It's A Shame That Emmitt Doesn't Get The Respect He Deserves

[Macnalty]

Not sure what you're referencing. Many people around here didn't live through that era (at least not as adults).

Much of the sport media is concentrated in the NorthEast so their never going to give Cowboys players the benefit of the doubt in rankings.

Barry Sanders was in the same era and was much flashier which is what a lot of fans think makes a great RB.

If a GM was building a team and could go back and pick any RB in history in their prime, I think Emmitt would be at the top of the list for many of the GMs. For a GM it's all about winning, not about flash.

Emmitt was a tough as any football player that I've watched.
His vision and balance were probably as good as anybody and maybe the very best.
He was an excellent blocker.
One of the Cowboys LBs back then (I think it was Darrin Smith) said that covering Emmitt as a receiver in practice was more difficult than any RB he had to cover from other teams.
He was money on short yardage.
He ran away from people way more often than you would think considering that people obsessed about his slow-ish forty time.

I guess that if you have a bad OLine, then maybe the Barry Sanders style RB would be better because he could dance around indefinitely looking for an opening; however, for a championship team, give me Emmitt all day and twice on Sundays.

In their prime I might have to choose Earl Campbell, or Jim Brown. It is not a big class that contains the likes of Emmitt Smith, no one saw the field like Smith and used that to their advantage. Others were bigger and faster but not better RB's IMO.

 

[perrykemp]

In their prime I might have to choose Earl Campbell, or Jim Brown. It is not a big class that contains the likes of Emmitt Smith, no one saw the field like Smith and used that to their advantage. Others were bigger and faster but not better RB's IMO.

Define prime. If we are talking prime as in one RB for just one year, give me OJ Simpson vintage 1973 or so -- 2003 yards in 14 games. 6.0 yards per carry.

The 1973 Bills had one of the worst passing offenses ever -- they passed for 1236 yards and a 42.7 QB rating. Everybody knew OJ was getting the ball on just about every play and he still managed 6.0 ypc and 143 yards per game.

Man among boys.

 

[waving monkey]

O course Olines are always responsible for the success of a running play but I forgot
how juky and balanced ESmith was.That video reminded me, damn Emmitt was really
good not just durable.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I saw this gif and thought it would Be funny to say it's Ezekiel Elliot but there was no thread for it


https://t.co/niwnCsLKMW

 

[J_Allen]

Jerry Rice was the great player, at any position, I've ever watched. I've been watching football since roughly 1981.

I love Emmitt Smith but I don't think he quite falls into that category.

My father would say Jim Brown, followed by Jerry Rice.

Randy Moss was better IMO.

 

[perrykemp]

Randy Moss was better IMO.

Honestly, out of the 25 attributes that make up a great WR, Randy Ross might have better than Jerry Rice in two of them -- speed and height. All the rest rest Jerry was superior.

Jerry Rice was the ultimate champion -- he obliterated every WR record there was and was better than Moss in just about every way:

• Career TDs: 207 (Moss had 156)
• Career yards: 23,540 (Moss had 15,451)
• Career receptions: 1,549 (Moss had 982)
• Most receiving yards in a season: 1,848 (Moss had 1632)
• Most receptions in a season: 122 (Moss had 111)
• Most TDs a season: 22 in 12 games (1987 strike shortened season), Moss had 23 in 16 games
• Superbowl Rings: 3 (Moss had 0)
• Seasons with more than 1500 yards receiving: 4 (Moss had 1)
• Seasons with more than 100 receptions: 4 (Moss had 2)

Beyond just killing Moss in stats, Rice was a cold-hearted killer on the field and only got better in the playoffs. He was great on each and every play -- whereas Randy Moss was pouty, took plays off, moped when he wasn't getting the ball, and wore out his welcome nearly everywhere he went.

What I will say is that Randy Moss had the <potential> to to be the greatest ever -- but just didn't seem to care much about being great. He ended up being a top 5 WR in NFL history basically on his incredible athletic ability.

Jerry Rice is easily the #1 WR in NFL history -- potentially the #1 player at any position in NFL history, despite fairly modest athletic traits.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Greatest

Running Back


Ever!



He wasn't just a great individual player. He made his team better. He helped to win 3 Super Bowls.

 

[perrykemp]

Greatest

Running Back

Ever!

He wasn't just a great individual player. He made his team better. He helped to win 3 Super Bowls.

I don't think there is any argument Emmitt is the best RB of the modern era.

Most experts tend to point to Jim Brown as the great RB in NFL history.

Given the different eras it's impossible to compare although the stats show that Brown was better than Emmitt Smith in just about every statistical category:

Yards Rushing per game (104 vs 81)
Rushing TDs per game (0.89 vs 0.72)
Yards Per Carry (5.2 vs 4.2)

Emmitt did win 3 Superbowls vs Brown's 1 and that's relevant -- although at the end of the day they were both champions.

