Emmitt Smith’s Greatness

[Silver N Blue]

Emmitt's the greatest RB of all-time, and the ONLY reason people hesitate to call him that is because he was a Cowboy.

His resume speaks for itself. No other RB even comes close to what #22 accomplished.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Emmitt is the GOAT. There were better “pure runners” than him. Better overall “athletes”.

But none of them can touch his championship level heart, toughness, will to win, durability, and consistency in production.

He is the Tom Brady of RBs. Championship caliber excellence over his entire career. Very likely his record stands unbroken.

 

[offlimits]

Wife and I were there, when he broke the rushing record, against Seattle. Texas Stadium. October 27th. 2002. We have a framed picture along with the game tickets. My family was long-time season ticket holders... decades. You, kids, won't believe it but the price of the game ticket was? $37 and that included all taxes. Seriously. You guys have no idea how much better life was then. No comparison to today.

 

[EGTuna]

Emmitt had 11 straight 1000 yard seasons and was 85 yards away from having 13 straight.

Emmitt had his best games when it mattered most and did all of The Little Things better than anyone.

GOAT.

 

[Smith22]

Emmitt is the GOAT. There were better “pure runners” than him. Better overall “athletes”.

But none of them can touch his championship level heart, toughness, will to win, durability, and consistency in production.

He is the Tom Brady of RBs. Championship caliber excellence over his entire career. Very likely his record stands unbroken.

100% spot on!

 

[StarGazer1]

Emmitt was great and I love him, but he had the Great Wall to run behind. That's way oversimplified and doesn't cover his receptions, or blocking, or toughness. Just saying that he owes a lot to years of top NFL OL.

The Great Wall owes a lot of their success to Emmitt too. Larry Allen is the only member of the Great Wall in the HOF. Shouldn't they all be in the HOF if they are the reason for Emmitt's success?

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Besides Barry Sanders, Who WAS ?????

No shade on Zeke !!!!!! Look the dude played Balls out for the Dallas Cowboys.

Forever 21

20
1	Emmitt Smith+	18,355	1990-2004	2TM
2	Walter Payton+	16,726	1975-1987	chi
3	Frank Gore	16,000	2005-2020	5TM
4	Barry Sanders+	15,269	1989-1998	det
5	Adrian Peterson	14,918	2007-2021	7TM
6	Curtis Martin+	14,101	1995-2005	2TM
7	LaDainian Tomlinson+	13,684	2001-2011	2TM
8	Jerome Bettis+	13,662	1993-2005	2TM
9	Eric Dickerson+	13,259	1983-1993	4TM
10	Tony Dorsett+	12,739	1977-1988	2TM
11	Jim Brown+	12,312	1957-1965	cle
12	Marshall Faulk+	12,279	1994-2005	2TM
13	Edgerrin James+	12,246	1999-2009	3TM
14	Marcus Allen+	12,243	1982-1997	2TM
15	Franco Harris+	12,120	1972-1984	2TM
16	Thurman Thomas+	12,074	1988-2000	2TM
17	Fred Taylor	11,695	1998-2010	2TM
18	Steven Jackson	11,438	2004-2015	3TM
19	John Riggins+	11,352	1971-1985	2TM

The one name on there that is so surprising is Frank Gore....dude was also a warrior. Much more injury concerns but just kept coming back.

There are several that looked like they could challenge the record early on like Curtis Martin and LDT, but they hit the wall quickly at a certain point.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

The Great Wall owes a lot of their success to Emmitt too. Larry Allen is the only member of the Great Wall in the HOF. Shouldn't they all be in the HOF if they are the reason for Emmitt's success?

Yep, the OL was great, but Emmitt made them look better than they were. Can't tell you how many times he should have been dead to rights in the backfield, only to juke the defender and make 5 to 10 yards. Tuinei was a converted defensive lineman. Newton was a side show freak. Stepnoski was a miniature center, 6'2 and 265 lbs. Erik Williams could have been the best ever but we all know his story. Even Allen was a project, but he quickly showed he was special.

I honestly think that there were none better as a complete running back. Emmitt could do it all. Short yardage, passing game, pass protection, big plays. Barry Sanders might have been more exciting in the open field, but they pulled him at the goal line. Payton was the closest in my mind as an all around back.

 

[Cowboys5217]

Like Nate Newton said “ they weren’t all pro linemen until Emmitt got there”

They also weren't there when Emmitt dominated high school and college. Nor were they particulalry effective when people like Curvin Richards were running behind them.

 

[joseephuss]

Emmitt is the only running back in the ENTIRE HISTORY of football to be his state's all-time leading rusher in high school, school's all-time leading rusher in college, and the NFL's all-time leading rusher.

Quite an impressive feat. It truly is remarkable what he was able to accomplish. Of course two of those records have been surpassed, but I truly doubt the NFL mark will ever be matched.

