Dorsett-The Forgotten RB

[dfan32]

You could say that but at the time Emmitt didn't look very fortunate the Cowboys had just come off a 1-15 season when they drafted him. The Cowboys were a dreadful team when Emmitt arrived but were a championship caliber team and had been for a number of years when Dorsett arrived. The Cowboys went 11-3 without Dorsett the year before and were only 2 years removed from a SB appearance. Dorsett had an established team around him as a rookie loaded with veteran players who had years of playoff experience. The Cowboys could win games without Dorsett but he added an element that the team lacked.

The Cowboys couldn't win without Emmitt their offense revolved around him which is why his rushing yards are at the top of the all-time list and Aikman's passing yards are middle of the pack. Dorsett wouldn't have had a very long career had he been used like Emmitt who had 4 seasons of over 360 carries. Dorsett never had one season of over 360 carries. We can only speculate on how each player would have done with another team but Emmitt showed even on a bad Cowboy team in 1990 that he could be very effective. He was a punishing runner who could slither through defenders, bounce off of piles and had a nose for the endzone.

Emmitt sucked the life out of teams with 10 to 20 yard runs. Dorsett was known for the big electrifying run but would have struggled on far less talented teams that were forced to pound him behind a poor OL or had to abandon the run due to always being behind. Dorsett's open field runs were a thing of beauty that's what he's remembered for. You could stop him all day then BOOM! He did virtually nothing against the Vikings on that Monday Night game in 82 before busting off his record setting 99 yard TD run. He was a great player but Emmitt with his style, stout build and durability would have fit even on a bad team which was proven with the 7-9 1990 Cowboys.

It's always difficult to speculate what might have been. But I still believe Dorsett would have been a great back no matter where he went. You can't take the glide, the graceful fluidity, the vision and the burst and speed away from Dorsett when trying to place him in a different environment.

You give Emmitt a lot of credit and I don't disagree with it at all. I agree that Emmitt was a huge part of the Cowboys success and would have been successful on other teams as well. Would he be the NFL rushing leader without Larry Allen or Moose Johnson though? I doubt it and I don't mean to take anything away from Emmitt when I say that. I'm actually pleased we will never know for sure.

 

[KJJ]

It's always difficult to speculate what might have been. But I still believe Dorsett would have been a great back no matter where he went. You can't take the glide, the graceful fluidity, the vision and the burst and speed away from Dorsett when trying to place him in a different environment.

You give Emmitt a lot of credit and I don't disagree with it at all. I agree that Emmitt was a huge part of the Cowboys success and would have been successful on other teams as well. Would he be the NFL rushing leader without Larry Allen or Moose Johnson though? I doubt it and I don't mean to take anything away from Emmitt when I say that. I'm actually pleased we will never know for sure.

Do you honestly believe Dorsett would have had a Hall of Fame career had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle two teams that had just entered the league as expansion teams the year before? Ricky Bell who was an outstanding college back at USC only had one 1000 yard season in Tampa. Seattle was having OL issues which is why they selected an OT with their first pick in 77. No question Dorsett would have broke off some big runs for those teams because of his speed, quickness and vision but he wouldn't have broke off near as many or had near the career rushing yardage that he did with the Cowboys. The 2 SB appearances along with the championship in 77 enhanced Dorsett's career. He would have never won a ring or appeared in the number of conference championship games he did playing in Tampa or Seattle.

He would have been forgotten had he played for either team. With Dorsett we remember his great "runs" and with Emmitt we remember his great "games." With Dorsett we remember his 77 yard TD run vs St Louis his rookie year and his 84 yard TD run vs Philly later that season. We remember his 75 yard TD run vs NE in 1981 and everyone remembers his record setting 99 yard TD run on Monday Night in 1982 vs Minn. With Emmitt we remember his 114 yards vs SF in the 92 NFC title game. We remember his great "game" vs the Giants in 93 playing with a separated shoulder. We remember his SB MVP performance vs Buffalo. We remember his 237 yard performance vs Philly on the soggy, seamed up turf at the Vet.

