by David Funk

Created on: February 18, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

The greatest pro football player in history is something that is hard to decide because the game has seen constant changes from era to era. The running game was more prominent in the first several years of the league, and then it balanced out over time. Still, the game has seen many stars that have forever left their mark on the game of football.

I think the best all-around player to ever step on the football field was Walter Payton. He was not the fastest, strongest, or most graceful runner. However, he was the complete package that excelled in every facet of the game.

His running style was stuff of legends. He was one who initiated contact preferring to hit his would-be tacklers first before they could get a clean shot on him. Payton used his trademark high-step to help tacklers misjudge their timing on when they were going to get a hit on him.

Payton was a star player for Jackson State in Mississippi and was the team's place-kicker as well as running back. He later was used as an emergency punter for the Chicago Bears after injuries hit the position. Payton was asked to play quarterback on a few occasions when the center would snap the ball back to him on some plays. Payton for the majority of his career played with a very poor offensive supporting cast. In fact, it wasn't until 1985 when the Bears had another Pro Bowl offensive player besides Payton to play in the All-Star game in Hawaii. That year, Payton earned the second of two league Most Valuable Player Awards while also helping one of the best teams in history to their first league title since 1963.

Payton was still able to break Jim Brown's rushing record in 1984 as he was the focal point of the Bears offense. He often led the league in carries, and is still the team's all-time leader in receptions. Payton also was an excellent blocker who saved many quarterbacks from getting seriously injured after the ball was snapped.

Payton still holds some NFL records, and many team records. He is the most complete player in mind to play the game. I have no doubt with his willingness to initiate contact, he would have excelled playing defense. Afterall, he won the league's kickoff return title his rookie year in 1975, and was used on special teams by the Bears because of injuries that hit the team. To me, know one was asked to do more with less around him than Payton, and his hardwork maybe unmatched by anyone in the history of the game.

The other guys that I think are right up there with Payton are Jim Brown and Jerry Rice. Both of those guys dominated at their positions when they played. Brown in particular, played in an era where the running game was the main way teams moved the ball on offense. Rice shattered every receiving record, and his work ethic is equal to that of Payton. Both of those guys were great players, but I give the edge to Payton because he endured more with a less than stellar supporting cast. That is why he was asked to do so much, and he did everything well, too.

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