The 20 Biggest Baddest Bears of All Time; #13 Walter Payton...........

No. 13 Walter Payton

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images...jpg?1345678933
Walter Payton (photo courtesty of Sports Illustrated)


Former NFL coach Jerry Glanville simply said this regarding Payton and the way he ran the football: “He was a linebacker carrying the football.”


Payton’s style of running was one of the most punishing styles in the history of the game. Payton didn’t want to run around you; he wanted to run through you. For 13 seasons, Payton played the most punishing position in the NFL, but doled out as much punishment as he absorbed.


Payton was not very big either for the way he ran the football. He was a mere 5’10”, 200 lbs, but it was all muscle. He ended his career as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and is arguably the greatest all-around running back in the history of the NFL.

Although it may seem strange to see Walter's name on this list was there ever an NFL RB with his size who ever ran harder, doled out more punishment to would be tacklers, and was more durable than Walter Payton? I didn't think so.

I don't think any of us will ever tire of watching his highlight reels and that run he made against KC where he just bounced of tacklers like he was a pinball. He's wasn't eluding them so much as he was simply lowering his shoulder and bouncing away from them. One of the toughest runs I've ever seen him make.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...;v=2WHgTyXEG14

One of the Favorite's I have on saved. Awsome video, sure many have seen, Look at 1:01, instead of running out of bounds ,WP turns in and hits the would be "hitter" Even the switching of the ball carring arm is perfect. Want to be a RB, learn for WP. ( OK besides the loaf of bread he does he and there) Then look at the placement of his passes. Even his OWN teammate couldn't bring him down. To have grown up watching WP was the one spoil in life I get, I'm a happy MAN. Only one close to him MIGHT be Barry Sanders, I so respect him too. Now tell me the running game is a thing of the PAST with a runner like Sir Walter Payton.

I know he was only a rb but I would have had him in the top ten. He ran the ball through contact and to hurt the defender. He also ran w/no souls in his shoes so he could feel how the cletes were reacting to the turf and wore his hs thigh pads b/c they were so thin.

another favorite of mine so much so bought his autographed jersey, framed it, and placed it above the tv i watch bears games on

Defensive backs and linebackers feared tacking him.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

another favorite of mine so much so bought his autographed jersey, framed it, and placed it above the tv i watch bears games on

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Mo, will you let me borrow it on a permanent basis?

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Originally Posted by 4th and 26

Defensive backs and linebackers feared tacking him.

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Imagine a 6'2" 230lb, Jim Brown sized Walter Payton. :4_6_200v[1]: With Fridge as his lead blocker rather than 215lb Roland Harper or Matt Suhey. Now imagine this is one of those LBs or Safeties. :10_5_135[1]: :lol-027:

He could throw the ball 70 yards. He could kick it 70 yards. He was a great blocker, runner, receiver, & competitor. He led the league in KO returns as a rookie. IMHO he was the best overall RB of all time & possibly the best "football Player" to ever play the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJeTgQ-lgvE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vgjnFVQFo

I think the only football player who can really compare to Walter Payton, at any position, is Jerry Rice. While Rice holds all the major offensive records by a skill position player save for rushing yards, it took him a full seven to eight years longer to break Payton's record for most total yards in a career. Some people say Jim Brown was greatest running back/fullback of all time, but then again, when in the hell was he ever asked to be a primary blocker or a receiver? Not very often, compared to Payton. The Browns at the time Jim Brown played were a lot better team than were the Bears during the bulk of Payton's career. So I think that Payton is at least better than Brown, and maybe better than Rice, too.