It was never one great run we remember with Emmitt it was the great games. He rushed for over 100 yards in 2 of his 3 SB appearances and scored 5 TD's. Dorsett never rushed for 100 yards in either of his 2 SB appearances and only scored one TD. The 70's/80's Cowboys weren't nearly as dependent on Dorsett as the 90's Cowboys were with Emmitt. He scored 164 TD's during his career compared to only 77 TD's for Dorsett. Neither player would gained the career yards they did on lesser teams but Emmitt would have found the endzone many times regardless of the team he played for. He scored 11 TD's for the 7-9 1990 Cowboys. The fact that he was a tough inside runner who could maintain his balance and bounce off defenders gave him a clear advantage over Dorsett who didn't have the frame to run anyone over.

 

[CooterBrown]

Do you honestly believe Dorsett would have had a Hall of Fame career had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle two teams that had just entered the league as expansion teams the year before?

Yes. Tony Dorsett was a special kind of back. He would have excelled anywhere. Like Walter Payton did, even when the Bears sucked. Like Gayle Sayers did in his very brief career. Special running backs will always be noticed, and appreciated. Oh, and the poster child for a a great back on terrible teams, Barry Sanders. I watched them all, and Tony Dorsett belongs in that group of special backs, and would have made the Hall of Fame, regardless of who he played for.

 

[dfan32]

Do you honestly believe Dorsett would have had a Hall of Fame career had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle two teams that had just entered the league as expansion teams the year before? Ricky Bell who was an outstanding college back at USC only had one 1000 yard season in Tampa. Seattle was having OL issues which is why they selected an OT with their first pick in 77. No question Dorsett would have broke off some big runs for those teams because of his speed, quickness and vision but he wouldn't have broke off near as many or had near the career rushing yardage that he did with the Cowboys. The 2 SB appearances along with the championship in 77 enhanced Dorsett's career. He would have never won a ring or appeared in the number of conference championship games he did playing in Tampa or Seattle.

He would have been forgotten had he played for either team. With Dorsett we remember his great "runs" and with Emmitt we remember his great "games." With Dorsett we remember his 77 yard TD run vs St Louis his rookie year and his 84 yard TD run vs Philly later that season. We remember his 75 yard TD run vs NE in 1981 and everyone remembers his record setting 99 yard TD run on Monday Night in 1982 vs Minn. With Emmitt we remember his 114 yards vs SF in the 92 NFC title game. We remember his great "game" vs the Giants in 93 playing with a separated shoulder. We remember his SB MVP performance vs Buffalo. We remember his 237 yard performance vs Philly on the soggy, seamed up turf at the Vet.

It was never one great run we remember with Emmitt it was the great games. He rushed for over 100 yards in 2 of his 3 SB appearances and scored 5 TD's. Dorsett never rushed for 100 yards in either of his 2 SB appearances and only scored one TD. The 70's/80's Cowboys weren't nearly as dependent on Dorsett as the 90's Cowboys were with Emmitt. He scored 164 TD's during his career compared to only 77 TD's for Dorsett. Neither player would gained the career yards they did on lesser teams but Emmitt would have found the endzone many times regardless of the team he played for. He scored 11 TD's for the 7-9 1990 Cowboys. The fact that he was a tough inside runner who could maintain his balance and bounce off defenders gave him a clear advantage over Dorsett who didn't have the frame to run anyone over.

Well if you're going to jump in a time capsule and completely change history, I guess you can pretend anything you want to. So if Dorsett didn't go to Dallas, he would have almost certainly ended up with Seahawks or Tampa, whom I believe both past him up in that draft, and then he would have fallen flat on his face? OK then.

 

[Venger]

Do you honestly believe Dorsett would have had a Hall of Fame career had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle two teams that had just entered the league as expansion teams the year before?

Guy went for 99 with only 9 other teammates on the field. Just sayin'...

 

[KJJ]

Yes. Tony Dorsett was a special kind of back. He would have excelled anywhere. Like Walter Payton did, even when the Bears sucked. Like Gayle Sayers did in his very brief career. Special running backs will always be noticed, and appreciated. Oh, and the poster child for a a great back on terrible teams, Barry Sanders. I watched them all, and Tony Dorsett belongs in that group of special backs, and would have made the Hall of Fame, regardless of who he played for.

