Best players you've ever seen?

[Patler]

Seriously, nobody's mentioned Walter Payton? I can't say I enjoyed watching him since he was running over the Packers so much, but he was consistently great. Not just long runs, but even things where there was nothing, he gained 5 yards.

If you are only talking about players seen in person, then sadly the best I've ever seen, at least more than once, is Jeff George.

I have had an ongoing debate with myself for years, Sayers vs. Payton. Sayers was a marvelous player to watch, but his career was so short.
To me, Sayers was to RBs, what Lofton was to WRs. Smooth, graceful athletes who made playing their positions look almost effortless at times. They didn't even look like they were working hard when others couldn't keep up.

[pbmax]

With my own eyeballs, its been:

1. Sanders
2. Lawrence Taylor
3. Dan Marino
4. Deion Sanders
5. Should have been Bo Jackson

[Cheesehead Craig]

Not in my top 5 but guys I've always loved to watch:

Earl Campbell
Steve Atwater

[Fritz]

Barry Sanders played behind a pathetic OL...and still managed to put up the numbers he did. OF COURSE he was going to get tackled for loss more than most RBs...he was often battling defenders as soon as he took the handoff. He was a one man show. All 11 guys on the defense were keying on him almost exclusively for his entire career.

And I don't get the comment on his breakaway speed. That is one of the most ignorant comments I've ever seen on this board. Barry Sanders had 15 career TDs of over 50 yards...which is most in NFL history. The next closest I believe is Jim Brown...with 12.

Okay, as soon as I read this I did a search to prove my point, remembering that that was one criticism of Sanders back in the day.

But I was wrong. Dude ran a 4.37 40 at his Pro Day.

So yes, that was one of the most ignorant comments ever seen on this board.

Who the hell posted that crap?

Oh, wait. Never mind.

[pbmax]

snip ...

And I don't get the comment on his breakaway speed. That is one of the most ignorant comments I've ever seen on this board. Barry Sanders had 15 career TDs of over 50 yards...which is most in NFL history. The next closest I believe is Jim Brown...with 12.

Okay, as soon as I read this I did a search to prove my point, remembering that that was one criticism of Sanders back in the day.

But I was wrong. Dude ran a 4.37 40 at his Pro Day.

So yes, that was one of the most ignorant comments ever seen on this board.

Who the hell posted that crap?

Oh, wait. Never mind.

Going to defend Fritz here. There was a point, and it happened frequently, that Sanders would get caught before scoring even after breaking into the clear. Whether his combine time is bogus or he lost speed or others got faster, Sanders got caught in the open field a lot.

Some of that could be that he was IN the open field a lot.

[red]

i held my breath every single time barry got the ball against green bay

is the question, the best player you've seen in person, or just overall?

its still barry for me, but the only game i saw him in person for was the -1 yard playoff game

and i do agree that with the dallas o-line the emmit had, he would have set the all time rushing record so high that no one would ever come close to it

[red]

Going to defend Fritz here. There was a point, and it happened frequently, that Sanders would get caught before scoring even after breaking into the clear. Whether his combine time is bogus or he lost speed or others got faster, Sanders got caught in the open field a lot.

Some of that could be that he was IN the open field a lot.

i think barry's short burst speed was probably off the charts. meaning he was faster then anyone else going 10, 20 or 30 yards. but at just 5'8, his top speed might not have been anywhere near what longer stride guys had. hence getting caught from behind after 50-60 yards

sanders was at top speed within a matter of steps

40 yard dash time is more for acceleration, not top speed imo

clearly the guy could accelerate

[Freak Out]

Tony Mandarich of course.

[Bretsky]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Odell Thurman yet ! haha

[The Shadow]

I've followed the game since 1961. Yes, I am old. Sigh.
Two players were head over shoulders over any I've watched :
Jim Brown
Dick Butkus

After them, Gayle Sayers.

[King Friday]

Tony Mandarich of course.

And T-Buck...he'd at least be the number one all-time talent on his own list.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm gonna say Walter Payton because he carried the team more than any other player. Maybe I'd go with Sanders if he played longer. I didn't really see the 60s legends play, I was too busy making history in backyard games.

[RashanGary]

I always saw Barry as a 3 and out machine. Too many bad drives because of that dance around style. But I respect the Barry love. I know people think he's the greatest. I've heard that a lot but just don't think it translated to winning.

Asa little kid, everyone copied those juke moves!

[Zool]

Name the starting QBs during Barry's career and you get the reason it didn't translate to winning.

[Fritz]

I don't know that the guy was an all-time greatest, but I remember watching Earl Campbell in his heyday. He was Marshawn Lynch before there was a Marshawn Lynch.