Does anyone think LT will end up being the greatest runningback of all time? If not who do you think will be?

Hes a great running back, greatest all time? Well see.

In response to:
If not who do you think will be?

Whose to say there will EVER be a better RB than those before the present RB's? (I.E. Sanders, Payton, Thorpe, etc.)

The human race continues to improve which each generation. People get smarter, faster, stronger, and just all around better. Thats the evolution of our makeup. And I believe that works for sports as well, players continue to get better and better. And why isnt the leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, included in any discussion? Everyone always says Sanders and Payton, but people forget about Smith.

IMO, he is the greatest RB of all time.

I totally agree with the improving, but you cant say for sure there will be better.

And yes, Ik about Emmitt, hes one of the best, I just didnt mention him.

LT just never seems to put up those amazing stats because he isnt on a good team PREVIOUSLY (not to say the chargers arent good this year). I think Larry Jhonson could be great though.

To soon to call that this early, put in min. 6 more years and play the way he has been then we can start that convo.

I think Walter Payton will always be #1 even without the rushing title anymore and I think what Ditka did at the super bowl was wrong not giving Payton the ball.

Hes arguably the best in the league so I dont think he`ll be the greatest of all time

Hes arguably the best in the league so I dont think he`ll be the greatest of all time

I dont think there is a question that could argue him not being the best in the league but every year someone comes into the NFL that could end up better than him.

His body has seems to be breaking down but he could rebound this year. IMO E. Smith.

I love how you keep bumping old threads!! ha

While we are at it, I am going to venture out on a limb and say Adrian Peterson goes down as one of the best of all time. Before AP came along I would say Walter Payton, but I think AP might be a modern version of Payton.

Being in an AFC town, I dont get nearly enough chances to watch him play.

Walter is the best RB of all-time because his on and off field heroics.

Barry is probably the most exciting player of all-time.

Emmitt was the most consistent RB.

Jim Brown was probably the best on-field RB.

yeah if your talking about lawrence taylor lol

I dont know how you can say Adrian Peterson this early on.

I'll admit that I know that he COULD be one of the greatest if not THE greatest of all-time. There is no way that you can put him in front of Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, and even LT.

I posted this thread in 06, and i'll say NOW that I wouldnt put LT in the top 5 now.

I love how you keep bumping old threads!! ha

While we are at it, I am going to venture out on a limb and say Adrian Peterson goes down as one of the best of all time. Before AP came along I would say Walter Payton, but I think AP might be a modern version of Payton.

Being in an AFC town, I dont get nearly enough chances to watch him play.

No problem I'm glad others are enjoying them too. I thought this thread was pretty relevant since there has been some discussion on LT and how much he had left in the tank.

I think the main reason walter payton will remain the greatest of all time is because everyone is so strong and big now. I don't believe the life span of any rb will be very long anymore and LT is a great example of that. He might have one more year in him. Your body just can't hold up to the beating players are taking now. And as far as Emmitt Smith, I could have had a hall of fame career rushing behind the o line he ran behind, so calling him one of the greatest I think not. But hey I am a Giants fan lol!!!

He has the talent to be the best of all time statistically IF he bounces back from his string of injuries and manages to stay health for the next 4-5 years.

I think the main reason walter payton will remain the greatest of all time is because everyone is so strong and big now. I don't believe the life span of any rb will be very long anymore and LT is a great example of that. He might have one more year in him. Your body just can't hold up to the beating players are taking now. And as far as Emmitt Smith, I could have had a hall of fame career rushing behind the o line he ran behind, so calling him one of the greatest I think not. But hey I am a Giants fan lol!!!

I can understand the dislike for a player that killed the Giants many times in his career.

I don't know if its players' bodies not holding up or splitting carries that's taking away from the stats. IMO durability is a physical gift like speed and stength. Some players just don't get injured or can play in pain. Players in the 1990's were about as big and as fast as those today. It just happens a few durable RB's played during that time period.

I don't think so.

I think who ever has the most yards of all time is the best ever. Emmitt right now is the best ever and he has a few rings, alot of TD's and a good ypc avg.. If LT passes him in yardage then he will be the best ever.

I think who ever has the most yards of all time is the best ever. Emmitt right now is the best ever and he has a few rings, alot of TD's and a good ypc avg.. If LT passes him in yardage then he will be the best ever.

Great point. I also think it would help if he added a championship. Smith, Payton, and Brown each won one (Brown's was pre Super Bowl).

