August 2, 2022

Barry Sanders gets snubbed in latest ‘GOAT’ rankings

Lions News Reports

If you had the opportunity to watch each and every play of Barry Sanders‘ amazing career with the Detroit Lions, there is a pretty good chance that you believe he is the best running back who ever played in the NFL.

Whenever Sanders got the ball, the fans at the Pontiac Silverdome rose to their feet because they did not want to miss what could end up being a highlight play.

But, believe it or not, there are actually people out there, who actually watch football for a living, who do not think Barry Sanders is the best running back to ever lace up his cleats.

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Barry Sanders gets snubbed in latest ‘GOAT’ rankings

In fact, ESPN has released their “NFL’s best players ever at every offensive position” rankings and out of 50 voters, only 14 voted for Barry Sanders as the NFL’s best running back of all time.

From ESPN:

Barry Sanders (14 votes): Lions reporter Eric Woodyard leaned toward Detroit’s famed running back, suggesting voters should “just type in Barry Sanders highlights on YouTube, sit back and enjoy.” NFL writer Seth Wickersham argued for Sanders, too, saying, “There has never been another player who could be 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage, retreating, surrounded by five defenders closing fast, blockers on the ground and rendered useless, and not only be capable of finding an escape out of it and scoring a touchdown but doing it so often that fans came to expect it.”

Instead, it was former Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown who was voted as the NFL’s best running back of all time as he received 23 of 50 votes.

“In nine NFL seasons, Brown led the league in rushing eight times, scrimmage yards six times and total TDs five times, winning MVP in 33% of his career seasons. In an era in which everyone ran the ball more than they threw, defenses still couldn’t slow down Brown.” — Michael Proia, Stats & Information

In case you were wondering, here is how the final vote came in:

Jim Brown 23 votes
Barry Sanders 14 votes
Walter Payton 6 votes

Emmitt Smith 3 votes
Marshall Faulk 2 votes
Eric Dickerson 1 vote

LaDainian Tomlinson 1 vote

Nation, do you agree with us that Barry Sanders got snubbed? If so, have you ever watched him play?!?!

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W.G. Brady is a Detroit-based journalist who has been covering the Detroit sports scene for Detroit Sports Nation for several years. He is in his early 30s and has a wealth of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, W.G. has established himself as a respected and knowledgeable journalist known for his in-depth coverage of the teams and athletes in Detroit. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for sports, W.G. has become a go-to source for fans and readers looking for the latest news and analysis on the Detroit sports scene. He has a good reputation in the sports community and is respected for his unbiased coverage of sports events. W.G. is known for his ability to uncover hidden stories and provide unique perspectives on the teams and athletes he covers. He has a good understanding of the city of Detroit and its sports culture, which he uses to inform his reporting and analysis. He continues to be a respected journalist in the Detroit sports industry.