Thomas Jones ranks #25 on the All-Time Rushing List (1 Viewer)

[guderian]

OK, not really shocked, but still an interesting history lesson. I remember some rather heated debates on these boards nearly a decade ago about these two players and saw that Jones had passed 10k rushing yards (10,113) and looked up his ranking and was surprised to see him at #25. During his first 3 years in Arizona his 1,264 yards and 3.5 YPC combined with losing his starting job to Marcel Shipp were reasons for writing him off. Now, if he manages just 1,124 more yards he'll pass OJ Simpson for #18. Similarly, "Fragile" Fred Taylor has 11,695 yards and is ranked #15. No one ever doubted his talent, but between his 2nd and 4th years he missed 23 games. I guess that goes to show how injuries really can be fluky and situation can be incredibly important.

 

[TommyGilmore]

More games played per season + better health + more teams (allowing for players to extend their careers).

 

[Sam Quentin]

TJ had some surgery on his chest IIRC

 

[FUBAR]

More games played per season + better health + more teams (allowing for players to extend their careers).

Not so much for Taylor - Fred ranks #21 yards per game.Very much the case for Jones as he's #66.

 

[Koya]

Fred is one of the more underated players ever. His string of bad, early career injuries gave him the monicker "Fragile Fred" from which he never escaped although he played 10 seasons of 10 or more games including a 7 year stretch where he was 13 games or more for 6 of those years, the other being an 11 game season.

He never quite had the ridiculous burst after his third season, but was still a very, very good back for a long time - just played so far out of the spotlight only fantasy players who got burned really paid attention.

 

[Nero]

Fred is one of the more underated players ever. His string of bad, early career injuries gave him the monicker "Fragile Fred" from which he never escaped although he played 10 seasons of 10 or more games including a 7 year stretch where he was 13 games or more for 6 of those years, the other being an 11 game season.He never quite had the ridiculous burst after his third season, but was still a very, very good back for a long time - just played so far out of the spotlight only fantasy players who got burned really paid attention.

I alway thought of Taylor as a big Barry Sanders. Over 220lbs and about as shifty as they come with home run speed. I believe he is the top talent of his era.

 

[massraider]

Fred is one of the more underated players ever. His string of bad, early career injuries gave him the monicker "Fragile Fred" from which he never escaped although he played 10 seasons of 10 or more games including a 7 year stretch where he was 13 games or more for 6 of those years, the other being an 11 game season.He never quite had the ridiculous burst after his third season, but was still a very, very good back for a long time - just played so far out of the spotlight only fantasy players who got burned really paid attention.

I alway thought of Taylor as a big Barry Sanders. Over 220lbs and about as shifty as they come with home run speed. I believe he is the top talent of his era.

Right on. If things had gone a bit better for Fred in the league, there might be best ever discussion. He was the complete package.

 

[guderian]

More games played per season + better health + more teams (allowing for players to extend their careers).

I would dispute the "extended careers" argument because Jones rushed for 1402 yards last year with a 4.2 YPC, so that doesn't come across to me as a meaningless extension of his career. He also had 896 yards in a tandem this year in KC. I still think that anyone that had predicted he'd have 10,000+ yards back when he was at Arizona would have been banned from this board. I agree with the comments about Fred Taylor--a 4.6 career YPC is stellar.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

TJ had some surgery on his chest IIRC

What size are his boobs now?

 

[Todem]

Fred Taylor was a great player no doubt. Injuries robbed him of that freakish burst he had coming out of college. But Freddy was a warrior.

Thomas Jones is a blue collar back. Always respected that guy in how he overcame a shaky early start to his career. He really turned things around in Chicago. Great locker room and practice field guy. Always carries himself like a pro.