If you rank the all-time RB's Walter Payton would be ranked well ahead of Tony Dorsett. Payton and Dorsett played during the same era and Payton was considered by everyone the better back. He was a different type of back than Dorsett who carried 200 lbs on a 5' 10" frame. He didn't have Dorsett's speed but he was a very powerful runner who could break tackle after tackle and run over defenders. Some of his greatest runs were in traffic with him lowering his head bulling his way over defenders. The Bears had some bad teams but Payton like Emmitt could suck the life out of defenses with his relentless running style. He had power and great balance enabling him to maintain his feet and gain yardage with defenders all over him. It was the same with Emmitt.

As for Gayle Sayers he's another back who would be ranked well ahead of Dorsett. He was the greatest runner of his era. He had great speed and elusiveness that defenders of his era couldn't contain. He could cut on a dime at full speed and left everyone eating his dust. He only had two 1000 yard seasons but averaged well over 5 yards a carry before his injury. As for Barry Sanders he's another back who would be ranked well ahead of Dorsett. He was arguably the greatest pure runner in NFL history. He could jitterbug his way through traffic like no back the NFL has ever seen. He made defenders look silly. He was a freak and his ability to escape and elude defenders was second to none.

Dorsett was a great back but Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, OJ Simpson and Adrian Peterson would all be ranked ahead of him. Some will argue Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, LT and even John Riggins were better than Dorsett. Bo Jackson would no doubt be ranked well ahead of TD had his career not been so short. Dorsett was a great back and one of my favorite players growing up but it was a handful of great runs that made his career.

 

[KJJ]

Guy went for 99 with only 9 other teammates on the field. Just sayin'...

So that means he would have had a Hall of Fame career in Tampa or Seattle? It won't be long before someone tries to spin that I don't think Dorsett was any good. lol

 

[KJJ]

Well if you're going to jump in a time capsule and completely change history, I guess you can pretend anything you want to. So if Dorsett didn't go to Dallas, he would have almost certainly ended up with Seahawks or Tampa, whom I believe both past him up in that draft, and then he would have fallen flat on his face? OK then.

Where did I say he would have fallen flat on his face had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle? Saying he wouldn't have had a Hall of Fame career for either team isn't saying he would have fallen flat on his face. That's an amusing spin I knew they were coming. :laugh2:

 

[KJJ]

As I mentioned Dorsett is best remembered for the great electrifying "runs" he had not the great "games" he had. His most memorable run his NFL record setting 99 yard TD scamper came in a game where he did very little until that play. Take that 99 yard run away and all he produced vs Minn was 54 yards. Although Dorsett had a number of long runs during his career his greatest rushing performance was 206 yards vs Philly his rookie year which was aided by an 84 yard TD run. You would think with all the long runs he had he would have produced a 250-270 yard performance.

The problem with Dorsett was he would get stopped for little to nothing for a couple of quarters then break off a long run. He didn't churn out yards consistently like some of the other great backs it was the long runs that scored most of his TD's and accumulated a lot of his yards. He would have 140 yard rushing performance but 70 of those yards would come on one big play. Joe Gibbs mentioned how Wash would stop Dorsett play after play then BOOM he'd rip off a big run. Dorsett was no doubt a special player but he had to be on the right team.

As the Cowboys declined in the mid 80's the cracks and seams weren't opening for Dorsett and the team needed some power in the backfield which is why Walker eventually pushed Dorsett out of the lineup. Landry once compared Walkers power to Jim Brown. He gave the Cowboys what Dorsett couldn't provide the power to run over defenders plus Walker had great speed.

 

[dfan32]

Where did I say he would have fallen flat on his face had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle? Saying he wouldn't have had a Hall of Fame career for either team isn't saying he would have fallen flat on his face. That's an amusing spin I knew they were coming. :laugh2:

Did not mean to offend you but really this whole conversation is "spin". It's no big deal but I think you sell Dorsett a little short. Very few of the backs you mentioned in front of TD had the same burst thru a hole that Dorsett had.

I would agree Emmitt was a better RB but I would add, Emmitt had one of the best OL's ever put together in front of him. Then consider the other threats in that offense and you'd have to say any RB worth his salt would have been fortunate to land there. None however, would have parlayed that into being the NFL rushing leader.

Since we're spinning, instead of landing him in Seattle or Tampa, lets have Dorsett and Emmitt swap places. What do you suppose would have happened?

 

[KJJ]

Did not mean to offend you but really this whole conversation is "spin".

You didn't offend me you made yourself look silly by trying to spin that I thought Dorsett would have fallen flat on his face had he landed in Tampa or Seattle.

