Toxikk Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Running back Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, will retire this offseason, sources told ESPN.Several Smith confidants said that, barring a last-minute change of plans, Smith will announce his retirement on Thursday in Jacksonville, site of Super Bowl XXXIX. He is scheduled to hold a news conference at 4 p.m. ET, which will be carried live on ESPN. It is believed that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will attend the announcement. Reached by the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday in Jacksonville, Smith did not confirm he was retiring. "Did you see my year last year? Do you think I'm ready to retire?" he was quoted as saying. Smith, 35, played 13 seasons for the Cowboys, helping them win three Super Bowls, and played the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in March. Smith was in Jacksonville on Monday, where he was at a dinner to honor past Super Bowl MVPs. When asked about retiring, he told the Dallas Morning News that he wanted to retire as a Cowboy, but stopped short of saying he would retire this offseason. "I will, in some way, shape or form," Smith said about retiring as a Cowboy. "There's always a chance [of not playing in 2005]. Somebody has got to want me, and if they don't want me, then what? ? I want to play. I want to do what I want to do." Smith may sign some sort of ceremonial one-day deal with Dallas. In recent years, other veteran star players have returned to the teams where they spent their glory days. The St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press speculated that Smith could join an investment group that is trying to buy the Vikings. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1981383 the game wont be the same... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawx Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I've never really loved him. He's ok. Curtis Martin has been my man since he was with New England. Emmit was excellent, we'll miss his ownage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getklineoutofthere Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Same here...I'm a Bears fan so I've always had that grudge since he beat Patyon's record... Nevertheless he was no doubt a solid back and it is a shame to see classy guys like that retire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Until I hear it from him............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Allen Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 Awe! He was awsome! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipdisc210 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I don't know why people hang on this guys nuts like they do. Hes not really that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I don't know why people hang on this guys nuts like they do. Hes not really that good. 585407425[/snapback] :laugh: Yeah, ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 i will be watching at four. i know this is just speculation, and it has been said that he has denounced that statement. we shall see though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj6ross Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I don't know why people hang on this guys nuts like they do. Hes not really that good. 585407425[/snapback] I guess you didn't watch the Cowboys play during the mid 90's, or any of those Super Bowls. I've always been a fan of running backs or recievers because thats the spots I played when I would play football friends. Emmitt was my favorite player as a kid. I have probably only 20 different football cards of him from rookie year to 2003. I have a ton of Cowboy cards too. Mostly all from '91-'99 though. I even have a Barry Sanders rookie card. Yeah I almost cried when he retired. hehe :crazy: At least the Cowboys appear to have a RB in Julius Jones. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axis Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 You know, Emmit is a good back, but he wasn't that great. I love his competitiveness and how tough he ran, but I do not think he deserves to be #1 on the list. He ran behind the best offensive line ever, sorry Steel Curtain Fans, and he won some Super Bowls. I know that is what it comes down to, winning, but he isnt that great. Barry Sanders would have crushed Walter Paytons record had he not retired, he would have made it impossible for anyone to catch him. In my opinion, Barry Sanders is the greatest back ever, but I also have to vouche for Jim Brown. Both retired to early and had much to give, but I only see tape of Brown. Emmit is trying to pad his record so its harder to break, no other reason. If he wants to play football so bad, go to NFL Europe or the CFL, its still football isnt it? He does still love the 'game'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 But Barry did retire, so your point is moot. Emmitt is the #1 rusher. Pad his stats? He had a near 1000 yard season this year, playing for the Cardinals. The man can still play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huggybear102 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Only need to average 63 yards a game for a thousand yard season. Although I was a huge Barry Sanders fan, Emmitt did it in the playoffs when it counted. He will be missed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawx Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Cory Dylan owns Emmit! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huggybear102 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Cory Dylan owns Emmit! :D 585408383[/snapback] Corey Dillon you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 :laugh:Yeah, ok. 585407540[/snapback] Dallas had one of the best O-lines ever during Emmits tenure. Barry did what he did for Detroit - that is impressive. Not saying, Emmit was good, but his line helped make him great. Just like Irvin made Aikman more than mediocre (*ducks*). