Because, quite frankly it deserves its own thread... (Part 2)

[PullMyFinger]

Really? What did he do to make you feel that way? I'm just curious.

Ive read it several places, that book "Boys Will Be Boys" touched on it. His attitude really stinks. Don't get me wrong I love what he did for us, I loved his play on the field, loved what he did for the Cowboys. But I wouldn't spend 5 minutes with him off the field.

 

[Use Your Illusion]

I agree that there is a double standard with Emmitt and Jerry. Nobody ever talks about Rice's supporting cast.

Disagree with point 2 though - I think your argument for Emmitt being the most important part of the puzzle is a bit weak. Aikman and Irvin weren't good until Emmitt got there? Well.. Emmitt was drafted in Irvin's third year and Aikman's second year, so that's hardly enough of a sample size to draw any conclusion. That's like giving Phil Jackson credit for Michael Jordan's success.

 

[Section446]

Love the Cowboys, but in my opinion it's Barry Sanders > Emmitt Smith. Watching Barry Sanders run was magical, and something we might not see again for some time.

 

[DABOYZ]

The most underrated part of Emmitt's game which you point out was his blocking. The guy could pick up blitz's like no other. The entire team benefited from his blocking. Troy got the pass off and Michael scored.

I know Michael is always talking about those long passes where he was tackled at the 1 yard line and Emmitt would score. So here is my question...How many times did Emmitt pick up the great block that allowed Michael to catch the big pass.

Emmitt is definitely underrated. However, he is still a big ****** in person. haha

 

[Thomas82]

I agree that there is a double standard with Emmitt and Jerry. Nobody ever talks about Rice's supporting cast.

Disagree with point 2 though - I think your argument for Emmitt being the most important part of the puzzle is a bit weak. Aikman and Irvin weren't good until Emmitt got there? Well.. Emmitt was drafted in Irvin's third year and Aikman's second year, so that's hardly enough of a sample size to draw any conclusion. That's like giving Phil Jackson credit for Michael Jordan's success.

He was the most important part of the puzzle. During the glory days, the Cowboys won some games without Troy Aikman, they won some without Michael Irvin, but they DID NOT win without Emmitt.

 

[Use Your Illusion]

He was the most important part of the puzzle. During the glory days, the Cowboys won some games without Troy Aikman, they won some without Michael Irvin, but they DID NOT win without Emmitt.

Once again, small sample size. You can't go off a couple of games and say one guy was more important than another.

 

[JackMagist]

What I find Ironic about this debate is that when you start to compare Aikman to the all time greats you get the argument that, "Yeah but he never had to throw because he had Emmitt running the ball." This probably being said by the same people who dis Emmitt in this debate.

So which way is it? Did Emmitt make Aikman great or did Aikman and crew make Emmitt great? Or was it that neither one was all that and the OL made them both look good? Or was it just a perfect storm of a team of great players all coming together at the same time to make each other even greater?

Emmitt was great because Emmitt was great. The team won 3 SB Championships because he was not the only great player on the team. Barry was also great but never won a championship because he was the ONLY great player on his team. Who was better is and always will be a matter of opinion. But I will say I believe that Emmitt and his hard nosed style was a better fit for the Cowboys than Barry and his flash and dash style would have been.

 

[Thomas82]

Once again, small sample size. You can't go off a couple of games and say one guy was more important than another.

OK, what about the 1994 season finale against the Giants when Emmitt was out with a bad hamstring? Blair Thomas stepped in and couldn't get it done. If you want me to, I can post the Cowboys records in the games that either of them missed.

 

[Thomas82]

What I find Ironic about this debate is that when you start to compare Aikman to the all time greats you get the argument that, "Yeah but he never had to throw because he had Emmitt running the ball." This probably being said by the same people who dis Emmitt in this debate.

So which way is it? Did Emmitt make Aikman great or did Aikman and crew make Emmitt great? Or was it that neither one was all that and the OL made them both look good? Or was it just a perfect storm of a team of great players all coming together at the same time to make each other even greater?

Emmitt was great because Emmitt was great. The team won 3 SB Championships because he was not the only great player on the team. Barry was also great but never won a championship because he was the ONLY great player on his team. Who was better is and always will be a matter of opinion. But I will say I believe that Emmitt and his hard nosed style was a better fit for the Cowboys than Barry and his flash and dash style would have been.

No he was not the only great player on his team.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124452

 

[jimmy40]

and as always Walter Payton was better than either one.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Well done.

It all boils down to: Emmitt in a landslide as far as SB rings.
Barry, in style and in running, no one was better.

We can debate all we want but that is it.

Barry, in my opinion, was the better one albeit with a bad team(s).

Had the two been on opposite teams, barry in a landslide in SB rings and Emmitt one of the best who ever ran but with bad teams.

And life goes on.

 

[CF74]

Emmitt was the best ever followed by Walter Payton. Those are indisputable facts.

 

[jimmy40]

Emmitt was the best ever followed by Walter Payton. Those are indisputable facts.

Start a team, you're first pick has to be Emmitt, Barry or Walter, only a complete moron would not pick Walter.

 

[ChrisCanty99]

You go with Emmitt when you want dependable yardage, red zone touchdowns, clock control, and grind-out wins.

Barry's your man if you want 5 -5 yard runs a game along with one spectacular 82 yard TD when the game is already out of your reach.

Yeah, you'll remember the 82 yard run forever, because it was just incredible. But who was better for his team?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Start a team, you're first pick has to be Emmitt, Barry or Walter, only a complete moron would not pick Walter.

I'd take Jim Brown over any of them.

 

[Thomas82]

and as always Walter Payton was better than either one.

I won't argue that.

 

[BAT]

Start a team, you're first pick has to be Emmitt, Barry or Walter, only a complete moron would not pick Walter.

Only a complete moron would pick against his own team. Only a complete moron would make such an absolute assertion based on a subjective hypothesis.


Payton was great, but Emmitt proved to be greater. Only a complete moron turns a blind eye to the tangible proof.


Only a complete moron prefers "what if" fantasy to reality.

 

[Thomas82]

Only a complete moron would pick against his own team. Only a complete moron would make such an absolute assertion based on a subjective hypothesis.


Payton was great, but Emmitt proved to be greater. Only a complete moron turns a blind eye to the tangible proof.


Only a complete moron prefers "what if" fantasy to reality.

Like I said in my original post, it's one thing to make an argument with stats, but to base it on a hypothetical that can't be proven doesn't make much sense.

 

[mmurray21]

And the Cliff-Notes Version:

Emmitt Smith = 3 Super Bowl Victories with Super Bowl MVP honors on his resume along with being the NFL's leading rusher.

Barry Sanders = 0 Super Bowls and left the game wanting nothing to do with it.

So why are we even having this debate again?

I hate this argument. There are so many factors that come into winning a superbowl.. Is trent dilfer better than marino?

If I were starting a team and had only 3 years to get to the superbowl. I would pick Earl Campbell.

 

[CATCH17]

Love the Cowboys, but in my opinion it's Barry Sanders > Emmitt Smith. Watching Barry Sanders run was magical, and something we might not see again for some time.

Yeah if you like watching a guy run like an idiot for 14 carries then finally hit a home run.