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Why Barry Sanders is the best football running back in NFL history

by Champ

Barry Sanders is the best running back in NFL history, because over a period of ten years no other running back has been more dominate. Not only did he break opposing defenders ankles week in and week out, he also was a true professional. After he would embarrass defenders on his way to the en-zone he would flip the ball back to the ref showing us how humble he truly was. There's never been a player in the league with the physical talents of Barry Sanders. Gayle Sayers was as close as it gets , but even he didn't posses the physical power that Barry had. Not only did he make you miss, but he constantly ran through would be tacklers. He had the best hips the game had ever seen being able to elude tacklers with just a swivel.


Barry Sanders came into the league as a can't miss prospect. He ran for a NCAA record 2,628 yards in his junior season and an astounding 39 touchdowns. He also won the Heisman trophy that year. In 1989 Barry burst in the NFL scene with over 1,000 yards rushing and also won Rookie of the year honors. That would start a series of ten straight seasons with at least 1,000 yards rushing. He was the type of player that you could only hope to contain, but you couldn't hold your breath for too long because he would then break one for 80 yards. He was simply poetry in motion.
A stat that a lot of people forget about when they talk about Barry Sanders is the fact that he had a remarkable 803 carries without a fumble. In the NFL that's 3-4 years without a fumble, simply amazing. He also ran for 1,500 yards four consecutive seasons , five overall, and in 1997 joined O.J. Simpson and Eric Dickerson as the only players to amass 2,000 yards rushing. He also led the league in rushing four times, 1990, 1994, 1996, and in 1997.
Although Barry Sanders left the game prematurely in 1998 his mark on the game is untouchable. He retired less than 1,500 yards shy of the rushing record then held by Walter Payton and since broken by Emmitt Smith. He was an all-pro 8 times and named to the Pro-bowl every year he was in the league (10). He may have never won a championship, but he simply dominated the game. He worked with a relatively weak offensive line every year and he was always in the game plan for defensive coordinators to stop. He left many defensive players scratching their heads, coordinators pulling their hair out, and over all a record breaking legacy of excitement.

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