Walter Payton Tribute

[Mr. Scot]

Posted on the Bears website: (link)

Still, in my opinion, the best runningback of all time.

[dimbee]

Amen. Loved the gesture of Forte running out of the tunnel yesterday with the Bears flag and handing it off to the Payton family. Great gesture!

I'd love to see the 34 yard line football picture on the field for the rest of the season

[PantherDude]

It's a real shame about one of the best & classiest RB in the NFL there ever was. They don't call him "Sweetness" for nothing Hard to believe it been 10 yrs. since his passing. :(

[dimbee]

I still have the Chicago Tribune paper announcing his passing.

[Darth Hater]

The best football player ever!

[tarheelblue89]

I'll never forget the moment I saw the news on the bottom line.

In my mind Barry is the best ever though.

[Delhomeboy]

I've never understood how he lasted so long at such a high level, especially considering the WAY he ran.

[dimbee]

Sweetness started 190 of 191 games at RB for the Bears, his only missed start occurring in his rookie year. RIDICULOUS for an NFL runningback!!

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

Whilst i think Barry is the best ever i dislike how people bring up how bad the Lions were as if to discredit Payton cause those early 80s Bears teams weren't exactly great.

[Mr. Scot]

Said it before: The first question I always ask when comparing two players at the same position is "What can one guy do that the other guy can't?"

Sanders could run around and past people, for certain. I always used to say they needed to make sure they never pointed the sideline mikes behind Sanders, because there was usually a trail of expletives in his wake. As far as real elusiveness though, Payton had it too. Granted, the way Sanders did it was more fun and exciting to watch, but that didn't really make it any more effective.

Payton, however, could also run over and through people. Never really saw Sanders do that. Defenders knew they'd pay for hitting Payton. He finished runs that strongly.

I'm a big fan of Sanders, and I hate to agree with his dad (who's a prick) but I do think he's the third best rusher in league history behind Payton and Jim Brown.

Craft a strong enough argument, and you might convince me to take Sanders over Brown, but not over Payton.

[Darth Hater]

Walter could also throw tds, block better than just about any RB and was a helluva a reciever to. I also don't think Walter has any sort of record for yards lost(Barry does). They both played behind some pretty crappy teams. Barry is my second fave.

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

All based on personal preference. The 3 are interchangeable to me.

[Delhomeboy]

Payton, however, could also run over and through people. Never really saw Sanders do that. Defenders knew they'd pay for hitting Payton. He finished runs that strongly.

This is my favorite part of his game--I've only seen him in highlights, of course, but you just gotta respect a guy that fearless. I mean, the man ATTACKED people. Honestly, it almost seems like he would've rather headbutted them than try to juke them.

Which is another reason I'm amazed at his longevity. I mean, LT's practically done and he's thirty...Michael Tuner's exhausted after one year...and neither of them are as physical as Payton was.

[dimbee]

My contention has always been that Sweetness was the best NFL football player of all time, not necessarily the best runningback, though I will definitely go to bat for him in that regard. Like Mr. Scot said, he could do it ALL- run around you, run over you, run through you... and look like a majestic stallion in doing so.