Emmitt says he's not done yet

[Big Country]

Emmitt says he's not done yet

03:45 PM CST on Tuesday, February 1, 2005

By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, vigorously denied reports Tuesday that he was about to announce his retirement.

"Did you see my year last year? Do you think I'm ready to retire?" Smith asked. Smith is here for Super Bowl XXXIX festivities and, Monday night, took part in a dinner honoring past Super Bowl MVPs.

Smith ran for 937 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games in 2004, his second season playing for the Arizona Cardinals. He now has 18,355 career rushing yards in 15 NFL seasons.

One online report Tuesday said Smith would announce his retirement on Wednesday and become part of a group trying to purchase the Minnesota Vikings.

ESPN.com reported an announcement could come as soon as Thursday.

Eugene Parker, Smith's longtime agent, declined comment. Werner Scott, Smith's Dallas-based marketing representative, could not be reached for comment.

Darren Woodson, a close friend of Smith's, said they talked retirement in December when Woodson was making plans to end his 13-year NFL career.

"I sort of knew what was happening, but I didn't know it would come this soon," Woodson said. "Emmitt Smith epitomizes success and a professional attitude. He's had a great career and accomplished everything a player would want."

[TheHustler]

IF he played 2 more years he could get to 20k yards and that record would be almost untouchable.

[Novacek84]

I think he should go out gracefully now. Don't be Jerry Rice who thinks it's his birthright to play forever and hang on for no reason. That is an embarassment.

[dewey]

I think he should go out gracefully now.
So, agree. He had a good season last year, maybe it's best to leave on a positive note. It's always sad to see someone who was the best at his position, slowly become a joke because they refuse to acknowledge their playing days have passed.

[LA=Pancakemaker]

Its time to hang em up!!!

[SuspectCorner]

what a shocking development <he deadpanned>.

[jimmy40]

I think he should go out gracefully now. Don't be Jerry Rice who thinks it's his birthright to play forever and hang on for no reason. That is an embarassment.Embarrassment to who?

[Novacek84]

Rice is embarrasing himself IMO. Obviously he's not the player he once was. It's uncomfortable to watch.

[jimmy40]

Rice is embarrasing himself IMO. Obviously he's not the player he once was. It's uncomfortable to watch.It was a lot more uncomfortable to watch when he was kicking our ***. Rice should play as long as somebody will pay him. Why not? He's earned that right I believe.

[Novacek84]

Fair enough. I'm just not from the school who believes you play as long as someone will pay you. That's not what it should be about. I like to remember the stars as contributors not hangers on that's all.

[mr.jameswoods]

People act like Emmitt had a break out year last season when in reality he didn't. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry and started 15 out of 16 games. Emmitt had 267 carries last year. How is this so different from his final season in Dallas;the same season ending performance that led to his being cut?

[CoCo1]

I have never understood those who act as if it is THEIR right to decide when a player should retire.

If Emmitt or Rice choose to play on I'll still be every bit their fan (well, ok, not Rice) that I've always been.

Are we gonna diss them when they die too and thereby burst our dream that they were immortal?

[mr.jameswoods]

I think he should go out gracefully now. Don't be Jerry Rice who thinks it's his birthright to play forever and hang on for no reason. That is an embarassment.

I don't agree. Teams are not hiring Rice and Emmitt out of charity, they still feel they have something to offer. I don't like Emmitt as a starter but he would be a great situational runner the way Marcus Allen was for the Chiefs when it came to goal line situations. Jerry had some big games this year as well as Emmitt.

The difference between Rice and Emmitt is that Rice can accept that he isn't a starter in any longer. He can accept the 3rd receiver spot as long as he is thrown to on occassion. Emmitt thinks he is a feature RB. And he wouldn't have gotten that position if the Cardinals were not so hungry to fill seats in Tempe. 935 yards is not bad but it isn't great either especially considerin his ypc was 3.5 which is lower than the 3.8 he had in his final year in Dallas.

[Banned_n_austin]

Isn't this forum for Dallas Cowboys related topics???

[cowboyeric8]

Hey I'm all about Emmitt playing as long as he can while he can still produce somewhat. Just as long as we can see one of the greatest running backs of all time play, even just for those occasional glimpes of his old self. I hate seeing guys retire, especially the really great ones like Irvin, Troy, and heck even Moose. I hope Emmitt keeps playing but not for Eagles, Redskins, Giants, Niners, Steelers just to name a few. Go get em Emmitt

[jobberone]

Let's see. On one hand we have (presumably) an owner paying out 2mil for you to play and you want to.

As long as I wasn't totally embarassing myself I'd take the 2mil and run, no pun intended, to the bank with it.

On second thought I wouldn't care if I embarrassed myself that much and I would have my limo driver/bodyguard take me to my bank if I were Emmitt.

I forgot any other thoughts after I typed 2 million.

[Waffle]

If Emmitt really wants to play, I think market forces should dictate whether he should retire or not. If a team is willing to offer him a contract and a role that he is willing to accept (monetarily and playing wise), then I think there's nothing wrong with him continuing his NFL career.

After seeing Eddie George play last season, maybe HE should be the guy who contemplates retirement. Although his skills have declined with age, Emmitt Smith last season almost looked like Priest Holmes in comparison. ;)

[CowboysFan02]

I don't think Emmitt is embarassing himself, he is still puting up respectable numbers. Escpially for as many miles as he has on the tires. Granted he needs to accept he is not the feature back anymore, but he still has gas in the tank and tread on the tires I say he has every right to keep on trucking. He also brings other things to a team then his running ability such as leadership, the abilty to mentor a younger player and so on.

[Aikmaniac]

If Emmitt came back here, do you guys think the relationship between him and JJ would be similar to Tony D. and Herschel? Tony was always a class act but thought along the same lines of Emmitt thinking he wasn't done and didn't need to backup the young, budding Herschel Walker.

[lspain1]

I will admit to some hero worship here. Emmitt has always been a great competitor and a class act. The memories he gave us really shine. The fact that he and the Cowboys had to part company is truly unfortunate. So who would you rather have, EG or ES as a backup?