There is definitely something to be said for Emmitt's longevity vs Brown quitting abruptly after a brilliant season where he ran for 1544 yards and 17 TDs in just 14 games.

 

[J_Allen]

Honestly, out of the 25 attributes that make up a great WR, Randy Ross might have better than Jerry Rice in two of them -- speed and height. All the rest rest Jerry was superior.

Jerry Rice was the ultimate champion -- he obliterated every WR record there was and was better than Moss in just about every way:

• Career TDs: 207 (Moss had 156)
• Career yards: 23,540 (Moss had 15,451)
• Career receptions: 1,549 (Moss had 982)
• Most receiving yards in a season: 1,848 (Moss had 1632)
• Most receptions in a season: 122 (Moss had 111)
• Most TDs a season: 22 in 12 games (1987 strike shortened season), Moss had 23 in 16 games
• Superbowl Rings: 3 (Moss had 0)
• Seasons with more than 1500 yards receiving: 4 (Moss had 1)
• Seasons with more than 100 receptions: 4 (Moss had 2)

Beyond just killing Moss in stats, Rice was a cold-hearted killer on the field and only got better in the playoffs. He was great on each and every play -- whereas Randy Moss was pouty, took plays off, moped when he wasn't getting the ball, and wore out his welcome nearly everywhere he went.

What I will say is that Randy Moss had the <potential> to to be the greatest ever -- but just didn't seem to care much about being great. He ended up being a top 5 WR in NFL history basically on his incredible athletic ability.

Jerry Rice is easily the #1 WR in NFL history -- potentially the #1 player at any position in NFL history, despite fairly modest athletic traits.

Nice breakdown and you state your case well.

Moss was definitely the most gifted athlete I've ever seen and the most talented wide receiver, but he didn't have the drive.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I don't think there is any argument Emmitt is the best RB of the modern era.

Most experts tend to point to Jim Brown as the great RB in NFL history.

Given the different eras it's impossible to compare although the stats show that Brown was better than Emmitt Smith in just about every statistical category:

Yards Rushing per game (104 vs 81)
Rushing TDs per game (0.89 vs 0.72)
Yards Per Carry (5.2 vs 4.2)

Emmitt did win 3 Superbowls vs Brown's 1 and that's relevant -- although at the end of the day they were both champions.

There is definitely something to be said for Emmitt's longevity vs Brown quitting abruptly after a brilliant season where he ran for 1544 yards and 17 TDs in just 14 games.

Brown was great. But the NFL was different then. He ran against scrub players(not athletic machines) compared to what emmitt had to run against/through(bigger/faster/stronger defenders).

 

[Macnalty]

Define prime. If we are talking prime as in one RB for just one year, give me OJ Simpson vintage 1973 or so -- 2003 yards in 14 games. 6.0 yards per carry.

The 1973 Bills had one of the worst passing offenses ever -- they passed for 1236 yards and a 42.7 QB rating. Everybody knew OJ was getting the ball on just about every play and he still managed 6.0 ypc and 143 yards per game.

Man among boys.

I was too young to remember how good the Oline was for Luv you Blue when Earl Campbell was the main event. Similar for Brown I assume, for Earl it was never a doubt what the play would be they could not stop him, players paid a price for tackling him, unlike OJ who was also great but in their prime Earl just sticks out as unstoppable with a tab. To each his own. I always liked the power backs more than the finesse runners. Give me the days of Norm Bulaich the Nigerian Nightmare, Christian Okoye, and arch nemesis John Riggins.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Randy Moss was better IMO.

Myself I'll take Rice. He showed up in the biggest games.

 

[xwalker]

In their prime I might have to choose Earl Campbell, or Jim Brown. It is not a big class that contains the likes of Emmitt Smith, no one saw the field like Smith and used that to their advantage. Others were bigger and faster but not better RB's IMO.

Jim Brown was dominant in his era; however, I look at it as which one would be the best to start a team in any era. I personally don't think Jim Brown would match up to Emmitt, Barry, etc. if the all played in the same era. Imagine Emmitt/Barry playing against DLinemen that 250 pounds. Barry Church would be the fastest DB on most teams back then instead of the slowest now but he would have been a LB due to his size.

Earl Campbell would be a punishing RB in any era but his career was 8 years then. Now that defenders are even bigger his career would likely be even shorter. One of Campbell's OGs, the great Mike Munchak was 6-3, 263. The smallest starting OL today that I'm aware of is Rodney Hudson at 6-2, 300. The Nineties Cowboys were the first to have primarily 300+ pound OLinemen. Now almost if not all OLinemen are over 300.

If I'm starting a team today, who would I pick?
I've already discussed Emmitt, Barry, Earl Campbell and Jim Brown.

