Anybody else sick of Gale Sayers?

[NCChiFan]

Sounds like Walters Bears.


Walter left
Walter right
Walter up the middle...........those o-lines in the 70s and early 80s until 83 2 were atrocious. So Gale and Walter had equally as bad of o-lines........

Which is why, having seen both play, I would take Sayers over Walter as my starting all time Bear RB. Want to venture a guess as to what single player had the greatest 1 day fantasy football score ever (since 1960)?


I don't think, if you didn't see him play you could really understand how elusive Gale was running and fast. Think a cross between Berry Sanders and OJ. To me, there have only been two guys in the NFL with the kind of elusive, you can't lay a finger on them even when you're standing right next to them on the field trying to tackle them, Sanders and Sayers.


Yes, his career was shortened, today's modern medicine he would have had a much longer career. Could he have ever surpassed Walter's yardage or Brown's, I don't know, those Bear teams where pretty bad, yea I know so where Walters, remember I watched them both play.

 

[beardown07]

Gale was more electrifying...better natural athlete.


That said, Walter is the most complete back to ever play the game. He had it ALL. IMO, he is the greatest football player of all time.

 

[wood20ks]

Which is why, having seen both play, I would take Sayers over Walter as my starting all time Bear RB. Want to venture a guess as to what single player had the greatest 1 day fantasy football score ever (since 1960)?


I don't think, if you didn't see him play you could really understand how elusive Gale was running and fast. Think a cross between Berry Sanders and OJ. To me, there have only been two guys in the NFL with the kind of elusive, you can't lay a finger on them even when you're standing right next to them on the field trying to tackle them, Sanders and Sayers.


Yes, his career was shortened, today's modern medicine he would have had a much longer career. Could he have ever surpassed Walter's yardage or Brown's, I don't know, those Bear teams where pretty bad, yea I know so where Walters, remember I watched them both play.

Here I thought I was old watching Payton as a rookie at the ripe old age of 13......lol

I have to still lean to #34.
With all the other things he did(as I saaid above),and excelled,those things is what made him above the rest.........

And with all due respect to Gale Sayers,the injury that he suffered at that time,there was no significant treatment for a busted up knee............We will never know what he could of ended up with for a career.And I`m betting it would have been a tremendous one.

 

[wood20ks]

Gale was more electrifying...better natural athlete.


That said, Walter is the most complete back to ever play the game. He had it ALL. IMO, he is the greatest football player of all time.

I could agree with that........But thats an argueable one......but I could agree.

 

[63bears40]

Gale was more electrifying...better natural athlete.


That said, Walter is the most complete back to ever play the game. He had it ALL. IMO, he is the greatest football player of all time.

I'd say Butkus was the best all time. Haven't seen anyone dominate a game like he did.
Jim Brown best RB all time .
But when it comes down to Bear RBs, Sayers was the better pure RB, Walter the better all around player.He could block.
If I had to choose 1 of the 2 for 1 game in their prime . Sayers no doubt.

 

[richig07]

Which is why, having seen both play, I would take Sayers over Walter as my starting all time Bear RB. Want to venture a guess as to what single player had the greatest 1 day fantasy football score ever (since 1960)?


How in the world is this a reason to pick someone as your starting RB? lol

 

[NCChiFan]

Which is why, having seen both play, I would take Sayers over Walter as my starting all time Bear RB. Want to venture a guess as to what single player had the greatest 1 day fantasy football score ever (since 1960)?


How in the world is this a reason to pick someone as your starting RB? lol

Heh, I found that stat on a Fantasy Football site, Gale's 6 TD game was the largest single player point stats in the history of FF. Thought I would toss it in there.

While Walter was amazing, and I wasn't trying to say he wasn't, Gale was more dominating running the ball. His rookie year he averaged 1 TD every 10 times he touched the football. Think about that. AND this was in at a time when everyone ran, and Defenses were set up to stop the run.

 

[NCChiFan]

Which is why, having seen both play, I would take Sayers over Walter as my starting all time Bear RB. Want to venture a guess as to what single player had the greatest 1 day fantasy football score ever (since 1960)?


How in the world is this a reason to pick someone as your starting RB? lol

Heh, I found that stat on a Fantasy Football site, Gale's 6 TD game was the largest single player point stats for a single game in the history of FF. Thought I would toss it in there for giggles.

While Walter was amazing, and I wasn't trying to say he wasn't, Gale was more dominating running the ball. His rookie year he averaged 1 TD every 10 times he touched the football. Think about that. AND this was at a time when everyone ran the ball, and Defenses were set up to stop the run.

 

[leomaz]

Lol.when weren't defenses set up to stop the run against the 70s and 80s BEARS

 

[beardown07]

For 1 game...Sayers.


For reality. Walter.

 

[richig07]

Heh, I found that stat on a Fantasy Football site, Gale's 6 TD game was the largest single player point stats for a single game in the history of FF. Thought I would toss it in there for giggles.

While Walter was amazing, and I wasn't trying to say he wasn't, Gale was more dominating running the ball. His rookie year he averaged 1 TD every 10 times he touched the football. Think about that. AND this was at a time when everyone ran the ball, and Defenses were set up to stop the run.

Yes, and I understand that his game is the highest point total for FF single game history.

And Walter saw just as many stacked fronts as Sayers. Without a doubt.

Sayers was a great pure runner who had a few great seasons. Nothing more. Sorry.

 

[NCChiFan]

Yes, and I understand that his game is the highest point total for FF single game history.

And Walter saw just as many stacked fronts as Sayers. Without a doubt.

Sayers was a great pure runner who had a few great seasons. Nothing more. Sorry.

