Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 8:39 am
Primetime42 wrote:Talk about reading too much into one quote.cleg wrote:vtfootball07 wrote:cleg wrote:Primetime42 wrote:Let me see how they do against the Eagles and then I'll reply to that, Pink Straw
Is your signature a real quote by Emmitt Smith?
According to this page 2 article on ESPN it is:
http://espn.go.com/page2/s/wiley/021030.html
Wow - I don't remember him saying that. I thought he had more class than to actually consider himself the best RB of all time. I mean, my goodness he benefited from some of the best offensive lines in the history of the game. Look at Edge in Arizona with a terrible line. How he could actually think he was better than Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, Walter Peyton and Barry Sanders is beyond me. Yes, he's a HOF back and one of the best ever but we will never know how good players like Barry Sanders would have been if he'd benefited from having an O line like the Cowboys with a HOF QB and a better than average receivers and tight ends. Gracious, I thought Emmitt would know better than to think that highly of himself. I remember when he broke Payton's record I almost cried. Then, I thought I remember him attributing his yards and TD's to the great lines he had so I thought he had a little class. But, I guess he is a Cowboy through and through - I cannot stand him.
Know this; I actually had to cut it down some because it wouldn't fit otherwise. The true quote should read;"Who said I was the greatest running back of all time? I never said it. I just have the most yards. I just have the most touchdowns. I just have the most rings. I just have the best-looking wife. Other than that, I'm run-of-the-mill. OK, so O.J. was better than me. Question is -- at what?" -Emmitt Smith
Also know that the article is in jest, but I love the quote.
It's not like anything said was false. (Aside from his wife; that's a matter of opinion.) And he never actually said "I'm the greatest" either.
He was always gracious of his line and Moose Johnston, but realize that those guys weren't there more than maybe half his career and he was still putting up good numbers right to his last year in Dallas.
Tell me any running back that has played at that level for 13 years, gotten the records, and gotten the rings?
Just think about it. Personally, I think it would have been great if he HAD said it. You know he thinks it.
Oh, I did not realize the article was a parody - that makes me feel better. Here is my list of best all time backs -
1. Jim Brown
2. Barry Sanders
3. Gayle Sayers
4. OJ Simpson
5. Walter Payton
6. Curtis Martin
7. Tony Dorsett
8. Eric Dickerson
9. Emmitt Smith
Sorry - I just don't see him being better than any of the guys I listed even though he has the inflated stats. I do think he is top 10 all time but no where near number one.