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

[ABQCOWBOY]

There are only 30 modern era O-linemen in the Hall of Fame. Given that every year in the NFL we start with 160 starting OL players, it is reasonable to assume that many "great" lines had few legit HOF candidates.

Honestly if you look at that list you've got Allen as a legit guy -- but Williams would have been a candidate if his level of play stayed where it was pre-accident.

I'd love for you to show me an O-line where 3 or more guys got into the hall.

Not that I'm in disagreement, per say, but the Browns of the 40s and 50s had several OLs in the HOF.

Frank Gatski, Lou Groza, Mike McCormack and Bill Willis (Went both ways and was inducted for defensive capability more so but was an OL).

Miami really should have three with Larry Little, Jim Langer and Bob Kuchenburg who should be in IMO but is not. Still, only two.

The Raidus had Jim Otto, Art Shell and Gene Upshaw.

It has happened before.

 

[jja050575]

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.

Exactly!! Well said!! abersonic go away please. Haters go to the Commanders board.

 

[InmanRoshi]

So, just looking around professional sports ... we have an entire era of one of the 3 major sports tainted because players are doping their bodies with steroids. Players getting behind the wheel drunk and killing people. 2,000 yard running backs convicted of running a cocaine ring and money laundering. On a daily basis you can flip the front cover of your sports page and read about domestic assault and batttery. Rapes. Drug possession. Sexual assault. An epidemic of illegitimate children fathered by professional athletes who will largely go neglected other than the monthly check in the mail and the occasional birthday card.

And someone gets this worked up over Emmitt Smith playing a few years past his prime because he loves the game so much that he can't give it up? Wow.

There are so few people in this world who actually get to do a job that they truly love, I don't see how anyone could hold it against someone for relishing in it. I'll take that any day over gutless Barry Sanders.

 

[AbeBeta]

Exactly!! Well said!! abersonic go away please. Haters go to the Commanders board.

big difference between being a "hater" and providing critical analysis. some folks are smart enough to recognize the difference. maybe not you, but others.

 

[jcblanco22]

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!

If I may tyke, there's some other questions you can follow that up with, although I love the one you pose... ask how good Newton, Tunei, and Gogan were before Emmitt arrived? Better yet, ask them if they even know that Newton was about to eat his way out of the league in '89 and that Tunei was a mediocre converted defensive tackle who also was in danger of getting the ax when Jimmy came in. Ask them if they ever heard of Tony Wise.

And while you're at it...ask them if they're even aware that Barry Sanders had a whole lot of Pro Bowls in front of him in the form of Lomas Brown and Kevin Glover, something that I have never ever heard anyone who takes up this argument against Emmitt bring up. Shoot, the only person who I've heard bring it up in defense of Emmitt is our own Zone poster mickgreen58, who wrote an excellent article on his own Cowboys website about the whole "Barry Sanders never played with an offensive line in front of him and would have gained 2,000 a season behind the Cowboys line" argument.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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

not true, he just wasn't worth the 10 mil he was scheduled to count against the '04 cap

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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...

our own TOny Dorsett is another you could add to the list, but we get your point

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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)

not to mention we haven't had a quality line, if even a good line, since '96

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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..

 

[Bob Sacamano]

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!

the haters just inevitably respond with that we had Aikman throwing to Irvin, so they got us in the redzone for Emmitt to jump over the pile for the TD

 

[Bob Sacamano]

To me it is ridiculous to keep going when you are a shell of your former self. if you are mediocre b/c that's all the talent you have then fine -- if you are mediocre b/c your talent has eroded, then it is time to pack it in.

but dude, how many times do we have to tell you that the same could be said for any great player? you just sound bitter that Emmitt went on to play for the Cards instead of retire instantly as a Dallas Cowboy

let it go

 

[Bob Sacamano]

So, just looking around professional sports ... we have an entire era of one of the 3 major sports tainted because players are doping their bodies with steroids. Players getting behind the wheel drunk and killing people. 2,000 yard running backs convicted of running a cocaine ring and money laundering. On a daily basis you can flip the front cover of your sports page and read about domestic assault and batttery. Rapes. Drug possession. Sexual assault. An epidemic of illegitimate children fathered by professional athletes who will largely go neglected other than the monthly check in the mail and the occasional birthday card.

