RaZon
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Nope.. because Gore scored a lot fewer TDs than most of those guys... and helped his team win zero championships and was never much of a receiver.. He never led the NFL in rushing and was only top 5 once.. So no he cannot rank ahead of guys who were more dominant just because he played longer. However Emmitt not only played longer but he was dominant for a 6-7 year stretch.. including multiple championship runs.. Again.. I grade the whole football player.. I put it all into the equation.. Rushing yards, receiving yards, TDs, time leading the league .. and yes.. longevity must be included. And the fact that Emmitt and Payton were the only ones on this list who were A level blockers just seals it. Football players.. Period.
The "Barry had a weak line" story is as tired as it is inaccurate.. Barry didn't hit the hole when they opened them. That's why he was escorted to the sideline in short yardage and goal line situations. That's the main reason he scored FIFTY FEWER RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS than Emmitt did. I suspect not being asked to bang it in on three tries from the 5 yard line also helped keep his average high. His running style was wonderful to watch.. but most of his linemen found it hell to block for. You keep harping on yards per carry.. Would you trade a higher yards per carry for 50% more touchdowns? Most coaches would.. I certainly would as well. YMMV. On a side note, Barry's best season came when Bobby Ross put him in the I and ran him on more traditional power run plays instead of all that run n shoot shotgun draw business. Barry was great at it.. But it came at a price.. I believe those two seasons were the two highest carry totals of his career. He took a beating running inside that much.. and I think that as much as anything helped him decide to hang 'em up. He didn't have the same desire as some other backs did.. So he quit.. I am not inclined to lionize (no pun intended) for that.
Forget....championship runs.....yes the Cowboys were better than the Lions. Not talking the Cowboys,
Barry was a 6 time all pro, Emmitt 4, Barry a 10 time pro bowler, Emmitt 7, and Barry played in far less seasons.
So you take Emmitt over everyone because he had more yards/TD's but that doesn't work for Gore or anyone else, really?
What is it about....Emmitt Smith played longer, had more carries than everyone else that is why he has more yards/TD.....you aren't getting? Give any of the greats 4000 carries and see what they do since all of them averaged more a carry than Emmitt.
ONE MORE TIME,....saw Emmitt many times he isn't as impressive as those I listed above him, hell, or,,,Gale Sayers. Hell give Sayers 4000 carries, whoa!!!!!
Seen a lot of football my man, hell saw Emmitt at Florida, I know what I am looking at, ok?
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