Jim Brown never missed a game. Walter Payton missed one game. Credit due to Emmitt but Brown And Payton have him beat. Marcus Allen had the advantage/disadvantage of being basically put in the garage for almost 3 years by Al Davis. At any rate, I tend to recognize guys like Barry, Payton, Thurman Thomas, and Emmitt for that matter because none of these guys were over 5'10 and none weighed over 210. To have had the careers they had at their size speaks volumes about their toughness and durability.
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Lesson learned from the Bengals & Clippers: It can always get worse, but it will get better.
bill brown:A second round choice of the Chicago Bears in the 1961 NFL Draft, Brown was traded to the Vikings before the 1962 NFL season, for a fourth-round draft pick in the 1964 NFL Draft. Brown played for the Vikings for 13 seasons, and was named to the Pro Bowl after the 1964, 1965, 1967, and 1968 NFL seasons.
Brown holds many Vikings team records. Brown holds Vikings records for most games played by a running back (182), most consecutive games played by a running back (101), and most games started by a running back (111). He ranks third for career rushing yards (5,757), trailing only Robert Smith (6,818) and Chuck Foreman (5,879). Brown holds the team record for career rushing attempts (1627), and is tied for the team record in rushing touchdowns (52). He ranks fourth in career points scored (456)
chuck foreman:Foreman was named NFC player of the year by The Sporting News in 1974 and by UPI in 1976. He was named All-Pro in 1975 and played in five consecutive Pro Bowls (1973-1977). Foreman had 3 straight seasons rushing for 1,000+ yards (1975-1977) and scored a then NFC record 22 Touchdowns in 14 games during the 1975 campaign. During that same season, he also led the NFL in receptions with 73. Foreman amassed 51 touchdowns over a 3 year span (1974-1976). Foreman played in 3 Super Bowls with the Vikings. * Rushing: 5,950 total yards. 1,556 carries (3.8 yard average); 53 touchdowns * Pass receptions: 350 passes for 3,156 yards (9.0 yard average); 23 touchdowns
Leroy, a cowboys fan, CLEARLY started this thread to get emmit into the conversation....
Leroy, keep in mind, that emmit was thebenificiary of a much more protective o-line, and a helluva much better era of medical science.
but he DOES deserve props for his durability. It's still football, and this isn't a thread for the most bruising back (earl campbell?).
still, anybody who plays a punishing style like jim brown, and plays every game of his career has to be considered above your boy emmit. didn't know payton only missed one game. that's amazing!
Boy Saturn, you won't let me get by with anything. I guess i know that Emmit Smith isn't going to be listed as the best back of all time, even though he has more yards than everyone else.
So, why don't the others have more yards since they are obviously better? Longgevity and durability coud be the answer. I'm not saying that emmit is the most durable back ever, but he has to be listed up toward the top. You can have the best blocking line of all time, but unless Emmit was able to score everytime he touched the ball, he was still tackled by sombody. Those carrys and tackles add up. Emmit was tackled lots of times, and got up to run again.. DURABILITY>
LeRoy wrote: Boy Saturn, you won't let me get by with anything. I guess i know that Emmit Smith isn't going to be listed as the best back of all time, even though he has more yards than everyone else.
So, why don't the others have more yards since they are obviously better? Longgevity and durability coud be the answer. I'm not saying that emmit is the most durable back ever, but he has to be listed up toward the top. You can have the best blocking line of all time, but unless Emmit was able to score everytime he touched the ball, he was still tackled by sombody. Those carrys and tackles add up. Emmit was tackled lots of times, and got up to run again.. DURABILITY>
Emmit's in an odd position. He's definiltey up there, but.... he had some major advantages that guys like Sanders or Payton didn't, and that was probably the best O-line to ever play.
Durability-wise, he didn't take on tacklers like Payton, he ran out of bounds far more frequently to sustain himself.
It's a toss up between Brown and Payton. Depends on your generation I believe.
LeRoy wrote: Boy Saturn, you won't let me get by with anything. I guess i know that Emmit Smith isn't going to be listed as the best back of all time, even though he has more yards than everyone else.
So, why don't the others have more yards since they are obviously better? Longgevity and durability coud be the answer. I'm not saying that emmit is the most durable back ever, but he has to be listed up toward the top. You can have the best blocking line of all time, but unless Emmit was able to score everytime he touched the ball, he was still tackled by sombody. Those carrys and tackles add up. Emmit was tackled lots of times, and got up to run again.. DURABILITY>
i calls 'em like i sees 'em leroy. i also always give you props when you've made a good point, in my opinion (for what THAT's worth). i KNEW that's why you started this thread, so i had to call you on it.
that said, i DID give emmit his props. and you're right: he's right up there. you and i both know why the others don't have more yards. it's been explained in numerous posts in the other thread. would i want him on my team? damn right i would, over just about any back except payton, brown, or sanders. but if it was for only one game, i'd want him to bring that dallas o-line with him. man, you could drive a truck through those holes. it makes it easier to be durable. and he was JUST LIKE dorsett, who also ran out of bounds often instead of turning up field.
We know(and Emmitt knows) why Emmitt has the record, BARRY RETIRED. that's it, that's all. But, in defense of the lucky sumbich, the separated shoulder game forced me to respect his toughness. And I posted earlier in this thread, i'm biased towards the little guys in this instance. Payton, Sanders, Emmitt, Thurman Thomas.
Back in 1989 I got to sing the national anthem at a chiefs/lions game in arrowhead, i was on the field during warmups and saw Okoye and his size relative to his o-line, not much difference. Saw Barry.....I'm 5'9, he was shorter than me with his helmet on. He was listed at 205, it was all thighs. I was actually scared for him because he looked like a 4 year old walking around with grown men. Seeing them UP ClOSE and in person changes your perspective. I Respect The Little Guys.
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Lesson learned from the Bengals & Clippers: It can always get worse, but it will get better.
