Greatest RBs ever...#8, #7, #6...

Greatest Rbs ever…#8, #7, #6...

So now we inch closer and closer to the proverbial “Greatest Running Back EVER”…

Before we continue, I wanted to revisit the reasoning I used to come up with this list. I realize there may be 100 or more different ways to do this, but it just seems to me that when you really sit down and think about it, there has to be some acceptable form of elements that truly make a great running back, and then there are factors that separate the greatest from the rest of that pack.

Consider how many running backs have played at least a year in the NFL. There is no way I could sit down and go over every single back, but then, I would not need to. Many people already have ideas of what makes a guy great, so from that list I can put together my ranking, based on four basic elements.

The first is team accomplishments. As I said before, if you are great, then your team must be great. This is a team sport, so team goals are critical to determine if a running back is good, very good, great or the greatest. I give points for three parts of this element. If a back has won a Superbowl (or NFC Championship prior to the Superbowl era) I give him 10 points PER Championship. If he got there, but lost, I give him 5 points. If he made it to the semi finals (or the AFC/NFC Championship in the Superbowl era) I give him 2 points for each game. So a back can score 0 points if he never got his team in these fields, or over 40, depending on what his team did.

The second is Individual stats. Team stuff is cool, but you still gotta separate yourself from the pack. It proves that you weren’t a by-product of the system, and establishes you as the best in your position. I award points in three categories of this element; total yards gained, touchdowns and average yards per carry. If any back is the best in any of those categories, I give him 10 points for each category. If he is in the top 5, I award 7 points. If in the top 10, I give him 5 points. If a running back is in the top 20 all time I give him 3 points, and if he is in the top 30 he gets 1 point.

This means that the max points a back can get in this element is 30, and of course the minimum being 0. You’ll find that many of the great ones are usually somewhere in the middle of this element.

The third element is Individual awards. This is kinda tricky because nowdays they come up with all kinds of ways to award players. I mean, McDonalds could have a “Happy Meal Player of the Year” and create some award that looks like a burger. So what I did was narrow the awards to the main ones. I awarded 10 points each time a player got the MVP award or Superbowl MVP award. This is the highest honor the NFL can bestow. I know there are others, but these are the best ones. I then award 7 points for Offensive MVP for each year a player wins it. I also awarded 5 points for the AFC and NFC Player of the Year, and 2 points for the Rookie of the Year. I know a couple of these awards have been changed, but in the bulk of the NFL history, these were important. I also award one point for every Pro-Bowl a player has been selected to. Whether he goes or not is up to him but he was selected.

This means that one can rack up a lot of great points. Many of the great ones will shine in this element.

And finally there is the Era Adjustment. Simply put, I deduct one point for every decade since the player has retired, starting with the 90’s. For example, if a running back retired in 1987, then I have to deduct 2 points from his total score. Why? Because the running theory (fact?) is that players today are better in nearly every way than those before them. I don’t think we’re gonna get an argument that guys playing today, 2008 are equal or lesser than guys that played back in 1948. Players today are bigger, faster, meaner and more skilled than those before them. So a player can lose as much as 7 or 8 points if he is on this list. If a player has retired in 2000 or is still playing, he loses no points. There is no penalty for anyone who has left the game from 2000 to now.

So, having shared that, let’s continue the countdown!

#8 Barry Sanders: 55 points

I have several football cards of Barry Sanders, and I am wishing that one day I can sell them and buy a yacht! This guy was THE face of the Detroit Lions and clearly one of the greatest running backs to ever suit up. It’s actually amazing that he and Thurman Thomas were actually in the same backfield in college. This quite machine was the fear of every defensive back, and even when the Lions were no good, everybody knew that Barry Sanders was going to be fed the ball…and yet, they STILL could not stop him. When he retired, the city of Detroit hung their collective heads in sorrow. Even the NFL had to pause at the premature retirement of this incredible player. What would have been if he played just another year or two…

Why not higher? This is a tough question for me because before I did this ranking, I would have sworn that Barry Sanders would have been EASILY in the top 5, maybe top 3. But a very key element stands out…team accomplishments. A great player MUST be able to give him team a chance to win championships, or at least get to them. Barry Sanders scores only 2 points in the team accomplishments, and loses one point in era adjustment. The Detroit Lions could never capitalize on this great talent, and wasn’t even going to let him go to another team. I guess misery loves company, but had they given Barry Sanders a chance to go to a WINNING team, he’s EASILY be one of the greatest ever.

Why on the list? This isn’t even a debate, Barry Sanders is one of the greatest ever. He may not have scored well in the team accomplishments element, but NOBODY scored better in the individual stats and he scores a ton of points in the team awards element. If I left out the team accomplishments element, he’d probably be the best on the list. Of all the backs without a Superbowl appearance or NFC Championship experience, he IS the best.

