by Josh Anderson

Created on: February 06, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

In a game where there have been so many greats that have played so many positions, over so many years, is it at all possible to pick one player that has stuck out as being the absolute greatest pure player in history. Honestly there have been some players that by era have stood out like a sore thumb as the greatest of his time, but as the game progresses things and aspects of the game also change thus providing players with perhaps longer careers and better opportunities to succeed and excel.

Take for instance Gale Sayers, he played in 68 games which in this day in age is the equivalent to about 4 1/2 full seasons yet he is almost always included in the talks related to who is the greatest pro football player of all time. Gale was hurt with a severe knee injury that back in the 60's when he played pretty much ended your career. Today the knee injuries (ACL/PCL/MCL) can all pretty much be fixed by surgery and the player be out running around in about a years time (carson palmer, Daunte Culpepper, for recent examples). Sayers accumulated just under 5000 yards and had 39 rushing TD's and had nine receiving touchdowns. If he had played more we as a football society may be saying that he was the best ever, he is in the pro football hall of fame after just 7 years 5 of them very productive?

Jim Brown (Running back Cleveland Browns 57-65). This man had as far as the physicality to excel in the league, 6'2 and 230 lbs he was for sure a dominant force. He made some of the most amazing runs of all time with his ability to break tackles, run through tacklers or just open field speed. Some of his highlights are just absolutely amazing leaving you with your jaw on the floor. He had one of the most succesfull careers of all time with 12,312 yards, 106 touchdowns. His greatest year yard wise was in 1963 with 1800 yards and 12 TD's, and touchdown wise he had two 17 touchdown seasons (1958,1965). He won 2 MVP titles for his league, but after the 1965 season he retired after just 8 years in the league. He retired so early because the world of movies and business seemed more appealing to him. He went on to star in films and start up businesses.

Barry Sanders ( Running back, Detroit Lions 1989-1998). He was one of, if not the most electrifying player of the nineties. He was chosen out of Oklahoma state by the Detroit Lions in 1989 and he has to be up there in every discussion as far as the greatest players of all time go. He could make even the most sure tackler on every team look

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