I'm not saying that Barry Sanders is the best of all time, but let me respond briefly. Barry WAS stopped for a loss more than anyone else BECAUSE HIS TEAM SUCKED NUTS. It is beyond dispute that he had no help. He was not the reason for the losses on carries. Nonetheless, he managed to make play after play and his ability dictated the approach of defensive coordinators every Sunday. What I'm saying is that there are backs that should be in the discussion, and then there's a 2nd tier of all world backs that are not quite "best ever" material. Campbell, Sanders, Brown, Payton. They're in the discussion for "best ever". Emmitt is not in that group. Similarly, Wilt, Jabbar, Shaq, Hakeem, Russell are in the discussion for best center ever. Mo Malone, Ewing, D Rob, Zo . . . they are just below.
Yeah and that dude that won the Heisman from U of H that sucked really bad. And the other QB that was either before or after him that sucked really bad too.
Query: how would have emmit done on the Lions crap team? He may never have made the pro bowl even once. He certainly would not have put up the numbers and wouldn't even be in this discussion.
I agree the guy always ran through Holes he wasn't a back that can create like Barry Sanders did. The guy created the holes for himself. Still he might not be the best back in the history of the NFL but still a bit higher than Emmit in my opinion.
yeah i have seen him do a few games and he is really good. Thank god for that....Still can't imagine other people putting up the number they did at U of H back in the day....then to get Klingler to do that as well. Oh well now we just suck and we need to do something about it.
You can't fault a guy for playing for the team he was on. What Joe Montana isn't the best all time because he had a great O-line and WR's, etc. Bradshaw had great receivers and O-line so all his stats are tainted? Emmitt has an NFL resume that is second to none and comparable to only a few. I'm taking the stats and performance as a whole and some of you guys only want to slam him for being on a good team or not having as much power or being as fleet of foot.
Nope, not at all. Emmitt is a world class running back. No debate about that. Montana, Bradshaw, also world class. But the question is "best ever". I ask the same question to you: What would have happened if Emmitt and Sanders were to have switched teams? There is no chance that Emmitt could have done what sanders did. Emmitt was stead, sure, and fought like hell for yards. but he didn't have that elite gift. Sanders? Hell, behind the cowboys line? He would have taken the ball to the house every other carry. My god. I think teams would have forefeited. I would have actually liked to see Sanders on that cowboys squad. It would have been the all time best offense in the history of all professional sports, not just football.
Just by rushing stats alone... In Emmitt Smith's best year, he had 1,773 yards (4.7 average). In Barry Sanders' best year, he had 2,053 yards (6.1 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 2nd best year, he had 1,713 yards (4.6 average). In Barry Sanders' 2nd best year, he had 1,883 yards (5.7 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 3rd best year, he had 1,563 yards (4.3 average). In Barry Sanders' 3rd best year, he had 1,553 yards (5.1 average). ADVANTAGE: Tie (Smith had better yards, but Sanders' average was better) In Emmitt Smith's 4th best year, he had 1,486 yards (5.3 average). In Barry Sanders' 4th best year, he had 1,548 yards (4.5 average). ADVANTAGE: Tie (Sanders had better yards, but Smith's average was better) In Emmitt Smith's 5th best year, he had 1,484 yards (4.0 average). In Barry Sanders' 5th best year, he had 1,500 yards (4.8 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 6th best year, he had 1,397 yards (4.2 average). In Barry Sanders' 6th best year, he had 1,491 yards (4.3 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 7th best year, he had 1,332 yards (4.2 average). In Barry Sanders' 7th best year, he had 1,470 yards (5.3 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 8th best year, he had 1,204 yards (3.7 average). In Barry Sanders' 8th best year, he had 1,352 yards (4.3 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 9th best year, he had 1,203 yards (4.1 average). In Barry Sanders' 9th best year, he had 1,304 yards (5.1 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders In Emmitt Smith's 10th best year, he had 1,074 yards (4.1 average). In Barry Sanders' 10th best year, he had 1,115 yards (4.6 average). ADVANTAGE: Sanders That's it for Barry Sanders. He played 10 years. So, if you take Barry's 10 greatest seasons and match it to Emmitt's, Barry wins 8/10 (and ties the other two). Yet, Emmitt is the better running back???
I think Emmitt was more rounded, better back than Sanders. Better short yardage, better out of the backfield and better at picking up the blitz.
As a cowboy fan I say no, though Emmitt was a special back. Somewhere in or around the top 10 probly, but I don't feel like digging into history. I have a problem ranking Sanders ahead of Smith, just because I view them as pretty close talentwise(though sanders does get the nod, his crazy balance and quickness was awesome), but Emmitt's teams accomplished more, and he was a vital cog to that. The cowboys would not have won the superbowls they won without him. It's like I can't pick Marino over Elway because of the success Elway had later with TD, even though those guys were both top level talents.
Detroit didn't do him justice. The run-and-shoot at my alma mater is what put UH on the map back in late 80s/early 90s.