#7 Terrell Davis: 60 points

This one will get some arguments, and I can respect that. But to be considered the greatest, there has to be a some indication of greatness in the three elements. A player like Terrell Davis. If John Elway was reading this, I am pretty sure he would give an “amen” to the fact that Davis was one of the final pieces to the puzzle to not one, but TWO Superbowls. This sixth round draft pick of 1995 helped the Broncos to the Superbowl only a couple of years after he got into the league. In the mid 90’s this was THE best running back in the NFL and the individual awards proved it. Had he not had the injuries, we might have singing his praises even louder.

Why not higher? If there was anything that kept Terrell Davis from being higher, it was the individual stats. Two Superbowl wins gives him 20 points right off the bat, and he was highly decorated with a few MVP awards and other individual awards. In fact he scored 35 points here. If I ranked these guys based on that number, he would be tied for #4. But his shortened career seemed to be the main reason why he is not higher.

Why on the list? There are a lot of people that would be angry that Terrell Davis is above some of the others I have listed. I truly understand that, so I cannot argue, but the reason he is where he is was because when he played, he was great. If I compared him to Barry Sanders, he would be better by team accomplishments by a landslide, and slightly better in individual awards. Part of being great is also making your team great, and say what you want about Terrell Davis, he DID get the Denver Broncos to the Superbowl twice.

#6 Walter Payton: 61 points

“Sweetness” will forever be an icon of the Chicago Bears and easily one of the most beloved running backs of ALL TIME. On that team with a cast of characters, Walter Payton was the shining example of what a profession was about. He made me a fan before the Bears went to the Superbowl, and I personally think Mike Ditka did a grave injustice by not allowing Walter Payton to score a touchdown in the Superbowl. I remember hearing all the fans chanting for Walter Payton to score when the Bears were in the red zone; we ALL wanted Walter Payton to get a touchdown in his only Superbowl…but Ditka didn’t do it. Unless somebody tells me that Sweetness didn’t WANT to score a touchdown, I hold Mike Ditka responsible for not allowing one of the most beloved backs the NFL has ever seen to score a touchdown in the greatest game of his career. I will ALWAYS have respect for Walter Payton.

Why not higher? The actual spots between 5 spots here is paper thin. Walter Payton is one point behind #5, and 2 points behind #4 and #3 (there’s your hint that there is another tie). The reason why Payton isn’t higher is not for what he lacked but simply because the others did a little more. Let’s also add that he lost 2 points by era adjustment. This could have put him in the top 5. He scored 12 points with team accomplishments, but remember for awhile, the Bears were an average team with a great player. It took awhile for Walter Payton and the Bears to get to the promised land. He scores 17 out of 30 in the individual stats and gets 34 points in the individual awards element. This is a great score, it’s just that there are a few that are better…but not many.

Why on the list? Anybody that is on the top 5 in yards and touchdowns MUST be on this list. This cat was a legend and a hero to some of the players playing today. How many running backs playing now had posters of Walter Payton on their wall? If this was a list of the classiest running backs ever, this guy is in my top 3. He is also one of my favorite running backs so I might have a slight bias to him. But Walter Payton is easily one of the greatest ever, and most people won’t argue that at all.

So, we are now about to enter the top 5 running backs of all time. The next three I am going to cover next time are separated by one point. Two are tied and one is just a single point behind.

Remember folks, greatness isn’t JUST about stats, it is about what he adds to a team. A great player has to elevate his team to greatness. In fact, of the top 10, only Barry Sanders is the only running back with no championship awards. This actually speaks greatly to how good this guy was, even though his team was…well…bad.

So as we continue to count it down, we will be revealing even greater running backs of the NFL. Hope you’ll continue to join me. Until next time…..

NFL Best teams Oct 7th 2008

Top 10 NFL Teams this week

As of Tuesday, October 7th, I wanted to weigh in on the top teams in the NFL, and that may be in the horizon for those particular teams. This has been a very interesting year so far, where injuries have shaped the destinies of several teams, and key players and coaches have created success or created failure for their franchise.

Before I continue, I wanted to remind some of you to check out my blogs on the greatest running backs ever…a few of these NFL teams could sure use one now…

#10 Buffalo Bills (4-1)

There is a phrase that Dennis Green once said that made him famous after his team (Cardinals) lost to the Chicago Bears…”they are who we THOUGHT they were!” The Bills started off great, but the teams they have faced were 4-13, including wins over Seattle, Oakland and St. Louis. A lot of people wondered if this team was “for real” and this seemed to be proven when the Cardinals blew them out the water 41-17. The Bills are actually on pace to go 10-6 with the teams left on their schedule, which could put them in the playoffs. I think the key games are the ones with the Jets. The problem with the Bills is that they are +22 on the points, which averages out to just over a field goal a game…makes for some mighty tight games….

#9 New England Patriots (3-1)

This team might be in more trouble than we can imagine. Their “points for” and “points against” are dead even at 79...this shows that the Pats are a very low scoring team, tied for 23rd in the NFL at this moment. When you do the math, that is about 20 points a game. That isn’t bad, especially since your defense seems to be holding their own, but barely beating the Chiefs isn’t impressive and that close game vs. the 49ers wasn’t either. The Pats better find out how to turn the turbo boost on, or they may be in some trouble.