Best rbs of all time :
1. Payton
2. Jbrown
3. Sanders
4. Thorpe
5. Emiitt

Lt i would put like 9th or 10th ! Heck ap i think is better than lt !

AP isn't better than LT until he puts up those numbers and wins a MVP.do believe that LT will be one of the best before he is done. AP should be as well as long as he is injury free.

AP isn't better than LT until he puts up those numbers and wins a MVP.do believe that LT will be one of the best before he is done. AP should be as well as long as he is injury free.

Yeah, people are saying AP way, way too soon. I do believe he WILL be one of the greatest though.

nope

I think that if Adrian Peterson stays healthy, that he will go down in history as the best ever.....IMO

Walter is the best RB of all-time because his on and off field heroics.

Barry is probably the most exciting player of all-time.

Emmitt was the most consistent RB.

Jim Brown was probably the best on-field RB.

I totally agree :thumb:

Also all this talk about AP is scary, he is AMAZING but to put him in this discussion is unreasonable at this point...I do how ever hope that he can be in this discussion when this thread gets bumped in about 8 years :sign0020:

AP isn't better than LT until he puts up those numbers and wins a MVP.do believe that LT will be one of the best before he is done. AP should be as well as long as he is injury free.

WHAT!? Ok, first thing, AP has had a couple of decent seasons since coming into the league and i beleive his best are in the future. However, that will be dependent on his health which since his rookie year has been in doubt. he hasn't been "injury free" in his first two year. Lt had been injury free until the playoffs two seasons ago. Prior to that, he was ahead of the pace to Emmitt's all-time rushing record. The guy is third all-time in rushing TD's and is in the top 20 in total rushing yards for a career. His age is against him as many people say but he isn't "over the hill" just yet. He needs a couple more completely healthy seasons and peoples' minds will be changed.

Saying that AP is better based on his first two years is rhetoric. His stats were better last season but the year before, LT won the rushing title, his second consecutive at the time. Who did he beat out for it? The same guy you said is better. Injury is no excuse for anyone. Could of, would of, should of is not factual.

Emmitt Smith is by far the most OVERRATTED RB of all-time... like the Giants fan said earlier... he ran behind one of the most ridiculous O-lines ever assembled. Oh yeah and he had Micheal Irvin to stretch the field, and Oh yeah Troy Aikmen behind center... hmmm how could you not 'be great' with that set up. Don't get me wrong I think he was an excellent player, but the greatest of all time is crazy. Walter was better, Barry was better, Brown was better, etc... Although I am a huge Chargers fan I don't think LT will go down as the greatest ever either, but he is definetely better than Emmitt IMO. LT has a mediocre O-Line, his best receiver is a TE and a QB hasn't done anything since last year... but keep an eye out this year Chargers and LT are gonna be monsters!

LT's prime days are over.

too early to tell, but emmit smith was just like him in his first few years of carrer

Emmitt Smith is by far the most OVERRATTED RB of all-time... like the Giants fan said earlier... he ran behind one of the most ridiculous O-lines ever assembled. Oh yeah and he had Micheal Irvin to stretch the field, and Oh yeah Troy Aikmen behind center... hmmm how could you not 'be great' with that set up. Don't get me wrong I think he was an excellent player, but the greatest of all time is crazy. Walter was better, Barry was better, Brown was better, etc... Although I am a huge Chargers fan I don't think LT will go down as the greatest ever either, but he is definetely better than Emmitt IMO. LT has a mediocre O-Line, his best receiver is a TE and a QB hasn't done anything since last year... but keep an eye out this year Chargers and LT are gonna be monsters!

Brown played w/ the best OL in NFL history and Payton's OL from 83-87 was just as good as Emmitt's from 91-95. The Chargers OL is far from mediocre, they are the reason LT has still posted good numbers even though his performance has slumped due to injury.

I totally agree :thumb:

Also all this talk about AP is scary, he is AMAZING but to put him in this discussion is unreasonable at this point...I do how ever hope that he can be in this discussion when this thread gets bumped in about 8 years :sign0020:

WHAT!? Ok, first thing, AP has had a couple of decent seasons since coming into the league and i beleive his best are in the future. However, that will be dependent on his health which since his rookie year has been in doubt. he hasn't been "injury free" in his first two year. Lt had been injury free until the playoffs two seasons ago. Prior to that, he was ahead of the pace to Emmitt's all-time rushing record. The guy is third all-time in rushing TD's and is in the top 20 in total rushing yards for a career. His age is against him as many people say but he isn't "over the hill" just yet. He needs a couple more completely healthy seasons and peoples' minds will be changed.

