When i posted this, i didnt have time to post my opinion in the last week. So here it is.
Vonkaar your friend is an absolute fucking idiot. Not taking away from Emmitt, but his argument was horrible. He could have easily argued for him though and not sound like such a douche
When you are talking about complete back, you imediatly take jerome Bettis out of the Top 5. He accomplished so many different things, and was a true gamer. But you need all aspects to be a top 5 back on my list.
1. Jim Brown
2. Walter Payton
3. Emmit Smith
4. Barry Sanders
5. Ladanien Tomlinson
Start at the bottom here. I actually stuck LT in the top 5 of COMPLETE backs in the history. He could very easily be the best of all time by the end of his career. He edged out Sayers in my top 5, because Sayers only played 7 years, and averaged only 10 games per season. My backs have to in the backfield every game. LT does this. He catches touchdowns, he throws touchdowns and we all know he runs for touchdowns. The guy is a scoring machine, 85 yard runs or 1 yard runs. You dont need a 3rd down back (short yardage, long yardage) when you have LT, despite his size. He can power run, and finess run. Starting a team right now...give me LT.
If he stays healthy he has the potential to break Jerry Rice's touchdown record. If the Chargers do not have him, they are a .500 team at best. He makes not only your offense better but your defense better by keeping them on the sideline.
1--- Jim Brown.
Not much you can say about this guy that hasnt been said already. Power Football. This would be a guy that you could change your entire defensive scheme around, and not stop him. He made the pro bowl EVERY year he played, wich is incredable. Oh yeah, he never missed a game in his career...WOW.
"He told me, 'Make sure when anyone tackles you he remembers how much it hurts.' He lived by that philosophy and I always followed that advice." --John Mackey
2---Walter Payton
He could do it all. Block deffinatly, recieve oh yeah, punter yeah in a pinch, and QB if needed. Did i mention this guy could run? He had it all in the complete package. It was so hard to not put him at the top, currently LT reminds me most of Walter Payton out of any back. I never saw someone of his size, deliver such a punishing hit to unsuspecting safties and Linebackers.
3---Emmit Smith
He is the only running back to win the Quadruple crown in one year. SB champ, NFL MVP, NFL Rushing leader, and SB MVP. 3 rings also gives him the edge over Barry for the number 3 spot. The main reason he is not number 1 all time, is because his supporting cast was so great (yeah weird to be penalized for it). You cannot focus solely on Emmit, Dallas had too many other weapons. Therefore he was running on 7 man fronts instead of 8 man or even 9 man fronts like Barry Sanders. Even from a 49ers fan, Emmit is one of the single most scary players in NFL history. Man that hurt me to say that.
4--- Barry Sanders.
This really should be 3A, because Barry and Emmit its tough to pick between. Barry was buried on sub par and just flat out horrible teams in Detroit. He never did play with a good QB, or even an average NFL line. However he has managed to come close to breaking the all time rushing yards for a RB. The only reason we didnt get to see it was because he retired (most liekly because of management). Put Barry Behind the Dallas Cowboys line of their Superbowl years, and Barry would have Obliterated the rushing record. Instead we are now left with what ifs, and what could be. A knock on Barry was his constant negative runs. Although true, when you are facing 4 lineman that penetrate the line of scrimmage as you are recieving a hand off, would damper anyones rushing totals. This is why he was such an amazing RB, he could still get possitive yardage...with that line.