Walter Payton, best all round player ever. Who would you nominate?

Question

who do you admire?

Answer 1

Best all around player? Not a chance.  Heck, among his contemporaries he doesn't even come close to, say, Deion Sanders (did I spell his name right?).  Sanders was a return man, played offense and defense, and Major League Baseball and NFL at the same time.  He was a better "all around" player (I know he didn't tackle but at least he was on the field).  I'm sure if you dig deep into the history of the NFL you'll find players in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, that played every down of every game in a an entire season starting as both center and nose tackle and other similar accounts of flat out amazing athletic skill.  More on this later.....

Payton may very well be the best running back of all time but he's not even close to the best "all round" football player of all time.

I think to be considered as "best all round" you need to do a lot of the things required by the game (block, tackle, catch, kick, etc) very well which doesn't leave a lot of room for doing anything at an amazingly high level.  I don't know much about Payton as anythign other than a runner.  Could he catch, blitz protect, score or pick up the first down in short yardage up the middle with the game on the line?  Could he play on defense if injuries made it necessary to do so? Could he punt if necessary?

Take George Blanda.  George was a very good QB and a very good place kicker.  He was a player in the NFL in at least three positions (linebacker, quarterback, and placekicker).  Blanda played until he was 47 or 48. Until Walter Payton has that on his resume' he's not even in the conversation about "best all round player ever".

Answer 2

"Slingin'" Sammy Baugh.

Answer 3

thurman thomas

Answer 4

Jim Brown dominated pro football while he played,he retired at the top of his game,and still held many records

Answer 5

jim brown best at one postion

sammy baugh best all around, he lead the NFL in passing yards, yards per punt, and intersecptions in the same year

Answer 6

Since I started watching football Barry Sanders has always been one of my favorite players.Even though the Lions always lost Sanders kept on giving us as fans something you wouldn't expect to see. I was sad when he retired cause he still had plenty in the tank.

Answer 7

Ya Walter Payton was awesome! he was one of the best running backs of all time.

Answer 8

Jerry Rice... amazing receiver and great person... he helped rookie receiver Desean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles 2nd round pick out of Cal) and mentored him prior to the NFL draft... its easy for players to donate money becuase that doesn't really involve time but when you take the time out of your life to help future players become better THAT makes you the best all around person...as for all around athlete he has my vote on that too becuase he set the bar for receivers all over the country and it too Moss 16games to beat Rice's record that he made in 12... so for those reasons I admire Rice for his on/off the field accomplishments

Answer 9

I agree. Everytime I say this, I get a ton of thumbs down.

Answer 10

I like jerry rice and Barry Sanders

Answer 11

Jim thorpe

Answer 12

I would not say best all around because I think all around is a person that can play multiple positions. He is one of the greatest running backs ever if not the best. I always thought he and Barry Sanders were the greatest running backs ever. Jim Brown was also great but he was way before my time for me to know his style, but he put up some big numbers. Also if Bo Jackson hadn't got hurt there is no telling where he would rank among greatest running backs. I guy named Ladanian Tomilson is on his way to be one of the greatest. Emmit Smith never really empressed me because he ran behind one of the greatest offensive lines on NFL history, not ot mention having a pro bowl Fullback and Tight End blocking for him. It also took him like 13 or 14 years to break the rushing record and none of the other guys played that long.

Answer 13

Gale SayeR?