No and It's not even close really. Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and Barry Sanders are the top 3 and Emmitt is somewhere in the 2nd tier with Earl Campbell and Eric Dickerson.
It's not about being a Cowboy Hater. The guy is not the best back of all times. So what if he got all those Yards. Yes he has the record for most yards but that doesn't automatically make him the best RB of all time. I think there are a lot more factors that would go into considering the best RB of all time other than just yardage.
Easily Jim Brown. Dude only played 8 seasons (I believe), and back then they only had 14 game seasons. It makes his numbers even more impressive.
1990 Rookie of the Year_ 3 time Superbowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)_ Superbowl XXVIII MVP__ NFL MVP 1993_ 8 time Pro-Bowl Selection (1990-1995, 1998-99)_ NFL Season-Leading Rusher 1991-1993, 1995_ 1,000 yard seasons 1991-2001 (NFL Record)_ All-Time NFL Rushing Yards Leader (17,162)_ All-Time NFL Rushing Touchdown Leader (153)_ Most 100 yard games (tied with Payton) - 77 All-Time leader in most rushing attempts (4,117) 2nd All-Time for most total touchdowns (165) The only player in NFL History to get 1,000+ yards 11 consecutive season's. Most rushing touchdowns in a single season (25) All-Time leading rusher on Monday Night football All-Time leading rusher in Cowboys history Broke Tony Dorsett's rookie-attempts team record (241) Most yards rushing in playoff history Longest run in Dallas playoff history (65) Most rushing touchdowns in the Super Bowl (5) Most rushing touchdowns in the Playoffs (18)
How many games did Emmitt Smith play to get those yards? How many carries did he have? How many times did Larry Allen create a hole so big my grandma could run for 6+ yards? Emmitt Smith has been blessed with a good line and good health. And he's a very good RB. But not nearly the greatest ever.
No because both Jim Brown and Barry Sanders retired early. Emmit Smith also had all the pieces that Barry didn't, good QB, wideouts, TE, OL and Def. It's not like he amassed all that stuff by himself.
Emmitt put together great years behind one of the greatest lines in NFL History along with prolific offense. Barry Sanders rushed for 2000 yards when none of you could name another player in his offense.
The Offensive line went to the pro bowl a few times...not just one or 2 of the players but we are talking about the whole freaking LINE went and started. The guy had all the team mates in the world to help him and anyone could have run through that offensive line and gained that many yards. Walter Payton Career Stats (13 Years in the League) ATT YARDS AVG TD Totals 3,838 16,726 4.4 110 Emmit Smith (15 Years in the League and Counting) ATT YARDS AVG TD Totals 4,226 17,771 4.2 159
Earl Campbell also retired early. I may be biased, but Earl is the greatest running back these eyes have ever seen.
Wow. If Emmitt is the Cowboys all time leading rusher, he MUST be the best because the Cowboys are the best. What a load of garbage! Sometimes, Cowboys fans just can't see beyond Texas Stadium. Fact - Emmitt was the beneficiary of one of the most dominant offensive lines in the era. How many freaking times did Emmitt get the ball and never get breathed on until the safety tried to make the stop? In contrast, how many times did Barry Sanders have to elude the entire freaking defensive line behind the line of scrimmage in order to gain a single yard? Fact - He had a HOF quarterback and WR spreading the defense too. i Give Emmitt credit for being a durable back. Give him credit for not fumbling the ball. Give him credit for making the plays and gaining the yards that were there. But geez. Stats in a vacuum do not determine who was the all time best. Was he faster or more elusive than Barry Sanders or Gale Sayers? No. Did he have Cambbell's power? No. If you throw Sanders, Cambell, Jim Brown, Gale Sayers into that offense, they would easily rack up more impressive numbers (for you stat freaks). Barry freaking Sanders was on a perennial loser with no offensive line. Yet he managed to carry that team to the playoffs from time to time. Every defense knew it was Barry to the right, Barry to the middle, Barry to the left. It didn't matter. He could make it happen single handedly. Who do you start a franchise with? Campbell? Payton? Sanders? Sayers? Brown? Smith? This is not even a legitimate debate. Idiotic positions like this is why people tend to dislike Cowboys fans. It's one thing to root for your team. It's another thing to have your head up your . . . never mind.
Forgot to say if you take out the last 2 years that Emmit played even though one of them was injury ridden he would have been left with 16540 Yards on 3882 ATT More attempts than Walter Payton and less Yards....that is the same 13 year career.
I never saw Jim Brown play so I'm going to exclude him from this discussion. Great back without a doubt but I have no personal reference. Barry Sanders was stoped for a loss probably more than any back I've ever seen. But then he'd make a super play and leave guys laying all over the field. Awesome back no doubt but give me someone who will move the chains and score which Emmitt did. Walter Payton - The only back I've ever seen play who may have been better than Emmitt. I don't care who was blocking, Emmitt played hurt, tough and every down. He was great out of the back field, great short yardage and great at picking up the blitz. If I was god and drafting an all time NFL team I'd be picking either Payton or Smith but no way would Sanders even be in consideration.
This was because he no Offensive line what so ever. If you put Sanders in the backfield of the Cowboys he would have done much more than Emmit ever did. Basically it's the same thing as the Denver Broncos O-line of late. I mean look at them they plugged in any RB and they rushed for 1500 yards. It's not only the RB that makes the plays but the people around him that make it happen by pulling safteys towards them and corner back and the O-line pushing the defense to open up holes. I do not doubt that Emmit was a durable back and was good, but there is no way this guy is the greatest running back of all time.
