Who is your All-Time Favorite Patriots 'Back'

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Who is your favorite RB/FB/HB in Patriots history?

 

[bakes781]

Curtis Martin

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

My last post about favorite Linebacker was very intriguing because there were so many different point of views and thanks to those who participated..This one is about Patriots 'backs'

I had to use #10 for several guys because you are only alloted 10 spots - if you choose #10 please indicate whom of that bunch or someone else I missed like Vagas Ferguson or Marion Butts

Personally I loved Craig James when he was in his prime,The guy would be like a bulldozer thru the middle of the D - He's My Favorite

 

[ironwasp]

A tough choice between Dillon, Martin and Craig James.

Curtis Martin was terrific to watch and conducted himself well. James I really enjoyed in that first Superbowl season.

But Dillon's one great year, plus the hustling power runner style that he has and I love pushes him right over the top.

Soft spots also for Kevin Faulk, Antowain Smith and Robert Edwards.

 

[DarrylS]

Gotta go with Sam Bam Cunningham.. Curtis Martin is probably second fave, but he defected to NY.

 

[sparrow]

Martin was, and is still today, the most talented RB that I've personally seen on this team. Although I'm sure they're very good, James and Cunningham were before my time and I'd have to be pretty lucky to find footage of them these days so I can't really speak on them. Dillon would be my second choice. Hopefully Maroney vaults them all.

 

[upstater1]

Cunningham. He's still the best Patriot RB.

Craig James looked the best for a single season. That's not enough longevity. He used to slice people up, and moved through the line like it was made out of butter.

Curtis Martin would have been the best had he stayed. He wasn't as talented as James, but he's had outstanding longevity (albeit for another team), and he's the best RB out of the bunch (for another team). Martin made a huge bonehead error by moving on to the NY Jets.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Had to go with Cunningham.


Martin is talented but he defected to the worst organization in all of sports.

 

[Gopats!!!]

I would have to say Dillon. He kicked butt and set records when he was here.

I can't stand martin and while I know about the other players I never saw them play.

 

[BadMoFo]

As much as I like my Pats, this is a pretty mediocre looking list of backs. Seems like most of our backs, other than say Cunninngham and Nance, were only known for one or maybe two good years and then tailed off.

I think Martin would have been without a doubt the best on this list, if he would have stuck around, as would have Robert Edwards, if not for his injury. As much as I should say Cunningham or Nance, the question asked for MY all-time favorite, and the only one I've seen for an extended period of time is Faulk. Hopefully, Maroney will overtake him with time.

 

[patsfan13]

San Bam was my fav, with Jim Nance second, a lot of you didn't see Nance but he was a very good back.

 

[jagkho]

How about Mack Herron? For a couple of years in the early 70's he was about as electrifying as any back --- plus he was something like 5'5'' which made him even more fun to watch.

 

[upstater1]

As much as I like my Pats, this is a pretty mediocre looking list of backs. Seems like most of our backs, other than say Cunninngham and Nance, were only known for one or maybe two good years and then tailed off.

I think Martin would have been without a doubt the best on this list, if he would have stuck around, as would have Robert Edwards, if not for his injury. As much as I should say Cunningham or Nance, the question asked for MY all-time favorite, and the only one I've seen for an extended period of time is Faulk. Hopefully, Maroney will overtake him with time.

You could say the same thing about Craig James that you said about Martin or Edwards. If it weren't for James' bad shoulders, he would have been the best back in Patriots' history.

Look at the YPC during his heyday:

| 1984 nwe | 15 | 160 790 4.9 1 | 22 159 7.2 0 |
| 1985 nwe | 16 | 263 1227 4.7 5 | 27 360 13.3 2 |

Mind you, he was platooning during these years. He wasn't carrying the ball by himself. The Patriots were running multiple backs, but when James was in there, he was ripping 5 yards a carry. In all my years of watching the Patriots (since mid 1970s) I have NEVER seen any other Patriot back do that for over the course of a full season.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Martin. I didn't start watching the Pats until 93 and he's the best I've seen on this team's roster in that time.

 

[PromisedLand]

Most talented backs in Patriots history:

Dillon (tie)
Martin (tie)
Nance

Most liked backs in Patriots history (by me):

Dillon - because he helped us win a Super Bowl and set our single season running record in the process
Sam Bam - because he has the coolest nickname
Nance - because he was the first very good to great back we had - 2x AFL rushing leader
A. Smith - a loveable goofball who helped us reach the Promised Land for the very first time.

Close misses:

Martin - who would have been a fave if he hadn't chosen tuna over New England clam chowder.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

You could say the same thing about Craig James that you said about Martin or Edwards. If it weren't for James' bad shoulders, he would have been the best back in Patriots' history.

Look at the YPC during his heyday:

| 1984 nwe | 15 | 160 790 4.9 1 | 22 159 7.2 0 |
| 1985 nwe | 16 | 263 1227 4.7 5 | 27 360 13.3 2 |

Mind you, he was platooning during these years. He wasn't carrying the ball by himself. The Patriots were running multiple backs, but when James was in there, he was ripping 5 yards a carry. In all my years of watching the Patriots (since mid 1970s) I have NEVER seen any other Patriot back do that for over the course of a full season.

Like I said I loved Craig James and he is by far my favorite back but you could also give credit to a guy he often ran behind to get those 5 yards a clip - His name was John Alan "Hog" Hannah,The absolute BEST OL in our time and will probably always be considred the best.

 

[Juicy J]

Curtis Martin. Too bad he went to the Jets

 

[italian pat patriot]

Sam Bam Cunningham

i loved too Craig James and Mosi Tatupu

 

[fgssand]

How about Mack Herron? For a couple of years in the early 70's he was about as electrifying as any back --- plus he was something like 5'5'' which made him even more fun to watch.

Mini Mack.....awesome guy, great talent - he really knew how to party as well!!

 

[fgssand]

I voted for Dillon because that 2004 season was the most dominating season
I have ever seen from a Patriot back and he led us to a Superbowl.

I have a hunch, Maroney will be the best when all is said and done.