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Ex-Cowboys WR
Bob Hayes
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Some players have what is known as football speed. Others have track speed. Some have
both. In his prime, Darrell Green may have had the best combination of the two. Jerry
Rice, in his prime, never ran under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash for the stopwatch. Yet
in terms of football speed, he was about a 4.3 guy. On the other hand, Eddie Kennison won
races that made him the NFL’s fastest man in gym shorts. But after he puts the pads
on, he rarely shows that type of speed on the field. With this in mind, we asked NFL
insiders who they believe had the best combination of track and football speed. (List only
includes post-merger players.)
1. Bob Hayes / Cowboys – "World’s fastest man and fastest
football player in his prime."
2. Darrell Green / Redskins — "Nolan Ryan was throwing 100 mph when he
was over 40 (years old), and Green was running sub-4.4 (in the 40) and still running with
all the racehorses."
3. Cliff Branch / Raiders and Mel Gray / Cardinals (tie) —
"Both were diminutive sprinters no defensive back could stay with. If they were close
to even, they were leavin’, and you needed to keep a seven- to 10-yard cushion
against both or else they would eat up your cushion and be by you before you could
react."
5. Bo Jackson / Raiders — "Before his injury, he was the fastest big
man I ever saw. However, he still was more track- than football-fast."
6. Randy Moss / Vikings — "If he trained for it, he could be a
world-class sprinter."
7. Wesley Walker / Jets — "A true jet."
8. Homer Jones / Giants, Browns — "A king-size receiver who could run
like a deer."
9. Deion Sanders / Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins — "Rare playing
speed and excellent but not great track times."
10. Rick Upchurch / Broncos — "Could go from zero to 60 like a race
car."
Others mentioned: Stanley Morgan, Lance Alworth, Isaac Curtis, Willie Gault,
Jimmy Johnson (49ers), Willie Buchanon (Packers; before injury) and Eric Dickerson.
Players with great timed speed who never could get it to translate to the field.
1. Johnny "Lam" Jones / Jets
2. Rocky Thompson / Giants
3. Eddie Kennison / Rams, Saints, Bears, Broncos
4. Larry Burton / Saints
5. Gerald Tinker / Falcons
6. Steve Raible / Seahawks
7. Gaston Green / Rams
8. Randal Hill / Cards, Dolphins
9. Alexander Wright / Cowboys
10. James Williams / Bills |
