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Who was the better Running Back, Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Pro Sports ▸ Who was the better Running Back, Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith
KnightXC1's avatar

KnightXC1

Captain Charisma

1,031 posts
Apr 21, 2010 1:50 PM
Had this debate with a friend of mine a week ago and want everyone elses opinion. Who was the better running back Barry or Emmitt. Now when I look at this, I am not taking team accomplishments into the equation because everyone makes the argument that had Barry been behind the Cowboys line, his numbers would have been even better.

I would take Barry over Emmitt any day of the week. More explosive, faster, quicker, and just a better back in my opinion who could bust one on any play. Never thought Smith had that ability to truly be a threat anytime he touched the ball like Barry was.

Stats:

Barry Sanders
3062 Attempts
15,269 rushing yards
5.0 Yards Per Carry
99 Rushing TD's
11 Fumbles lost in 10 seasons
2,053 yards in 1997
NFL MVP 1997
10 Pro Bowl Selections
6 Time First Team All Pro
1989 Offensive Rookie of the Year
352 Receptions for 2,921 yards and 10 TD's

Emmitt Smith
4409 Attempts
18,335 Yards
4.2 Yards Per Carry
164 Rushing TD's
22 Fumbles Lost in 15 seasons
1993 NFL MVP
8 Pro Bowl Selections
4 Time First Team All Pro
515 Receptions for 3,324 Yards and 11 TD's
Apr 21, 2010 1:50pm
M

mallymal614

Senior Member

3,746 posts
Apr 21, 2010 1:51 PM
Not even close. Barry. Emmit was overrated in my opinion.
Apr 21, 2010 1:51pm
M

mallymal614

Senior Member

3,746 posts
Apr 21, 2010 1:51 PM
.....by the way, Jim Brown crushes both of them.
Apr 21, 2010 1:51pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Apr 21, 2010 1:52 PM
Barry.
Apr 21, 2010 1:52pm
Hb31187's avatar

Hb31187

Senior Member

8,534 posts
Apr 21, 2010 1:57 PM
Sanders no doubt
Apr 21, 2010 1:57pm
jpake1's avatar

jpake1

Senior Member

2,389 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:02 PM
Huge Dallas fan. Smith is my favorite player, ever. Barry was the best RB, IMO, to ever play the game. Imagine his numbers if he played on a better team. Imagine his numbers if he didn't retire a few years early. He did things on a football field that should not be done.
Apr 21, 2010 2:02pm
Little Danny's avatar

Little Danny

Senior Member

4,288 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:02 PM
I think you will find a majority will find for Barry all day and all night. If he had the offensive line that Smith had he would have shattered every rushing record even if he did still retire at 29 years of age.
Apr 21, 2010 2:02pm
S

Sonofanump

Apr 21, 2010 2:05 PM
jpake1 wrote:Barry was the best RB, IMO, to ever play the game.
Wow.
Apr 21, 2010 2:05pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:05 PM
Barry.
Apr 21, 2010 2:05pm
derek bomar's avatar

derek bomar

Senior Member

3,722 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:06 PM
Barry motherfucking Sanders by a mile
Apr 21, 2010 2:06pm
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

Troublemaker

5,529 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:11 PM
Emmitt, and he can dance better too. When does Barry Sanders go into the HoF ? Both are first ballot votes for sure.
Apr 21, 2010 2:11pm
End of Line's avatar

End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:11 PM
Barry, easily.
Apr 21, 2010 2:11pm
2kool4skool's avatar

2kool4skool

Senior Member

1,804 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:14 PM
Sanders, easily. Only real debate is Sanders or Brown for best ever.
Apr 21, 2010 2:14pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:17 PM
mallymal614 wrote: Not even close. Barry. Emmit was overrated in my opinion.
+10000000000000000000000000000

Emmitt ran behind hall of famers for his entire career. Barry's line sucked balls.
Apr 21, 2010 2:17pm
B

