jumbalaya Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Nucci ... thanks for posting those ... watched all 3 and it brought back great memories. I don't know about you others ... and nothing against Rick Azar, but I had always wished Van had done the play-by-play in '73 when OJ broke the record. Van was and will always be the true voice of the BILLS I like the new uniforms we're going to in 2011 ... but after seeing those 3 highlight films of '73 season I truly wish it was with the Grazing Bison. I was so happy as a kid in '73 when we finally went to blue pants for road games. jumbalaya : While we're all entitled to our own opinions, putting Braxton ahead of Cribbs is purely asinine. Braxton was more of a blocking back who nearly fumbled the season/home opener game away during our 1st ever appearance on Monday Night Football at Rich against the RAIDERS. Art Thoms of Oakland picked it up and ran about 30 yards for a late 4th qtr TD. Had it not been for a nice Fergie-led drive in the 2-minute offense that Ahmad Rashad caught the the game-winning TD with secs left, he'd be remembered for that forever, more than his accomplishments. Joe Cribbs was a feature back, and a brilliant one at that. Travis Henry definitely the ugliest and dumbest .... he must've had a good personality I would not call it "ourely assinine", you could have said something like ill informed. Braxton would have had great career numbers if the ball wasn't always handed off to a future double murderer. Braxton was a tough runner.
Smiley Dear Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Travis Henry? With out question the most prolific back in NFL history.
Billsguy Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Head to head, OJ would slaughter Thurman. Just as a football player, OJ Simpson was in an elite class of all-time great RB's. This conversation is silly. There is no comparison. I watched OJ play two years at USC and every game with the Bills. He was in a class by himself. He had everything: elite speed, power and tremendous instincts. Anybody who thinks Thurman was better than OJ really doesn't have a clue. Case closed as far as I'm concerned. As a person, well that's another story!
Trader Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Story link Includes highlights of both players at the bottom of the page. OJ was a true superstar a once in a generation player. Your heart was in your mouth as soon as he was by the line of scrimmage. He would shift gears and be gone. Someone else said a homerun hitter. Take nothing away from Thurman also a great player. Thurman was more complete as a player he would block and catch better than OJ. OJ was part Jim Brown and part Gale Sayers.
Pirate Angel Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 (edited) Thurman had a much better supporting cast than OJ. Did Thurman ever reach 2000 yards rushing in a season? I believe OJ did twice in 14 games seasons. Did OJ ever lose a helmet? I think the best way to decide this is to take the Best Running backs off all time Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmit Smith...now off the top off your head can you name there backups? I cant nor can I name OJ's but Thuman Thomas? that's easy...Kenneth Davis. MY vote is for OJ Edited June 3, 2011 by pmr78
Beerball Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Head to head, OJ would slaughter Thurman. And yet Thomas was more valuable to the Bills.
Tcali Posted June 3, 2011 Posted June 3, 2011 Story link Includes highlights of both players at the bottom of the page. silly question
offyourocker Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 Which Bills running back would you rather have date your daughter? Travis Henry is you like grand kids
ARTnSocal Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 Thurman had a much better supporting cast than OJ. Did Thurman ever reach 2000 yards rushing in a season? I believe OJ did twice in 14 games seasons. Did OJ ever lose a helmet? I think the best way to decide this is to take the Best Running backs off all time Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmit Smith...now off the top off your head can you name there backups? I cant nor can I name OJ's but Thuman Thomas? that's easy...Kenneth Davis. MY vote is for OJ OJ's backup, I remember both Wayne Patrick and Don Calhoun Payton's was Dennis Gentry Emmitt's was Tommie Agee Barry Sanders I really don't know, he wasn't very injury prone, a very one-man show I would not call it "ourely assinine", you could have said something like ill informed. Braxton would have had great career numbers if the ball wasn't always handed off to a future double murderer. Braxton was a tough runner. I would call it that ... sorry if it hurts your feelings. Joe Cribbs was a feature-back, and a great one at that ... Braxton was a 'role' player ... nowhere near as good as Cribbs and not even debatable .... and I'm sure the ones who are from both era's will tell you the same thing. Wasn't trying to be mean, or belittle you on the chat board ... but in all honesty I just can't come up with another word to have Braxton ahead of Joe Cribbs. No offense was intended .....
San Jose Bills Fan Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 OJ's backup, I remember both Wayne Patrick and Don Calhoun Payton's was Dennis Gentry Emmitt's was Tommie Agee Barry Sanders I really don't know, he wasn't very injury prone, a very one-man show I would call it that ... sorry if it hurts your feelings. Joe Cribbs was a feature-back, and a great one at that ... Braxton was a 'role' player ... nowhere near as good as Cribbs and not even debatable .... and I'm sure the ones who are from both era's will tell you the same thing. Wasn't trying to be mean, or belittle you on the chat board ... but in all honesty I just can't come up with another word to have Braxton ahead of Joe Cribbs. No offense was intended ..... Weren't Greg Jones and Max Anderson also OJs backups at times? Payton also shared the backfield with Matt Suhey, who was a pretty good fullback. Speaking of which, I wouldn't call Jim Braxton a role player so much as I would call him a fullback… and a damn fine one at that. I actually think Braxton and Cincinnati's Boobie Clark were talented enough to be featured in the same way that Hewritt Dixon and Mark Van Eeghen were by the Raiders… or Csonka or Riggins. Or Cookie Gilchrist for that matter. It's just that at some point, fullbacks were no longer featured by NFL teams. I think that's because of a few reasons… offensive efficiency/emphasis on chunk yardage and also durability. Look at a guy like Peyton Hillis… classic throwback fullback. All season long he toiled long and hard and had some great moments. But ultimately his offense sucked, his team sucked, they scored very few points, and by the end of the season, Hillis was toast. Battering rams as featured backs end up receiving more punishment than they dole out and they typically don't add much offensively in a day where passing is 60% of the game. Back to the point, I thought Braxton was a top talent. But that's just my recollection of events that happened almost 40 years ago.
