A friend of mine, who spent his whole football career stopping running backs and I had this conversations a couple of weeks ago over a beer:
All around, Gayle Sayers, he could do things nobody else even dreamed of doing. He did not regularly have a good offensive line.
Jim Brown, he was bigger and stronger than the linemen were, and faster than any of the backs. His yardage was gained in 12 (4) and 14 (5) game seasons, and he walked away from football, after nine seasons, having made the Pro Bowl all nine seasons, Pro Bowl MVP 3 times, and NFL MVP 3 times. Also, 126 touchdowns in 118 games is not to shabby!
Barry Saunders, he also walked away at the height of his career, but he excelled with an average at best o-line, and a game plan where everyone knew he was getting the ball.
As to Payton and Smith, they were both journeymen. Their bodies stayed healthier longer than anyone else’s did, during their playing time. They were both awesome players, but neither quite on par with the three above. Both had among the best lines, Smiths hogs were incredible, maybe the best line ever, don’t you think?
For me, I would like to see someone from the famed Steelers, or undefeated Dolphins on the list, just for the hell of it: Frenchy Fuqua, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jim Kiick, Mercury Morris, or Larry Csonka. See they had a style you just don’t see any more!
