ROBERT JANIS The Washington Times - July 7, 2008, 08:30AM

 

Total Yards Rushing: 7,472

Total TDs: 85

Total Receptions: 121

Total Yards Receiving: 928

2 Times All Pro (1975, 1983)

NFL 80s All Decade Team

MVP Super Bowl XVII

NFL Comeback Player of the Year: 1978

Pro Football Hall of Fame

 

 

 

Final Selection

 

So taking into account the stats, the honors/awards and having seen each one play, here is my selection of the best Redskins running backs in order:

 

John Riggins — It really couldn’t be anyone else. Watching that touchdown run against the Dolphins to win a Super Bowl is enough to make him #1.

Larry Brown — The stats prove it, the awards prove it and his running style proves it. He could have played for a few more years if George Allen didn’t over use him. 

Steven Davis — No doubt a surprise to you. Definitely a surprise to me. But his stats make him worthy — yards and touchdowns — and he went on to prove himself with another team — Carolina Panthers.  I don’t think Turner and Marty knew how to use him. And Spurrier let him go for a guy name, what? Trunge Candidate??

Clinton Portis — His numbers are good and he’s still playing. And he’s a good team leader. I think he keeps things lose in the locker room. I just wish that he could add a Super Bowl to his resume.

Ernest Byner — I debated placing Byner third or fourth. After all he did help us reach and win a Super Bowl. 

 

And let’s give a nod to some of the “fill in” backs — the guys who played between Brown and Riggins — say, like Mike Thomas. We also had a couple of one year wonders like Reggie Brooks that I just can’t shake from my memory. 

 

Mike Thomas (1975 - 1978)

 

Total Yards Rushing: 3359

 

 

Reggie Brooks (1993 - 1995)

 

1993   Total Yards Rushing: 1069

1994   Total Yards Rushing:   297

1995   Total Yards Rushing:     -2

 

Runner Up for rookie of the year in 1993

All Rookie Team 1993                                  

First Redskins Rookie to gain over 1,000 yards

 

But a special place in my memory goes to Dickie James. I used to say that if he was just one step faster …   And not only was he a running back, he was also a receiver, defensive back, and punt and kick off returner. He was truly a work horse for those Redskins teams that played in the late ‘50s into the early ‘60s. And he was responsible for us getting Sam Huff. Dickie James was part of the deal that got Sam Huff from the New York Giants to the Redskins.