LT shows Emmitt's rushing record may be one of sports' latest unbreakable records...

[AdamJT13]

If you're arguing that Matt Forte isn't a very good running back (other than for fantasy purposes), you're not going to get any argument from me.

I didn't say that. I'm saying that a feature back averaging 3.8 or 3.9 yards per carry isn't reason to dump him or think he's not good anymore. Guys like Tomlinson and Curtis Martin are a testament to that.

 

[crazytown41]

Can we please stop calling Ladanian, "LT"?

There's only ONE

 

[mldardy]

Can we please stop calling Ladanian, "LT"?

There's only ONE

I have said this for the longest time. Call him LDT or something to LT belongs to Mr. Taylor.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I believe the record is out of reach. Players are different. I dont see any of them staying long enough to break it.

LT is a frickn cry baby. Glad he aint sniffin it.
Portis aint getting it either.

I wanted Emmitt to get to 20,000 = E20K

 

[BAT]

In each of Emmitt's last two years in Dallas, at ages 32 and 33, he had more yards AND a higher YPC while playing for a terrible team than a 25-year-old Marion Barber did last year while playing for a good-to-very good team.

Another reason why I dislike Parcells. He forced out a Cowboy great, who could still produce, when the cupboard was bare.

Instead of bringing in someone better to replace him first, he got rid of Emmitt quickly out of sheer pettiness & insecurity. Emmitt's consistency and vet presence would have been a help, not a hindrance, in Parcells first failed attempt at the playoffs w/the Cowboys. Hambrick was utter crap who forced the **** addled Quincy Carter to bear the load on offense.

 

[Doomsday101]

NFL top 5 All time leading rusher

1Emmitt Smith 18,355
2 Walter Payton 16,726
3 Barry Sanders 15,269
4 Curtis Martin 14,101
5 Jerome Bettis 13,662

I have to admit I was surprised to see Curtis Martin there

Only active player on the top 20 list

11 EDGERRIN JAMES 12,151
14 LADAINIAN TOMLINSON 11,815
16 FRED TAYLOR 11,271

 

[Z mann R2]

Sanders? QUITTER and deserves NOTHING.

You play your *** off for 10 years with the crappiest team on earth and be held hostage there and see if you call it quits!

Barry is the man!!!

 

[Maikeru-sama]

You play your *** off for 10 years with the crappiest team on earth and be held hostage there and see if you call it quits!

Barry is the man!!!

 

[Doomsday101]

You play your *** off for 10 years with the crappiest team on earth and be held hostage there and see if you call it quits!

Barry is the man!!!

I agree. Sanders was just frustrated with the Lions and was not having fun playing the game. I know it is a business but it is also a game that you should enjoy and Sanders just did not enjoy doing it any longer. I have always felt Barry was the best pure runner in the game but Emmitt in my view was the better all around RB from running the ball, catching the ball, blocking and because of that I think he was able to do more for his team

 

[T-RO]

I.R. you write some of the finest posts on this board and you've done it again.

I don't see #22's record ever falling. Nobody will get as many carries for as many seasons.

He was special.

 

[Doomsday101]

I.R. you write some of the finest posts on this board and you've done it again.

I don't see #22's record ever falling. Nobody will get as many carries for as many seasons.

He was special.

Ever is a long time. It will be hard to break but you never know when that special RB comes in and has a long productive career.

 

[Thomas82]

I've been saying it all along, Emmitt's record will last longer than any other RB that has held it, even Jim Brown.

It requires a unique mixture of stuff, much of which is completely out of the hands of the player himself, to accomplish that feat:

For the player:

1. Talent - the RB obviously has to be good enough to gain a lot of yards.

2. Durability - the RB cannot miss a lot of games.

3. Longevity - the RB has to play a long time.

4. Consistency - the RB has to be good year after year.

5. Age Well - The player has to be able to produce even after he is 31 years old, that seems to be the mark when they fall of considerably.

6. Conditioning - I decided to add this because it came to me that Emmitt's success was due in large part to his conditioning coaches and chiropractors that kept him flexible and in shape.


