“Sanders played for a vastly inferior team than Smith did for much of his career. If Sanders had the opportunity to run behind the same OL that Smth did, he’d have far better numbers than Smith retired with.”

Another of my personal favorite quotes from above “You put barry on that team (referring to the Cowboys) 2000 yards every yeear”.

Did Barry ever play for the Cowboys?- Nope. Did Barry get 2000 yards every season?- Nope.

How do you know that Barry would have done better with a different team?- Becaus he didn’t play for a better team or a different team. He played for the Lions.

How do you know that Barry’s stats would have been better had he been on a different team?- You couldn’t possibly know that. His stats are what they are. Your wishful thinking will not change them.

How do you know that he wouldn’t have become complacent on a team like the Cowboys? Maybe he would have done enough to get by, but perhaps not have had record setting statistics. Some people perform to their absolute best when they are forced to. And some perform worse than they otherwise might have when surrounded by sea of talent.

Using wishful statistics such as the ones above don’t fare well for the Barry fans. After all, if you have to state that Barry’s statistics WOULD have been better based on the fantasy scenario you made up in you’re head for him, aren’t you essentially making the argument that Smith’s statistics were better making him the better player?

“the classiest” Really??? Exactly how “classy” is it to walk out on your team with no warning? Was that the classy move you were refering to? What about trying to skate with several million unearned dollars of bonus money? Maybe that was the “classy” move you were talking about? How about agreeing to return the money only if the team will cut or trade you? That must be the “classy” move you meant. Here’s a quick note; if somebody has to sue to get the money that you rightfully owe them, you aren’t “classy”, you’re trying to be a thief.

Barry was a heckuva talent, but he wouldn’t know “classy” if it bit him in the ass.

I think the votes going in favor of Barry is that 1. everyone hates the Cowboys. 2. Everyone loved to watch Barry run.

“Barry Sanders was the Detroit Lions. ”

Check the All-Pro and pro-bowl rosters for the Lions during Sanders time.

“Never had even an above average defense,”

Most of Detroit’s playoff defenses ranked in the top 10 to 13 in the NFL. Sorry, but by definition that’s above average.

“always played with a relative joke at QB (Andre Ware, Rodney Peete, Scott Mitchell, Erik Kramer). ”

Some pretty high drafts picks there. Ware wasn’t given a chance to start more than a few games. I agree he was a bust, but a #1 pick. Peete was hard to judge because he was injured so much. Mitchell (via Wiki) “In 1995, he set single-season records for the Lions in touchdown passes (32) and passing yards (4,338). Mitchell’s Lions made the NFL playoffs in 1995 and 1997.” Kramer played well, and (via Wiki) “Kramer holds the Bears’ record for highest career passer rating (80.7), and owns their single-season records for attempts, completions, touchdowns and passing yards.” so he wasn’t a joke QB, very serviceable.

“Played with a fullback for only one season.”
Meaning more people out for passes, meaning fewer tacklers in the box, meaning more running room for Sanders.

“And can you name even one offensive linemen that blocked for Barry?”

Lomas Brown and David Glover. And I wasn’t even a Lions fan.

Oh, don’t forget, Sanders played indoors for most of his career under near perfect field conditions.

Jim Brown-#1 Dominate RB ever. Man among boys. =absolutely=
Barry Sanders- #1 Elusive, Exciting RB ever. =not even. Again, check some Gale Sayers footage, or even OJ Jimpson.=
Walter Payton- #1 Blue Collar RB ever. Sweetness. =Don’t understand this classification. Most RB’s would be considered ‘blue collar’.=
Marshall Faulk- #1 All purpose RB ever. =Not really. Great pass receiver, but not an every down back. Doesn’t belong on this list.=
Eric Dickerson- #1 Underrated RB for his stats. =agreed=
Emmitt Smith- #1 Leading Rusher NFL. =And one of the most complete and toughest RB’s to play. Ever have a dislocated shoulder? I have. You’d be lucky to dress yourself, let alone avoid 300 pound linemen while running around on a football field leading your team to the playoffs.=

Not a bad list, but I think if you were building a team to sell tickets, you’d pick Sanders or Simpson or Sayers. If you were building a team to win games you’d go with Brown, Dickerson, or Smith. You want guys who are complete backs, move the ball FORWARD, score TD’s, and provide leadership. It wouldn’t be Sanders.

