Emmitt, TD, and Perk All Retired As Top 5 Rushers

[Thomas82]

It just came to me a little while ago that Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, and Don Perkins were all among the NFL's top 5 all-time rushers at the time they retired. Are the Cowboys the only team in NFL history with that distinction?

 

[Irvin88_4life]

It just came to me a little while ago that Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, and Don Perkins were all among the NFL's top 5 all-time rushers at the time they retired. Are the Cowboys the only team in NFL history with that distinction?

Yes i think Dallas is the only team to have 3. Can't think of any others that come close

 

[Super_Kazuya]

It just came to me a little while ago that Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, and Don Perkins were all among the NFL's top 5 all-time rushers at the time they retired. Are the Cowboys the only team in NFL history with that distinction?

Seeing as how 2 of those 3 guys didn’t even finish their careers with the Cowboys, what exactly is the distinction?
Anyways, the answer is yes it has happened before. If you go back far enough when the league was smaller you can see it. Heck it’s probably happened lots of times when you account for guys on multiple teams.

 

[Red Dragon]

Cowboys have long been disproportionately represented in NFL rushing records.

• Emmitt - career leading rushing yards, also most rushing attempts and rushing RDs
• Murray - 253 yards in a game as rookie, most-ever by a rookie (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

• Emmitt, Dorsett, Perkins all in Top 5 when they retired
• Emmitt - 11 straight thousand-yard seasons
• Dorsett - 99 yard run from scrimmage
• Murray - started first seven games of a season with 100+ yards
• Felix Jones: rookie record for most consecutive games to start a season with TD(?)
• Emmitt: most rushing TDs in a season (until broken by Tomlinson)

 

[cowboyec]

DON PERKINS
TONY DORSETT
EMMITT SMITH

 

[CF74]

It’s all moot, we’re going to let Zeke walk when he’s up for a contract...

 

[Thomas82]

Seeing as how 2 of those 3 guys didn’t even finish their careers with the Cowboys, what exactly is the distinction?
Anyways, the answer is yes it has happened before. If you go back far enough when the league was smaller you can see it. Heck it’s probably happened lots of times when you account for guys on multiple teams.

The distinction is that they were all Cowboys. I did look back to when the league was smaller and couldn't find another team that could make that claim.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Cowboys have long been disproportionately represented in NFL rushing records.

• Murray - 253 yards in a game as rookie, most-ever by a rookie (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

This is not the record; remember the rookie and overall record are the same now.

 

[Thomas82]

Cowboys have long been disproportionately represented in NFL rushing records.

• Emmitt - career leading rushing yards, also most rushing attempts and rushing RDs
• Murray - 253 yards in a game as rookie, most-ever by a rookie (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

• Emmitt, Dorsett, Perkins all in Top 5 when they retired
• Emmitt - 11 straight thousand-yard seasons
• Dorsett - 99 yard run from scrimmage
• Murray - started first seven games of a season with 100+ yards
• Felix Jones: rookie record for most consecutive games to start a season with TD(?)
• Emmitt: most rushing TDs in a season (until broken by Tomlinson)

That's facts!!

 

[big dog cowboy]

FWIW...I'm getting Zeke in as many fantasy leagues as possible this year.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

The distinction is that they were all Cowboys. I did look back to when the league was smaller and couldn't find another team that could make that claim.

So if the Cardinals had two other guys they could claim Emmitt? The overwhelming majority of RBs on the rushing list have played for more than one team; increasing the odds that there are multiple sets of teams that can make such a claim.
Green Bay Packer Hall of Famers Jim Taylor, Tony Canadeo, and Clarke Hinkle all retired in the top 5 of all-time rushers.

 

[Thomas82]

So if the Cardinals had two other guys they could claim Emmitt? The overwhelming majority of RBs on the rushing list have played for more than one team; increasing the odds that there are multiple sets of teams that can make such a claim.
Green Bay Packer Hall of Famers Jim Taylor, Tony Canadeo, and Clarke Hinkle all retired in the top 5 of all-time rushers.

Maybe I should have added a qualifer, something like a minimum of 6,000 rushing yards. But thanks for the info!!

 

[jazzcat22]

Wasn't Emmitt the first and only, League MVP, Rushing leader and SB MVP in the same year. As he was the 1st, but not sure still the only NFL leading rusher and SB winner.

 

[TheSkaven]

I have been watching the Cowboys since the late 70’s and this has always been a pound-the-football type of team. It’s our MO and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

[Thomas82]

Wasn't Emmitt the first and only, League MVP, Rushing leader and SB MVP in the same year. As he was the 1st, but not sure still the only NFL leading rusher and SB winner.

Yes to the first part, but Terrell Davis also won the Super Bowl the year he got 2,000 yards.

 

[Thomas82]

FWIW...I'm getting Zeke in as many fantasy leagues as possible this year.

That sounds like a good idea.

 

[jazzcat22]

Yes to the first part, but Terrell Davis also won the Super Bowl the year he got 2,000 yards.

I thought someone else did it, but could not remember who.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

The next best running back team is probably the Rams. They drafted Jerome Bettis (7th most rushing yards ever), Eric Dickerson (9th most ever), Steven Jackson (18th), traded from Marshall Faulk who's in the hall for what he did with the Rams (12th most), and have Todd Gurley who, like Zeke, will probably be pretty high on that list 10 years from now.

QB City is probably GB, who have 3 quarterbacks that have league MVP trophies AND superbowl rings. 49ers are the closest if Garoppolo turns out to be what was promised. Or Maybe Andrew Luck in Indy.

Receiverville... Cowboys have had a few superstars, but Minnesota had 2 all-timers at the same time. But the 49ers have had the first, third, fourth, fifth, and fourteenth players with the most receiving yards ever at various points in their careers. No one is really head and shoulders more than another team, but they probably get it solely because of Rice (and more Owens than anyone).

KC already has their second all-time TE, only SD can really compete with that in Winslow and Gates. But Tony Gonzalez has more receptions than any receiver ever other than Rice, and Travis Kelce made his second all-pro team and Gronk just retired. This will be completely out of reach very soon.

 

[Established1971]

It just came to me a little while ago that Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, and Don Perkins were all among the NFL's top 5 all-time rushers at the time they retired. Are the Cowboys the only team in NFL history with that distinction?

what?! I never knew that about Perkins. Very interesting.

 

[Established1971]

So if the Cardinals had two other guys they could claim Emmitt? The overwhelming majority of RBs on the rushing list have played for more than one team; increasing the odds that there are multiple sets of teams that can make such a claim.
Green Bay Packer Hall of Famers Jim Taylor, Tony Canadeo, and Clarke Hinkle all retired in the top 5 of all-time rushers.

dude, pick your battles better, really

the spirit of the OP's point is a good one, no need to nitpick