Would Walter Payton, in his prime, be a superstar running-back in today’s NFL? Defenses have bigger and faster players than they did in Payton’s day. So would Payton still be a superstar, or would he be too small and too slow for today’s game?
I’m a Packer fan, but I must note that Walter was a shifty sneaky smart strong s.o.b.
He would flourish in today’s NFL.
Grew up in Chicago and watched Walter from 76 on… He was smart first and foremost. Walter was one of the first guys to go all out in the offseason. He also gave Jerry Rice the idea about running hills in the offseason. Walter could run,block, and throw a nice halfback option. THe soul of the Bears and the most famous Chicago athlete until Mr Jordan arrived…
Walter would so flourish today.. he was a helluva receiver and pass blocker.. you wouldn't need to take him out on third down...He pretty much did succeed in the “modern” NFL under the name of Emmitt Smith.
He wasn’t very big (he was officially listed at 5’10", 200 lbs., but he very likely was smaller than that), but he was tremendously strong, and very difficult to get a solid lick on. As has been noted, he was an excellent receiver – with the greater prominence of the passing game now, he would make an outstanding receiving RB these days. I see no reason why he wouldn’t have still been a star player today.
He would have the benefit of today’s training a nutrition as well. He’s still be a star.
A few weeks ago, NFL Network was running a tape of CBS’s broadcast of a Packer / Bear game from the early 1980s, when the Bears’ QBs were injured, and Payton was doing a fine job playing QB (sort of a proto-Wildcat).
Also, he was a very good placekicker. Legend has it that he might’ve been the best kicker on the Bears, but Halas (or maybe it was Ditka) didn’t want to see their franchise player with his leg up in the air, waiting for someone to run into him.
Walter Payton was basically a more durable and powerful version of LaDanian Tomlinson. Very similar skill sets. Payton would have been every bit as good now as he was then, maybe moreso with the more wide open style of play.
Jim Brown is getting interviewed by a sports reporter. He’s asked “How well do you think you could play in today’s NFL? Your career averaged over 100 yards per game, how many yards do you think you could get per game today?”
“Well, I think I could probably get 70 or 80”
“That’s all?”
“Well, I’m 70 years old…”
I guess you could substitute Payton in that joke, but of course Jim Brown was pure dominance in human form. And he could still kick all our asses.
I first heard that attributed to Ty Cobb and batting average back when Brown was still playing.
Darren Sproles - 5’6", 181
Warrick Dunn 5’9", 180
Brian Westbrook 5’8", 200
Tiki Barber 5’10" 200
Danny Woodhead 5’7" 200
Walter Payton may not have had the top speed of some of these guys, but the acceleration and ability to stop-and-go and make cuts were unmatched at the time and probably second only to Barry Sanders all-time.
Bolding mine. I have nothing else to add, really.
You’re probably thinking of another Bears running back. Gale Sayers
Child please. Payton was twice the RB Emmitt Smith ever was.
Seriously, Emmitt couldn’t carry Walter’s jock. I’m not sure Emmitt is even as talented as other lesser Pro Bowl RBs of his era such as Thurman Thomas, Eric Dickerson or Marcus Allen. Emmitt was a compiler who ground out a ton of 6 yard runs in which he wasn’t touched for the first 3. He was basically Hank Aaron, not the greatest hitter of all time but a guy that lasted long enough and was consistently good enough to get the record, never really great though.
Furthermore, Emmitt and Walter’s running styles and body types are nothing alike so the comparison doesn’t even hold in that vein.
Exactly. He was already unusually strong for his size. Imagine if he had another 30 pounds of muscle on his frame, he’d be just as fast and a tank. I don’t know if he’d be as dominant as he was then, for the same reason that there aren’t any more .400 hitters…everyone is so much better, it would be that much more difficult for a player to be than much better than the defense. But he’d be among the top players in the league.
[QUOTE= He was basically Hank Aaron, not the greatest hitter of all time but a guy that lasted long enough and was consistently good enough to get the record, never really great though.
Furthermore, Emmitt and Walter’s running styles and body types are nothing alike so the comparison doesn’t even hold in that vein.[/QUOTE]
Hank Aaron never great? I guess we can ignore the rest of your comment.