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

[AbeBeta]

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...

There is something to this argument -- however, what I saw in 22 was that he wanted his fill of some stuff (the stats) but not others (the contact).

Far too often I saw him run out of bounds to avoid a hit instead of trying to run over a tackler -- a few times even when a first down was on the line.

 

[AbeBeta]

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..

Teams were not stacking 8 men in the box against AZ. Teams were often playing in the nickle to cover Boldin, Johnson, and Fitzgerald. 1000 yards is a nice round number but when you average 3.5 a carry that reflects that you got the ball alot -- not that you were particularly effective.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Teams were not stacking 8 men in the box against AZ. Teams were often playing in the nickle to cover Boldin, Johnson, and Fitzgerald. 1000 yards is a nice round number but when you average 3.5 a carry that reflects that you got the ball alot -- not that you were particularly effective.

did you actually watch Arizona games that year? cause I did.. trust me, defenses were only worried about Emmitt.. Boldin was actually hurt for a good part of that year.. and I visited the Cardinals' message boards regularly that year.. their fans talked about it a lot.. and they grew to love Emmitt a whole lot that year.. they were impressed with what he did with the crap o-line they had and the QB they had.. they were impressed with the fact that Emmitt single handedly won them a couple of games.. and they were very very impressed with Emmitt's pass blocking abilities and leadership and influence on the younger players.. they were happy to have him, and he was happy to still be playing and he could still play and be very effective.. so what's the problem?

 

[Hater]

Not to mention we had almost 30 years of straight winning seasons.

Actually, it was 20 straight.

 

[AbeBeta]

did you actually watch Arizona games that year? cause I did.. trust me, defenses were only worried about Emmitt.. Boldin was actually hurt for a good part of that year.. and I visited the Cardinals' message boards regularly that year.. their fans talked about it a lot.. and they grew to love Emmitt a whole lot that year.. they were impressed with what he did with the crap o-line they had and the QB they had.. they were impressed with the fact that Emmitt single handedly won them a couple of games.. and they were very very impressed with Emmitt's pass blocking abilities and leadership and influence on the younger players.. they were happy to have him, and he was happy to still be playing and he could still play and be very effective.. so what's the problem?

I did. and what I saw was a moderately effective Emmitt for the first 6 games then an RB who had no gas left in his tank -- which is about what you might expect seeing that he'd only carried the ball 25 times since early October the previous year.

I just can't believe the Cardinals fans were happy with Emmitt's performance? Maybe I just don't understand how any fan be happy about a 6-10 season.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I did. and what I saw was a moderately effective Emmitt for the first 6 games then an RB who had no gas left in his tank -- which is about what you might expect seeing that he'd only carried the ball 25 times since early October the previous year.

I just can't believe the Cardinals fans were happy with Emmitt's performance? Maybe I just don't understand how any fan be happy about a 6-10 season.

well, when that 6-10 might have been 3-13 without Emmitt.. or maybe because it is the Arizona Cardinals and it was the best season by a RB in quite some time.. and you keep bringing up the 3.5 yards per carry as your main argument.. no, thats not the greatest but it aint that bad.. especiallly all things considered that I have already brought up.. heck, both Julius and Marion had 3.9 last year.. like someone mentioned, Bettis averaged 3.3 and is considered a hero.. Eddie George averaged something like 3.5 for his CAREER and he is considered a great back.. put things into perspective.. he wasnt the Emmitt that he was, no.. but he could still play the game that he had been playing his entire life effectively and was happy.. and the fans and team were happy to have him.. he had a couple more 100 yard games, almost 1000 yards, and 9 touchdowns.. thats a career year for a lot of backs.. to me, thats going out in the sunset very respectfully.. by the way, I think it is very very cool that his rookie year he had 937 yards and his final year he had 937 yards..

 

[Hater]

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.

I agree 100%

 

[VirusX]

Actually, it was 20 straight.

Ya, typo. Wont let me edit it now.

 

[kapolani]

How is two extra years with AZ "acheiving goals?"

He set the record and could have quit then. he then went to AZ to pad his stats.

Clear as day son.

You are obviously not an athlete.

If you were you'd understand that you just wanna play ball.