It's no big deal but I think you sell Dorsett a little short. Very few of the backs you mentioned in front of TD had the same burst thru a hole that Dorsett had.

I'm not selling Dorsett a little short I'm giving him plenty of credit he was a great back who's remembered for his electrifying runs. It's those long runs primarily his NFL record setting 99 yard TD run he's best remembered for. He got it done with speed, elusiveness and great vision. Jim Brown didn't have the same burst through a hole that Dorsett had but does that make Dorsett the better back? Walter Payton and Earl Campbell didn't have the same burst through a hole that Dorsett had but does that make Dorsett better? It wasn't pretty with Jim Brown but he's considered by many as the greatest RB in NFL history. It wasn't pretty with Earl Campbell but would you rank Dorsett ahead of him because he didn't have Dorsett's burst through a hole?

I would agree Emmitt was a better RB but I would add, Emmitt had one of the best OL's ever put together in front of him.

That OL had yet to be put together when Emmitt arrived in 1990 the Cowboys were in serious rebuilding mode. Emmitt had already established himself as one of the top backs in the league leading the Cowboys to 2 SB wins before Larry Allen even arrived. When Dorsett arrived in Dallas in 77 the Cowboys already had one of the top OL's in the league. Emmitt produced on a bad 1990 Cowboys team that had gone 1-15 the year prior. Even with all the mileage he had on him his final season in 2004 he had a 127 yard game for a 6-10 Cardinals team. Emmitt could produce behind any OL certainly not to the level he did in Dallas but he would have been very productive for a lot of teams during his prime.

Then consider the other threats in that offense and you'd have to say any RB worth his salt would have been fortunate to land there.

That offense wasn't the same without Emmitt as we saw at the start of the 93 season when the Cowboys started off 0-2 while he was holding out. Both Dorsett and Emmitt were blessed with great talent around them but all that talent wasn't there when Emmitt arrived. Dorsett was surrounded by Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, Tony Hill and a great OL his rookie year. That was a championship caliber team before he arrived. The Cowboys also had a couple of very good backs in Robert Newhouse and Preston Pearson enabling the team to ease Dorsett into the lineup. The Cowboys had nothing at RB when Emmitt arrived plus he was surrounded by a lot of very young players who were taking their lumps one of which was Troy Aikman.

Since we're spinning, instead of landing him in Seattle or Tampa, lets have Dorsett and Emmitt swap places. What do you suppose would have happened?

You're the one spinning I'm just providing the facts and giving my opinion. If Dorsett had played for the 1990 Cowboys he wouldn't have sniffed 937 yards and 11 TD's for that team like Emmitt did IMO. Walker who beat Dorsett out couldn't do crap behind that line. Dorsett only rushed for 1007 yards and one more TD than Emmitt produced as a rookie and that was for the 77 Cowboys which is arguably the greatest team Landry ever coached. The 90's Cowboys wouldn't have faired near as well with Dorsett because he didn't have the power and size to control games and carry the ball 360-plus times during a 4 year period. You're not going to take the will out of a team with a back who's career was made with long runs. You take the will out of a team with a back who consistently produced 8, 12, 17 and 22 yard bursts and had a nose for the endzone.

Emmitt carried the ball 4,409 times during his career compared to 2,936 for Dorsett. Emmitt was a workhorse who had more than double the TD's Dorsett had because he ran with power, balance and was terrific in the redzone. Emmitt would have produced big on Dorsett's Cowboy teams no doubt about it. Once Landry saw the leg drive, balance, durability and his nose for the endzone the team would rode him just like the 90's teams did.

 

[dfan32]

You didn't offend me you made yourself look silly by trying to spin that I thought Dorsett would have fallen flat on his face had he landed in Tampa or Seattle.




I'm not selling Dorsett a little short I'm giving him plenty of credit he was a great back who's remembered for his electrifying runs. It's those long runs primarily his NFL record setting 99 yard TD run he's best remembered for. He got it done with speed, elusiveness and great vision. Jim Brown didn't have the same burst through a hole that Dorsett had but does that make Dorsett the better back? Walter Payton and Earl Campbell didn't have the same burst through a hole that Dorsett had but does that make Dorsett better? It wasn't pretty with Jim Brown but he's considered by many as the greatest RB in NFL history. It wasn't pretty with Earl Campbell but would you rank Dorsett ahead of him because he didn't have Dorsett's burst through a hole?



