The next time someone tries to down grade Emmitt's rushing accomplishments

[superpunk]

But still.....I'm down with just telling them to ****.

And if you must, mention 3 rings and a rushing title.

But, shut up should do just fine.

 

[AbeBeta]

But explain to me why he NEEDED to retire? Was it just because he was not as good as he was in his prime?

you can break emmitt's career into 3 primary categories -- Prime, post-prime, and shoulda been retired.

Emmitt's prime lasted until 1995. During that period he was stellar. He collected nearly 9000 yards with 4.5 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 4.7% of his attempts (96 total tds). He cracked 4.0 YPC every year except his first.

(Post-prime) I'd say from 1996 to 2000 he was a good but not great back. He collected 6200ish yards with 4.1 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 3.2% of his attempts (49 total tds). 4 of those 5 years he averaged <4 YPC (and the other year he was playing hurt). Not great but certainly very good.

(Retire?) 2001-2004, he was OK. He rushed for about 3200 yards with 3.7 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 2.1% of his attempts (19 total tds). He was hurt in 2003. He didn't rush for a YPC of 4.0 or better any of those years.

The way I see it he had 4 years of serious downturn. I can understand playing until he broke the record -- I can't understand going to AZ after breaking it.

 

[pancakeman]

I mean Dallas is a young team and has been to more superbowls then any team I believe and is tied for the most wins.

The franchise is older than the Super Bowl itself, so I don't think being a "young team" enters into that. But the rest of your point is well taken.

 

[aikemirv]

you can break emmitt's career into 3 primary categories -- Prime, post-prime, and shoulda been retired.

Emmitt's prime lasted until 1995. During that period he was stellar. He collected nearly 9000 yards with 4.5 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 4.7% of his attempts (96 total tds). He cracked 4.0 YPC every year except his first.

(Post-prime) I'd say from 1996 to 2000 he was a good but not great back. He collected 6200ish yards with 4.1 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 3.2% of his attempts (49 total tds). 4 of those 5 years he averaged <4 YPC (and the other year he was playing hurt). Not great but certainly very good.

(Retire?) 2001-2004, he was OK. He rushed for about 3200 yards with 3.7 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 2.1% of his attempts (19 total tds). He was hurt in 2003. He didn't rush for a YPC of 4.0 or better any of those years.

The way I see it he had 4 years of serious downturn. I can understand playing until he broke the record -- I can't understand going to AZ after breaking it.

The problem with Emmitt was that he was not what BP wanted. Emmitt would have gladly stayed in Dallas and he would have been more productive than Hambrick and more productive than Eddie George. He was, even at that time the better back than either of them. I think he felt he still had something to prove.

He took the offer that was best for him. Emmitt could still play, I just think that he was not willing to take the punishment those last few years like he did early in his career and since his skills were not what they once were he was not as productive as he could have been.

By the way his last few years in Dallas and his 2 years in Arizona were playing for crappy teams so that might of had a bit to do with his avg also.

 

[Jarv]

you can break emmitt's career into 3 primary categories -- Prime, post-prime, and shoulda been retired.

Emmitt's prime lasted until 1995. During that period he was stellar. He collected nearly 9000 yards with 4.5 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 4.7% of his attempts (96 total tds). He cracked 4.0 YPC every year except his first.

(Post-prime) I'd say from 1996 to 2000 he was a good but not great back. He collected 6200ish yards with 4.1 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 3.2% of his attempts (49 total tds). 4 of those 5 years he averaged <4 YPC (and the other year he was playing hurt). Not great but certainly very good.

(Retire?) 2001-2004, he was OK. He rushed for about 3200 yards with 3.7 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 2.1% of his attempts (19 total tds). He was hurt in 2003. He didn't rush for a YPC of 4.0 or better any of those years.

The way I see it he had 4 years of serious downturn. I can understand playing until he broke the record -- I can't understand going to AZ after breaking it.

I guess a lot of the greats have a problem hanging them up, thats why they were such great competitors. Look at Jerry Rice, Babe Ruth, Jorden, Joe Namath and Montanna, Vinny T...the list goes on and on...

