Adrian Peterson 106 yards behind Emmitt at same point in career

[DuceizBak]

I notice only cowboys fans consider Emmit Smith the best running back[no offense]

He was great, i'm not saying he wasn't the best. That's just what i've noticed.

[NJ22]

Never say never with this cat. He is special. I would not be surprised if he retires with the best Single game ever and breaks 300, already leads the way with 296, the best single season with 2200 + and breaks My boy Emmit's record too. Some one said not sure if he is physically superior to Emmitt...really? If you are talking durability alone, I agree, E was one of a kind when it comes to that, but speed, power AND shiftyness goes to AP. I hope 22's record lasts forever, but watching an all time great like AP or AD as they call him get close will be fun.

[coogrfan]

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

There are 19 retired running backs who had at least 1,500 career rushing attempts through their age 27 season (Peterson has 1,754). Here are their rushing totals starting in their age 28 seasons --

8195 Emmitt Smith
7118 Walter Payton
6347 Curtis Martin
5199 Jerome Bettis
5097 Barry Sanders
5003 Eric Dickerson
4508 LaDainian Tomlinson
4443 Thurman Thomas
4219 Marshall Faulk
3655 Ricky Williams
3567 Eddie George
3020 Edgerrin James
2990 Jim Brown
2909 Ottis Anderson
2806 Jamal Lewis
2412 Earl Campbell
2028 Ahman Green
721 Clinton Portis
81 Rodney Hampton


[View Full Quote]Peterson would need to gain 9,506 yards starting in his age 28 season -- 1,311 more than Emmitt, 2,388 more than Payton, 3,159 more than Martin and at least 4,300 more than everyone else, including more than twice as many as Tomlinson.

Really interesting stuff. Imo the most unexpected name on the list is Bettis. Power backs just aren't supposed to last that long.

[slomoxn]

Originally Posted by Arkyvarminter

Yeah, he's definitely better than Emmitt ever was. Emmitt just rubs me the wrong way for some reason. During the football life episode with Barry Sanders, Emmitt came across kind of immature. He says what he done is never enough that people will always debate him vs Barry. Emmitt, no one is debating you vs Barry. That debate Barry wins 99 out of 100 times........

well... I must be 100 cause Emmitt beats Barry for me.

[slomoxn]

Originally Posted by DuceizBak

I notice only cowboys fans consider Emmit Smith the best running back[no offense]

He was great, i'm not saying he wasn't the best. That's just what i've noticed.

Flash over substance in this case. Barry looked good but didn't produce the same and everyone else thinks it was all Emmits oline, they must have missed him running over their linebackers and dbacks.

[Mike_45]

Originally Posted by DuceizBak

I notice only cowboys fans consider Emmit Smith the best running back[no offense]

He was great, i'm not saying he wasn't the best. That's just what i've noticed.

Who would you consider the best?

I am very curious.

[Arkyvarminter]

The Emmitt-vs.-Barry poll

Posted by Mike Florio on July 14, 2011, 7:38 AM EST

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.word...5960.jpg?w=250 Getty ImagesGiven that our post on Barry Sanders’ show of humility regarding the question of whether he was better than Emmitt Smith generated more than 200 comments, it’s fair to say that the issue is one about which more than a few of you care.
So as we embark on another day of waiting for white smoke to slowly rise from a New York chimney, cast your vote on which guy you think was the better player.
In 10 seasons, Sanders made it to the Pro Bowl 10 times, rushing for 15,269 yards. Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, gained 18,355 yards in 15 years.
Which running back was better?



Emmitt Smith 12.76% (2,883 votes)


Barry Sanders 84.28% (19,043 votes)


It's a tie 2.96% (669 votes)


Total Votes: 22,595

[slomoxn]

Originally Posted by Arkyvarminter

The Emmitt-vs.-Barry poll

Posted by Mike Florio on July 14, 2011, 7:38 AM EST

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.word...5960.jpg?w=250 Getty ImagesGiven that our post on Barry Sanders’ show of humility regarding the question of whether he was better than Emmitt Smith generated more than 200 comments, it’s fair to say that the issue is one about which more than a few of you care.
So as we embark on another day of waiting for white smoke to slowly rise from a New York chimney, cast your vote on which guy you think was the better player.
In 10 seasons, Sanders made it to the Pro Bowl 10 times, rushing for 15,269 yards. Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, gained 18,355 yards in 15 years.
Which running back was better?
[View Full Quote]


Emmitt Smith 12.76% (2,883 votes)


Barry Sanders 84.28% (19,043 votes)


It's a tie 2.96% (669 votes)


Total Votes: 22,595

that's all very ininteresting, those stats make Emmitts career seems pedestrian. But Enmitt 3+1 mvp Barry 0. yes Emmitt had a hell of a team but he carried the team more than a few times to or in the super bowl, something Barry's pretty stats will never be accused of. Cowboys fan or no I'll take the work horse over the equestrian show horse.