That OL had yet to be put together when Emmitt arrived in 1990 the Cowboys were in serious rebuilding mode. Emmitt had already established himself as one of the top backs in the league leading the Cowboys to 2 SB wins before Larry Allen even arrived. When Dorsett arrived in Dallas in 77 the Cowboys already had one of the top OL's in the league. Emmitt produced on a bad 1990 Cowboys team that had gone 1-15 the year prior. Even with all the mileage he had on him his final season in 2004 he had a 127 yard game for a 6-10 Cardinals team. Emmitt could produce behind any OL certainly not to the level he did in Dallas but he would have been very productive for a lot of teams during his prime.




That offense wasn't the same without Emmitt as we saw at the start of the 93 season when the Cowboys started off 0-2 while he was holding out. Both Dorsett and Emmitt were blessed with great talent around them but all that talent wasn't there when Emmitt arrived. Dorsett was surrounded by Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, Tony Hill and a great OL his rookie year. That was a championship caliber team before he arrived. The Cowboys also had a couple of very good backs in Robert Newhouse and Preston Pearson enabling the team to ease Dorsett into the lineup. The Cowboys had nothing at RB when Emmitt arrived plus he was surrounded by a lot of very young players who were taking their lumps one of which was Troy Aikman.




You're the one spinning I'm just providing the facts and giving my opinion. If Dorsett had played for the 1990 Cowboys he wouldn't have sniffed 937 yards and 11 TD's for that team like Emmitt did IMO. Walker who beat Dorsett out couldn't do crap behind that line. Dorsett only rushed for 1007 yards and one more TD than Emmitt produced as a rookie and that was for the 77 Cowboys which is arguably the greatest team Landry ever coached. The 90's Cowboys wouldn't have faired near as well with Dorsett because he didn't have the power and size to control games and carry the ball 360-plus times during a 4 year period. You're not going to take the will out of a team with a back who's career was made with long runs. You take the will out of a team with a back who consistently produced 8, 12, 17 and 22 yard bursts and had a nose for the endzone.

Emmitt carried the ball 4,409 times during his career compared to 2,936 for Dorsett. Emmitt was a workhorse who had more than double the TD's Dorsett had because he ran with power, balance and was terrific in the redzone. Emmitt would have produced big on Dorsett's Cowboy teams no doubt about it. Once Landry saw the leg drive, balance, durability and his nose for the endzone the team would rode him just like the 90's teams did.

What "FACTS" are you providing? I see you just posted some stats, maybe they are facts, but this conversation is comparing RB's from different era's. Are you saying that you're opinion is fact? Are you telling us that your belief that Dorsett would not have produced as well in Tampa as he did in Dallas is a fact? Your ranking of RB's from different era's and different teams ahead of Dorsett is a fact?

By the way, Emmitt had the benefit of having Larry Allen block for him thru MOST of his career and so it does factor in to this conversation.

I also believe the 7 and 9 1990 Cowboy team was better than you give it credit for. I think Dorsett would have fared much better on that team than you suggest. They were a team on the rise...hmmm, I suppose that could be considered a fact since they did win the Superbowl the following season. I'll still offer it as an opinion though.

Hershel Walker did beat out Dorsett in Dallas. I'll give you that fact but he beat out a Dorsett in the latter part of his career. I would suggest that was some spinning on your part.

 

[jobberone]

Dorsett wanted out of Dallas. He was never that happy with his workload anyway. I think Walker would haven't gotten more carries and was a more versatile back but he didn't really beat him out. Teams didn't often carry two backs like TD and Walker on the same team anyway.

 

[KJJ]

What "FACTS" are you providing? I see you just posted some stats, maybe they are facts, but this conversation is comparing RB's from different era's. Are you saying that you're opinion is fact?

My opinions are a point of view based on a series of facts. The facts are that Dorsett started his career on a championship caliber Cowboys team that was being led by a number of veteran players who were still in their prime. The facts are that Emmitt started his career on a bad Cowboy team that a year prior was one of the worst in NFL history.

Are you telling us that your belief that Dorsett would not have produced as well in Tampa as he did in Dallas is a fact? Your ranking of RB's from different era's and different teams ahead of Dorsett is a fact?

