by Chad Morgan

Created on: January 26, 2008

Any football coach will tell you that the key to a good offense is a powerful running game. If there is one thing that has been showcased in the National Football League, it is it's stable of running backs. The college game is the backbone to the pro game but it is when the collegians hit the NFL that their true talents and worth are exposed.
The following is my list of the 10 Greatest Running Backs to ever lace up the cleats in the National Football League.

EMMITT SMITH, DALLAS COWBOYS AND ARIZONA CARDINALS: What better way to start off an NFL list of the Greatest Running Backs than to mention the record holder for the most career rushing yards at 18,355. Emmitt Smith came into the league in 1990 and by his retirement in '05 with the Cardinals, he was the greatest of all time. The upside of Smith was his 3 Super Bowl Rings. As part of the Cowboys big '3' (Smith, Troy Aikman, Micheal Irvin), Emmitt put the 'Boys among the elitist among Super Bowl Champions. People also so forget his stellar collegiate career at the University of Florida.

WALTER PAYTON, CHICAGO BEARS: There is only word to describe Walter Payton: 'Sweetness'. Before there was Barry Sanders, there was Walter Payton. Walter Payton done moves on the football field that could be only dreamt about. It biggest achievement was leading the '85 Bears to a 15-1 record and a thrashing of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Not only was a good man on the field, he was a civic pioneer off. The award given to the player in the NFL that awards for public service is named in honor of the great #34, Walter Payton.

BARRY SANDERS, DETROIT LIONS: The 1988 Heisman Award winner was knocked early in his career for his size. When Barry Sanders was through with his career, some critics were calling him the Greatest of all Time. Sanders moves were so good that I think he surprised himself a few times. The only knock on him was his poor playoff record in which he only won 1 playoff game. Still, Barry Sanders is definately one of the best running backs the NFL has ever produced.

JIM BROWN, CLEVELAND BROWNS: The first African American superstar in the NFL is by far one of the best running backs to ever play in the league. An All-American in football and lacrosse (some say that he is one of the best lacrosse players to ever play the game) out of Syracuse University, Jim's size and speed is what made him so dominant. Nobody could stop him and even though he played 8 years in the league, he still managed to become one of

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