BR1986FB

Senior Member

24,104 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:23 PM
You put Sanders behind Emmitt Smith's line and he rushes for 20,000 yards. Put Jim Brown behind that line and he goes for 25,000 AND smacks the hell out of your girlfriend for being slow bringing him his sammich!
Apr 21, 2010 2:23pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:24 PM
derek bomar wrote: Barry motherfucking Sanders by a mile
+1
Apr 21, 2010 2:24pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:42 PM
Barry Sanders is the best RB I've ever watched play football! I'm a little too young for Jim Brown.
Apr 21, 2010 2:42pm
jpake1's avatar

jpake1

Senior Member

2,389 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:44 PM
Sonofanump wrote:
jpake1 wrote:Barry was the best RB, IMO, to ever play the game.
Wow.
If my choice is so shocking, please tell me yours. This is the best debate in sports IMO. A lot of people have different opinions. Brown is a top 5 IMO. He would be a beast in todays game. He DOMINATED back in the day. But this is a situation where the "competition" comes into place. Athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger now-a-days. That doesn't mean they're better, but I most definitely think they are compared to back in the day. I honestly think if you put a guy like OJ or even AP in a time machine and had them play against Brown's competition, they would dominate the same way. Just from what I've seen with my eyes, Barry did things that nobody else could do. Barry could shake himself out of a prison cell. I could never 'wow' somebody if they were to say Barry, Brown, or Walter-- hell even Smith.
Apr 21, 2010 2:44pm
B

BR1986FB

Senior Member

24,104 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:48 PM
jpake1 wrote:
Sonofanump wrote:
jpake1 wrote:Barry was the best RB, IMO, to ever play the game.
Wow.
If my choice is so shocking, please tell me yours. This is the best debate in sports IMO. A lot of people have different opinions. Brown is a top 5 IMO. He would be a beast in todays game. He DOMINATED back in the day. But this is a situation where the "competition" comes into place. Athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger now-a-days. That doesn't mean they're better, but I most definitely think they are compared to back in the day. I honestly think if you put a guy like OJ or even AP in a time machine and had them play against Brown's competition, they would dominate the same way. Just from what I've seen with my eyes, Barry did things that nobody else could do. Barry could shake himself out of a prison cell. I could never 'wow' somebody if they were to say Barry, Brown, or Walter-- hell even Smith.
Just like with today's advances, put Jim Brown in today's atmosphere with nutrition, weight training, etc he would be the ultimate freakazoid and would STILL slap ya down for being late with the sammich.
Apr 21, 2010 2:48pm
jpake1's avatar

jpake1

Senior Member

2,389 posts
Apr 21, 2010 2:50 PM
I agree, he would probably be even better. I still don't think that version of Jim Brown is better than Barry Sanders. Not a knock on him, but why did 5 teams pass on Jim Brown out of college? While looking him up, I saw that.
Apr 21, 2010 2:50pm
S

Sonofanump

Apr 21, 2010 3:03 PM
1. Jim Brown


A logical debate could begin after this point.


2. OJ Simpson
3. Walter Payton

After this I could be moved by empirical evidence.

4. Gayle Sayers
5. Jim Thorpe
Apr 21, 2010 3:03pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Apr 21, 2010 3:03 PM
I actually think it is a wash, Barry was much more talented, and had more highlight moments, but Emmitt was consistent and reliable for many years. The "surrounded by a more talented" argument cuts both ways, as the expectations are different. People may remember a fantastic Sanders run against a nobody team in week 4 of the season, but the tough two yard gain to get a first down in a game that mattered is something Emmitt always managed to accomplish.
Apr 21, 2010 3:03pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

The Godfather

7,977 posts
Apr 21, 2010 3:08 PM
God I LOL'd when I answered the poll question. I figured there would be a lot more retards on here picking Smith.

And Jim Brown is NOT the GOAT. When you weigh more than a lot of the defensive linemen you played with--you're not one of the best ever. Your timing was just incredible.
Apr 21, 2010 3:08pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Apr 21, 2010 3:12 PM
jpake1 wrote: Not a knock on him, but why did 5 teams pass on Jim Brown out of college? While looking him up, I saw that.
The owners probably feared for their daughters lives.
Apr 21, 2010 3:12pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Apr 21, 2010 3:25 PM
Speedofsand wrote: When does Barry Sanders go into the HoF ?
Uh...Barry went into the Hall Of Fame in 2004.
Apr 21, 2010 3:25pm