Saying that AP is better based on his first two years is rhetoric. His stats were better last season but the year before, LT won the rushing title, his second consecutive at the time. Who did he beat out for it? The same guy you said is better. Injury is no excuse for anyone. Could of, would of, should of is not factual.

AP has looked great but after two seasons its way too early to tell how his career will turn out. There have been a load of backs that have done well their first few years but then tailed off.

Best rbs of all time :
1. Payton
2. Jbrown
3. Sanders
4. Thorpe
5. Emiitt

Lt i would put like 9th or 10th ! Heck ap i think is better than lt !

thorpe...haha, and i would like to see jim brown run against the monsters that play defense in now days NFL, LT is top 5 NO CONTEST

thorpe...haha, and i would like to see jim brown run against the monsters that play defense in now days NFL, LT is top 5 NO CONTEST

In the case of those two I think they would still be pretty good since Thorpe was a world class athlete and Brown was a player ahead of his time in regards to size and strength.

IMO we have to consider historic players during the eras in which they played.

He might not end up being the greatest but he should be considered Top 5 even Top 3 in everyone's books. Like somebody said earlier defensive players are monsters nowadays and just look at his stats. They speak for themselves.

He might not end up being the greatest but he should be considered Top 5 even Top 3 in everyone's books. Like somebody said earlier defensive players are monsters nowadays and just look at his stats. They speak for themselves.

I think the other word people look at LT in as "evoluction of the position". Marshall Faulk did it in his time and LT took it a step farther. He can run, catch, block and even pass. Faulk did the first three well and that was an "evolution of the position". LT took it one step further. So far, AP has not done this and LT has, clearly securinghimself as one of the potential greatest of all time.

Just an FYI, there were little doubts on what AP could or would do in the NFL coming out of college. LT was looked upon by many as a potential bust coming out. So the views were different at the onset of their NFL careers as well.

I think the other word people look at LT in as "evoluction of the position". Marshall Faulk did it in his time and LT took it a step farther. He can run, catch, block and even pass. Faulk did the first three well and that was an "evolution of the position". LT took it one step further. So far, AP has not done this and LT has, clearly securinghimself as one of the potential greatest of all time.

Just an FYI, there were little doubts on what AP could or would do in the NFL coming out of college. LT was looked upon by many as a potential bust coming out. So the views were different at the onset of their NFL careers as well.

I agree that LT is multi-talented but Payton did the same things in the 70's, Craig in the 80's, and Thomas, Smith, and Watters along w/ Faulk in the 90's. I'm not sure the position has really evolved that much since the early 80's/late 70's.

He might not end up being the greatest but he should be considered Top 5 even Top 3 in everyone's books. Like somebody said earlier defensive players are monsters nowadays and just look at his stats. They speak for themselves.

He has good stats but he hasn't passed Bettis, Sanders, or Martin who played against the same defenses and are still ahead of him.

Ladanian Tomlinson isn't even in the top 10. I always thought he was a bit overrated. RB's who are much better are: Jim Thorpe, Bronko Nagurski, Steve Van Buren, Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis to name a few. Also, back in the day RB's had to face defenses that didn't have all these silly rules of things that were legal then that are not legal today. They were a tougher lot back in the day. I know I'm probably the minority on this, but it's my opinion.

Ladanian Tomlinson isn't even in the top 10. I always thought he was a bit overrated. RB's who are much better are: Jim Thorpe, Bronko Nagurski, Steve Van Buren, Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis to name a few. Also, back in the day RB's had to face defenses that didn't have all these silly rules of things that were legal then that are not legal today. They were a tougher lot back in the day. I know I'm probably the minority on this, but it's my opinion.

you must be smoking some good stuff bro because that list is just funny:sign0020:

you must be smoking some good stuff bro because that list is just funny:sign0020:
You seriously would put Ladanian over those guys? I know comparing players from different eras is a hard thing to do, but come on, Ladanian is good, but not great. Have you seen some of these guys play? From Csonka and O.J. on those players are better tha Ladanian.

