Emmitt Smith

[madbomber31]

it just seems to me like emmitt was more about personal records than the team concept... fortunately for him he had an unbelievable team in dallas... stupid fucking vikings!!!

 

[XBiker]

I don't really think there is any reason to try and take anything away from Smith.

Does he play hard? Yes

Does he deserve the record? Yes

Does he deserve the superbowl rings that he has (three total)? Yes

I watched Sanders play in his college days at OSU. He was amazing.

He made a decision and quit, that's his problem.

 

[beefybull]

Barry is a 10. Emmitt is more like an 8, maybe an 8.5...

As much as I think Payton was great. I'd put him at a VERY CLOSE #2 behind Barry. Barry could have surpassed 20000 yards. Both Barry Sanders & Walter Payton are better men than Emmitt Smith also. I had the honor of meeting Walter Payton a little more than a year before his death. He was very personable and was smiling the whole time. He gave me 2 autographs although I only asked for one. He was a gentleman.

Barry & Walter also played for generally dismal teams, except Payton near the very end of his career finally got the SB ring he deserved.

Another fact: If Barry hadnt retired, Emmitt would NOT have the rushing yardage record.

 

[madbomber31]

barry could play on one leg and break the record in two years.. ON ONE LEG!!!

 

[Zerxes]

I'd give Barry the nod over Emmitt Smith as the better RB any day of the week. I'd give Eric Dickerson the nod over him as well, but that's really not the point. The bottom line to me is this: to be an NFL Running Back, you really have to be one bad ass mother fucker for lack of a better term. Look at guys like Jerome Bettis who, up until this year, was getting 30 carries per game, every game, year after year. Every time they touch the ball they are getting slammed by someone. Other than the occasional break away, there isn't one play where these guys don't have multiple defenders popping them under the chin, and gang-tackling their asses. For a guy to stay in the league as long as ANY of the three I mentioned, not to mention rush for as many yards as they did collectively, DESERVES respect. It is quite the accomplishment. I'm happy for the guy.

 

[mylife]

After rushing for 1,470 yards and breaking Bill y Sims' single-season club record his rookie year, Sanders gave each of the Lions' offensive linemen a Rolex watch, valued at more than $10,000. On the back was the inscription: "Thanks for a great '89 season. Barry Sanders."




He's better than I ever was."
- Walter Payton, Retired All Pro Running Back, Chicago Bears



"When everyone is out for statistics--you know, individual fulfillment--that's when trouble starts. I don't want to ever fall victim to that."
- Barry Sanders, after turning down the opportunity to win the NFL rushing title in 1989.

 

[The Whole F/N Show]

Barry was definately a better RB than Emmitt. All you have to do is look the numbers Barry put up with no real blocking back and where he was the only option. But no one put a gun to Barry's head and made him sign a contract with the Lions in 1997. Emmitt was a great running back, has 3 Superbowls rings, and had the durability to hang around long enough to break the record. You have to give him his props for that.

 

[Themachine01]

BARRY BARRY BARRY

 

[HG Pennypacker]

that's the problem. it means too much to him, seemingly more than winning/losing does.

Doesn't he have 3 Super Bowl rings or did I miss something?

 

[HappyScrappy]

Barry Sanders always impressed me with how he dealt with his money. he would only take some small percentage of his dalary ($50-100K if I recall correctly) and then donate the rest to his community and a lot of that went to his church.
I'm not all that big on church, but I respect that he was so giving with his money since for the most part, nobody really *needs* millions of dollars a year for a normal lifestyle.