7. Marshall Faulk -- The all-time greatest receiving threat out of the backfield. Can run from scrimmage, or line up on the flank or in the slot, where he runs down the seam and puts the tackler in an impossible one-on-one situation. Adds many hours to a defensive coordinator's work week, since the opposition is constantly forced to readjust to his location on the field.

8. Eric Dickerson -- So graceful, so smooth ... a glider who made an eight-yard gain out of what looked like plus-2. Probably had more walkover touchdowns than any back in history.

9. Tony Dorsett -- Small and shockingly fast. Could he last in the heavy-duty world of the NFL? The question was answered early, when he backed up his dashing runs with strength and toughness. Gave the Cowboys 11 quality years.

10. Gale Sayers -- A darting dragonfly in the open field, catching passes or running sweeps. Excelled on kick returns, too, with the league's all-time best career average of 30.6 yards.

11. Earl Campbell -- Smacked into the line with an amazing takeoff for a 240-pounder. Played too tough for his body, and at 29 he was through. On one legendary goal line play against Oakland, he took a kill shot to the head from The Assassin, Jack Tatum, continued into the end zone and collapsed. "The man scored a touchdown while he was unconscious," Raiders strong safety George Atkinson said.

12. Marion Motley -- My favorite fullback. People remember the Motley who came into the NFL at age 30, on two bad knees, but for the four years before that he terrorized the AAFC, averaging 8.2 yards a carry in his first season. An early size-and-speed back, 232 pounds in his prime and fast. Played some situation linebacker on defense and was the greatest pass blocker I ever saw. "Motley takes the romance out of the blitz," Weeb Ewbank once said.