I don't subscribe to the notion that there has to be a single "best ever" anyway. I firmly believe there has been more than one guy in the history of football who COULD have done what Emmitt did.. But they didn't.. They all got to play in the same league he did, many in far more run heavy eras than he did.. yet they all accomplished less. At some point you have to acknowledge the greatness of the football player and quit worrying about this one thing vs that one thing.. When taken as a whole the only RB in NFL history who was on Emmitt's level as a complete football player was Payton. Sure there has been a ton of guys with superior physical gifts.. Big whoop.. It's football not track and field and not a pose off at Mr. Olympia.. I believe that's why in addition to getting more yards and more TDs than everybody on that list Emmitt also played on more championship teams than all the guys on that list combined. And again we know he played on a loaded team.. a team that went 2-6 without him during his career. Like I said.. acknowledge the football player.. The whole football player.. and what he did/does for his team. In his first six seasons the Cowboys went 7-9, 11-5, 13-3, 12-4, 12-4, 12-4 ..
That's 67-29. With Emmitt they were 67-25. Without him they were 0-4. Same all star laden roster.. went from winning 70% of its games to 0-4 without that one guy. Without Troy I believe they were something like 8-3. Without Mike it was like 4-2. Don't quote me on the exact numbers because it has been a couple of years since I did the research but I believe that's the ballpark. Without Emmitt.. 0-4.. You do the math.. I get that Emmitt's running style was not sexy or flashy.. I get that he did not create as many highlights as some others.. But he played winning football.. he moved the chains and made the defense honor the run for four quarters and it really didn't slow down until he started to get old.. Until he got old he was able to carry that team on his back on many occasions.. He was the best short yardage and goal line runner I've ever seen. His knack for making guys miss in tight spaces was almost magical. Feel free to place whichever all time great above him you like.. That is your prerogative. As for me the only guys I put above him are the guys who gained more yards and scored more TDs..
So you put Frank Gore ahead of Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, O.J.Simpson, Adrian Peterson, Earl Campbell because he gained more yards? That is what you are saying with Emmitt. All about most yards gained and TD's.
I saw Emmitt play many many times, I have also seen everyone from Jim Brown at Syracuse. And I am a Cowboys fan so why would a Cowboys fan not yipppppeeee Emmitt.? Emmitt had way too many 3-5 yards runs where he didn't confront a tackler, that monstrous line had too much to do with his success. Imagine Barry Sanders behind that line.
Emmitt had more carries than anyone that is why he has all those yards, hell.....4,2 average is nothing special, Barry over 5 a carry.
I get it ya like Emmitt Smith, ok cool and the hell with keeping it real, ya simply like him, so go for it.
Emmitt had 4409 carries, Barry had 3062, hell yes he's going to have more yards he had over 1000 more carries. Emmitt was no Barry Sanders simply a fact. Barry never had any season averaging less than 4.3 a carry behind that weak Lions line. Emmtt rarely averaged 4.3, try 4 seasons.
Emmitts last nine Season averages
3.7
4.1
4.2
4.2
4.1
3.9
3.8
2,8
3,4
Barry
5.1
4.5
4,3
4.6
5.7
4.8
5.1
6.1
4.3
That doesn't tell ya something, hell, Emmitt behind that Lions line, ouch!!!!!!!!!
Give Emmitt the same amount of carries as Barry, now what?