No, I'm telling you and everyone else that this is based on my opinion. In my opinion Dorsett wouldn't have produced as well in Tampa as he did in Dallas and it's not hard to figure out why. The Bucs had just entered the league as an expansion team in 1976 and hadn't even won a game entering the 1977 draft. Many rank the 76 Buccaneers that went 0-14 as the absolute worst team in NFL history. You honestly believe Dorsett would currently rank 8th all-time in rushing yards and have a bust in Canton had he ended up with one of the worst teams ever???

The 77 Cowboys were one of the best teams ever so it's ridiculous to think Dorsett could have produced equally as well on one of the worst teams ever. No one is saying he would have fallen on his face in Tampa but no way does he have the same exact success with that team that he did with the Cowboys.

By the way, Emmitt had the benefit of having Larry Allen block for him thru MOST of his career and so it does factor in to this conversation.

I mentioned that Emmitt had already established himself as one of the top backs in the league leading the Cowboys to back to back SB wins BEFORE Larry Allen arrived. A year before Allen was drafted in 94 Emmitt was the NFL rushing champ, league MVP and SB MVP. Prior to Allen's arrival Emmitt had already put up 5699 rushing yards and 50 TD's. Emmitt's 5699 rushing yards his first 4 years was his best 4 year rushing total.

I also believe the 7 and 9 1990 Cowboy team was better than you give it credit for. I think Dorsett would have fared much better on that team than you suggest. They were a team on the rise...hmmm, I suppose that could be considered a fact since they did win the Superbowl the following season. I'll still offer it as an opinion though.

You need to get your facts straight the Cowboys won the SB following the 91 season not the 1990 season. The 1990 Cowboys had clearly improved from the previous season but that team still had a ways to go. One big reason they improved was the relentless running of Emmitt and the 11 TD's he scored. You can believe what you want but your opinions are based purely on your own personal view. You have nothing concrete to base any of your opinions on.

Hershel Walker did beat out Dorsett in Dallas. I'll give you that fact but he beat out a Dorsett in the latter part of his career. I would suggest that was some spinning on your part.

There's no spinning on my part just providing the facts. Granted Dorsett was getting older but his drop in production did coincide with the decline of the team. Dorsett put up 1307 yards for the 10-6 1985 Cowboys but only 748 yards for the 7-9 1986 Cowboys. He started losing playing time to Walker in 86 because he wasn't producing the big plays and the team was struggling. Dorsett never had a run longer than 23 yards in 86. The Cowboys needed some power in the backfield and some big play ability and they got both with Walker. Not even Walker could do crap on the 89 team and trust me the OL wasn't much better a year later when Emmitt arrived but he was special.

 

[KJJ]

Your ranking of RB's from different era's and different teams ahead of Dorsett is a fact?

No, it's an opinion based on their accomplishments. Although some of the backs came from different era's they all still played at a time when it was 4 yards and a cloud of dust except for Adrian Peterson. Most of those backs I listed ahead of Dorsett were at one time considered the best back in the league during their career. All the backs I listed which include Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, OJ Simpson and Adrian Peterson led the league in rushing at least once during their careers. Everyone of those backs had a season that exceeded 1646 yards which was Dorsett's best season.

All of them except Earl Campbell had at least one game that exceeded Dorsett's career best game of 206 yards. Campbell matched Dorsett's 206 yard performance in 1980 but had 4 200 yard games that season including back to back 200 yard games. Dorsett never once led the league in rushing he came up just 29 yards short of over taking George Rogers for the rushing title in 81.

The Cowboys entered the season finale in 81 vs the Giants with the mindset of allowing Dorsett to get the rushing title but he ended up with only 39 yards. You won't find many rankings that have Dorsett rated ahead of any of the backs I listed. All rankings are based on opinion but if you closely examine the careers of all those backs it's pretty clear cut they were better than Dorsett. Is there one back amongst that list that you would rank him ahead of? Look, I'm not trying to dog on Dorsett I thought he was a wonderful player so don't get this discussion twisted.

 

[CooterBrown]

Dorsett was a great back but Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, OJ Simpson and Adrian Peterson would all be ranked ahead of him.

I think that would depend on who is doing the ranking. My ranking doesn't agree with yours.

 

[KJJ]

I think that would depend on who is doing the ranking. My ranking doesn't agree with yours.

