Emmitt's hold on the record

[Established1971]

Looking at Gore's numbers (and of course his age) it doesnt look like he will get another 3,000 yards to break Smiths records. Assuming Adrian Peterson doesnt have some miraculous 3rd life in the league, Emmitt is all but assured of breaking another record - the number of years being on top. Its already been 18 years since Emmitt broke the record

The record for how long someone has held the career record is Jim Browns 21 years.

The way the game has changed he may hold it for 40 or 50. But you never know how the game can change again.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Let Pollard be our featured back, he'll take it down.

 

[BoysForLife]

Looking at Gore's numbers (and of course his age) it doesnt look like he will get another 3,000 yards to break Smiths records. Assuming Adrian Peterson doesnt have some miraculous 3rd life in the league, Emmitt is all but assured of breaking another record - the number of years being on top. Its already been 18 years since Emmitt broke the record

The record for how long someone has held the career record is Jim Browns 21 years.

The way the game has changed he may hold it for 40 or 50. But you never know how the game can change again.

#22

Simply the best. Absolutely love that guy.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Last year many thought Barkley had a chance. Suddenly a down year changes the perspective on his chances.

 

[DFWJC]

With the huge money paid and the concern about concussions, there will be very few (if any) RBs that play as long as Emmitt did.
Let alone at a high level.

Never say never, but could stand for a very-very long time

 

[HowardC]

Well we know that Zeke ain't gonna break it...

 

[Joe Realist]

Emmitt can thank Barry for retiring early, or he would have been over 20,000 yards. That said, Gore has passed the last person he will and Peterson will end up 5th. That's it.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Emmitt can thank Barry for retiring early, or he would have been over 20,000 yards. That said, Gore has passed the last person he will and Peterson will end up 5th. That's it.

Agreed, and I don't see Peterson getting resigned by the Skins, Guice is the man, assuming he doesn't get injured again....

 

[JD_KaPow]

Gore's pretty amazing. He's the all-time leader in rushing yards from age 27 on. From age 28 on, he's the leader by 700 yards over Emmitt. Walter Payton's in third, 1000 yards behind Emmitt (1700 behind Gore). And it's still not enough to get him there. He was too far behind and had too much ground to make up (although it's still not impossible).

I still believe nobody's going to catch Emmitt from behind. You have to pile up the yards early, get ahead of him, and then also have a stupid long career to have a chance.

Zeke's already too far behind, and there's zero chance (IMHO) that he has an unusually long career. No other current player is even in the conversation.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Gore's pretty amazing. He's the all-time leader in rushing yards from age 27 on. From age 28 on, he's the leader by 700 yards over Emmitt. Walter Payton's in third, 1000 yards behind Emmitt (1700 behind Gore). And it's still not enough to get him there. He was too far behind and had too much ground to make up (although it's still not impossible).

I still believe nobody's going to catch Emmitt from behind. You have to pile up the yards early, get ahead of him, and then also have a stupid long career to have a chance.

Zeke's already too far behind, and there's zero chance (IMHO) that he has an unusually long career. No other current player is even in the conversation.

Yes, after Gore and Peterson you have to go to number 22 all time (LeShon McCoy) to find another active player with significant yards. The game will have to revert back to 90's football before anyone will even approach Emmitt's record...

 

[JD_KaPow]

Yes, after Gore and Peterson you have to go to number 22 all time (LeShon McCoy) to find another active player with significant yards. The game will have to revert back to 90's football before anyone will even approach Emmitt's record...

I don't think that's true. The number of 1000-yard rushers in recent seasons is basically the same (9-12) as it was back in the '90s. And the leaders in rushing yards put up just about the same numbers (1400-1600 with the occasional guy spiking to 1800 or 2000). It's not like the innings pitched record in baseball: the game hasn't changed all that much. Maybe it will change more, but given current conditions, somebody could make a run at Emmitt's record. They just have to start fast, stay healthy (and unsuspended) and last forever, that's all.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

I don't think that's true. The number of 1000-yard rushers in recent seasons is basically the same (9-12) as it was back in the '90s. And the leaders in rushing yards put up just about the same numbers (1400-1600 with the occasional guy spiking to 1800 or 2000). It's not like the innings pitched record in baseball: the game hasn't changed all that much. Maybe it will change more, but given current conditions, somebody could make a run at Emmitt's record. They just have to start fast, stay healthy (and unsuspended) and last forever, that's all.

What I mean is that you have to have a lot of teams that have the "bell cow" running back, the guy who consistently is the focus of the offense. Not that many teams do that these days...

 

[Joe Realist]

I think the longevity of the modern back, who plays for awhile, has a 12,000 yard ceiling. I would expect Zeke's career to end between 10-12k yards.

 

[Reality]

Last year many thought Barkley had a chance. Suddenly a down year changes the perspective on his chances.

The problem goes beyond ability.

Even if a running back escapes serious injuries and even if they maintain most of their speed in their 30s, they still have to be better than the cheaper fresh-legged drafted running backs entering the league every year and be able to survive coaching changes.

In reality, I don't think even Emmitt could beat Emmitt's record now.

 

[EST_1986]

Well we know that Zeke ain't gonna break it...

maybe if he plays 40 years

 

[LACowboysFan1]

I think the longevity of the modern back, who plays for awhile, has a 12,000 yard ceiling. I would expect Zeke's career to end between 10-12k yards.

So far one thing Zeke has in common with Emmitt is his durability. Zeke's played in every one of the 53 games he's been eligible to play. He's averaging about 96 yards a game, or over a full 16 game season about 1.545 yards a year. That means it would take him 11.88 years to catch Emmitt.

Considering you've got backs like Peterson and Gore, who are still productive to a point into their thirties, and other players that have had what were career ending injuries years ago are now no big deal, Zeke has a shot to catch Emmitt.

As they say, rules are meant to be broken. Not likely, but not out of the realm of possibility...

 

[Sarge]

If he keeps taking himself off the field because he’s tired it’ll quickly become a non issue.