greatest football player

[powerful intelligent]

I posted in another forum but i think this will be better. It is my opinion that bo jackson was the greatest football player ever. His athletisism is unsurpassed. I think the only football player that even resembles him (after 20 years of being retired) is adrian peterson. Agree or disagree

[Vitruvian-Man]

Troy Aikman.

Hands down. Cowboys for life. lol.

[jfalco]

Lots of better running backs than bo jackson. His career was too short to call him the best ever. I can't even to begin to call anyone the best fb player ever becuase the positions are just too different. How do you compare a great defensive end like Reggie White, to a great runner like Walter Peyton? For me, the most impressive player ever is Barry Sanders, because he was able to make his nome part of any conversation for the best runner ever while playing his entire career for a terrible team. All the other great runners had great offensive lines.

Virtruvian, don't you think Emmit smith had as much to do with the Cowboys success during the Aikman years as Aikman? Smith holds just about ever rushing record that there is.

[Vitruvian-Man]

Virtruvian, don't you think Emmit smith had as much to do with the Cowboys success during the Aikman years as Aikman? Smith holds just about ever rushing record that there is.

Barry Sanders is amazing. you're right. what an incredible career.

Emmit was the foundation. Aikman was the glue that made the offense come together. Two great hall of famers!

[Papi93]

Best pure runner I have ever seen at running back is Barry Sanders. His agility was breathtaking and fun to watch.

[jfalco]

Best pure runner I have ever seen at running back is Barry Sanders. His agility was breathtaking and fun to watch.

x2. Man would I have loved to have seen what he could have done with some blocking.

[Monster87]

I already posted this on the other thread, here's my opinion...
I believe statistics, winning vs. losing, clutch performances, talent and athleticism are some of the most important characteristics you should consider when evaluating one's greatness. A lot of people put most of the emphasis on winning, but I think in football (and baseball) it's very difficult to have an impact on the outcome of games as an individual, whereas in basketball and hockey it's much easier to influence the final score because there are so fewer men on the field.
With that said, I believe the greatest football player of all time was JERRY RICE. He played on three super bowl champion teams, was a Super Bowl MVP, had a 4.2 40, incredible quickness, great hands, and oh yea, just about every single NFL wide receiver record, ever. It will be decades before anyone comes close to breaking his touchdown record. There's so much disparity between him and any other wide receiver, plus his perennial winning and sick athleticism, it's hard argue that he wasn't the greatest.
Peyton Manning I really think is starting to look like best quarterback of all time. I'll definitely debate that with some of you bandwagon new england fans later.

[Deltasaurus]

Jerry Rice

Humble and best player ever, hold tons of records

[MuscleScience]

Barry Sanders was the only reason that I ever watched a Lions game, I think he was the best pure running back ever.

Having said that I would have to say Tom Brady is probably the most successful and accomplished play in his era. I really dont like Brady but I cant argue with how good he is.

[Brown Ninja]

Peyton Manning and/or Jim Brown

[BgMc31]

Jim Brown!!! Hands down!!! 9 yr career, 12 game season. Still holds the all time avg yards per rush. Dominated football games. He owned every single rushing record for years.

Oh for the guy who said Jerry Rice. Great argument but the man never ran 4.2. His best time was 4.7. I posted this on another thread, his work ethic, route running, and precision is what made him great. He was never the most athletic. That is why he was drafted low and played at a Div 2 school.

[powerful intelligent]

Lots of better running backs than bo jackson. His career was too short to call him the best ever. I can't even to begin to call anyone the best fb player ever becuase the positions are just too different. How do you compare a great defensive end like Reggie White, to a great runner like Walter Peyton? For me, the most impressive player ever is Barry Sanders, because he was able to make his nome part of any conversation for the best runner ever while playing his entire career for a terrible team. All the other great runners had great offensive lines.

