papazoid Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 EDIT: i'm talking players only.....on-field. i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! #1- Thurman #2- Bruce #3- O.J. #4- Cookie #5- Kelly **EDIT (stolen from the "wildrabbit"): What most fail to realize is... the Bills used the running game to set up the pass. The Bills used to run more then they threw the ball in the Kelly era. While the Bills O line was better then most, it wasn't even close to what Emmitt Smith had in Dallas. If you go back and look at what Thurman Thomas did, 5x pro bowls-1991 NFL MVP-1992 NFL offensive player of the year. Thurman Thomas is the only NFL player to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons. Now considering he almost never caught the ball while in college it is amazing that he is one of six NFL backs to have over 400 receptions and 10,000 yards rushing. He is also one of five backs to have rushed for over 1,000 yards for 8 consecutive seasons. I know I'm leaving out a bunch of playoffs stats and other stuff. Just think, this kid kept Barry Sanders on the bench in College. The guy was like 70% of the offense in Buffalo, he gets my vote.
DrDawkinstein Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 i clicked in here to post Thurman as well. such a dynamic back, he was a one man offensive machine.
jahbonas Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! OJ Simpson - everyone else a distant 2nd. regarding Thurman thomas I can argue he's only the 4th best RB we ever had behind Cookie & OJ & Joe Cribbs Cribbs was 4 yrs and 4 probowls....returned punts and led the Bills in both receiving and rushing in 1983. Thurman had good fortune to come along as the RB in the no huddle....while Thurman was taken out of the game on 3rd downs his rookie year....joe Cribbs was running & receiving and returning punts to a start in the pro bowl his rookie year starting alongside earl campbell... In general I think the players from the Knox era are a bit overlooked when it comes to all time selections
billsfan in n.h Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 its tough to say o.j had the electric co. cribbs had fergie and thurmun had kelly and reed.you could say bruce smith but he had guys up front that made him who he is.its a tough callbut i would say BRUUUUUCE
VADC Bills Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 OJ Simpson - everyone else a distant 2nd. regarding Thurman thomas I can argue he's only the 4th best RB we ever had behind Cookie & OJ & Joe Cribbs Cribbs was 4 yrs and 4 probowls....returned punts and led the Bills in both receiving and rushing in 1983. Thurman had good fortune to come along as the RB in the no huddle....while Thurman was taken out of the game on 3rd downs his rookie year....joe Cribbs was running & receiving and returning punts to a start in the pro bowl his rookie year starting alongside earl campbell... In general I think the players from the Knox era are a bit overlooked when it comes to all time selections OJ and Cookie can't argue those choices. OJ was clearly the best Bill but he is not the politically correct answer. Joe Cribbs and Thurman I would reverse just because of longevity but Cribbs was a monster. He carried the the Bills. I hated to see him go. He had HOF potential but decided to go for the USFL bucks. Can't leave out Bruce as well.
DarthICE Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! Kelly hands down
jahbonas Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 its tough to say o.j had the electric co. cribbs had fergie and thurmun had kelly and reed.you could say bruce smith but he had guys up front that made him who he is.its a tough callbut i would say BRUUUUUCE You realize what OJ had on opening day of his 2003 season? QB was a rookie 3rd round draft pick starting 1st game ever TE Paul Seymour starting his 1st NFL game ever OG Joe D was starting his first game ever gee you think they might have put 8 in the box? He still rushed for 250yrds that day
Canadian Bills Fan Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 Are we talking stats? If so then it has to be Bruce Smith. Fan favorite...Steve Tasker
jahbonas Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 its tough to say o.j had the electric co. cribbs had fergie and thurmun had kelly and reed.you could say bruce smith but he had guys up front that made him who he is.its a tough callbut i would say BRUUUUUCE Please inform us all who bruce had up front to help 'make him' ???? If anything bruce produced in spite of not being placed in a 4 man front like Reggie White had the luxury of playing in
vincec Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 It's tough to decide. Gilchrist was the best all around player, absolutely no question, plus he won a championship. However, he was only with the Bills 3 seasons, so I'm not so sure. OJ was the best pure runner, Kelly the best QB and Smith was the best overall defensive player but none of them produced a title. Thomas might also merit consideration, but again, no championship. I'm going to go ahead and say Jim Kelly. He never played for another NFL team and was the face of the franchise from the day he arrived, for 11 season. He led the team to it's most prolonged period of success and although never won the big one, he did help the team get there 4 times and played pretty well in two of the four games (and left a third due to injury with his team in the lead).
RTW2012 Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 Bruce. No other Bill was at the top of his position for more seasons. 9-time First-Team All-Pro, plus 2 Second-Team All-Pros. All-Decade Team for the 80s and 90s.
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 Bruce Smith hands down. One of the most feared and productive DE's in history playing out of a 3-4. Incredible! Imagine what this guy could have done in a 4-3?!?
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 i'm going to say Thurman Thomas...... League MVP.....and best all around all purpose RB to ever play the game !! I love Thurman. Don't get me wrong. Incredible running back who had quickness, versatility and great vision. That being said, I think that Thurman benefited greatly from the Bills offensive philosophy, dangerous passing game and incredible beast of an Oline. Thurman is not nearly as productive without those factors...
Just Jack Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 Chuck Lester. Has any player and/or coach been with the team longer?
RkFast Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 If yer talking pure talent, it begins and ends with Bruce Smith. All the other players are great...but Bruce is an all world great.
BillsZubaz Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 If yer talking pure talent, it begins and ends with Bruce Smith. All the other players are great...but Bruce is an all world great. +1
outsidethebox Posted January 30, 2010 Posted January 30, 2010 Bill Polian. He drafted some of the greatest players in Bills history. With out Bill, I don't know if we would have been to 4 consecutive superbowls.
Recommended Posts