ProFootballTalk.com's Top 25 In 25

No. 5 Barry Sanders.

Remember all that stuff we said about Dan Marino not being any higher than No. 9 because he never won a Super Bowl?  That doesn't apply to the No. 5 guy on our list.

His teams could have never won a single game, and yet we'd still give Barry Sanders a high spot on this list.  He was the greatest, most dynamic, most instinctive, most exciting running back we've ever seen.  The only thing that keeps him at No. 5 is that he walked away from the game too soon.

We've never seen anyone like him, and no running back in the game today (or since his departure) can mimic his style. 

The most amazing thing about Sanders is that his off-field demeanor was the exact opposite of his between-the-lines sizzle.  He never spiked the ball, he never danced, he never caused any trouble.

Except for opposing defenses.

Selfishly, we wish he wouldn't have left the game so early.  In fact, we think the only guy who's glad he did is Emmitt Smith, who otherwise would not be the all-time NFL leading rusher right now if Barry hadn't walked away.

Barry, we don't know whether you have any kids.  But we hope that if you don't already have a son, you'll father five or ten of them, in the hopes that, someday, we'll get to enjoy watching you do your thing all over again.

Click here for  No. 4.