Video: 3 minutes of Emmitt Smith highlights

[stuckindc]

When he put the stop and go on Darrel Green!! Loving in DC all their fans would talk about was when Green ran TD down from behind. So when Emmett torched him, it ended their trash talk.

 

[RandyOh]

I know fans of all other NFL teams like to act like the Cowboys O line ran down the field with Smith in there arms because they do anything to belittle anyone who plays for the Cowboys(out of pure jealousy ),but he had supreme balance and vision. Whether they like it or not, Emmitt Smith is an all time great and would have put up elite numbers running for any team.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I honestly believe that Emmitt is the better running back but it most certainly is debatable. Emmitt gets volume, it's that adage "availability is the best ability". It is why he is the "Jerry Rice of RBs" and there is nothing wrong with that.

However, Barry averaged 18.7 more rushing yards per game over both of their careers. As per the receiving comment, Barry actually averaged more receptions, yards, and TD per season than Emmitt so I am not sure where you are getting the catching the ball part. As for TD's, Barry averaged 9.9 per season while Emmitt 10.9 - hardly a "couldn't touch" number.

Right. Of course it is debatable. Any "best ____" is debatable a greatmajority of the time.

I see Emmitt as hitting the holes faster, stronger and more determined. To this day I still feel Barry unnecessarily juked and scrambled up his o-line.

I think it shows in the "I'm just gonna quit" attitude. If ES appears to have been chasing records...well that's the fire that was always inside him...seeing it though.

 

[john van brocklin]

Kind of random but it's the off season and I thought this was cool.

Great, but no need to show the last couple as a Cardinal...

 

[erod]

Emmitt holds all major records because he spent the last four or five years of his career padding his stats. He made no secrets his goal was to break Walter Payton's record. He didn't care much about winning as getting the record.
That's where he lost me a little bit. Also one of the reasons why Bill Parcell didn't want him to play for him. So as far as him holding all the major records I give you that but not the best pure running back.

Every running back would have done that if they could.

First, they weren't even close to being in position to do it later in their career.

Only Emmitt had the longevity to still play at that point. Most couldn't get up out of a chair.

 

[erod]

I miss shoulder pads and true physicality.

Football looks so soft these days.

 

[Jarv]

Not debatable at all. Emmitt holds all the major records. He's the Jerry Rice of RBs. Hell, he's arguably beyond that (see the 1000+ first downs NFL record above).

And before you say, "if Barry didn't retire..." that is a what if argument that you can't know how it turns out. Perhaps Barry gets injured and has to retire the very next game.

Also, Barry couldn't touch Emmitt when it came to scoring TDs, catching the ball, and blocking.

Yep, it's like saying is Randy Moss better than Jerry Rice?

Moss was bigger, faster and could make catches Jerry couldn't even think of.

Rice and Emmitt have the numbers though for a reason, plus they were clutch.

Heck, that first down numbers posted above by @Cowboys5217 is just another stat that I hadn't heard, but is incredible.

 

[ICP]

I absolutely loved Emmitt Smith, and I hate when people call him overrated—especially when they never actually watched him play week after week, year after year. That said, I do think Barry Sanders was every bit as good, if not better, and definitely the more dynamic runner. I’ve often wondered what Sanders could have done running behind the O-Line Dallas had back then.

 

[Bagman]

Not debatable at all. Emmitt holds all the major records. He's the Jerry Rice of RBs. Hell, he's arguably beyond that (see the 1000+ first downs NFL record above).

And before you say, "if Barry didn't retire..." that is a what if argument that you can't know how it turns out. Perhaps Barry gets injured and has to retire the very next game.

Also, Barry couldn't touch Emmitt when it came to scoring TDs, catching the ball, and blocking.

I tell people that all the time. For the very same reason we acknowledge Jerry Rice as the GOAT, we must acknowledge Emmitt Smith as the GOAT. Multiple MVP winners, multiple SB championships, all time leaders in touches, yds and TDs. Neither were the strongest, fastest or fanciest player at their position but simply were the greatest FOOTBALL PLAYERS at their respective positions.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

I don;t think Sanders hit the hole like Emmitt did. Barry's lioine, offense, and team were not as bad as some people believe, because they watched Barry *decide* to dart around. It was entertaining for sure....but Emmitt was not afraid to dig in..."north and south" instead of squiggles.

This, Barry OL had 2 all pros on it (for the ones that always say what he would have done with our OL), heck some all time great RB’s didn’t have one all pro on it.

 

[Ironicalicon]

He made it look easy.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

This, Barry OL had 2 all pros on it (for the ones that always say what he would have done with our OL), heck some all time great RB’s didn’t have one all pro on it.

YES! THANK YOU! Good to know someone has the facts.

"Everyone" seems to need to believe his O-line was awful...just not the case.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

YES! THANK YOU! Good to know someone has the facts.

"Everyone" seems to need to believe his O-line was awful...just not the case.

Definitely not the case. He lost yards because of too much dancing in the backfield instead of hitting the hold.

 

[WillieBeamen]

He is one of the main reasons us Millenials are fans of this franchise til this day.

All these elite rbs in the game today, and he clears all of them by a mile

 

[Thomas82]

Yep, he had 140 yards and seemed to be destined for a historic game. One of the great what if's.

And he was leading the NFL in rushing at the time. That hand injury was a major factor in him not winning the rushing title in 1999.

 

[Thomas82]

He was gonna break 300 that day in my opinion. I was certain of it until the injury. The Vikings simply couldn't stop him at all.

And this was 30-year-old Emmitt, after everybody said he was washed up and after most of his supporting cast from the Super Bowl years was gone.

 

[rags747]

Emmitt holds all major records because he spent the last four or five years of his career padding his stats. He made no secrets his goal was to break Walter Payton's record. He didn't care much about winning as getting the record.
That's where he lost me a little bit. Also one of the reasons why Bill Parcell didn't want him to play for him. So as far as him holding all the major records I give you that but not the best pure running back.

Well Parcells did have Hambrick!

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Well Parcells did have Hambrick!

LOL.....and what does that say about what he thought of Emmitt?

 

[Thomas82]

Well Parcells did have Hambrick!

How funny was it that he ended up being Emmitt's backup again with the Cardinals?

 

[Silverstar]

Emmitt had great vision and every time he touched the ball his goal was reaching the endzone.