No question, Faulk was the greatest

By Steve Reynolds  |   Tuesday, March 27, 2007  |  Comments( 11 )

St. Louis Rams
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The comparisons were inevitable.

Now that Marshall Faulk has taken his final bow and we have a complete picture of his career, we can ask that question: Was he the best dual-threat running back of all-time?

In a discussion of this type, we would be remiss in not mentioning another running back who immediately comes to mind when thinking of the best among backs who could run and catch, the venerable Thurman Thomas.

When answering the question of which the better multidimensional back was, former Redskins QB Joe Theismann explained, "Thomas gets the edge because he went to four Super Bowls and without him that Bills team isn't nearly as good. Not to say that the Rams were a great team without Faulk, but Thomas was more of the engine than Faulk was."

Now granted, I realize no one normally pays any attention to Theismann's opinions, but the fact that a so-called "expert" would make such a rationalization is as surprising as its supposed "logic" is irrelevant.

First, whether Thomas meant more to his team than Faulk is purely subjective. Secondly, even if the initial statement were true (and it's not), why would it matter? Both running backs were tremendous assets to their teams, the question is, Which was the better multidimensional RB and therefore the best back of this type all-time? The answer, without hesitation:

Marshall Faulk.

And really, it's not even close.

You can draw many comparisons between the two men. Both were similar in stature and former league MVPs. Faulk wrought havoc in the playoffs; and Thomas, when he could find his helmet, was likewise generally superb in the postseason.

One could further scrutinize the two players' records, in that Thomas had four Super Bowl appearance to Faulk's two, Faulk has one ring while Thomas generally fared poorly in the big game (the exception being SB XXV, where, despite the loss, Thomas should have been named MVP), etc.

However, there are much broader discrepancies that can be pointed out when comparing the two, not the least of which lies in the latter of the two main criteria, the RB's ability as a receiver. These are:

- Thomas could find the endzone but never had more than 13 total touchdowns in any season, while Faulk once broke the league record, scoring 26 in a single year. Both men's careers are similar concerning length of time spent in the league, but Faulk had 136 TDs to Thomas' total of 88.

- In Thomas' three best seasons with the Bills he averaged 4.8 yards per carry, while during the "Greatest Show on Turf" years, Faulk averaged an amazing 5.4 per rush.

- Faulk was easily the superior pass catcher, posting many seasons where he exceeded 700 yards receiving (once even topping 1,000) while Thomas' most prolific season catching the ball was 1989, when he collected 669 yards. In his career catching the ball, Faulk amassed 6,875 yards, good for most receiving yards ever for a running back, while Thomas finished his career a distant second with 4,458.

Some could also make a case for another league MVP, San Francisco's running back of the 1980s, Roger Craig. Although a talented receiver and gifted player, Craig was never the pure rusher that Thomas and Faulk were, gathering a little over 8,000 yards on the ground in his career, while Faulk and Thomas exceeded 12,000.

There are also Faulk's contemporaries, such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Steven Jackson, who one day may need to be factored into this equation. But for now, Faulk must be considered the best dual-purpose back of any era. Faulk won three consecutive offensive MVP awards and there are no other backs who could also have lined up at the receiver position, and excelled, the way Faulk did. Number 28 could have been a starting wide receiver in the league, and few, if any, running backs could claim that.

Faulk was no small part of a Rams franchise that in the years before his arrival was a league-wide embarrassment. He was an integral part of the legendary "Greatest Show on Turf," transforming the Rams from NFL chumps into champions. His exceptional ability held the league spellbound, while his intellect and class earned him their admiration. Faulk's on-field performances delighted Rams fans and NFL fans alike.

We must therefore conclude that Marshall Faulk was the greatest fusion of running and receiving ability ever seen in the National Football League, and we will not see another like him.

Therefore, on behalf of Rams Nation, it's certain the team's fans would like to say one final thing as St. Louis' Marshall rides off into the sunset:

Thank you.

**You can e-mail Steve Reynolds at sreynolds@realfootball365.com.

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