You seriously would put Ladanian over those guys? I know comparing players from different eras is a hard thing to do, but come on, Ladanian is good, but not great. Have you seen some of these guys play? From Csonka and O.J. on those players are better tha Ladanian.

i have seen them ALL play and yes i put him above AT LEAST 5 of those players, and to say he is just good but not great and yet you put curtis martin and jerome bettis on the list :confused0024:

i have seen them ALL play and yes i put him above AT LEAST 5 of those players, and to say he is just good but not great and yet you put curtis martin and jerome bettis on the list :confused0024:
Curtis Martin is number 4 on the NFL All-Time Rushing leaders and Bettis is number 5. Ladanian may have more skill than Curtis Martin, but Martin would carry the ball 25-30 time a game and just got the job done. I'm not saying Ladanian isn't great, but I believe there are better backs that have come before him. From 2003 on, he's been great, but injuries and now Adrian Peterson in Minnesota he may be on his way down. I don't think the NFL has had really great since Barry & Emmitt.

LT just never seems to put up those amazing stats because he isnt on a good team PREVIOUSLY (not to say the chargers arent good this year). I think Larry Jhonson could be great though.



Larry Johnson had 1 good year are u kidding me?

Curtis Martin is number 4 on the NFL All-Time Rushing leaders and Bettis is number 5. Ladanian may have more skill than Curtis Martin, but Martin would carry the ball 25-30 time a game and just got the job done. I'm not saying Ladanian isn't great, but I believe there are better backs that have come before him. From 2003 on, he's been great, but injuries and now Adrian Peterson in Minnesota he may be on his way down. I don't think the NFL has had really great since Barry & Emmitt.

I have too agree. I can't see placing Tomlinson over Martin or Bettis quite yet. Let him play a few more years and we'll see what he does especially now that he was a history of injuries.

Sanders and Smith was a great rivalry but hopefully the classes from 06, 07, and 08 can produce one like it.

You seriously would put Ladanian over those guys? I know comparing players from different eras is a hard thing to do, but come on, Ladanian is good, but not great. Have you seen some of these guys play? From Csonka and O.J. on those players are better tha Ladanian.

I agree, he's had great years as most backs do but not top ten quite yet. too many other great backs.

Ladanian Tomlinson isn't even in the top 10. I always thought he was a bit overrated. RB's who are much better are: Jim Thorpe, Bronko Nagurski, Steve Van Buren, Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis to name a few. Also, back in the day RB's had to face defenses that didn't have all these silly rules of things that were legal then that are not legal today. They were a tougher lot back in the day. I know I'm probably the minority on this, but it's my opinion.

I don't think playing in the AFC West has hurt his stats either.

I have too agree. I can't see placing Tomlinson over Martin or Bettis quite yet. Let him play a few more years and we'll see what he does especially now that he was a history of injuries.

Sanders and Smith was a great rivalry but hopefully the classes from 06, 07, and 08 can produce one like it.
I don't think we'll see any great backs from the 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009 draft classes. I think Peterson in Minnesota will be the best back for awhile.

I don't think playing in the AFC West has hurt his stats either.
I'd like to see what he would do in the NFC East or AFC North.

Curtis Martin is number 4 on the NFL All-Time Rushing leaders and Bettis is number 5. Ladanian may have more skill than Curtis Martin, but Martin would carry the ball 25-30 time a game and just got the job done. I'm not saying Ladanian isn't great, but I believe there are better backs that have come before him. From 2003 on, he's been great, but injuries and now Adrian Peterson in Minnesota he may be on his way down. I don't think the NFL has had really great since Barry & Emmitt.

hes top 5 plain and simple...and to say martin and bettis are four and five on the rushing list doesnt matter because LT isnt done and will be ahead of them when its all said and done and also will have the most tds by any rb in history including most td's in a season..........i say thats top 5

I don't think we'll see any great backs from the 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009 draft classes. I think Peterson in Minnesota will be the best back for awhile.

I have high hopes for D.Williams, A.P., Lynch, Forte, and C.Johnson.

hes top 5 plain and simple...and to say martin and bettis are four and five on the rushing list doesnt matter because LT isnt done and will be ahead of them when its all said and done and also will have the most tds by any rb in history including most td's in a season..........i say thats top 5

When he does that he'll be among the game greats.

I have high hopes for D.Williams, A.P., Lynch, Forte, and C.Johnson.

lynch forte and johnson no way in ****, d williams long shot but possible...AP i must agree can be one of the best if healthy

When he does that he'll be among the game greats.

he would only have to play 4 to 5 more years to pass bettis and martin on the list and thats with four to five BAD years for lt, and ten tds a year for four years will put him first on that list.....

hes top 5 plain and simple...and to say martin and bettis are four and five on the rushing list doesnt matter because LT isnt done and will be ahead of them when its all said and done and also will have the most tds by any rb in history including most td's in a season..........i say thats top 5
It hasn't happened yet. We'll just have to see. Maybe top 15 in my book, though I'm curious how he comes back from his injury. Didn't he lose his fullback, Lorenzo Neal? That could hurt more than you know. We'll just have to wait and see what he does this season.

my bad make that 3 to 4 years, i was looking at a list that didnt have his last year stats on it.

