TLH: Emmitt vs. Barry, a Favorite Debate

[Hostile]

Seen Emmitt vs Barry a few times around here but what about Emmitt vs Walter Payton.....

I'd take Payton. But they were not the same era so the debate isn't as common.

I don't expect people to be as down on Barry as I am though. I openly admit in the article that I may be his harshest critic. I do not like what he brought his team at all.

 

[Rockport]

http://thelandryhat.com/2013/07/13/dallas-cowboys-fans-have-a-favorite-debate/?utm_source=FanSided Daily&utm_medium=email

Happen upon a Dallas Cowboys forum, and at some point you are likely to find a spirited debate about who was better, Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders. Last week in my article I made an off handed comment laughing at the idea of Barry being a better player than Emmitt. I felt it would be fun this week before players report to Training Camp in Oxnard, California to defend my “Pfft.” I won’t have an opportunity to do so once football is real again.

Let me begin by saying that I am possibly Barry Sanders’ harshest critic. I am not delusional. He was an exciting player, perhaps one of the most exciting to ever play the game. However, I am being serious when I tell you, that under no circumstance would I ever want Barry Sanders on my football team. In fact, I often say there are at least twenty Running Backs I would take over Barry Sanders. Is that silly of me? In the minds of some people I am sure it is. Allow me to defend my position.

There is no denying Barry Sanders’ big play ability. He was capable of things other RBs simply cannot do, except maybe Gale Sayers. My problem with Barry Sanders lies in the fact that he tried to do those big plays so often that he far too often handicapped his team.

I was a Fullback, and there is no greater feeling for a FB than having your lead block open a hole for the RB to hit. TheDetroit Lions rarely used a FB. The main reason for this was Barry did not hit holes. He danced around, making people miss until he could break free. Not going to lie, that drove me crazy. It was exciting, no doubt, but it drove me nuts. Give me a RB who is going to try to move forward over a ballerina any day of the week.

I'll take Emmitt but to say you'd take 20 other backs before Sanders is ludicrous. Sanders, under a good coach, can be taught to hit those holes. Once he's past through the hole, he'd dance his way to the end zone.

 

[Hostile]

I'll take Emmitt but to say you'd take 20 other backs before Sanders is ludicrous. Sanders, under a good coach, can be taught to hit those holes. Once he's past through the hole, he'd dance his way to the end zone.

As I've already said, I wasn't joking. I do not like what he was to his team. To me, he was an anchor. An ultra exciting anchor who came up small in big situations too often.

 

[Rockport]

As I've already said, I wasn't joking. I do not like what he was to his team. To me, he was an anchor. An ultra exciting anchor who came up small in big situations too often.

He was pretty much the offense so in big games, teams focused on him. He was a great back.

 

[GroundUp]

Barry Sanders is also the record holder for the most negative carries in NFL history. He's exciting to no end and I loved watching him play but give me Emmitt and a ton of other backs anyway.

 

[DejectedFan1996]

Thank You

Some have this crazy stereotype of Sanders that says he would not hit a hole. The guy had huge thighs and clip after clip shows him breaking tackles. He was clearly no bulldozer--and would have been a moron to be so, given his outerworldly elusive running skills--but he absolutely could do the job when needed.

I won't go down the road of comparing Emmitt and Sanders if it means running either of them down. But hearing some say "they would not have Sanders on my team" is almost football card revoking material. lol
It's an embarrassing comment.

Nothing on this forum shocks me anymore.

 

[DejectedFan1996]

This is pretty interesting.

A lot of members will come to defend Romo and say "You can't just blame everything on Romo, it's a team game!"

Then I'm seeing a lot of people saying Barry wasn't a winner and yet, seem to forget the teams both players played on.

Took the words RIGHT out of my mouth. Was gonna post the EXACT same thing.

 

[Ring Leader]

Barry, IMHO, had more overall talent and moves. Emmitt had more talent around him and was a winner.

Barry ended his career on top. Emmitt ended his career on the bottom with the Cards. On that team, he had negative yardage against a so-so Dallas defense.

But it's all subjective as to who be the better back.

Ask Emmitt if he would trade careers with Barry. The laughter would be deafening. Also, Emmitt did end up on top - he has the NFL rushing record to prove it. Barry was a great runner, he just couldn't translate it into winning games. Barry knows it, Emmitt knows it, and deep down inside, you know it.

 

[maxdallasfan]

The chicken or the egg?

 

[Arkyvarminter]

I'm going to put my two cents in. I believe that if Barry Sanders had played for the Dallas Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson he would have done MORE than Emmitt. He would have scored much more than he did in Detroit. He would have ran under Jimmy's philosophy and would be the best back in the history of the NFL, which I already consider him to be. He wasn't used correctly in Detroit and anyone can see that. They just let Barry run and Jimmy wouldn't have done that. He would have used Barry differently.
Emmitt was a great back but he was on a very, very good team. Barry didn't have the players around him like Emmitt did on offense or defense and especially coaching. Barry Sanders got tired of losing. He got tired of running. He got tired of the game. Barry is very humble to this day about his accomplishments and gives all backs the respect they deserve. He was a classy guy who just handed the ball to the ref after a TD. He didn't take his helmet off and parade around the field. I like Emmitt but he isn't in Barry's league. Not even close.

 

[Ring Leader]

I'm going to put my two cents in. I believe that if Barry Sanders had played for the Dallas Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson he would have done MORE than Emmitt. He would have scored much more than he did in Detroit. He would have ran under Jimmy's philosophy and would be the best back in the history of the NFL, which I already consider him to be. He wasn't used correctly in Detroit and anyone can see that. They just let Barry run and Jimmy wouldn't have done that. He would have used Barry differently.
Emmitt was a great back but he was on a very, very good team. Barry didn't have the players around him like Emmitt did on offense or defense and especially coaching. Barry Sanders got tired of losing. He got tired of running. He got tired of the game. Barry is very humble to this day about his accomplishments and gives all backs the respect they deserve. He was a classy guy who just handed the ball to the ref after a TD. He didn't take his helmet off and parade around the field. I like Emmitt but he isn't in Barry's league. Not even close.

