Earl Campbell: Today's RBs 'look like they're average'...

CANTON, Ohio -- Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell is waiting for the next dominant running back to step up, but he's not holding his breath.

"I think it's because the way the game has changed, to where all of them just look like they're average backs because they pass the ball so much," Campbell told Around the League on Friday. "I don't think there's a runner in pro football you could say was like a Jim Brown."

Campbell, who ran for 9,407 yards in eight seasons with Houston Oilers and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], pointed to a dearth of backs who can wear down the clock in the final minutes of a game. He specifically talked about teams falling victim to quarterbacks like Peyton and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] because offenses can't seal games on the ground.

"You want a running back that can take that ball and just continually -- three, two yards -- keep it away from Eli," Campbell said. "It's all a quarterback game now."

Campbell doesn't blame today's runners. It's the pass-happy systems they exist in, something he didn't confront on the same scale. Campbell acknowledged he was happy to play at a time (from 1978 to 1985) when featured backs dominated the NFL. Today's runners tread a thornier road to Canton.

The fighters of the 80's on up wouldnt have been able to last 3 rounds with them, and I am not just talking about the heavyweights, sugar ray Robinson, Lenard, Duran, Boom,Boom Mancini, the list goes on and on.

Today's defenses are so fast, so big, and strong those old runningbacks wouldn't have gotten out of the back field. Boxing is boxing and has steadily gone down hill for years now.

Those two guys wouldn't even be able to compete, they'd be over powered by today's players. Those guys had mass body fat and not much muscle and no speed. Terry Bradshaw wouldn't make an NFL roster today.

Dmounts wrote:Those two guys wouldn't even be able to compete, they'd be over powered by today's players. Those guys had mass body fat and not much muscle and no speed. Terry Bradshaw wouldn't make an NFL roster today.

As I said.... It's subjective. Your opinion holds no more validity than mine or anyone else's. Seeing as it is impossible to put them on the field at the same time... it is just food for fodder. Maybe you should also see that I used two examples that would be punished for playing ball under TODAY'S rules. It was not about better. I still stand behind the fact that Those guys were tuffer... period. They HAD to be. Rules for contact were FAR easier than today. However, I did say today's players are bigger, stronger and faster. Would that NOT equate to them being more productive in playing football?