Virtruvian, don't you think Emmit smith had as much to do with the Cowboys success during the Aikman years as Aikman? Smith holds just about ever rushing record that there is.

can you honestly say that one or two football players were better than bo jackson? how many football players have you seen with his power and speed ( he qualified for the olympics in the 100 meters). Power he ran over tacklers repetedly. dont forget he was an all star in two sports. Yes he did not have the longevity due to a horrible injury but look at some of his highlights and listen to his contempararies in both sports.

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

too many different positions...

but overall: offense: Jim Brown, defense: Lawrence Taylor

[BgMc31]

^^^You're a wise man, BigSexxy!!!

Yes we can!!! LOL!!!

[Brown Ninja]

LT was an absolute beast

[PC650]

joe montana!!!!

[Brown Ninja]

PEyton

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

^^^You're a wise man, BigSexxy!!!

Yes we can!!! LOL!!!

hahaha

You ain't too bad yourself BgMc.

[Akrobatik]

Joe Montana

[Left Hook]

Payton

[Brown Ninja]

Walter?

[urbanbody]

LT on and off the field.

[dangerous dan]

Steven Gerrard

[Brown Ninja]

^^^^Who?
David Gerrard? Boy he is talented.

[dangerous dan]

nope steven gerrard

[OhioMuscle22]

Barry Sanders, Story over

[go4gold]

Barry Sanders hands down. Would have rewitten the record books if he played longer. Would have been a god if he had a decent team and line to play with. He was a waste a talent there in Detroit. You guys should check out his college stats, amazing and He only played three years there. His jr year was astonding and he won the heismen.

[PT]

dan marino was by far the best qb ever during the season but you put montana in the playoffs he became the best. lawrence taylor was the best definsive player and i would say barry sanders was the best rb and would hold every record if he didnt retire prematurely. in 10 years though i belive chris johnson from tenn will take barry sanders place as the best of all time

[illaJ]

ray lewis?! haha

[jbran23]

I say like an earlier poster, there is way too many great players past and present to say just one is the greatest of all time. You would almost have to pick a player from each position and even then it would be difficult.

Im a die hard 49ers fan so Im a bit biased, but if I had to cast a vote for one, it would be Jerry Rice. Based on just work ethic, sheer determination, and hands down ablility. Not to mention he just played the game the way it was supposed to be played. Never a hot dog or a big mouth, he just went out there a scored touchdowns.

[therecanonlybe1]

joe montana!!!!

finally someone with some insight

[ComradeCarnivore]

My Top 5

5. Barry Sanders

4. Gail Sayers

3. Jerry Rice

2. Joe Montana

1. Jim Brown


Young guy my age all have different opinions but damn near every who lived in the Jim Brown era tend to agree that he's the greatest football player ever.

[Brown Ninja]

Reggie Bush

[twodrunkduck]

Troy Aikman.

[baynethebluepit]

Prob jim brown or montana, but my personal fav is randy moss the FREAK. The most talented player I've ever seen.

[baynethebluepit]

sorry to double post but moss was on the 98 vikings 15 and 1. And the 97 Pats 18 and 1. Two pretty good seasons. Not to mention breaking rice's record for td's.

[BgMc31]

Sorry but I disagree...JIM BROWN IS THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER!!! He dominated in his era and had the size, speed, and strength to play in any era. Plus when Dick Butkus says the only player he didn't want to tackle is Jim Brown...THAT'S HUGE!!!!!

[jg2]

x2. Man would I have loved to have seen what he could have done with some blocking.

im from detroit and its sickening not knowing what he could have done with a line like the cowgirls had for emitt... i think aikman could have rushed for 1000 a year behind that line...

[oldschoolfitness]

walter payton hands down icon, legend, superbowl champ name it!! go bears for life give'em hell cutler!!

[baynethebluepit]

Sorry but I disagree...JIM BROWN IS THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER!!! He dominated in his era and had the size, speed, and strength to play in any era. Plus when Dick Butkus says the only player he didn't want to tackle is Jim Brown...THAT'S HUGE!!!!!

Your agreeing not disagreeing, I said jim brown, just never got to see him play other then nfl films and so on, he was a beast no doubt.