Ex-Lions coach: B. Sanders didn't love the game, wasn't a leader

[zeromaster]

Please keep posting, the stupidity is amusing.

Please keep posting once a year, it's more than amusing.

 

[bootsy]

both men in 1995 ( 1994 season ) before the Superbowl down here in Miami during the NFL " experience " fair.

Barry is great guy. A down to earth person who takes the time to talk you, doesn't matter where or when.

Emmitt ? Not so much. His parents are wonderful people, particularly his mom, but he's a little too arrogant for his own good. His mom had a pendant attached to a gold chain around her neck that was the replica of the Superbowl XXVIII ring. I mentioned to her that it was one of the most beautiful pendants I've ever seen and we immediately struck up a conversation about Emmitt and his days at Escambia high and UF. His dad couldn't have been more prouder, his face beaming every time he mentioned the 200 yards games his son had at both places. On the other hand, Emmitt, who I saw the following day, was aloof and had this " I have to be here, but I really don't want to be " attitude that, even though he was Emmitt Smith, kept alot of fans at arms length. Emmitt is still my favorite player ever and that will never change. Well maybe if the Cowboys win a Super Bowl this year, T.O. or Romo may get some consideration.

Barry, on the other hand, was hamming it up. Taking pictures, shaking hands, signing autographs, laughing.. the works. To this day I regret not buying a football and getting it autographed by him. I did buy one and got it autographed by Emmitt, charging $100 for it too, but the fondest memories I had of that week was with Barry and Emmitt's parents.

I never saw Emmitt quite in the same light again.

:starspin

Emmitt can come off this way especially on TV. He does have a semi-arrogant attitude but it doesn't make him a bad person. He has never had any off the field problems. He is a family man from what I can tell and he does give back to charities. I think part of that attitude may stem from being a Cowboy. The Cowboys have always had that arrogant persona to non-Cowboy fans and to some Cowboy fans. Maybe you caught Emmitt on a bad day. Don't judge him off of that one day. His team did just lose th NFC Championship game that year trying to go for a 3 peat in Switzer's first year. He would probably thought or would rather be playing in that Super Bowl than doing that. Barry on the other hand knew he wasn't going to be playing in that game for a while.

 

[WarC]

Barry Sanders. Now that guy was a beast. Never seen someone who could control and contort his body in motion within the rules of the game as well as he could. He was just plain slippery, he'd make guys miss -badly-, as if he were playing highschool ball instead of the best of the best. The best pure runner I've ever seen.

I still like and would prefer Emmitt over Sanders, though. Emmitt was, to me, the greatest RB that ever played the game, because he was good at everything. He could pick up a blitz like a champ. He could catch the ball as well as any receiver. Had a good stiff arm, an exceptional juke, solid ball control and rarely fumbled. As a complete package back I think Emmitt outclasses Barry without a doubt, but as a -pure- runner Sanders is peerless. Thats something I wouldn't admit while he and Emmitt still played, but in my eyes its true!

 

[bootsy]

No, probably not, but then again his arm wouldnt have been hurt like that cause he wouldn't have been caught from behind like Emmitt was.

On the flip side, Barry on that run would have been caught in the backfield for a yard loss or he would have been on the sidellne while the backup came in.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Old news. Everyone knew Barry didn't love the game. Why would someone who love the game just walk away?

 

[DallasEast]

Please keep posting once a year, it's more than amusing.