Yea, but if I had to pick either Walter or Gale to be my starting 1/2 back for a season in their prime, I would take Sayers. He was a better running back than Walter in their primes.

 

[richig07]

Yea, but if I had to pick either Walter or Gale to be my starting 1/2 back for a season in their prime, I would take Sayers. He was a better running back than Walter in their primes.

You sure about that?



Walter's best season - 1977 (14 game season)

RUSHING - 339 Carries 1852 Yards (132 YPG) 5.5 YPC 14 TD's

RECEIVING - 27 Receptions 269 Yards 2 TD's

Total Yards from scrimmage: 2121

Gale's best season - 1966 (14 game season)

RUSHING - 229 Carries 1231 Yards (87 YPG) 5.4 YPC 8 TD's

RECEIVING - 34 Receptions 447 Yards 2 TD's

Total Yards from scrimmage: 1678




Not only that, Walter's 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc... best seasons all are far superior to Gale's second best season.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PaytWa00.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SayeGa00.htm

As time goes by, legends grow far bigger than they ever were in reality. Especially when that legend is still alive, talking about how great he "was" or "could have been". Gale was an electrifying player, more exciting than Walter. That's all you remember about him. You remember the long runs, the amazing cuts, etc... You remember the legend. Not reality.

 

[leomaz]

Walter is clearly the better football player. Period. Richig you didnt give out the passing stats. Lol. Ill take Walter before Gale. I wonder how Neal Anderson stats compare.

 

[richig07]

Walter is clearly the better football player. Period. Richig you didnt give out the passing stats. Lol. Ill take Walter before Gale. I wonder how Neal Anderson stats compare.

I was actually recently comparing Neil Anderson to Matt Forte in a conversation with a friend. I looked it up, and it turns out Anderson retired at the age of 29 with almost identical numbers to what Matt Forte has right now at age 28. Actually, eerily similar.

However, Anderson played two more seasons (8) than Forte has (6) at this point in his career. Anderson had a very short prime that lasted only three seasons between the ages of 24 and 26. Forte looks like he's still going very very strong.



Matt Forte NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

Neal Anderson NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com


It upsets me that Forte got hurt in 2011. He was on pace for almost 2500 total years after 11 games.

 

[richig07]

Here's another piece of irrefutable proof that Sayers' legend is overstated.

Two words: Billy Simms

Billy Sims NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

Simms accomplished similar feats, and arguably more, in fewer games than Gale Sayers did. He suffered the same kind of injury that ended his career. But Simms played fewer games and earned more rushing and receiving yards, as well as just one fewer touchdown. And Simms hasn't even sniffed the Hall of Fame. Nor, does anyone even really remember his freaking name.

Hmm... what's the difference between the two you say? I'll take a shot at it. One played for the Chicago Bears, an organization and a city that has fans who LOOOVE to talk up their heroes. Then on top of that, he gets on television a couple times per year to stay relevant and to talk about how great he was or "could have been".

Another, played for the Detroit Lions. A team and city that likes to forget all about it's past, because hey... there ain't much great to look back on. He also hasn't uttered a word on national television in recent history that I can remember.

And you're going to put Sayers up there with the likes of Payton, Sanders, and Brown? HA! He doesn't even belong in the same breath.

 

[NCChiFan]

You sure about that?



Walter's best season - 1977 (14 game season)

RUSHING - 339 Carries 1852 Yards (132 YPG) 5.5 YPC 14 TD's

RECEIVING - 27 Receptions 269 Yards 2 TD's

Total Yards from scrimmage: 2121

Gale's best season - 1966 (14 game season)

RUSHING - 229 Carries 1231 Yards (87 YPG) 5.4 YPC 8 TD's

RECEIVING - 34 Receptions 447 Yards 2 TD's

Total Yards from scrimmage: 1678




Not only that, Walter's 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc... best seasons all are far superior to Gale's second best season.

Walter Payton NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

Gale Sayers NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

As time goes by, legends grow far bigger than they ever were in reality. Especially when that legend is still alive, talking about how great he "was" or "could have been". Gale was an electrifying player, more exciting than Walter. That's all you remember about him. You remember the long runs, the amazing cuts, etc... You remember the legend. Not reality.

While it was nice of you to point out nearly identical ypc, it is interesting to note Gale's higher passing yardage totals. The only yardage total difference was due to the amount of carries Walter had over Gale. When I talk about Gale's running ability being superior to Walters, it is hard not to also include return yardage in those figures, as he is running with the ball. Gale's 1966 total yardage figures for the year 2,440. Staggering huh. Especially since Walter only managed 2121 total yards that year.


Best part about this debate, it is like trying to argue, what flavor ice cream is the best.

 

[leomaz]

so you want to mislead people

While it was nice of you to point out nearly identical ypc, it is interesting to note Gale's higher passing yardage totals. The o also include return yardage in those figures, as he is running with the ball. Gale's 1966 total yardage figures for the year 2,440. Staggering huh. Especially since Walter only managed 2121 total yards that year.


Best part about this debate, it is like trying to argue, what flavor ice cream is the best.

So all yo are saying is that Gale Sayers may have been a better return man than Walter Payton. certainly return yards are different than rushing yards. i dont believe adding return yards to help Sayers makes him any closer to being a better running back than Walter.

 

[averagejoe]

Walter was also an excellent return man. Exceptional blocker. And even threw 8 TD passes.

I'm sure that Sayers was great for his era. But even today many NFL backs may still be compared to Walter, which indicates to me that Payton was the epitome and gold standard of running backs.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

Another, played for the Detroit Lions. A team and city that likes to forget all about it's past, present, and future, because hey... there ain't much great to look back on, it is a total wasteland dump today, and a city full of welfare recipients and heroin users has no future, by definition.

There, fixed it for you.