Emmitt Smith's Rushing Record: Will It Ever Be Broken?

[ThreeSportStar80]

Hey folks,

Just looked at the clip of Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith sitting down with Rich, Marshall and Coach Mariucci. The question was asked will the rushing record ever be broken, Marshall and Emmitt think it won't be touched. I tend to agree because today's NFL is going towards two back systems.

Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are holding ALL TIME records that will NEVER be broken in my opinion.

Here's the link, great stuff!

http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=958878AD-A392-EB8D-A4C196A95A781D26

 

[big dog cowboy]

Nope.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Nope.

I'm of that belief as well, at one time I though Tomlinson might be able to catch Emmitt but he's on the decline in San Diego.

 

[NeonDeion21]

Yes, every record is meant to be broken.

 

[Jimz31]

Emmitt's no...Rice's yes. This league is turning into more and more of a passing league. You will have guys running that may have a good couple of years, but defenders are getting bigger and faster.

As far as Rice's record, all it takes is a guy in a pass happy offense to stick with the same good QB and to stay healthy.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Yes, every record is meant to be broken.

In today's NFL, teams are going to multiple running back systems, therefore making it highly unlikely to be broken.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Emmitt's no...Rice's yes. This league is turning into more and more of a passing league. You will have guys running that may have a good couple of years, but defenders are getting bigger and faster.

As far as Rice's record, all it takes is a guy in a pass happy offense to stick with the same good QB and to stay healthy.

Do you realize how hard that is???? I thought Marvin Harrison had a chance but his body couldn't hold up. Jerry's receiving record won't be broken either....

 

[NeonDeion21]

In today's NFL, teams are going to multiple running back systems, therefore making it highly unlikely to be broken.

Who would've ever thought that T.O's 20 catch game would ever be broken? or Dan Marino's 49 TD's? Records all broken all the time.

 

[Sb or Bust]

I agree with almost everybody that has posted. I do not think that the rushing record will be broken because it requires a long productive career. I thoght Tomlinson might, but he is breaking down fast and will either be replaced 2010 or 2011. And the current fad or two back systems reduced the yards gained by RB. Maybe Johnson from the Titans if he plays at his current level for 6-7 years which is highly doubtful. The pass happy league makes Rice records seam within reach, but also difficult.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Yes, another durable back will come along and break Emmitt Smith's record over time.

The League may be shifting to dual/specialists at Running Back but a lot of things in the NFL is cyclical and what is en vogue now could be obsolete in future eras.

 

[CowboyDan]

I hope it never gets broken....but if it does, I hope its done by someone wearing a

 

[Gzus]

Both can be broken, but not anytime soon. Rice's probably will stand for at least another 20 years, I really don't see any WR dominant enough right now to even threaten it. Owens is the closest but the guy is likely out of the league in a season or two, he'll either retire on his own or just no one will sign him. Smith's I think will be harder to break, because the league is tending to turn into a pass happy league instead of a run first league, but I think it's still possible to break. Smith's record will be rougher to break because of the wear and tear that RBs take over time compared to WRs. WRs don't take as much wear playing the game as RBs with their constant contact, compound this with the amount of violence this game incurs on the players compared to years ago (people are faster and stronger, and hit harder now) and you factor in the NFL's evolving policy on concussions and player safety RBs will be held out more often due to concussion like symptoms. In the end the RB I think will have fewer chances to break Smith's record and durability will be a major factor in attempting to break this record. Rice's can be broken by a dominant WR w/ a dominant QB a tough task to do but it is more likely than a really dominant RB showing up.

 

[AdamJT13]

Some fodder for the discussion --

http://adamjt13.blogspot.com/2010/02/projecting-career-rushing-yardage_3531.html

Bottom line: There's nobody in the league right now who is even close to Emmitt's pace.