 

[Bigtex67]

Besides Barry Sanders, Who WAS ?????

No shade on Zeke !!!!!! Look the dude played Balls out for the Dallas Cowboys.

Forever 21

20
1	Emmitt Smith+	18,355	1990-2004	2TM
2	Walter Payton+	16,726	1975-1987	chi
3	Frank Gore	16,000	2005-2020	5TM
4	Barry Sanders+	15,269	1989-1998	det
5	Adrian Peterson	14,918	2007-2021	7TM
6	Curtis Martin+	14,101	1995-2005	2TM
7	LaDainian Tomlinson+	13,684	2001-2011	2TM
8	Jerome Bettis+	13,662	1993-2005	2TM
9	Eric Dickerson+	13,259	1983-1993	4TM
10	Tony Dorsett+	12,739	1977-1988	2TM
11	Jim Brown+	12,312	1957-1965	cle
12	Marshall Faulk+	12,279	1994-2005	2TM
13	Edgerrin James+	12,246	1999-2009	3TM
14	Marcus Allen+	12,243	1982-1997	2TM
15	Franco Harris+	12,120	1972-1984	2TM
16	Thurman Thomas+	12,074	1988-2000	2TM
17	Fred Taylor	11,695	1998-2010	2TM
18	Steven Jackson	11,438	2004-2015	3TM
19	John Riggins+	11,352	1971-1985	2TM

I think the one that really surprises me is John Riggins. For some reason I only remember him as a between the tackles power back at a 2-3 yard per carry guy.

 

[noshame]

Ahhh Emmitt, Back when I could actually enjoy my Thanksgiving dinners lol

 

[JonesBoys]

Emmitt was great and I love him, but he had the Great Wall to run behind. That's way oversimplified and doesn't cover his receptions, or blocking, or toughness. Just saying that he owes a lot to years of top NFL OL.

He didn't have that great o-line after 95. In fact most of his career he didn't. Maybe from 91-95, he played from1990-2004

 

[Thomas82]

As great as The Great Wall was, they benefit more from revisionist history than any other O-line ever. When Emmitt became a Cowboy, he ran behind 80% of the starting unit from the 1-15 team. He also won the OROY award behind that line, while another College Football Hall Of Fame running back couldn't even get 500 yards after Herschel Walker was traded. Oh, and 4 O-line starters and 7 of the 11 offensive starters on the 1992 Super Bowl team were holdovers from the 1-15 team.

 

[TonyRomoFan2]

1 of 6 players all time to win both regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season. The other 5 players are all HOF QBs……

Criminally underrated. What more could E filthy have done in his career? Calling him anything less than the GOAT is pure hatred.

 

[xwalker]

The Great Wall owes a lot of their success to Emmitt too. Larry Allen is the only member of the Great Wall in the HOF. Shouldn't they all be in the HOF if they are the reason for Emmitt's success?

Erik Williams should be in the HoF.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

Besides Barry Sanders, Who WAS ?????

Walter Payton - I'll take him over anyone.

 

[Calvin2Tony2Emmitt2Julius]

Walter Payton - I'll take him over anyone.

Without a Doubt!!!!! But I'll go with Dorsett as my personal Fav, but I get what you r saying

 

[john van brocklin]

The man was so durable.
Great balance and vision too
One of the all time greats.

 

[Established1971]

Besides Barry Sanders, Who WAS ?????

No shade on Zeke !!!!!! Look the dude played Balls out for the Dallas Cowboys.

Forever 21

20
1	Emmitt Smith+	18,355	1990-2004	2TM
2	Walter Payton+	16,726	1975-1987	chi
3	Frank Gore	16,000	2005-2020	5TM
4	Barry Sanders+	15,269	1989-1998	det
5	Adrian Peterson	14,918	2007-2021	7TM
6	Curtis Martin+	14,101	1995-2005	2TM
7	LaDainian Tomlinson+	13,684	2001-2011	2TM
8	Jerome Bettis+	13,662	1993-2005	2TM
9	Eric Dickerson+	13,259	1983-1993	4TM
10	Tony Dorsett+	12,739	1977-1988	2TM
11	Jim Brown+	12,312	1957-1965	cle
12	Marshall Faulk+	12,279	1994-2005	2TM
13	Edgerrin James+	12,246	1999-2009	3TM
14	Marcus Allen+	12,243	1982-1997	2TM
15	Franco Harris+	12,120	1972-1984	2TM
16	Thurman Thomas+	12,074	1988-2000	2TM
17	Fred Taylor	11,695	1998-2010	2TM
18	Steven Jackson	11,438	2004-2015	3TM
19	John Riggins+	11,352	1971-1985	2TM

Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton

cant just look at total yards