All rankings depend on who's doing the ranking that's why they all vary. My list isn't a "ranking" it's just a list in no particular order of the backs I have rated ahead of Dorsett.

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

No one who saw Dorsett play has forgotten him. Only the "what have you done for me lately" crowd.

 

[joseephuss]

Do you honestly believe Dorsett would have had a Hall of Fame career had he ended up in Tampa or Seattle two teams that had just entered the league as expansion teams the year before? Ricky Bell who was an outstanding college back at USC only had one 1000 yard season in Tampa. Seattle was having OL issues which is why they selected an OT with their first pick in 77. No question Dorsett would have broke off some big runs for those teams because of his speed, quickness and vision but he wouldn't have broke off near as many or had near the career rushing yardage that he did with the Cowboys. The 2 SB appearances along with the championship in 77 enhanced Dorsett's career. He would have never won a ring or appeared in the number of conference championship games he did playing in Tampa or Seattle.

He would have been forgotten had he played for either team. With Dorsett we remember his great "runs" and with Emmitt we remember his great "games." With Dorsett we remember his 77 yard TD run vs St Louis his rookie year and his 84 yard TD run vs Philly later that season. We remember his 75 yard TD run vs NE in 1981 and everyone remembers his record setting 99 yard TD run on Monday Night in 1982 vs Minn. With Emmitt we remember his 114 yards vs SF in the 92 NFC title game. We remember his great "game" vs the Giants in 93 playing with a separated shoulder. We remember his SB MVP performance vs Buffalo. We remember his 237 yard performance vs Philly on the soggy, seamed up turf at the Vet.

It was never one great run we remember with Emmitt it was the great games. He rushed for over 100 yards in 2 of his 3 SB appearances and scored 5 TD's. Dorsett never rushed for 100 yards in either of his 2 SB appearances and only scored one TD. The 70's/80's Cowboys weren't nearly as dependent on Dorsett as the 90's Cowboys were with Emmitt. He scored 164 TD's during his career compared to only 77 TD's for Dorsett. Neither player would gained the career yards they did on lesser teams but Emmitt would have found the endzone many times regardless of the team he played for. He scored 11 TD's for the 7-9 1990 Cowboys. The fact that he was a tough inside runner who could maintain his balance and bounce off defenders gave him a clear advantage over Dorsett who didn't have the frame to run anyone over.

I disagree. That is perhaps how you remember things, but I don't believe the majority of people remember the two backs in that manner.

Well if you're going to jump in a time capsule and completely change history, I guess you can pretend anything you want to. So if Dorsett didn't go to Dallas, he would have almost certainly ended up with Seahawks or Tampa, whom I believe both past him up in that draft, and then he would have fallen flat on his face? OK then.

If Dallas didn't make the trade to get Dorsett, he could have ended up almost anywhere. He certainly wasn't limited to only go to Tampa or Seattle.


Both Smith and Dorsett are great running backs and both would have been so no matter where they ended up. I have no doubts about that.

 

[KJJ]

I disagree. That is perhaps how you remember things, but I don't believe the majority of people remember the two backs in that manner.

With Emmitt it was the great "games" most remember and with Dorsett is was the great "runs" most remember. You may not remember the 2 backs that way but I think a lot of fans do. In 17 playoff appearances which included 2 SB's Dorsett broke 100 yards only 3 times. In the Cowboys 3 consecutive NFC title game losses in 80, 81 and 82 he was terrible in 2 of those losses averaging less than 4 yards a carry.

On the great 77 team that dominated Denver in the SB he only rushed for 66 yards. The most memorable play of his career his record setting 99 yard TD run came in a game the Cowboys lost. He did very little that night until that play. Dorsett was a great back but he wasn't a workhorse who could take over games. He had less than 20 carries most of his career. As for Emmitt he missed all of training camp his rookie year and most if not all of preseason but still ended up making the pro bowl on a 7-9 team.

In 93 he was the NFL rushing champ, league MVP and SB MVP. It was his body of work the great "games" that made him special not his speed. He showed up in the big games and the Cowboys rode him. He rushed for over 100 yards in 2 of his 3 SB appearances. He had as much impact on the success of the 90's Cowboys as Roger Staubach had on the 70's Cowboys. Dorsett was flashy and Emmitt was gritty. It was the flash and speed we loved about Dorsett and it was the grit and determination we loved about Emmitt.