I'm sure many of you have seen the show on NFL network "Top Ten". To my knowledge, they haven't done a Top Ten for Fullbacks. I hope they do because Tom Rathman aka "Woody" (his teammates thought he looked like Woody Harrlson) would definitely be on there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY726D982B8
the video was from video taping the TV, either way I still love watching his highlights!!!
[ Edited by JRILL on Jan 18, 2011 at 8:00 PM ]
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SonocoNinerFan
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I can still remember vividly the second half of the NFC Championship game against the Rams at the Stick. He and Craig and the OL completely owned the Ram defense. But Rathman in particular in that second half just abused the Ram LB's and DB's either carrying the ball or leading for Craig. It was a beautiful thing to watch.
[ Edited by SonocoNinerFan on Jan 19, 2011 at 9:41 PM ]
The Niners have had some pretty good FBs after Rathman, but he is by far thee best to dawn a 49er uniform.
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LifelongNiner
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Originally posted by JRILL:
The Niners have had some pretty good FBs after Rathman, but he is by far thee best to dawn a 49er uniform.
I'm not sure if he is the best to even play for the 49ers. Didn't one of the members of the million dollar backfield (most like Joe Perry or John Henry Johnson) play FB? You also have to consider? Even Roger Craig played FB when Wendell Tyler was here.
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RishikeshA
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He brought a swagger and toughness to the offense and never backed down.
Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Originally posted by JRILL:
The Niners have had some pretty good FBs after Rathman, but he is by far thee best to dawn a 49er uniform.
I'm not sure if he is the best to even play for the 49ers. Didn't one of the members of the million dollar backfield (most like Joe Perry or John Henry Johnson) play FB? You also have to consider? Even Roger Craig played FB when Wendell Tyler was here.
but Rathman was exclusively a FB.
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Jakemall
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Perry, Rathman, Floyd and Beasley were all great FBs.
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wysiwyg
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Originally posted by Jakemall:
Perry, Rathman, Floyd and Beasley were all great FBs.
Craig started out as FB
And I still have fondness for #49, Earl Cooper who made the cover of SI twice as FB before being switched to TE
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matt49er
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Rathman is def a top 10 FB of all time!
I am anxious to officially hear that he is being retained as RB coach for us on Harbaughs staff.
[ Edited by matt49er on Jan 18, 2011 at 9:39 PM ]
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dtg_9er
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It would be a very competitive top ten! From the Bleacher Report's Mike Hempel:
7. Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay Bucs
6. Paul Younger, Los Angeles Rams
5. William Henderson, Green Bay Packers
4. Lorenzo Neal, Cincinnati Bengals / San Diego Chargers
3. Marion Motley, Cleveland Browns
2. Darryl Johnston, Dallas Cowboys
1. Bronco Nagurski, Chicago Bears tie for 1st with larry zonk csonka
And from Leakos (Break Studios) Top ten Fullbacks: I like this list!
1.Jim Brown. Jim Brown is one of the best runners of all time and is easily one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Over his nine-year career at Cleveland, Brown ran for 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns. He remained the rushing leader until Walter Payton broke his record.
2.Daryl Johnston. Daryl Johnston is one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time, Emmitt Smith’s blocker for three Super Bowl winning Dallas Cowboys teams. Nicknamed “Moose,” Johnston was a prototypical fullback, one of the best blockers in the league while also averaging 42 catches a season from 1993-1996.
3.Larry Csonka. Much like Jim Brown, Larry Csonka was the go-to running back for his team but is a natural fullback and one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Csonka finished his career as the Miami all-time leading rusher and won three Super Bowl rings.
4.John Riggins. During the heyday of the Washington Redskins famed “Hogs,” John Riggins lined up on the offensive side of the ball and became one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. He retired as the Redskins leading rusher with over 7,000 yards and 79 touchdowns.
5.Tom Rathman. While San Francisco was peaking in the 1980's, Tom Rathman developed into one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time, winning two Super Bowls while there. He blocked for tailback Roger Craig while also contributing out of the team’s West Coast offense, leading the league in receiving for running backs in 1989.
6.Franco Harris. Hall of Fame fullback Franco Harris played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for twelve years, becoming one of the greatest fullbacks of all time. While he served mostly as a blocker in college, he went to nine Pro Bowls and won four Super Bowl rings in his NFL career.
7.Jim Taylor. Jim Taylor played for the Green Bay Packers and remains one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Taylor recorded the first rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history in 1967 and was one four championship teams in his time at Green Bay. Taylor was only the second Packers player to run for 1,000 yards and did is five times.
