Dallas Cowboys random articles

by Dave Halprin on Jun 5, 2008 2:40 PM CDT in News Comment 33 comments

Brian Baldinger of the NFLN breaks down Pacman Jones on video here. ESPN covers the Pacman press conference from yesterday, here.

The DMN blog has all the numbers for T.O.’s contract.

I’ll be doing a 10-minute chat on MVN radio tonight around 6:15 EST. Listen in if you have time and you can even call in at 360-450-5NFL.

Tom Ciskowski was officially named the replacement for Jeff Ireland.

Michael Irvin is pitching tickets for the soon-to-be-opened Jerry World.

Bill Parcells says he wants Jason Taylor to play in Miami this year.

The Dallas-area steroid dealer who fingered ex-Cowboy Matt Lehr was found dead along with a woman at his house. He had supposedly named other NFL players who bought steroids.

Those guys at ESPN are up to it again. A while back they produced a Top-10 WR’s of All-Time list. Now they’re doing the same with RB’s. Where does our man Emmitt rank?

4. EMMITT SMITH
Career: Smith, who played 13 seasons for Dallas and two for Arizona, took over as all-time rushing leader in '02. His 164 rushing touchdowns are the most in history.
Quick quote: "Phenomenal and extremely tough player. Incredible balance and leverage.'' – Dan Reeves

Then there is this comment by panelist and former RB Robert Smith.

"I don't want to take anything away from Emmitt at all," said Robert Smith, who ranked Emmitt Smith at No. 6. "But I would have liked to have seen Barry Sanders running with that team. When you factor in size and the team he was playing with, Barry was probably working with the least of anybody and he still got the most out of it."

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Although I'm a lifelong Cowboy fan

and a huge fan of Emmitt, I’ve always like Barry Sanders a little more.

And for that steroid dealer, ouch. Sounds like something straight out of Grand Theft Auto.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I haven't "liked" Sanders more,

But I do feel he’s the best RB to ever lace up the cleats.

But Emmitt should be at #2. Emmitt at four is questionable … Emmitt at #6 is downright criminal. Robert Smith needs to lay off the whacky tobaccy before giving his analysis.

by no1cowboysfan on Jun 5, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree with you

Emmitt should probably be higher than four. Robert Smith? Really? Number 6 is ridiculous.

Like most of you guys I’m not old enough to remember Payton or Brown either, so In my mind it goes Barry 1, Emmitt 2. I know Emmitt won the ‘ships and got the tough yards and all that good stuff, but I’d give the slight edge to Barry.

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Jun 5, 2008 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

4 is the absolute lowest he should go

It seems a little weird to me that a guy like Robert Smith, who retired young to avoid injury/wear and tear, wouldn’t respect what Emmitt has done a little more than he does. It bothers me whenever Emiitt ISN’T ranked #1, because he is #1 in the record books and absolutely earned it. There’s an argument for Sanders – he was electrifying for a long time on a terribly mediocre team, and there’s an argument for Brown – his YPC numbers are insane, even if the competition is much tougher now. Payton and Emmitt had similar stats, but Payton’s YPC is better. Who else is he putting above Emmitt? I can’t imagine who else has a strong argument.

by grapejoos on Jun 5, 2008 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I must admit

I just looked at Tomlinson’s career numbers and all I can say is wow. He’s never had less than 1200 yards and 50 receptions in a season. He’s also 8/11 passing with 7 TDs and 143 yards. That must be a good QB rating!

by grapejoos on Jun 5, 2008 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tough call

Sanders was indeed a highlight reel, and a joy to watch. But when it comes time to get the consistent, tough yards in the playoffs, I’ll take Emmitt. I always remember Barry Sanders going into Lambeau Field in January for a playoff game and getting MINUS three yards.

I’m 42, so I’m not old enough to remember Jim Brown and some of the other guys. So, in the last thirty years or so the best running back I have seen in his prime was Marshall Faulk circa 1999. He was an incredible threat.

by Cowboy Louie on Jun 5, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's like the Elway vs Aikman article from earlier

Teams always knock Emmitt for playing on a winning team, as if Emmitt broke the rushing record in 1996 and simply didn’t play on Cowboys teams under Gailey or Campo.

How Bout Them Cowboys!

by sprprsnmn on Jun 5, 2008 3:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Between the twenties, Sanders was a highlite reel, alot of fluff and empty yards.

Inside the twenties, Emmitt scores TD’s and wins games and championships.

by Deke on Jun 5, 2008 3:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Fluff and empty yards...

But Barry and Emmit on each other’s teams, and he would have had plenty of TD’s, and Emmit would have had far, far fewer.

by jthig32 on Jun 5, 2008 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok.

That post doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I edited it improperly.

Here’s what I meant to say: Put Barry behind the lines that Emmitt ran behind, and he would have plenty of meaningful TD’s.

by jthig32 on Jun 5, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Running back and rushers are different type backs

Comparing two different type backs,

Barry Sanders was a

running back

, he ran around people, not over or through them, terrible blocker, not great out of the backfield, not great inside the twenties, two down player. Empty yards and fluff. I seen barry many times with 22 carries 166 yards, but if you take away his two long runs in that games, the rest of the yards are two yard runs or five and six yards loses. Thats why the lions were in third and long alot and you cant be consistant winning in the NFL being in third and long. I hear this argument all the time, well if Barry had the Dallas offensive line, as if Dallas kept the same five members for 10 years, and barry wasn’t a run between the tackle back, he was a bouncer, likes to start inside and bounce outside. I’ve seen him run twenty yards in the backfield and only gain two yards. When he did break one after his four or five nominal runs, he was a highlite to watch, but he is also a quitter, the guy quit on his team after the NFL draft, leaving Detroit without a lead back.