Emmitt has way more yards and rings. Fortunately for Emmitt, he's not anywhere close to Barry's league. Emmitt, happily, wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[percyhoward]

I'm seeing a lot of people saying Barry wasn't a winner and yet, seem to forget the teams both players played on.

Emmitt's success had little to do with the team he played for. It was the other way around.

He was National High School Player of the Year in 1986. His teams won two state championships. None of the the players on that team made an NFL roster except for Emmitt.

 

[DFWJC]

Ask Emmitt if he would trade careers with Barry. The laughter would be deafening. Also, Emmitt did end up on top - he has the NFL rushing record to prove it. Barry was a great runner, he just couldn't translate it into winning games. Barry knows it, Emmitt knows it, and deep down inside, you know it.

Of course Emmitt would not trade careers with Barry, and not a single person hear has even remotely hinted at that.

Furthermore, Sanders all but has said that he WOULD trade with Emmitt. He wanted to win badly. That's why he retired after 10 seasons and 10 straight All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams (only player ever), because he was pouring his guts out but was sick of losing and knew he had already had great career and given his all. Emmitt has said he would have asked for trade in that situation and always felt sorry for Barry.

Emmitt was great. So was Barry.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Ask Emmitt if he would trade careers with Barry. The laughter would be deafening. Also, Emmitt did end up on top - he has the NFL rushing record to prove it. Barry was a great runner, he just couldn't translate it into winning games. Barry knows it, Emmitt knows it, and deep down inside, you know it.

No doubt Barry was surrounded by garbage for most of his years. Emmitt, largely, had stellar players surrounding him.
Both were great runners. But no one can persuade me that Barry was not the better. Had Emmitt been on the Lions, he might not have the career rushing record. You know it, I know, Bob Dole know it.

 

[mldardy]

No doubt Barry was surrounded by garbage for most of his years. Emmitt, largely, had stellar players surrounding him.
Both were great runners. But no one can persuade me that Barry was not the better. Had Emmitt been on the Lions, he might not have the career rushing record. You know it, I know, Bob Dole know it.

First I hate the if Emmitt had been a Lion blah blah. Such a silly argument he wasn't so we'll never know. I know what Emmitt did as a Cowboy and that is all that matters. I know for sure that he wouldn't have rushed for negative yards in a playoff game, quit on his team and retire right before training camp and if Barry had separated his shoulder like Emmitt did he would have sat out the rest of that game and if for by some miracle Barry would have re-entered that game would have been nowhere near as great and effective as Emmitt was that day. I do know all of that FOR SURE.

 

[mldardy]

Emmitt's success had little to do with the team he played for. It was the other way around.

He was National High School Player of the Year in 1986. His teams won two state championships. None of the the players on that team made an NFL roster except for Emmitt.

It's amazes how people forget or don't know how good Emmitt was before becoming a Cowboy. People always think he was a great player because of playing on the Cowboys. The guy broke records in high school and if not for injury would have done the same thing in Cowboy. The guy was not only talented but extremely focused and determined to succeed. You can't replace that combination no matter how hard people try.

 

[Ring Leader]

No doubt Barry was surrounded by garbage for most of his years. Emmitt, largely, had stellar players surrounding him.
Both were great runners. But no one can persuade me that Barry was not the better. Had Emmitt been on the Lions, he might not have the career rushing record. You know it, I know, Bob Dole know it.

I gave you facts, you're speculating. Nobody actually "knows" anything from your invented team swap hypothesis.

 

[LatinMind]

I'm going to put my two cents in. I believe that if Barry Sanders had played for the Dallas Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson he would have done MORE than Emmitt. He would have scored much more than he did in Detroit. He would have ran under Jimmy's philosophy and would be the best back in the history of the NFL, which I already consider him to be. He wasn't used correctly in Detroit and anyone can see that. They just let Barry run and Jimmy wouldn't have done that. He would have used Barry differently.
Emmitt was a great back but he was on a very, very good team. Barry didn't have the players around him like Emmitt did on offense or defense and especially coaching. Barry Sanders got tired of losing. He got tired of running. He got tired of the game. Barry is very humble to this day about his accomplishments and gives all backs the respect they deserve. He was a classy guy who just handed the ball to the ref after a TD. He didn't take his helmet off and parade around the field. I like Emmitt but he isn't in Barry's league. Not even close.

umm I believe Emmitt held out in 93 after they won the superbowl for the first 2 games of the yr. And guess what they lost both games. He comes back and they go on to win superbowl #2. Not Aikman, not Irvin, not the defense, not the OL. Emmitt was the most important part of that Dallas Dynasty.

 

[khiladi]

A friend pointed out to me that in a game against Chicago, Emmitt dove over the pile into the end zone and landed on his head.

He was a decoy on that play. he did not carry the ball. How many RBs can you name who would sell a play that hard?

I think that play actually altered his game to some exent. I use to vaguely remember him flying over piles often before that play. Afterwards, I can't recall him ever doing it.

 

[khiladi]

Prior to Emitt, three of his five OL were playing. Stepnoski, Newton and Tunei and Aikman was getting routinely pummeled, one of the worst OL in the league. Larry Allen came on board after 2 SP were already won. Erik Williams on the other was not. To argue that the line made Emmitt is absurd. His career was built on vision and acceleration, though his break away speed wasn't like Barry's.

His career was built on vision and acceleration, though his break away speed wasn't like Barry's.