8.Mike Alstott. Mike Alstott became the new-look NFL fullback and retired in 2006 as one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Over his career, Alstott was a short yardage runner as well as a pass receiver. He finished his career at Tampa Bay with 58 rushing touchdowns and over 300 receptions over eleven seasons.
9.Robert Newhouse. Robert Newhouse spent twelve seasons with the Dallas
Cowboys and became one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. When he wasn’t blocking for Hall of Famer's, Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach, he ran for a lot of yards himself. He retired with 4,784 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns in his career/
10.Lorenzo Neal. Lorenzo Neal played for seven years in his prolific NFL career and retired in 2008 as one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. He wasn’t a rushing fullback but served as the perfect blocking back, playing at San Diego while LaDanian Tomlinson became one of the best runners in the league.
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OnTheClock
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I'm surprised Larry Centers isn't mentioned anywhere. He's got to at least be on the fringe of that top 10-15 area.
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redrathman
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All time? Absolutely not.
Modern era football? Possibly.
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I'm surprised Larry Centers isn't mentioned anywhere. He's got to at least be on the fringe of that top 10-15 area.
i think it's because he was mainly a pass catcher out of the backfield, while Rathman did it ALL!!!
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LAFortyNinerfan
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Originally posted by dtg_9er:
It would be a very competitive top ten! From the Bleacher Report's Mike Hempel:
7. Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay Bucs
6. Paul Younger, Los Angeles Rams
5. William Henderson, Green Bay Packers
4. Lorenzo Neal, Cincinnati Bengals / San Diego Chargers
3. Marion Motley, Cleveland Browns
2. Darryl Johnston, Dallas Cowboys
1. Bronco Nagurski, Chicago Bears tie for 1st with larry zonk csonka
And from Leakos (Break Studios) Top ten Fullbacks: I like this list!
1.Jim Brown. Jim Brown is one of the best runners of all time and is easily one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Over his nine-year career at Cleveland, Brown ran for 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns. He remained the rushing leader until Walter Payton broke his record.
2.Daryl Johnston. Daryl Johnston is one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time, Emmitt Smith’s blocker for three Super Bowl winning Dallas Cowboys teams. Nicknamed “Moose,” Johnston was a prototypical fullback, one of the best blockers in the league while also averaging 42 catches a season from 1993-1996.
3.Larry Csonka. Much like Jim Brown, Larry Csonka was the go-to running back for his team but is a natural fullback and one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Csonka finished his career as the Miami all-time leading rusher and won three Super Bowl rings.
4.John Riggins. During the heyday of the Washington Redskins famed “Hogs,” John Riggins lined up on the offensive side of the ball and became one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. He retired as the Redskins leading rusher with over 7,000 yards and 79 touchdowns.
5.Tom Rathman. While San Francisco was peaking in the 1980's, Tom Rathman developed into one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time, winning two Super Bowls while there. He blocked for tailback Roger Craig while also contributing out of the team’s West Coast offense, leading the league in receiving for running backs in 1989.
6.Franco Harris. Hall of Fame fullback Franco Harris played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for twelve years, becoming one of the greatest fullbacks of all time. While he served mostly as a blocker in college, he went to nine Pro Bowls and won four Super Bowl rings in his NFL career.
7.Jim Taylor. Jim Taylor played for the Green Bay Packers and remains one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Taylor recorded the first rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history in 1967 and was one four championship teams in his time at Green Bay. Taylor was only the second Packers player to run for 1,000 yards and did is five times.
8.Mike Alstott. Mike Alstott became the new-look NFL fullback and retired in 2006 as one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. Over his career, Alstott was a short yardage runner as well as a pass receiver. He finished his career at Tampa Bay with 58 rushing touchdowns and over 300 receptions over eleven seasons.
9.Robert Newhouse. Robert Newhouse spent twelve seasons with the Dallas
Cowboys and became one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. When he wasn’t blocking for Hall of Famer's, Tony Dorsett and Roger Staubach, he ran for a lot of yards himself. He retired with 4,784 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns in his career/
10.Lorenzo Neal. Lorenzo Neal played for seven years in his prolific NFL career and retired in 2008 as one of the best NFL fullbacks of all time. He wasn’t a rushing fullback but served as the perfect blocking back, playing at San Diego while LaDanian Tomlinson became one of the best runners in the league.
If Jim Brown is considered a fullback, then who's the top HB of all time?
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dtg_9er
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Originally posted by LAFortyNinerfan:
If Jim Brown is considered a fullback, then who's the top HB of all time?
Walter would be my choice! A gymnast as well!