Emmitt was a

rusher

, he ran around, through you or over you, great blocker picking up the blitz, every down player. Could catch the ball out of the backfield, great inside the twenties, runs between the tackles, a leader.

You really cant compare the two, but if I had a choice, I’d take Emmitt everytime over Sanders. If you want to compare rushers, Emmitt is in the same class as Earl Campbell and Jim Brown, thats elite company.

If you want to compare running backs, Sanders is in the class of a Gale Sayers, also elite backs

by Deke on Jun 5, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take Emmitt Over Sanders Any Day

Sanders was a boom or bust back, one long run with too many plays where he ran around behind the line and lost yardage. Emmitt was money just about every time he touched the ball. On many occasions, If he line didn’t get any push, Smith would roll the pile forward for five or six yards. Sanders was incapable of doing that.

Smith was a great blocker in picking up blitzes; Sanders couldn’t be bothered with that blocking stuff.

Dallas won without Irvin in the lineup. They won without Aikman. But when Emmitt was out, the offense came to screeching halt. Suddenly those Pro Bowl offensive linemen had problems opening holes for his backups. He was the most important offensive player on the great Dallas teams of the 1990’s.

by kindablue on Jun 5, 2008 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But This Debate Is Over

Who is the third best running back in NFL history. I saw Walter Payton his entire career, and he’s better than either Smith or Sanders.

But the greatest of all time was Jim Brown. He was a dominant running back virtually his entire career. No other back has come close to his standard.

by kindablue on Jun 5, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweetness

Absolutely, Jim Brown was thee best back ever, right behind him is Walter Payton,, then Emmitt Smith, those would be my top three backs

by Deke on Jun 5, 2008 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good comparison Deke

If you want to make a highlight reel, you take Sanders.

If you want to win a ball game, you take Emmitt.

by Space Ghost on Jun 5, 2008 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt

is the best all-time. No doubt in my mind.

My popcorn's ready!

by CowboyBawler4 on Jun 5, 2008 3:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

absolutely agree 100%

the only back that comes close is Payton.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 5, 2008 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Three words

Earl Christian Campbell

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jun 5, 2008 4:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Any time someone starts with "I don't want to take anything away from Emmitt at all"

He’s about to take everything away. And who the f* is Robert Smith to judge Emmitt?

I can live with the rankings, but not with the little cuts at Emmitt. Great line or not, what other back have you seen who can be given the ball nine, ten plays in a row and the guy drives his team down the field and scores? Not Barry. Not even Sweetness. Emmitt was not just a serviceable back with incredible longevity. He was determination personified, a trait found in only a few athletes like Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong. Emmitt could will his team to vostory like no other running back I’ve seen outside of Jim Brown. Deke nailed it. They were different runners. I just wish they had the class to give Emmitt credit for being the special back he really was.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jun 5, 2008 6:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

Well put Dunk.

It’s hard to imagine a complete RB (able to break off the big runs, catch the pass extremely well, and an excellent blocker) with more longevity and determination than Emmitt displayed.

The next stud RB in line is LT, but he has a long way to go to top what #22 did.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jun 5, 2008 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And #22 is LT's hero

He’ll join those ranks one day (if he can continue to stay healthy) with Emmitt as his inspiration.

by grapejoos on Jun 6, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

well said

by scottmaui on Jun 5, 2008 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well put guys

anyone who says “emmitt had great O-lines” or some crap to discount his ability and toughness only needs to watch the game against the Giants when he had a seperated shoulder. I have never seen a gutsier performance from a player -he simply willed his team to victory in a game that meant everything.

Barry was an incredibly gifted runner with little heart and looking at the complete package of a RB, they are not in the same class, as Deke pointed out.

by Billito on Jun 5, 2008 6:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dude

Didn’t you used to be a kinig???

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jun 5, 2008 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

King

I meant to say king.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jun 5, 2008 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Dunk

I renounced my throne so now I am just Billito the serf.

by Billito on Jun 6, 2008 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah

now just part of our autonomous collective eh?

by Scoobay on Jun 6, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's kind of sad

but at least there was no guillotine involved…

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jun 6, 2008 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with Deke..

Great post

Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old

by Mullin on Jun 5, 2008 7:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Emmitt and Sweetness were the best RBs

while Brown and Sanders were the best runners.

RBs= running, blocking, receiving

runners are just that, they just run.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 5, 2008 8:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's very simple.

Emmitt – 3
Barry – 0

Nuff said.

Go Cowboys!

by DCFanatic on Jun 5, 2008 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They are saying in the news here in Dallas that the steroid dealer

killed his girlfriend and then shot himself.

"So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?"- Marion "Barbarian" Barber

by DC_fan on Jun 6, 2008 7:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If I hear...

....what Barry could have done with that line… one more time, I’m going to flip on somebody, and it might as well be Robert Smith

It’s like… oh, what Germany could have done with our nukes, ha, maybe a bit of an exaggeration but I hate seeing reporters and guys at bars using that excuse

by Veritas on Jun 8, 2008 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs