Greatest RBs ever...#11, #10, #9....

Greatest Rbs ever…#11, #10 & #9

This is getting pretty interesting as we count down the greatest NFL running backs of the current time…note I wanted to say of ALL time, but that technically is incorrect. We can never make a list of the greatest all time, because we are basing it on the idea that nothing in the future will change what we say.

If someone had done this list back in 1998, it would be different from what we have now, because some of the guys on the list were not at their prime. If this same poll was done in 1988, there would be some on the list now that wasn’t even in the NFL then. If this poll was done in 1968, some of these backs weren’t even BORN. So the idea of greatest of ALL time, or the greatest EVER is purely subjective.

I even say that against myself.

But let’s not confuse the idea of “great” with “favorite”. There are lots of backs that some older guys might have really liked. Emerson Boozer, John Brockington, Sam (the BAM) Cunningham, Chuck Muncie, numerous other guys might have been favorites of some of the older readers, but they may not have been amongst the greatest of all time.

I have lots of favorites that didn’t make the list, so I have to separate what makes a running back good, and what makes him great. With that in mind, let’s continue through the menu….

#11 Thurman Thomas: 47 points

There actually is a lot of irony here because history begs us to only remember winners…but how many running backs can say they led their team to the Superbowl FOUR times? Thurman Thomas is actually tied with the #10 on this list, but you’re going to get a lot of amens from Buffalo Bills fans on this one. One of the constants of the 1990s was Thurman Thomas scoring touchdown after touchdown and making the Bills a dynasty for that magical time in NFL history. A very classy player, and certainly a great back.

Why not higher? The difference in him being #11 and being in the top ten is paper thin, but a lot is based on his team accomplishments. As mentioned before, Thurman is tied with the next guy on the list, but if he had one just one of those four Superbowls, he’d been a lock for the top 10. He is on the list on each of the three characteristics of individual stats and has a great number in individual awards element. But the easiest answer to this question of why he is not higher is this: because there are indeed better backs coming up.

Why on the list? This is where many could argue about Thurman Thomas losing four Superbowls…after all, we only remember the winners right? That’s kinda perverted thinking because remember, the Superbowl is made up of the NFC AND AFC Champions… of which Thurman Thomas was a great part of many times. Many good or even great backs might get one shot at a Superbowl, even if they lose. Even though Thurman and the Bills lost 4, at least he GOT there…how many of YOUR favorite backs can even say that?

#10 Roger Craig: 47 points

Many times the difference in any tie I have will usually favor the great back that has greater team accomplishments. For this reason Roger Craig is in the top 10 list. Roger Craig is a pure definition of the word, “all purpose back” and proved it from the first year he entered the NFL. From start to finish, Roger Craig on any team he played for meant playoffs because you could count on his rushing as well as any other yards in any other way. The perfect TEAM player and an excellent back, you just cannot go wrong with Roger Craig.

Why not higher? Roger Craig had high marks when it came to team accomplishments, but he no longer ranks in any of the three characteristics of individual stats. He is not in the top 30 in yards, touchdowns and his yards per carry does not give him any points. The three elements must be in agreement for a back to be considered the greatest, and even though Roger Craig is clearly great, I could not put him any higher.

Why on the list? Roger Craig helped the San Francisco 49ers to three Superbowls, and won them all. They also went to an NFC Championship or two, so the resume of Roger Craig is very heavy. Again, one of the key elements of being great is being a powerful force in the team’s accomplishments. Granted he gets no points off my formula in the individual stats element, he still gets plenty of points in the individual awards element. Roger Craig has easily proven his worth to this list.

#9 Frank Gifford: 51 points

Another “old school” back that played before there was a Superbowl. The once-voice of “Monday Night Football” Frank Gifford is a legendary figure to the sport for winning, endurance and old school football. Much like Roger Craig, he had to wear a couple of hats, but he proved his credibility not just in the running back position, but in other positions as well. A true champion in every sense of the word, well before there was such a thing as a “Superbowl”. Old die-hards of the way the NFL used to be can stand up and be proud of Frank Gifford.

Why not higher? One of the first things that actually worked against Frank Gifford was the era adjustment. Because he retired in the 60’s that was 4 points off. If there was no era adjustment, he would still be about this same spot, or tied with #8 coming up. But as we continue to move up, we see that to be THE greatest, the numbers in all three elements must be higher. No one is going to question Frank Gifford in team accomplishments. He scored a 35 with that, which is up there with the best On that alone, he’d be in the top 5, but he also ranks barely on the top 30 with touchdowns and he does have a good yards per carry average. Frank Gifford is well decorated in individual awards, so yes, he is quite worthy.

Why on the list? Champions need great players, and Frank Gifford is one of them. Multiple trips to the NFL Championship game and a Pro-Bowl selection 8 times, there are few that can make claim to greatness as Frank Gifford can…in fact, according to my list, there are only a hand full of others that can boast greatness as well as Frank Gifford has. The New York Giants had a gem in this man.

So there you have it, three more on the list as greatest of all time, and oddly enough, the last two I listed were just as much a threat as a RECEIVER as they were a running back. I didn’t want to limit this to just a pure and absolute running back, because in the game of football sometimes you have to do more to help your team. This really is a solid point of what makes some of these guys great.

Before I go, let me share another name that didn’t make the list, and why. Remember, just because they didn’t make it does not mean they are great. I mean, who drew the line to say that the top 25 running backs are great? Why can’t it be 36, or 42, or 58? It’s just a nice clean number to work with, so don’t get upset at the rankings, it’s just some ramblings from a football fan.

Jamal Lewis: 20 points

This is interesting because he has an excellent chance of getting on the top 25 with just a few more accomplishments. Remember, the #25 back of all time (according to my insane formula) was Ladainian Tomlinson with 28 points. Now granted, with both being current in the NFL, LT could move up as well, but Ottis Anderson at #23 is not likely to move up any more.

A Superbowl Championship with the Baltimore Ravens adds a big star to his resume, and a pretty good yards per carry as well as being on the top 20 all time with yards helps too. If I did this ranking in 2010, he may very well be on that list, knocking somebody off. So this isn’t about why he isn’t on the list, it could easily be how soon he may be on that list.

Ok, let’s shut it down for a little bit, hope you can get some mileage out of this ranking. Remember, I am not doing this to degrade anybody, every one of these backs is a hero and a model to somebody, and we all have our favorites. Hope yours is on this list. Next time, we’ll cover a few more as we get even closer to the greatest of all time….

Gotta stop saying that, it isn’t quite accurate…

Later guys….