For the team:

1. Contenders - the Team has to be a contender year after year.

2. Commitment to the run - the Team has to be committed to the run and not be a pass-happy offense.

3. Feature-back offense - a player in a RB-by-committee system isn't going to break this record.

4. Consistency - the team has to be consistently good game after game, year after year. If they are playing from behind a lot then they will run the ball less often.

5. Coaching - you good Coaching to break this record, both from the HC and from the position coaches.

6. Blocking - the Team must have a great O-Line and lead blockers for the RB to consistently gain yards.


For both:

1. Lucky - both the RB and the Team need to be lucky and win games they maybe shouldn't have.

2. Dedication - both the player and the team need to want to get that record and be willing to do whatever is necessary, without jeopardizing the team goals, to get it.


There are probably other factors but those are the main ones. To get ALL of those factors in place and keep them there for 14+ years is the trick and what will be the downfall of every RB who sets this record as his goal.

Adrian Peterson is the latest hopeful but he will fall far short before too long. Tomlinson looked like he might have a shot since he had a lot of those factors in place but at 30 he is slowing down and it doesn't appear that he will have the longevity required to make it.

When people debate who the greatest RB of all-time was, Emmitt has proven that it was him. He wasn't the best runner, but he is the greatest RB ever.

 

[RoadRunner]

You play your *** off for 10 years with the crappiest team on earth and be held hostage there and see if you call it quits!

Barry is the man!!!

Barry would have never touched Emmitt in the rushing TDs category, nor the SB wins category. Barry wasn't the man.

 

[RoadRunner]

One of them will be, and one of them would have been if he hadn't wrapped his car around a concrete support (or whatever he hit).

But for the most part, those Cowboys lines were composed of guys who were considered journeymen before Emmitt, Aikman, and Irvin hit their stride.

Larry Allen wasn't an original Emmitt lineman. He came in later after Emmitt had already won the rushing title a few times and back to back SBs.

None of Emmitt's original linemen has even been considered for the hall of fame.

 

[BAT]

I believe the record is out of reach. Players are different. I dont see any of them staying long enough to break it.

LT is a frickn cry baby. Glad he aint sniffin it.
Portis aint getting it either.

I wanted Emmitt to get to 20,000 = E20K

And he would have, if not for Parcells ... and Roy Williams.

 

[BAT]

You play your *** off for 10 years with the crappiest team on earth and be held hostage there and see if you call it quits!

Barry is the man!!!

I agree. Barry Sanders IS the man .... for quitters AND losers.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

And he would have, if not for Parcells ... and Roy Williams.

I hear ya... I dont think he had another 2-3 years in him though

 

[Doomsday101]

I hear ya... I dont think he had another 2-3 years in him though

I agree. I was glad he broke the record with the Cowboys but when the season was done I think he should have hung them up. However I never lost respect for Emmitt when he went to Arz these guys have been playing since they were little kids this is what they know and what they enjoy doing. If someone is willing to give you the oppertunity to continue to play then do it.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I agree. I was glad he broke the record with the Cowboys but when the season was done I think he should have hung them up. However I never lost respect for Emmitt when he went to Arz these guys have been playing since they were little kids this is what they know and what they enjoy doing. If someone is willing to give you the oppertunity to continue to play then do it.

Yeah, I think (like Aikman tried to get on another team) Emmitt didnt want the Cowboys telling him to hang em up. He wanted to hang them up on his terms.

I remember when Aikman retired, he said, "today I retire from the national football leagues" NOT the dallas cowboys. Very telling if you ask me.

 

[joseephuss]

I agree. I was glad he broke the record with the Cowboys but when the season was done I think he should have hung them up. However I never lost respect for Emmitt when he went to Arz these guys have been playing since they were little kids this is what they know and what they enjoy doing. If someone is willing to give you the oppertunity to continue to play then do it.

I think Dallas and even Parcells was willing to let Emmitt continue to play in Dallas. They just weren't willing to do it at his asking price and I don't fault them for that. Emmitt was the man, but not in 2003. It was a sad truth. I know he was still better than Hambrick, but I never thought Hambrick should be the starter. Emmitt was not worth $4 million per year at that time. He got his money and got to keep playing. I found no fault with that.