The love of the game...also the $$'s probably had a thing or 2 to do with it also.

Heck, if you were a CEO of a company and they told you to retire at 65, yet your making 1 million a year, would you want to ?

 

[braw]

you can break emmitt's career into 3 primary categories -- Prime, post-prime, and shoulda been retired.

Emmitt's prime lasted until 1995. During that period he was stellar. He collected nearly 9000 yards with 4.5 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 4.7% of his attempts (96 total tds). He cracked 4.0 YPC every year except his first.

(Post-prime) I'd say from 1996 to 2000 he was a good but not great back. He collected 6200ish yards with 4.1 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 3.2% of his attempts (49 total tds). 4 of those 5 years he averaged <4 YPC (and the other year he was playing hurt). Not great but certainly very good.

(Retire?) 2001-2004, he was OK. He rushed for about 3200 yards with 3.7 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 2.1% of his attempts (19 total tds). He was hurt in 2003. He didn't rush for a YPC of 4.0 or better any of those years.

The way I see it he had 4 years of serious downturn. I can understand playing until he broke the record -- I can't understand going to AZ after breaking it.

I guess having those 6 crappy QBs his last 3 yrs did not help. What you suggest is to get rid of any player the day he loses a step. a league of a bunch of young players( look at the NBA). The reason the NFL is such a great league because it loves its stars even past their prime(Unitas, Montana, Rice, Emmitt)

 

[AbeBeta]

The problem with Emmitt was that he was not what BP wanted.

I don't agree with that -- Bill was asked repeatedly about 22 when he took the job and he said "that's up to Jerry to work out" -- Emmitt's problem was that his contract here was insane and he wasn't worth that sort of money.

 

[AbeBeta]

I guess having those 6 crappy QBs his last 3 yrs did not help. What you suggest is to get rid of any player the day he loses a step. a league of a bunch of young players( look at the NBA). The reason the NFL is such a great league because it loves its stars even past their prime(Unitas, Montana, Rice, Emmitt)

I'm suggesting that you get rid of guys not after they lose a step -- but certainly after they lose 2 steps.

 

[jay cee]

you can break emmitt's career into 3 primary categories -- Prime, post-prime, and shoulda been retired.

Emmitt's prime lasted until 1995. During that period he was stellar. He collected nearly 9000 yards with 4.5 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 4.7% of his attempts (96 total tds). He cracked 4.0 YPC every year except his first.

(Post-prime) I'd say from 1996 to 2000 he was a good but not great back. He collected 6200ish yards with 4.1 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 3.2% of his attempts (49 total tds). 4 of those 5 years he averaged <4 YPC (and the other year he was playing hurt). Not great but certainly very good.

(Retire?) 2001-2004, he was OK. He rushed for about 3200 yards with 3.7 YPC, and he rushed for a TD on 2.1% of his attempts (19 total tds). He was hurt in 2003. He didn't rush for a YPC of 4.0 or better any of those years.

The way I see it he had 4 years of serious downturn. I can understand playing until he broke the record -- I can't understand going to AZ after breaking it.

Great job of breaking down his career abersonc. But you still did not explain why he needed to retire. His numbers were IMO mediocre during those last 4 seasons.

But they still show that he was capable of playing NFL caliber football. Why should a guy that is capable of being a mediocre back retire? There are a number of mediocre backs in the league right now who are only in their mid-20's. Should they retire?

Or should they continue to enjoy the fame, money and comradery that comes with being a part of an NFL franchise? Not to mention the love that many of these guys have of competition.

 

[The30YardSlant]

It's really not fair to say that though. Erik Williams career was cut far to short, he would have been one of the best EVER had he played as long as LA did. Stepnoski was the best center in football for a time.

 

[braw]

I don't agree with that -- Bill was asked repeatedly about 22 when he took the job and he said "that's up to Jerry to work out" -- Emmitt's problem was that his contract here was insane and he wasn't worth that sort of money.