You were the one who started talking about how “no other back faced 8 man fronts ever in the NFL”. That doesn’t seem to limit the conversation to just these two.

gamewarrior405′s list –
Jim Brown-#1 Dominate RB ever. Man among boys.
Barry Sanders- #1 Elusive, Exciting RB ever.
Walter Payton- #1 Blue Collar RB ever. Sweetness.
Marshall Faulk- #1 All purpose RB ever.
Eric Dickerson- #1 Underrated RB for his stats.
Emmitt Smith- #1 Leading Rusher NFL.

Not a bad list, but I think if you were building a team to sell tickets, you’d pick Sanders or Simpson or Sayers. If you were building a team to win games you’d go with Brown, Dickerson, or Smith. You want guys who are complete backs, move the ball FORWARD, score TD’s, and provide leadership. It wouldn’t be Sanders.

They don’t exist

“Brown’s claim to the title of greatest running back of all time is supported by statistics. In 118 career games, Brown averaged 104.3 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. None of the NFL’s career rushing leaders come close to these spectacular totals. For example, Walter Payton averaged only 88 yards per game during his career with a 4.4 yards-per-carry average. Emmitt Smith averaged only 81.2 yards per game with a 4.2 yards-per-carry average.[14]

The only top ten all-time rusher who even approaches Brown’s totals, Barry Sanders, posted a career average of 99.8 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. However, Barry Sanders’ father, William, was frequently quoted as saying that Jim Brown was “the best I’ve ever seen.”

You can’t say the same for Emmitt.

Joe Perry was also the all-time leader in rushing attempts as of 1957 at 1,246. The point still stands.

The record for career rushing attempts in 1957, the year Jim Brown entered the NFL was 1,171. He more than doubled that in a 9 year career through 1965.

His record of 2,359 carries stood for 14 years after he retired. O.J. Simpson broke it in his 11th season in 1979.

His closest peer in terms of carries was Jim Taylor who carried the ball 1,941 times in a 10 year career,

The record for rushing yards when Brown entered the NFL was 7,126, an ongoing total from Joe Perry since 1948. Brown wound up with 12,312,

The record for rushing TD’s was 69 by Steven Van Buren. Brown wound up with 106.

When creating the lists of all time backs Jim Brown is #1 by a mile. Then you can start talking Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton, all of whom can figure in the mix for 2 to 4.

So let me classify them for you. Unlike some people, my posts can remain objective, instead of spiteful or insulting.

Jim Brown-#1 Dominate RB ever. Man among boys.
Barry Sanders- #1 Elusive, Exciting RB ever.
Walter Payton- #1 Blue Collar RB ever. Sweetness.
Marshall Faulk- #1 All purpose RB ever.
Eric Dickerson- #1 Underrated RB for his stats.
Emmitt Smith- #1 Leading Rusher NFL.

There are other names that could be listed, but most of the others didn’t play 9 years or longer..that are worth mentioning anyway.

gamewarrior405 says:
“If Barry disappeared in playoff games, that was because every team knew if they stopped Barry, the Lions lost. ”

I see. So that means that during the regular season didn’t care if they lost to the Lions because Sanders didn’t face a defense committed to stopping him. That likely means he didn’t face 8 man lines all the time. Nice backpedal.

“No respect given by any team to the Lions receivers or QB…stop Barry above all else. No single back ever faced that as often as Barry. ”

Yeah, Jim Brown never faced a defense committed to stopping him, in a league that didn’t favor the pass and didn’t make it easy to pass.

Most importantly, when comparing teams. Dallas has QB-Aikman, WR-Irving, RB-Smith and OL-Allen as HOF players on that roster.

Allen wasn’t on the team when Smith won his first league rushing title and SB. Next argument.

“Other than TD’s, which Barry was removed from all goal line situations because of Wayne Fonts…”

Ah, here we go. The coaches might understand that Sanders would likely have lost 5 yards from the one yard line because he didn’t like to be touched. (BTW, apparently TDs aren’t important to gamewarrior405)

“Emmitt’s QB, Blocking Guard and WR are HOF players. Barry is the one man show. ”

Smith didn’t play behind an HoF lineman. If you think he did, please provide the link to the NFL’s HoF site where this individual is listed and his induction year.

Sanders played behind an All-Pro Tackle and pro-bowl guard. Oops! Sorry to confuse you with facts.

Sanders played most of his games indoors on perfect field conditions. Any playoff game Sanders had to play in weather was a disaster. Smith could play in ANY weather condition and proved it.

Sanders was a great back, no doubt. Most fans would pick Sanders because he was exciting to watch if you don’t understand the intricacies of football. Smith, on the other hand, did all the little things that you need a back to do: blitz pickup, set up the blocks, cutbacks, break away speed, tough catches, a nose for the endzone, and a leadership quality that few can eqaul. Smith carried his team to victories.