Here's how many yards all of the top guys are behind Emmitt at the same age --


Adrian Peterson . . . . . 1,215
LaDainian Tomlinson . . 1,473
Clinton Portis . . . . . . . .1,538
Maurice Jones-Drew . .. 1,775
Steven Jackson . . . . . . 2,249
Chris Johnson . . . . . . . 2,465
Edgerrin James . . . . . . 2,920
Jamal Lewis . . . . . . . .. 3,356
Frank Gore . . . . . . . . . 3,395
Matt Forte . . . . . . . .. . 3,532
DeAngelo Williams . . . . 5,106
Fred Taylor . . . . . . . . . 5,622
Thomas Jones . . .. . . . 5,949

 

[Daudr]

Some fodder for the discussion --

http://adamjt13.blogspot.com/2010/02/projecting-career-rushing-yardage_3531.html

Bottom line: There's nobody in the league right now who is even close to Emmitt's pace.

Here's how many yards all of the top guys are behind Emmitt at the same age --


Adrian Peterson . . . . . 1,215
LaDainian Tomlinson . . 1,473
Clinton Portis . . . . . . . .1,538
Maurice Jones-Drew . .. 1,775
Steven Jackson . . . . . . 2,249
Chris Johnson . . . . . . . 2,465
Edgerrin James . . . . . . 2,920
Jamal Lewis . . . . . . . .. 3,356
Frank Gore . . . . . . . . . 3,395
Matt Forte . . . . . . . .. . 3,532
DeAngelo Williams . . . . 5,106
Fred Taylor . . . . . . . . . 5,622
Thomas Jones . . .. . . . 5,949

Not only that, but in today's NFL, rarely are the RBs the lone back, at least not for more than a year or two. There are almost always tandems or trios running the ball, and now most teams run it less and throw it more. I really don't think any RB will break Emmitt's record until they add in at least 2 more games to the regular season, and even then it is "iffy" because the wear and tear on a RB is just ridiculous and they cannot hold up like Emmitt did.

 

[fredp22]

if we go to an 18 game season I think the record will be broken

 

[lkelly]

Exactly - the wildcard in all this analysis is the 18 game (or longer) season that may happen in the future. The salary cap tends to hamper long careers in general, but that may be going away as well.

Even with all these factors, it's going to be tough to match Emmitt and very tough to match Rice. There's no need to trip the alarms until someone gets within 3 seasons of them and is still producing at a high level.

 

[CF74]

Chris Johnson might if he can avoid the injury bug...

 

[AdamJT13]

Chris Johnson might if he can avoid the injury bug...

He's already 2,465 yards behind Emmitt at the same age. Coming into the NFL at 23 pretty much killed his chances.

 

[CF74]

He's already 2,465 yards behind Emmitt at the same age. Coming into the NFL at 23 pretty much killed his chances.

Your numbers and stats give me headaches.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Yes, every record is meant to be broken.

In today's NFL, teams are going to multiple running back systems, therefore making it highly unlikely to be broken.

Some fodder for the discussion --

http://adamjt13.blogspot.com/2010/02/projecting-career-rushing-yardage_3531.html

Bottom line: There's nobody in the league right now who is even close to Emmitt's pace.

Here's how many yards all of the top guys are behind Emmitt at the same age --


Adrian Peterson . . . . . 1,215
LaDainian Tomlinson . . 1,473
Clinton Portis . . . . . . . .1,538
Maurice Jones-Drew . .. 1,775
Steven Jackson . . . . . . 2,249
Chris Johnson . . . . . . . 2,465
Edgerrin James . . . . . . 2,920
Jamal Lewis . . . . . . . .. 3,356
Frank Gore . . . . . . . . . 3,395
Matt Forte . . . . . . . .. . 3,532
DeAngelo Williams . . . . 5,106
Fred Taylor . . . . . . . . . 5,622
Thomas Jones . . .. . . . 5,949

No one breaks that record.
- health
- greed
- making "business decisions"
- Emmitt wrote his goal of Breaking Payton's rushing record. Players goals out of college is just to collect a Big payday.


My only wish was that Emmitt get to 20,000 yard. Emmitt20K