Eric Dickerson: He was great but defenses are faster now. He best attribute was just outrunning defenders either to the corner or downfield.

Walter Payton: Like Emmitt he could probably function well in any era because he didn't really rely on a specific physical attribute like power (Brown, Campbell) or speed (Barry, Dickerson).

Bo Jackson: He never played more than 11 games in a season due to baseball and only lasted 4 seasons due the hip injury. Having said that, he would still be bigger and definitely faster than most current NFL RBs. Imagine is Zeke was as fast as Deion Sanders (maybe faster).

I still tend to like Emmitt because he was such a complete package (rushing, blocking, receiving, short yardage, longevity).

If I need 1 yard: Earl Campbell

If had a bad OLine: Barry Sanders

If wanted amazing long runs: Bo Jackson

Who are the top candidates of current RBs to eventually make the all time great list?
Zeke: Like Emmitt he is the complete package. He style is not similar to Emmitt, but he is a very complete player.
Bell: He's been doing it for a few years now. He has missed some games and has never carried over 300 times in a season. His TD numbers are nothing special.
Gurley: He is incredibly talented, IMO, but stuck on a team that's not that good. How would he look behind the Cowboys OL?

 

[Macnalty]

Jim Brown was dominant in his era; however, I look at it as which one would be the best to start a team in any era. I personally don't think Jim Brown would match up to Emmitt, Barry, etc. if the all played in the same era. Imagine Emmitt/Barry playing against DLinemen that 250 pounds. Barry Church would be the fastest DB on most teams back then instead of the slowest now but he would have been a LB due to his size.

Earl Campbell would be a punishing RB in any era but his career was 8 years then. Now that defenders are even bigger his career would likely be even shorter. One of Campbell's OGs, the great Mike Munchak was 6-3, 263. The smallest starting OL today that I'm aware of is Rodney Hudson at 6-2, 300. The Nineties Cowboys were the first to have primarily 300+ pound OLinemen. Now almost if not all OLinemen are over 300.

If I'm starting a team today, who would I pick?
I've already discussed Emmitt, Barry, Earl Campbell and Jim Brown.

Eric Dickerson: He was great but defenses are faster now. He best attribute was just outrunning defenders either to the corner or downfield.

Walter Payton: Like Emmitt he could probably function well in any era because he didn't really rely on a specific physical attribute like power (Brown, Campbell) or speed (Barry, Dickerson).

Bo Jackson: He never played more than 11 games in a season due to baseball and only lasted 4 seasons due the hip injury. Having said that, he would still be bigger and definitely faster than most current NFL RBs. Imagine is Zeke was as fast as Deion Sanders (maybe faster).

I still tend to like Emmitt because he was such a complete package (rushing, blocking, receiving, short yardage, longevity).

If I need 1 yard: Earl Campbell

If had a bad OLine: Barry Sanders

If wanted amazing long runs: Bo Jackson

Who are the top candidates of current RBs to eventually make the all time great list?
Zeke: Like Emmitt he is the complete package. He style is not similar to Emmitt, but he is a very complete player.
Bell: He's been doing it for a few years now. He has missed some games and has never carried over 300 times in a season. His TD numbers are nothing special.
Gurley: He is incredibly talented, IMO, but stuck on a team that's not that good. How would he look behind the Cowboys OL?

At some point the magnifying glass needs to be put on Gurley and what is happening to that Rams squad, what a waste of talent.
Did not know that Bell has such few carries per season, he is so gifted but probably will never realized his full talent.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

If I'm drafting a team I take Peyton manning, randy moss, and Adrian Peterson as my trio and my team will be better than yours no matter what trio you take

 

[perrykemp]

If I'm drafting a team I take Peyton manning, randy moss, and Adrian Peterson as my trio and my team will be better than yours no matter what trio you take

Yeah, those three at their grand total of 2 Superbowl victories (both Peyton) over their entire careers....

For me, give me Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith and I'll show you 5-6 Superbowl victories.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Yeah, those three at their grand total of 2 Superbowl victories (both Peyton) over their entire careers....

For me, give me Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith and I'll show you 5-6 Superbowl victories.

Eli > romo?

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Not sure how he's disrespected. He's was a slam dunk Hall of Famer. He is recognized as player with the mosr rushing yards in NFL history.

Perhaps you mean that people think he wasn't the greatest RB ever. Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith. You can make a case for any of these guys. But if somebody thinks Jim Brown was the greatest ever, it not disrespecting Emmitt, IMO.

Some people claim that he was only successful because he had a great O-line. The truth is when the team put in the likes of Curvin Richards or Derek Lassic, the team couldn't rush anywhere near as well.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I assume that you are talking about the disrespect he gets as a broadcaster.

He was practically debacled at ESPN.

I shutter to think what he would be like today without his bacles.......