Since top ten lists are all the rage these days, the dog days til training camp starts, I thought it was time for one more! Since USA Today has counted down their top 25 players of the last 25 years til camp,(and proudly, Joe and Jerry were number 1 and 2 on that list,respectively), I will go one better. Here is my number 1 player of all time, regardless of era or position.
Number 1:
Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions, 1989 -'98.

Having said that, Barry Sanders distanced himself from all other runners and players with what he was able to accomplish in his short career, just 10 years, on a mediocre team. Unlike Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, or Marcus Allen (etc...) , Sanders played on a playoff team only once but single handedly kept Detriot competitive. All other great runners had at least a solid Quarterback, and more importantly a great offensive line in front of them. Sanders never did. Everything he did was largely the result of his solo, and often broken field efforts. Had he ever had help, from a passing game or line, he may have rushed for 2,500 yards every year, and possibly thousands more in his career.
The Lions selected Sanders with their 1st-round (3rd overall) pick in the '89 draft. Though again there were concerns about his size it turned out these concerns were mostly unfounded. Sanders was far too quick for defenders to hit solidly on a consistent basis, and too strong to bring down with arm tackles. Though short at 5'8", Sanders was very stocky; his playing weight of 203 lb (91 kg) was the same as Walter Payton and only slightly under the NFL average for a back. Despite his flashy playing style, Sanders was rarely seen celebrating after the whistle was blown instead he preferred to hand the ball to a referee or congratulate his teammates. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he never spiked the ball after a touchdown.
In 1994, Sanders rushed for an impressive 1,883 yards, on an even more amazing 5.7 yards per carry. But he also totaled 283 receiving yards, which gave him a combined 2,166 yards from scrimmage for the season. This was one of Sanders most impressive feats, and it gave him the NFL's Offensive MVP award. In 1995, Sanders posted 1,500 yards rushing with 398 receiving yards, barely beating his rushing total alone of the '94 season. In 1996, Sanders rushed for 1,553 yards with a career-low 147 receiving yards.

In Sanders spectacular career, although short, he achieved Pro Bowl status in all of his 10 seasons as a pro. Sanders was named All-Pro from 1989-1991 and 1993-1997 and was named All-Pro second team the '89, '92, '93, '96, and '98. Sanders was also named All-NFC from 1989-1992 to 1994-1997. Sanders was named NFL Rookie of the Year in '89, Offensive MVP in '94, MVP in '97, and was named to the 1990s NFL All-Decade team.
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