I have an intramedullary rod in my right femur. Arthritis in both knees and my right shoulder.

I still go out there and compete with the college kids and hold my own.

Some just love the game.

It's a sports thing... You wouldn't understand...

 

[AbeBeta]

like someone mentioned, Bettis averaged 3.3 and is considered a hero..

But Jerome's role wasn't as a feature back -- in fact he didn't start a single game. and there is one big difference -- Bettis' team won the superbowl.

 

[braw]

But Jerome's role wasn't as a feature back -- in fact he didn't start a single game. and there is one big difference -- Bettis' team won the superbowl.

5 pages and counting. The argument is getting stale. Are you trying to pad your stats. Trying to get to 4,000 posts before the day is done. The arguement should have finished on page two. OK so you think Emmitt held on to long.

 

[kapolani]

5 pages and counting. The argument is getting stale. Are you trying to pad your stats. Trying to get to 4,000 posts before the day is done. The arguement should have finished on page two. OK so you think Emmitt held on to long.

Nice...

 

[BruceWayne]

Damn right he had a good OL and he had a great FB in front of him to but so did Thruman Thomas he only went to 4 SB's, Emmitt didn't have any serious injuries during his career he was DURABLE. That's why he broke that record

DURABLE + GOOD OL+ MOOSE= ALL TIME LEADING RUSHER

and as far as padding the stats in AZ so what. I was glad he did it I want that record to stand as long as possible that way I can talk sh** to my boys and then my kids can talk sh** to their kids.

#22 G.O.A.T

 

[InmanRoshi]

I'll take a player that has to be dragged off the field anyday over a player that gives up the game too easily. I understand a few of Emmitt's criticisms, but I've never understood that one. Yeah, he was stubborn and hard headed and he wouldn't listen to what people said he "should do" ... that's the only way a 5'9" 205 lbs. inside runner who runs a 4.7 becomes the all time NFL rushing leader. If he cared what other people think he wouldn't have gotten past the high school level.

I just found it meanspirited that so many people claimed for so long that Emmitt was only it in for the record, and then after he broke the record and still played simply because he loved the game people still criticized him for it.

 

[bobbie brewskie]

Teams were not stacking 8 men in the box against AZ. Teams were often playing in the nickle to cover Boldin, Johnson, and Fitzgerald. 1000 yards is a nice round number but when you average 3.5 a carry that reflects that you got the ball alot -- not that you were particularly effective.

fitzgerald was a nobody my friend, he was a rookie that year . . . so who are you kidding?

let me add, if you could take your career as far as you can you should because look at all the guys who had to cut it short due to injury . . . you have to think of how fortunate some of these guys are to be able to play this long.

 

[AbeBeta]

You are obviously not an athlete.

If you were you'd understand that you just wanna play ball.

Again, I didn't see that his last few years in Dallas -- I saw a guy who wanted to go out of bounds instead of getting hit. That to me was sadder than him going to AZ.

 

[GhettoxCowboy]

by saying he had a Great Offensive line ...

ask the arguer of that position whether he supports Gesek, Gogan, Stepnoski, Williams (yes, we know Allen should go) as Hall of Fame candidates.

If not, then tell them to SHADDUP!

yeah i live here in LA. all my friends are faider fans. they always tell me the reason emmit was good was cause our OL. then they say barry sanders was better even with out a OL.

 

[AbeBeta]

fitzgerald was a nobody my friend, he was a rookie that year . . . so who are you kidding?

He was the #3 pick overall in the draft. He caught nearly 60 balls and had 8 TD grabs. He was demanding serious attention from day 1.

Or do you believe that teams just said "aww, let's leave the rookie alone"

 

[ghst187]

sometimes I tend to underestimate him too but then I see a highlight video of his and I'm just amazed....Tacklers seem to just bounce off of him like bullets off of superman. It never looked like he was running fast either but still got some separation.
I like to think I'm a fairly objective person and I'll say that Emmitt is definitely top 3 all time

 

[AbeBeta]

... I'll say that Emmitt is definitely top 3 all time

Totally agree.

Which is why his last 4 years made me so sad - he went from all-time best to average NFL back.