[IAMKING]

Originally Posted by Arkyvarminter

The Emmitt-vs.-Barry poll

Posted by Mike Florio on July 14, 2011, 7:38 AM EST

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.word...5960.jpg?w=250 Getty ImagesGiven that our post on Barry Sanders’ show of humility regarding the question of whether he was better than Emmitt Smith generated more than 200 comments, it’s fair to say that the issue is one about which more than a few of you care.
So as we embark on another day of waiting for white smoke to slowly rise from a New York chimney, cast your vote on which guy you think was the better player.
In 10 seasons, Sanders made it to the Pro Bowl 10 times, rushing for 15,269 yards. Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, gained 18,355 yards in 15 years.
Which running back was better?
[View Full Quote]


Emmitt Smith 12.76% (2,883 votes)


Barry Sanders 84.28% (19,043 votes)


It's a tie 2.96% (669 votes)


Total Votes: 22,595

Barry was an absolute BEAST

[koolaid]

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

There are 19 retired running backs who had at least 1,500 career rushing attempts through their age 27 season (Peterson has 1,754). Here are their rushing totals starting in their age 28 seasons --

8195 Emmitt Smith
7118 Walter Payton
6347 Curtis Martin
5199 Jerome Bettis
5097 Barry Sanders
5003 Eric Dickerson
4508 LaDainian Tomlinson
4443 Thurman Thomas
4219 Marshall Faulk
3655 Ricky Williams
3567 Eddie George
3020 Edgerrin James
2990 Jim Brown
2909 Ottis Anderson
2806 Jamal Lewis
2412 Earl Campbell
2028 Ahman Green
721 Clinton Portis
81 Rodney Hampton


[View Full Quote]Peterson would need to gain 9,506 yards starting in his age 28 season -- 1,311 more than Emmitt, 2,388 more than Payton, 3,159 more than Martin and at least 4,300 more than everyone else, including more than twice as many as Tomlinson.

I wish you worked for the cowboys as our GM or something.

[tyke1doe]

Originally Posted by DuceizBak

I notice only cowboys fans consider Emmit Smith the best running back[no offense]

He was great, i'm not saying he wasn't the best. That's just what i've noticed.

Michael Wilbon thinks Emmitt was a better back than Barry. I remember him writing a column about it back in the day.

Other non-Cowboys did too.

[CitySlicker202]

Originally Posted by DuceizBak

I notice only cowboys fans consider Emmit Smith the best running back[no offense]

He was great, i'm not saying he wasn't the best. That's just what i've noticed.

You could make the legitimate case that Emmitt Smith wasn't even the best player on the team during the Super Bowl runs. The man ran behind one of the 3 best Offensive Lines of All Time. Those 5 gives upfront made Emmitt who he was.....Period!

You put Barry Sanders behind that 90's Dallas line and the Cowboy probably win 5 Titles during the 90s.

[AdamJT13]

Originally Posted by CitySlicker202

You could make the legitimate case that Emmitt Smith wasn't even the best player on the team during the Super Bowl runs. The man ran behind one of the 3 best Offensive Lines of All Time. Those 5 gives upfront made Emmitt who he was.....Period!

You put Barry Sanders behind that 90's Dallas line and the Cowboy probably win 5 Titles during the 90s.

Or none because Sanders had no heart.

[SultanOfSix]

Originally Posted by CitySlicker202

You could make the legitimate case that Emmitt Smith wasn't even the best player on the team during the Super Bowl runs. The man ran behind one of the 3 best Offensive Lines of All Time. Those 5 gives upfront made Emmitt who he was.....Period!

You put Barry Sanders behind that 90's Dallas line and the Cowboy probably win 5 Titles during the 90s.

It was Nate Newton himself who said "we", as in the offensive line, were nobodies until Emmitt came along.

People forget Emmitt was fantastic at reading, seeing, and hitting the hole. Plus, he was workhorse. Emmitt almost could have had 200 yards in half of a game against Minnesota until he fractured his finger or hand and didn't play the rest of the game. I think it was the week Walter Payton died.

[mldardy]

Originally Posted by Arkyvarminter

The Emmitt-vs.-Barry poll

Posted by Mike Florio on July 14, 2011, 7:38 AM EST

http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.word...5960.jpg?w=250 Getty ImagesGiven that our post on Barry Sanders’ show of humility regarding the question of whether he was better than Emmitt Smith generated more than 200 comments, it’s fair to say that the issue is one about which more than a few of you care.
So as we embark on another day of waiting for white smoke to slowly rise from a New York chimney, cast your vote on which guy you think was the better player.
In 10 seasons, Sanders made it to the Pro Bowl 10 times, rushing for 15,269 yards. Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowler, gained 18,355 yards in 15 years.
Which running back was better?


[View Full Quote]
Emmitt Smith 12.76% (2,883 votes)


Barry Sanders 84.28% (19,043 votes)


It's a tie 2.96% (669 votes)


Total Votes: 22,595

Wow nice you posted a popularity contest article. That's all this is. Of course people are going to pick Barry the majority of the time. We get it shoved down our throats that he could do no wrong:
He was flashy, made people miss,
had nice exciting long runs, had people going goo goo gah gah,
the media kissing his *** at every turn.

What doesn't/NEVER gets talked about are:
His negative rushing yards,
his negative rushing PLAYOFF game,
his quitting on his teammates and retiring right before a season,
the fact that he actually had a good offensive line when most of the media will having you thinking he ran behind 5 Mackenzie Bernadeau's throughout his career.
Having to be taken out when his team's offense got near the goal line.