It hasn't happened yet. We'll just have to see. Maybe top 15 in my book, though I'm curious how he comes back from his injury. Didn't he lose his fullback, Lorenzo Neal? That could hurt more than you know. We'll just have to wait and see what he does this season.

he didnt have him last year....

I have high hopes for D.Williams, A.P., Lynch, Forte, and C.Johnson.
Adrian Peterson may be the best RB in the NFL right now.

he didnt have him last year....
I totally don't remember. I know Neal is one of the best FB's in the game. Sometimes losing a FB of his caliber hurts in the rushing game.

as of right now he is sitting at number 14 on the rushing yards list with 11760 and most likely will jump to the 7 spot past tony dorsett if he only gets 1000 yards this season which is a down year for LT..

He also sits number 2 for rushing tds, 36 behind emmitt which could be reached with 4 years of only ten tds, which once again is a bad year for LT...

I totally don't remember. I know Neal is one of the best FB's in the game. Sometimes losing a FB of his caliber hurts in the rushing game.

no i was stating a fact...he did not have him last year

lynch forte and johnson no way in ****, d williams long shot but possible...AP i must agree can be one of the best if healthy

I'm not saying all time greats but hoping for some rivalry between them.

Ladanian Tomlinson isn't even in the top 10. I always thought he was a bit overrated. RB's who are much better are: Jim Thorpe, Bronko Nagurski, Steve Van Buren, Marion Motley, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis to name a few. Also, back in the day RB's had to face defenses that didn't have all these silly rules of things that were legal then that are not legal today. They were a tougher lot back in the day. I know I'm probably the minority on this, but it's my opinion.

Finally someone mentions Earl Campbell, Sure you can float thru and dance around defenders like Barry and Emmitt or you can play pretty like Walter or you can just plow them down as you run them over like Earl did

Hello? I didn't see Ricky "throw it all away to smoke dope" Williams mentioned in any of these lists? :sign0020: IMO: Sweetness, greatest back of all-time, hands down

-Brad

my bad make that 3 to 4 years, i was looking at a list that didnt have his last year stats on it.

Even 3-4 years can be quite a while for a RB late in their career. LT will have the benefit of playing behind a good OL and a rising offense so that will help him.

Finally someone mentions Earl Campbell, Sure you can float thru and dance around defenders like Barry and Emmitt or you can play pretty like Walter or you can just plow them down as you run them over like Earl did

Awesome power back!

no i was stating a fact...he did not have him last year
I'm not saying they didn't, I just don't remember is all. I know sometimes losing a FB does hurt.

I'm not saying they didn't, I just don't remember is all. I know sometimes losing a FB does hurt.

As it did, they lacked a true full back while the Ravnes had a very good running game in part to Neal.

As it did, they lacked a true full back while the Ravnes had a very good running game in part to Neal.

very true...and for some of the time LT got to run behind the huge body of jacob hester:confused0024:

very true...and for some of the time LT got to run behind the huge body of jacob hester:confused0024:
It will be interesting to see how Ladanian does in the next few years. I will say this about him, he's not a fumbler like Dickerson was.

He wont even be in the conversion IMO. LT has great numbers and some good regluar season wins but his Post Season really stinks!

I think there is too much ground for him to make up now that he is older and the injuries are slowly buliding. Barry Sanders imo is the greatest of all time and LT will have to do a lot in the next 3-4 years to change my mind.

Being from Dallas and being a huge Cowboys and Florida fan it would be easy to say EMMITT.


However, i think Barry Sanders is by far the best running back to ever play.

I try to think, what would Emmitt do in Detroit and what would Barry do in Dallas . . . either place, i think Barry was better

Being from Dallas and being a huge Cowboys and Florida fan it would be easy to say EMMITT.


However, i think Barry Sanders is by far the best running back to ever play.

I try to think, what would Emmitt do in Detroit and what would Barry do in Dallas . . . either place, i think Barry was better

Barry was more flashy and faster but I don't know about better.

I'm not sure Sanders would have matched the Cowboys offense. He seemed like his style was a good fit for the run and shoot.