Bufcomments Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 OJ hands downs was the best player talent wise to wear a Bills uniform. Bruce Smith a not to distant second. This from a guy who watched almost every game of his career. (lucky me my father had season tickets during the 70's) Will say this about Thomas..no way the Bills get to 4 super bowls without him. He may have been the best OVERALL RB we had, best catching the rock out the backfield and he was a better than average blocker on passing downs. But the Juice had breakaway speed, the kind you can't teach and once he was in the clear it was over. OJ , the Braves and the French Connection was at the peak of there respective sports and it was great back in the 70's to be a Buffalo sports fan.
ARTnSocal Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 Weren't Greg Jones and Max Anderson also OJs backups at times? Payton also shared the backfield with Matt Suhey, who was a pretty good fullback. Speaking of which, I wouldn't call Jim Braxton a role player so much as I would call him a fullback… and a damn fine one at that. I actually think Braxton and Cincinnati's Boobie Clark were talented enough to be featured in the same way that Hewritt Dixon and Mark Van Eeghen were by the Raiders… or Csonka or Riggins. Or Cookie Gilchrist for that matter. It's just that at some point, fullbacks were no longer featured by NFL teams. I think that's because of a few reasons… offensive efficiency/emphasis on chunk yardage and also durability. Look at a guy like Peyton Hillis… classic throwback fullback. All season long he toiled long and hard and had some great moments. But ultimately his offense sucked, his team sucked, they scored very few points, and by the end of the season, Hillis was toast. Battering rams as featured backs end up receiving more punishment than they dole out and they typically don't add much offensively in a day where passing is 60% of the game. Back to the point, I thought Braxton was a top talent. But that's just my recollection of events that happened almost 40 years ago. 'Mini' Max Anderson # 22, now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time. I don't remember him playing as a backup running back, but I do remember him on special teams as the regular kickoff and punt returner, and that his mother made really good fried chicken for Max & his teamates (true story). I don't remember seeing him in the backfield. Braxton was a Fullback. yes, who was often lined up in the tail in front of OJ where he'd help block for him and get his occasional carries. He rarely fumbled, yet he picked our first ever MNF game to do it where it was not only recovered by Oakland but scooped up and returned 30 yards for what appeared like the probable game-winning TD. Fortunately, as I said prior, Fergie led us on a great drive in the 2-minute drill before hitting Ahmad Rashad for about 15 yard TD with seconds left. I was sitting in the end-zone opposite the tunnel where Art Thoms of the RAIDERS scored that TD. Our friend was asking earlier who were the backups to those RB's, Braxton wasn't a backup. I believe it was Larry Watkins who backed both OJ & Braxton up if memory serves me right, and if it was FB's we both could have also listed Bill Enyart. Remember him? Greg Jones I vaguely remember, I think he did backup OJ, but he didn't play much and wasn't with us too long. Think it was before we moved to Rich, but don't hold me to that one. Braxton was a really good FB ..... but a better than RB/FB than Cribbs? ..... not a chance.
nucci Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 More OJ plus my favorite uniforms. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BillCody1960#grid/uploads
OldTimer1960 Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 I have had the pleasure of seeing both OJ and Thurman run. I think Thurman Thomas was a GREAT RB - perhaps Hall Of Fame, but Simpson was INCREDIBLE. He had no passing game to speak of to draw the defense off, as Thurman had. Yet, Simpson could NOT BE STOPPED. In terms of surrounding talent, Thomas by far had the better set of teammates. No question in my mind, Simpson was one of the 10 best individual players that I've ever seen.
purple haze Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 Braxton was a Fullback. yes, who was often lined up in the tail in front of OJ where he'd help block for him and get his occasional carries. He rarely fumbled, yet he picked our first ever MNF game to do it where it was not only recovered by Oakland but scooped up and returned 30 yards for what appeared like the probable game-winning TD. Fortunately, as I said prior, Fergie led us on a great drive in the 2-minute drill before hitting Ahmad Rashad for about 15 yard TD with seconds left. I was sitting in the end-zone opposite the tunnel where Art Thoms of the RAIDERS scored that TD. That was their second MNF game. First one was against the Chiefs at Rich in '73.
ARTnSocal Posted June 4, 2011 Posted June 4, 2011 You're right .... forgot about that one. OJ got the ball virtually every offensive play in that game
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