The reason BP did not want or deal with that situation is b/c its a no win situation. The reason Emmitt needed to leave b/c that was the only player to challenge the changes being implimented by BP.

 

[trickblue]

oh. so I'm a so-called fan now.

Emmitt needed to retire -- like many of the greats he didn't no when to step away.

If you all could take off your 22 jerseys for a second you'd find it much easier to be objective here.

I agree that Emmitt should have retired, but I was listening to the radio the other day and someone made a good point...

Basketball players can retire and still play a pick-up game with their friends... baseball players can still play in charity games and with friends... but when you retire from football, you are done...
​

Maybe he just wanted to make sure he got his fill... I don't know...

 

[aikemirv]

I don't agree with that -- Bill was asked repeatedly about 22 when he took the job and he said "that's up to Jerry to work out" -- Emmitt's problem was that his contract here was insane and he wasn't worth that sort of money.

You can believe that if you want to but if BP would have wanted Emmitt when he got here Jerry would have had no problem paying him what Arizona was going to pay him.

BP said that was for Jerry to work out, because BP did not want to look like the heavy in getting rid of Emmitt when he came to town and we all know he did.

JMO though!

 

[AbeBeta]

Great job of breaking down his career abersonc. But you still did not explain why he needed to retire. His numbers were IMO mediocre during those last 4 seasons.

What more do you need as evidence that Emmitt should have packed it in? You either believe the information or don't.

He went from being the best player in the league to being a mediocre back. That sort of drop off tells me the guy was done.

 

[AbeBeta]

BP said that was for Jerry to work out, because BP did not want to look like the heavy in getting rid of Emmitt when he came to town and we all know he did.

JMO though!

I don't think I'd call him a heavy for getting rid of a guy who a) put up mediocre numbers and b) was eating up 10% of the cap with his contract

Of course, the "average" fan might have freaked over that

 

[aikemirv]

I don't think I'd call him a heavy for getting rid of a guy who a) put up mediocre numbers and b) was eating up 10% of the cap with his contract

Of course, the "average" fan might have freaked over that

The "average "fan would be upset that a new coach came in and essentially terminated the best RB in the history of the franchise and the NFL all-time rushing leader and I can somewhat understand that.

I love Emmitt, he will probably always be my favorite Cowboy, but I did not have a problem with BP over it. The reason I did not have a problem with it was because Emmitt no longer had the desire he needed to be a sucessful NFL back. Case in point was the game he broke the record against Seattle. He had the skills to perform like he did in that game and he took it to the defense every touch he had, the problem was, he did not have that same desire for the rest of that year or his career and I can understand that. It is a hard, long career and it would be extremely difficult to keep that desire strong for 14 years of punishment.

 

[TheHustler]

At age 35. After more than 4,140 career carries.

Jerome Bettis is being hailed as a hero after rushing for 368 yards at 3.3 YPC, and he was only 33 with about 1,000 fewer carries of pounding.

Well duh. Bettis plays for the Steelers who can do no wrong.

 

[visionary]

The Yankees are like the Commanders in a way. They dont know a thing about team chemistry and dont draft well, but every year go out and try and win it all by signing the biggest name free agents. I hate the Yankees for that simple reason. Because big George has all the money, he just gets every big name player regardless of team chemistry. Its rediculous.

the yankees are nothing like the skins. they win championships.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Emmitt's last year with the Cardinals was quite good.. he had 937 yards and 9 touchdowns.. (and his first career passing touchdown!).. it was the best year by a Cardinals RB in quite some time.. and Emmitt missed two games that year.. he had a crap offensive line, and a QB that nobody was afraid of.. so at 35 years old, on a crap team with a crap offensive line and against teams that were stacking 8 men in the box, and missing two games, Emmitt still almost got 1000 yards and double digit touchdowns.. as far as Im concerned, it was quite an amazing year.. he was still playing because he had the ability to still play and loved the game, there is nothing wrong with that at all... if he had been allowed to stay here, I have no doubt he would have had a better year than Hambrick..

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Just ask them how many career rushing yds does their favorite rb have? That usually shuts them up for me......before I ask how many championships!