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I agree with the Aikman comment, Armeck. Troy was the most accurate passer I had seen, but that was just about it. In regards to Emmitt's o-line.... Emmit had the best o-line for a total of 4 years....from 93-97. Emmitt rushed for 1000 yards from 1991 to 2001. Those last few years Emmitt ran behind a poor line at best, and played with QB's the likes of Rodney Peete, Ryan Leaf, etc..., where defenses were made to stop Emmitt. He still produced at a high level. Barry wouldn't know what to do with a good O-line....their running styles were completely different. Best thing about Emmitt: He won those despite missing the first two games of that season in a contract dispute with Jones. Smith finished that regular season with perhaps his greatest game, an overtime win over the Giants at the Meadowlands.The Cowboys and Giants were both 11-4. The winner got the NFC East title, home-field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye. The loser got a wild-card game the following week. Smith separated his shoulder in the third quarter but returned to the game, which went into overtime tied at 13. He carried the ball on nine of the Cowboys' 11 plays in the extra period at one point raising his aching shoulder to stiff-arm Lawrence Taylor on his final run, which set up Eddie Murray's game-winning field goal. He finished with 229 total yards and a touchdown on 32 carries and 10 receptions, the heaviest workload in team history, then spent the night in a hospital. Had the Cowboys lost that game, Smith probably wouldn't have been able to play the next week in a wild-card game. That would have made the road much more difficult in what turned out to be the Cowboys' second of three Super Bowl victories in four seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 too bad espn is not showing the announcement. maybe it has not happened yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 I agree with the Aikman comment, Armeck. Troy was the most accurate passer I had seen, but that was just about it.In regards to Emmitt's o-line.... Emmit had the best o-line for a total of 4 years....from 93-97. Emmitt rushed for 1000 yards from 1991 to 2001. Those last few years Emmitt ran behind a poor line at best, and played with QB's the likes of Rodney Peete, Ryan Leaf, etc..., where defenses were made to stop Emmitt. He still produced at a high level. Barry wouldn't know what to do with a good O-line....their running styles were completely different. Best thing about Emmitt: 585408909[/snapback] Let's also not forget that everything the Cowboys accomplished was because of one man. One superhuman being from the University of GA - Herschel Walker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 WOW it's gonna suck to see him go, I enjoyed watching him play so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceDogg Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 I will never understand why Emmitt never has got the respect he has earned and deserves. Even back when there was news stories about the 3 great RB's Thurman, Barry, and Emmitt, Emmitt was always counted as the 3rd out of them. I remember saying to the TV many times he will be playing long after the others are gone and will have better stats and more SuperBowls. I was RIGHT! I am RIGHT now in saying he is GREAT. I don't mind people not thinking he was the greatest ever, but to think "he wasn't that good" just show you don't know football very well. Give the man his due. I mean geez peeps. Ok, so you don't think he's the best of all time, maybe you don't think he's in the top 5 or even top 10 ever, but he "IS" a GREAT RB if you disagree with that you are just plain no being honest with yourself. You don't get the all time rushing title without being GREAT I don't care what kind of O-line you had!! Period!! That doesn't mean there hasn't been other GREAT RB's I can name at least 20 or more that I think was great and some most of you (that say Emmitt wasn't that good) wouldn't even know. He's GREAT!! And will be missed!!!! I have already missed him because I don't get to see Cards games. If you truely think Emmitt wasn't great then you must not have much respect for football.. another words anyone could do what he's done, in your mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted February 3, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted February 3, 2005 now, goodbye... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2005) -- NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith retired Feb. 3, calling his 15-year career "a tremendous ride."Smith, who starred for the Dallas Cowboys for 13 seasons and spent the last two years with Arizona, made the announcement at the Super Bowl -- a fitting spot for a three-time champion. "I've given everything I can possible to the game, on and off the field," Smith said. The 35-year-old Smith ran for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns in his career, both NFL records. He rushed for 937 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cardinals this season. He was more consistent than he was spectacular, a running back who could be relied on to get tough yards when tough yards were needed. He rushed for 1,000 yards or more every year between 1991 and 2001. He led the NFL in rushing in 1991, 1992 and 1995 and in touchdowns in three different seasons. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/8159759 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1983306 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Damn that woman looks good is that his wife? man shes frickin hot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Emmitt Smith. All-Time Leading Rusher.....no 'what if's' about it. Catch-22 You were the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanctified Veteran Posted February 4, 2005 Veteran Share Posted February 4, 2005 Like I said in the other thread, Emmitt deserves the honor and a place not only in Canton but in the memories of people who really love this game. Is the all-time leading rusher and the best scoring RB who we see parting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayepecks Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 FYI: He's signing a "ceremonial" deal with the Cowboys to end as a Cowboy (didn't click the link to see if it stated). The Star-Telegram reported a few days ago (and a while back) that he was strongly leaning towards retiring. And, no offense, but it was his time to retire... a few years ago it was, in fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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