BTW, since you are so fond of numbers, Jim Brown averaged over 100 yards FOR HIS CAREER and 5.2 yards FOR HIS CAREER. I guess that makes him the best ever. It does in my book.

First off, Barry Sanders is the only back in NFL history to face an 8 man front every game. No other back routinely faced 8 men in the box every down. Even with Moore & Perriman facing single coverage, the Lion’s QBs couldn’t do much. Moore and Perriman looked better since they were not facing double coverage, only man coverage. If Barry disappeared in playoff games, that was because every team knew if they stopped Barry, the Lions lost. No respect given by any team to the Lions receivers or QB…stop Barry above all else. No single back ever faced that as often as Barry. Most importantly, when comparing teams. Dallas has QB-Aikman, WR-Irving, RB-Smith and OL-Allen as HOF players on that roster. Lions had 1..RB-Sanders. That doesn’t even consider future inductees like Deion Sanders, Jimmy Johnson, & Charles Haley….all present during the early 90′s.

Whoever claims Emmitt was a better receiver doesn’t know what they are talking about…see career stats below.

10 years, Barry had 352 receptions, 2,921 yds and 10 tds.

15 years, Emmitt had 515 receptions, 3224 yds and 11 tds.

So basically for the 5 extra years Emmitt played, he had 163 receptions, 303 yds and 1 td more than Barry. That averages out to 32 receptions, 60 yds and 0.20 tds per year for those 5 extra years.

Barry never had less than 1100 yds in a season and that season he missed 5 games.

Emmitt had 4 seasons where he ran for less than 1000 yards.

Emmitt fumbled 54 times to Barry’s 27.

Barry rushed for 1500 yds+ for 5 of his 10 years.
Emmitt rushed for 1500 yds + for 3 of his 15 years.

Barry lowest average yd per carry was 4.3 yds and highest was 6.1 yds. (5 of 10 years avg over 5 yds)

Emmitts lowest average yd per carry was 2.8 yds and highest was 5.3 yds. (1 of 15 yrs avg over 5yds)

Emmitt finished with 5 seasons, 1347 carries, 3086 yds rushing, 163 reception and 303 receiving yards more than Barry. So lets average that out a season.

If Barry played those same 5 years, he would need to carry the ball 269 carries for 617.2 yds and have 32.6 receptions for 60.6 yards per season.

Barry’s worst season in his career he carried the ball 243 times for 1115 yds with 36 receptions for 205 yds. (11 games played that season)

Other than TD’s, which Barry was removed from all goal line situations because of Wayne Fonts…in fact in just the 2 years Tommy Vardell was with the Lions, he got 12 tds with less than 150 yds as our goal line back. Barry skill set and stats are superior to Emmitts in every way, with exception to TDs.

Emmitt’s QB, Blocking Guard and WR are HOF players. Barry is the one man show.

No comparison to be made really. Barry was better in every way, and much more humble.

Barry Sanders is the biggest big play threat in history, but saying he is better than Smith is like saying Chris Johnson is a better RB than Adrian Peterson. While CJ/Barry jump off the map in certain subjects, Smith/AD did absolutely everything a RB should do very well.

Now take a poll of playoff team defensive coordinators of the 90′s. Let’s see:

- 6 playoff games
- 1 career playoff TD
- in 4 outdoor playoff games he averaged 2.8 ypc
- 1994 season avg 5.7 ypc, but in playoffs got -1 yard on 13 carries
- never won an outdoor playoff game

They had Herman Moore and Brett Perriman to stretch the field and most of their playoff defenses ranked in the top 10 or 15, so it wasn’t like Sanders was the only thing they had.

Again, check out some history before you spout dumb comments like this. Take a look at a link to Gale Sayers – all that Sanders was AND could actually break tackles, stiff arm opponents, and score TDs. Only 40 years before Sanders.

joetoronto says:
“Smith was done by the time he got to the Cardinals. For those who don’t, or can’t, remember.”

Says Who? I dont remember Smith saying that. I would take his word over yours.
**************************************************
What!?

What an asinine comment, unbelievable.

He juked Hall of Famers until they were on injured reserve. He routinely ran 100 yards for a gain of 40. Watching him in slow-motion, it looked like HE didn’t even know where his feet were taking him. Take a poll of defensive coordinators and players in the 90s, “Which running back were you more worried about?”

Advantage: Sanders.