Record Yds.: 16,726 Emmitt's Yds.: 16,313 Yds. to Record: 414 Most people don't like the Dallas Cowboys. I understand. I normally don't like teams like them either, but 15 years in Dallas made me a fan. However, I don't see how anyone can't like Emmitt Smith. He is professionalism defined. If anyone deserves the record it's him (or Barry Sanders, but hey, noone forced him to retire). Not only that, but in this world of glory chasing free agents, Emmitt has decided to see out his days and break the record while wearing blue and silver. He could do it quicker and easier somewhere else, not to mention also play for a more competitive team. But I think Emmitt understands the concept of loyalty, and knows what it will mean to the fans and the organisation that has meant so much to his career. You have to respect that. Only 414 to go.
taking off your helmet in the endzone right after you score a TD I wouldn't call that professionalism.
Yea, but he's not and he can't blame anyone but himself. Total speculation. And I'm with you on the helmet thing. That was lame. But Emmitt Smith, overall, is a great guy. His charity work is absolutely outstanding. And he understands the word "loyalty".
If it happens, it happens, but I'm not too enthused about anyone breaking Walter's record. I was bummed enough when Corey Dillon broke the 275-yards-in-one-game record.
Yeah me either,Corey Dillon is a jackass.Walter Payton left it all on the field every single time he played.I think I would've rather seen Sanders break it just because he's not a Cowboy.
Barry Sanders would be at 25,000 if he had the offensive line that Emmitt ran behind in the 1990s. Emmitt, frankly, can not touch Barry's jock as a running back. And, if you witness the sorry state of the Lions franchise it will become readily apparent just how brilliant the guy was. He was less than one season away from breaking the all-time record, still in his prime, and he walks away from the game. Emmitt is way past his prime and merely sticking it out to break the record. Compare ego to ego and Emmitt wins, but on the field Barry was incomparable.
If Barry Sanders did not want the record(or else he would not retire when he could have played more and break the record), I don't think that Emmitt Smith should be blamed.
Lets slow down with the 'Barry just walked away' talk.....Barry was sick and tired of playing for the Lions and REFUSED to play....wanted to be traded or released from his contract.....Lions told him to take a leap......I suppose he could have come back after his contract did officially expire...but, I guess the man got used to playing golf...... On the Emmitt topic though......all records are going to be broken, but its a shame to see sweetness lose this one...
Barry Sanders is the best running back I have ever seen. Oh we're talking about Emmit? He's pretty decent.
A typical Barry Sanders game: 1 carry for 43 yards. 1 carry for 35 yards. The other 23 carries for 20 yards. He had a lot of flash but the Lions couldn't count on him for consistency. Emmit on the other hand could get 4-5 yards on just about every carry, whether the hole was there or not.
see Ian's point about the crappy Lions offensive line. He had a total of 2 good lineman in his time there....Lomas Brown and Kevin Glover....and Brown left after '95. And if that was a typical Barry Sanders game, wouldn't that be, by definition, consistent?
Having had the joy of watching Walter in his prime and Barry in his (I moved to Detroit in 84), I can sum it up. Walter could do everything. Absolutely everything. He's still the Bears all-time leading receiver. (Runner, too, of course.) He was their 3rd string quarterback and backup punter his entire career. He was the best blocking running back who ever lived. His stiff-arm was nastier than Marvin Hagler, and he made defenders fear him. Barry...with Barry, you held your breath every time he touched the ball. Nobody had a higher "holy ***************" quotient than Barry Sanders. The only other back I've seen with moves like that was Gale Sayers. Gringo's right, though, in that if I was at 3rd and goal from the 4, I'd rather have Emmitt than Barry. 'Course, I'd rather have Walter than either one, as he could high-jump the line of scrimmage from the 6 and land in the end zone. And Barry's father says that Jim Brown was the greatest football player who ever lived.
ok first off, I don't mean to ruin this thread, all props to Emmitt for getting the record when he does. but just for comparison, I think we'll all agree that the Cowboys had a far better offensive line. but anyway... Barry Sanders 1989 - 1,470 yards (5.2 per carry) 1990 - 1,304 yards (5.1 per carry) 1991 - 1,548 yards (4.5 per carry) 1992 - 1,352 yards (4.3 per carry) 1993 - 1,115 yards (4.6 per carry) 1994 - 1,883 yards (5.7 per carry) 1995 - 1,400 yards (4.8 per carry) 1996 - 1,553 yards (5.1 per carry) 1997 - 2,053 yards (6.1 per carry) 1998 - 1,491 yards (4.3 per carry) Barry played 10 seasons and averaged over 5 yards per carry in 5 of those seasons and never less than 4 yards per carry. He also scored 99 touchdowns, 9 per season, despite not being used near the goal line. Barry lead the league in rushing 4 times and was second 3 other times. He was always in the top 5 in rushing. Barry's career stats 15,269 yards - 5.0 yards per carry - 99 touchdowns. 153 games played. Emmitt's career stats 17, 013 yards - 4.2 yards per carry - 148 touchdowns. 187 games played. ###althought htis can't be right, can it? this was taken from espn.com ??????? So if Barry would played he would be near 19,000 right now, in all likelihood.
Isn't this kind of like pinch-hitting for your cleanup hitter when there are runners on base? I agree Barry was the better pure runner. But Emmit was the better total package. Don't forget he was probbaly also the best pass-blocking running back ever.
Yeah, it's so cute how Emmit keeps all his TD balls. I wish, just once, some Washington defender would snatch the ball from him and chuck it into the stands at FedEx Field, never to be seen again. Some better backs than Emmit Smith (in no particular order): Barry Sanders Jim Brown Gale Sayers Walter Payton Eric Dickerson Earl Campbell O.J. Simpson Franco Harris
I am of the opinion that Emmitt Smith is to be blamed. He is obviously an ego driven athlete, who unlike B.Sanders, does not respect men like Payton. Sanders may have broken every record ever had he run behind the Cowboys early 90's line. I get sick everytime I see Smith, the fraud, on TV gaining 1 yard a carry. This has just become a record about longevity, not about talent.
3 Super Bowl Rings Super Bowl MVP NFL MVP Four-time NFL Rushing Champion NFL Rookie of the Year NFL Records All-time Leading Rusher (to come) Most Rushing Touchdowns (career) -- 148 Most Rushing Touchdowns (season) -- 25 Most Rushing Touchdowns (Super Bowl) -- 5 Most Rushing Touchdowns (postseason) -- 19 Most Touchdowns (postseason) -- 21 Most Points (postseason) -- 126 Most Games with 100+ Yards Rushing (postseason) -- 7 Most Consecutive and Total 1000 Yard Seasons -- 11 Keep babbling, Mr. Cowboy-envy.
Hey GringoTex, I remember the mid 90's too. Any chance that any of those feats you mentioned happened since 1997?
As much as I love Barry and really hate most things about the Cowboys, this is utter crap. If Emmitt has no respect for men like Payton, what the hell was he doing appearing at a tribute to Walter with the Payton family and tearing up when talking about Sweetness? And while Cowboys OLs were far superior to the Lions', I don't believe Barry was the kind of RB that helped you win games. Emmitt was perfect for the Cowboy system, and every time Dallas failed to make the Super Bowl in the mid-90s, Emmitt was injured or not playing at 100% health. Yes, Barry was the more spectacular runner, but Emmitt made Aikman look good.
I'm sorry, I know we're not supposed to get personal, but you sir, are a f*#king idiot. How do you get Emmitt Smith NOT respecting Payton?? Because he's going to break the record?? Are you saying that if he did respect him, he shouldn't even try to break it? To let it stand out of respect to Payton?? If so...well, I wouldn't even know where to start. And please, for the love of God, tell me how Emmitt Smith is a fraud. You're obviously a Cowboy hater who is just spitting out vitriol with no arguments to back it. Yea, Emmitt is running around a yard a carry now. You know why?? BECAUSE THE COWBOYS OFFENSIVE LINE SUCKS NOW...and unless I'm halucinating, that's the same reason everybody feels sorry for Barry Sanders. Walter Payton's son said at the aformentioned ceremony, that there is noone that he would rather see break his dad's record than Emmitt Smith. Take that for what you will. Although I'm sure you'll misinterpret it somehow.
Tearing up?? I can tear up for you in seconds if you want. I thought Emmitt looked very Clinton-ish at that tribute. Sanders showed his respect for Payton by quiting right before the record. When it is all said and done, people will remember the class of Sanders more than some old man rushing for 1 yard a carry to break Payton's record. It is sickening to witness.
Sanders quit because he didn't won't to honor his Lions contract. He demanded a trade and the Lions refused. That's why he retired.
What we have here foks, is a BarrySanders-troll. People just take records too seriously. If Emmitt has more yards than Walter, then why the hell shouldn't he have it? Why does it matter how he got there? That said, I believe Cowboys would be better off giving more carries to Hambrick.
If that is the case - how to do you explain Troy Hambrick outplaying Emmitt in every game for the last year and a half. Face it - Emmitt is past his prime and should retire. Right now he is going the way of Unitas, Montana, and others who played past their prime and looked downright average.