The Greatest Football Player

Lets just get straight to the point. Barry Sanders is the greatest football player of all time. Strong statement? That might be so but that is just my opinion and I'm sticking with it. There is many things I can dig up and write about to prove that Barry is nothing less than great. Stats alone could be convincing enough to prove my opening statement. Bottom line is, if you didn't get to see this man play then you have no idea.

Barry Sanders didn't start playing running back until his 4th game of his senior year in high school. He did make all state but his size played a factor in his scholarship offers. Only being 5'8, he had few offers and decided to attend Oklahoma State. After backing up Thurman Thomas for two years Barry got his shot to start. The 1988 season is one of the best seasons ever in the history of college football. Sanders rushed for over 300 yards in 4 games and averaged 200 yards a game rushing with 39 touchdowns. Winning the Heisman Trophy that year and breaking numerous records, Barry decided to leave after his junior year.

In the 1989 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions picked Barry Sanders at the 3rd overall pick. The season was a success with Barry earning Rookie of the Year proving to non-believers that his height did not play a factor. In the year 1994, he also claimed Offensive Player of the Year Award by rushing for over 1,800 yards.

Barry's greatest season came when he joined very few running backs in a certain rushing category. In 1997, Barry Sanders rushed for over 2,000 yards. This accomplishment earned Barry the NFL's Most Valuable Player Honors. The next season in 1998 became Barry's last year of playing. He went out of the game showing no signs of slowing down. It was believed that Barry Sanders would of went on and shattered the rushing title held by Walter Peyton and later broken by Emmit Smith.

Players like Emmit Smith and Walter Peyton were great players, no question but they played for great teams. It was always obvious Detroit Lions rarely provided a good team to build around Barry Sanders. Barry had to fight and scrap for his yards and was the reason for a lot of Detroit's wins. Barry made the Pro Bowl all 10 seasons that he played in the NFL and was the first player to rush for a 1,000 yards every year he played.

Barry Sanders never spiked the ball, celebrated, or talked trash. He was a player that let his actions speak louder than words. He finished with 15,269 all time rushing yards with 109 touchdowns. Like I said, we could go all day with stats but if you didn't see the man play then you just missed out.

He was so electrifying when he ran or touched the ball. He played behind mediocre offensive lines so when he got the ball he was getting hit behind the line of scrimmage. This caused Barry to stay low to the ground and make moves behind the line.. A few jukes, a few slipping out of tackles, and then a bounce to the outside. Then it was off to the races. When it comes down to excitement, skills, and raw talent then I have to go with Barry Sanders as the greatest of all time. No I'm not saying the best player on the greatest team but rather the greatest player, period. Not just the best football player of all time but arguably the greatest athlete of all time.