#8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

The Buccs are on this list because they have had one of the toughest schedules so far. After an emotional loss vs. the Saints in New Orleans, this team has defeated Atlanta, Chicago and Green Bay, before losing to the Broncos. They have a very good chance to split the next 4 games because they should beat the Chiefs and Seahawks, but I don’t know about the Panthers and the Cowboys. If they steal one game from the latter two, this might be a team you have to reserve in the playoffs. We’ll see what they are really about when they play Carolina this weekend.

#7 Denver Broncos (4-1)

Losing to the hapless Chiefs was pretty devastating to the team, and then there is the fact that most of their games have been very close. The Broncos may be the second highest scoring team in the NFL, but they also GIVE almost as much as they score. When you look at the teams with more points given there is a disturbing trend. Kansas City…bottom of the division. Houston…bottom of the division. St. Louis…bottom of the division. New Orleans…bottom of the division. Detroit…bottom of the division. If the Broncos don’t find some defense soon, they may well end up with these teams. With the Jaguars, Pats and Dolphins, this could be very interesting.

#6 Carolina Panthers

This team has a very dangerous scoring package and a very good defense that does not give up a lot of points. Yeah, I know they crushed the Chiefs but they still have some very strong points. You still have to wonder about that loss to Minnesota, in that it may have shown some flaws but this team has a very good chance to see post season play. It is quite possible they could win 4 of their next 5 games and be one of the best teams in the NFL. Barring injury, this COULD be one of the elite teams in the league.

#5 Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)

I actually thought about moving this team down a peg or two, because there may be cracks in the armor. They have escaped but the skin of their teeth in several games, and injuries might be catching up with them. Their next game is against the Bengals, which few see them losing. But after that, there is a tough run against the Giants, Redskins and Colts before seeing the Chargers. This will not be easy, and in a conference with a lot of ups and downs, the Steelers might be looking at a tough road to stay above water.

#4 Tennessee Titans (5-0)

The only current 5-0 team may be flying high with one of the best defenses in the NFL, but you may ask why I don’t have this team #1 or #2. I’ll give you that the 17-10 win vs. the Jaguars is a quality win, but wins over the Bengals and Texans were not. Yes you have to play the teams on your schedule but these teams don’t add to the idea of the Titans being the best team, even at 5-0. Beating the Vikings does not help much, but the close win vs. the Ravens does add a nice feather to their cap. It is POSSIBLE this team could win the next 3, seeing that they are playing the Chiefs, then a questionable Colts team, and then the Green Bay Packers, who may be having quarterback issues. If they come out of this 8-0...then they have proven themselves as a SERIOUS threat in the AFC.

#3 Dallas Cowboys (4-1)

Did the game against the Bengals send up warning flares? Coming off a loss to the Redskins just the week before, and a close game vs. the Eagles two weeks prior to that, is this really the team we thought was going to the Superbowl? They were almost a lock on that, but now there are some questions in the air. They are still guaranteed in the playoffs, barring injury, but is this the potential NFC Champions? Still, they have only one loss, and with games against the Cardinals and Rams, they should emerge 6-1 before playing the Buccaneers. But if they lose either of those two games before the Bucc game, there may be chaos in Dallas.

#2 Washington Redskins (4-1)

Can we call this “lightning in a bottle” or is this for real? We cannot ignore that their only loss came to the current Superbowl Champs, and they recently handed the Cowboys their only loss. So we cannot ignore that as of this date, this team is pretty good. Add on to this that they will be playing 3 of the worst teams in the NFL coming up and you may be looking at a 7-1 team before they see the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Redskins’ next three games are against the Rams AND Browns, both at home, and then they travel to play Detroit. Combined these teams are 1-11. Christmas comes early for the Redskins and by early November the media might be singing the praises of this team and punching tickets to the Superbowl…but who ever went to the Superbowl on a 7-1 record?

#1 New York Giants (4-0)

You have to give the defending champs the number one spot if they are undefeated. There are only 2 teams left in the NFL that are in this class, and the Giants have proven themselves to be a very good team. This team allows under two touchdowns per game, so if your offense can’t dance, you better not come to the club. The problem however, is that this team has played some very bad teams. Sure they beat the Redskins at the beginning of the year, but after that they beat the Rams, Bengals and Seahawks…none of which is scaring anybody in the NFL. Then they’ve got the Browns and the 49ers. It is just too early to say this team is great, because they can be 6-0 and not proven a thing. Remember, they still have to play Dallas TWICE, and the Eagles twice as well as a rematch against the Redskins. Throw in the Steelers, Ravens and Panthers and you might be looking at a team with 6 losses at the end of the year.

So nothing is really set in stone yet, I mean come on, we’ve barely cut a quarter of the season out. Nobody is going undefeated, so we know those guys on the 1972 Dolphins will be popping corks soon, probably early November. Right now, the NFC looks very tough with any of 4 teams that could make it to the NFC Championship, and the AFC is really up in the air. There are teams not on this list that could make some noise before all is said and done. We’ll see how it unfolds.

Anyway, gotta jet…hmmm Jets….Brett Farve….Green Bay Packers…2 wins, three losses…mistake?