Tomlinson is halfway to Emmitt

[CF74]

No one else has a realistic shot at the record besides LT so do you think he might make it?

He may break Emmitt's TD record though, especially at the rate he is going now as he is already in 6th place after only 6 seasons. Truly an amazing RB!

It just goes to show how great Emmitt really was.

So yes or no, will LT break Emmitt's all-time rushing record?

I say NO.

Maybe, but I don't see him producing in the same fashion for more than 4-5 years.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Amen!.... This, my friends, is THE difference....

I think that is a bit of faulty logic.


Using that, that would mean Terry Bradshaw is better than Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.

- Mike G.

 

[zrinkill]

LT will never beat 22's record ....

 

[kevsstang]

After Emmitt retired they asked him who did he think that is currently playing could catch and surpass him in rushing yards. His answer LT. I would have to agree.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

So Trent Dilfer is better than Dan Marino ever was because Dilfer has more SB rings? Don't think so.

Plus, Tomlinson doesn't have a HOF WR like Irvin to take some of the load off him.

but LT does have Antonio Gates who opens up the middle of the field, and that Oline isn't exactly chopped liver

to the OP, I don't think LT breaks Emmitt's rushing yards record, I think he will tie his consecutive years w/ 1,000 yards record, will join Emmitt and Barry as the only backs w/ 15,000 career rushing yards, and will break EMmitt's rushing TD record though

 

[joseephuss]

but LT does have Antonio Gates who opens up the middle of the field, and that Oline isn't exactly chopped liver

to the OP, I don't think LT breaks Emmitt's rushing yards record, I think he will tie his consecutive years w/ 1,000 yards record, will join Emmitt and Barry as the only backs w/ 15,000 career rushing yards, and will break EMmitt's rushing TD record though

And Walter Payton.

 

[THUMPER]

After Emmitt retired they asked him who did he think that is currently playing could catch and surpass him in rushing yards. His answer LT. I would have to agree.

I agree that LT is the only one with a chance but I don't think he will do it. The odds are very great against him, or anyone for that matter. There are just so many variables that go into being able to produce at that high a level for that long and almost all of them are outside of LT's control.

Emmitt was fortunate to play for a team that was great for a while and good for a long time. LT is playing in a time when FA and the cap won't allow a team to be that good for that long and teams don't run as much when they are behind.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

And Walter Payton.

yeah, him too

 

[joseephuss]

LT is certainly a very real threat to that NFL career rushing record. But as many have pointed out, another 9k yards is a long way to go and it is impossible to know how LT will age.

I think the odds are against any RB gaining another 9k yards once they reach 27 years old. But then those odds are also against any RB gaining 9k by age 27 and LT already did that. It'll be fun to watch and I think Emmitt's place as one of the all-time greats will be secure no matter what.

I think its really cool that he owns that record but it won't be the end of the world if someone steps up and breaks it. And yeah, LT is a class act to boot.

Good points.

Emmitt gained 8295 yards from the age of 28 to 35 when he retired. That covered 8 seasons. He gained 10,160 yards from age 21 thru age 27 in his first 7 seasons. His first down season occurred in his 7th season at age 27 when he gained 1204 yards, but only averaged 3.68 yards per carry. He followed that up with 1074 yards in 1998, but bounced back with 3 straight 1300+ seasons.

LT has gained 9176 yards from age 22-27 in his first 6 seasons. His best season has occurred at age 27 unlike Emmitt. I think the year difference in age will be what keeps LT from breaking Emmitt's record. He will get 15,000+, but that is it. He will probably get real close to breaking Jerrry Rice's record for most yards from scrimmage.

1---23,540 Jerry Rice
2---21,579 Emmitt Smith
3---21,264 Walter Payton

38---12,076 LT

 

[Rack]

Records are made to be broken. If it's got to be broken by someone, Tomlinson is as good a guy as any to do it.

+



I'd like to see Emmitt hold on to the record a bit longer (like Walter did) but if someone's gonna do it, I'd want it to be a classy player like LT (I don't care what you people think he did after that game, all he was doing was defending a teammate - even if that teammate is a POS).

So Trent Dilfer is better than Dan Marino ever was because Dilfer has more SB rings? Don't think so.

Plus, Tomlinson doesn't have a HOF WR like Irvin to take some of the load off him.

 

[AdamJT13]

I thought it might be nice to compare where Emmitt was after 6 seasons to where Tomlinson is now...

ES - 2007 carries, 8956 yards, 4.46 avg, 96 TDs, 4.78 TD%
LT - 2050 carries, 9176 yards, 4.48 avg, 100 TDs, 4.88 TD%

Here's why those numbers aren't necessarily useful -- Emmitt came into the league at age 21, Tomlinson at age 22. Tomlinson as a 21-year-old was gaining collegiate yards instead of NFL yards. If you look at their numbers at the same ages -- 22 to 27 -- they look like this for those six seasons --

Emmitt -- 2093 carries, 9223 yards, 4.41 avg, 97 TDs
Tomlinson - 2050 carries, 9176 yards, 4.48 avg, 100 TDs

So Emmitt had more yards at the same ages, AND Emmitt had a 937-yard head start because he came into the league earlier. When Emmitt was the age Tomlinson is now, he had 984 more yards rushing. That's 984 yards that Tomlinson will have to make up for at some point, and he has only a few years left before he starts the natural decline because of age.

 

[THUMPER]

Here's why those numbers aren't necessarily useful -- Emmitt came into the league at age 21, Tomlinson at age 22. Tomlinson as a 21-year-old was gaining collegiate yards instead of NFL yards. If you look at their numbers at the same ages -- 22 to 27 -- they look like this for those six seasons --

Emmitt -- 2093 carries, 9223 yards, 4.41 avg, 97 TDs
Tomlinson - 2050 carries, 9176 yards, 4.48 avg, 100 TDs

So Emmitt had more yards at the same ages, AND Emmitt had a 937-yard head start because he came into the league earlier. When Emmitt was the age Tomlinson is now, he had 984 more yards rushing. That's 984 yards that Tomlinson will have to make up for at some point, and he has only a few years left before he starts the natural decline because of age.

I was just surprised at how close they were statistically after their first 6 seasons in the league. You just pointed out yet another reason why I don't believe LT will pass Emmitt in rushing yardage. I do think he will pass him rushing TDs as well as in total yards but only if everything aligns right for him.

 

[Silverstar]

I won't even think a RB breaking Emmitt's rushing or TD records, until they get 15,000 yards or 150 TD's.


Why should I?

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

No one will break Emmitt's rushing record anytime soon, running back is the most punishing position in football next to lineman...