmitt Smith.

because he IMO was never the best rusher in his time period. he just played the longest.

 

[SteveBrown]

When Marcus Allen was at his best, man, the whole package was better than most any....
Don't forget BO!

 

[CGI_Ram]

Yeah I agree with Farr...Chris Johnson doesn't even make top 20 for me.

Ditto. Not sure how far down the list he’d be, but he’s down the list a little.

That 2009 season was great, and... he’s got nearly 10K in career yards... so he’s on the list somewhere. But... not among the top in my book.

 

[LesBaker]

because he IMO was never the best rusher in his time period. he just played the longest.

I think it's fair to say he had a handful of pretty darn good years like 12 or so in a row.

He has to be in the conversation with a career like his.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm

 

[ReekofRams]

But that 5 years was the best I ever saw, and gave him the Hall of Fame. Earl Campbell ran the way I like RB's to run. I saw him in person at the Astrodome many times, as I lived in South East Texas, and he ruined me for other RB's. He ruined Eric Dickerson for me, because ED seemed to be half-assing it all of the time, which I now know is not true, but then it made me wish for Cullen Bryant, John Cappiletti (sp?), and Lawrence McCutcheon. Crazy, huh? lol

You said it. You're crazy. Yet somehow I relate to that.

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

If we’re allowed to focus just on the RBs and not their life after football

The top 5 i ever saw in alphabetical order

Earl Campbell
Eric Dickerson
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders

And sorry but

OJ Simpson

I never really saw Jim Brown play

 

[ReekofRams]

1=Walter Peyton
2=Eric Dickerson
3=Jim Brown
4=Barry Sanders
5=Marshall Faulk

Honorable Mention=Earl Campbell, Adrian Peterson, O.J. Simpson

Todd Gurley is the only current running back that has a chance of breaking into the top 5.

 

[LesBaker]

1=Walter Peyton
2=Eric Dickerson
3=Jim Brown
4=Barry Sanders
5=Marshall Faulk

Honorable Mention=Earl Campbell, Adrian Dantley, O.J. Simpson

Todd Gurley is the only current running back that has a chance of breaking into the top 5.

 

[ReekofRams]

Oops. All Adrians sound alike. It also shows my age.