And someone gets this worked up over Emmitt Smith playing a few years past his prime because he loves the game so much that he can't give it up? Wow.

There are so few people in this world who actually get to do a job that they truly love, I don't see how anyone could hold it against someone for relishing in it. I'll take that any day over gutless Barry Sanders.

beautiful man, beautiful

 

[Kilyin]

Please - you know you saw him do that. and again, you tell me how to "prove it" and I'll see what I can do for you.

Point at any play, from any game, that Emmitt participated in and didn't give it his all. All of Emmitt's games are on film somewhere, it's not like we're debating anything that can't be proven.

Just name one time when he "jumped out of bounds" to avoid contact and I'm sure someone could reference said tape to verify it. You know this, and that's why you've suddenly clammed up.

It's amazing such an assinine thread has grown to such proportions, especially considering the source of the argument.

 

[bobbie brewskie]

i think summer is funner is padding his post number .hboy:

 

[Bob Sacamano]

i think summer is funner is padding his post number .hboy:

I'll retire when I'm good and ready! oh wait, it's not my decision...is it abersonc?

 

[aikemirv]

Who said anything about Emmitt? I didn't say he wasn't the best RB in the league.

But I'm talking about the Cowboys OL.

From 1992-1995 it was the best in the league. Maybe the best ever.

It had FOUR probowlers on it at one time.

Tuinei, Newton, Stepnoski, and Erik Williams. And Williams might have been a Hall of Famer himself had he not blown his career by wrecking his knee.

Newton was one of the top 3 guards in the game at the time and Stepnoski was one of the top TWO centers in the game at the time.

Then Larry Allen -- only another Hall of Famer -- got added to the mix.

There is no question the Cowboys had the best OL in football.

Those four probowlers went 0-3 the year that Emmitt held out for a new contract.

Emmitt made them probowlers - not the other way around!

 

[AbeBeta]

Point at any play, from any game, that Emmitt participated in and didn't give it his all. All of Emmitt's games are on film somewhere, it's not like we're debating anything that can't be proven.

Just name one time when he "jumped out of bounds" to avoid contact and I'm sure someone could reference said tape to verify it. You know this, and that's why you've suddenly clammed up.

It's amazing such an assinine thread has grown to such proportions, especially considering the source of the argument.

Take it as opinion if you like then. I don't have footage of games from 2002 and it would be impossible to "prove" someone's motivation.

I'm calling this one as I saw it -- and if that rubs some of you 22-Superfan types the wrong way fine. I like boards like this b/c folks can discuss issues critically - but it appears that some topics are, like many of Emmitt's runs in 2002, out-of-bounds.

And Kil -- if you are going to claim that I "clammed up" for a certain reason, then you are going to have to prove it.

 

[Kilyin]

but it appears that some topics are, like many of Emmitt's runs in 2002, out-of-bounds.

It's not out of bounds, but I've never seen Emmitt play soft, even when he was past his prime. I think you're confusing Emmitt with Shaun Alexander.

 

[tyke1doe]

Those four probowlers went 0-3 the year that Emmitt held out for a new contract.

Emmitt made them probowlers - not the other way around!

Actually, they went 0-2. But I agree with your overall post.

I think this could be a chicken and egg debate.

Was Emmitt great because of his offensive line, or was his offensive line great because of Emmitt.

Given Emmitt's success at every level, I pick the latter.

 

[doomsday81]

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!

To be honest, I hear very few people (except maybe fans of other teams) ever discredit Emmitt. I think virtually every analyst I have heard on TV say he is one of the top 5 backs of all-time. While I feel there is no way to judge this because there has been so many great NFL backs over the years, I always here people giving Emmitt his just due. I would say I hear more negative stuff about Aikman - that he was just a system quarterback - then I ever hear about Emmitt. If you are talking about Commanders fans, then sure, they are going to find a way to downgrade his accomplishments but all the NFL people I've seen or talked to all love Emmitt and respect what he accomplished, so I don't see this being much of an argument.