August 28, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant, NFL, NFL History, Rankings/List, Roy Williams (WR), Tony Romo | Comments Off
Are you ready for some football?
It’s that time of year again; time to break out the pencils and notepads as we embark upon another season of fantasy football.
Who will be the fantasy NFL star offensively in 2010, and can you nab him?
And how about defense: Who’s the best player to pick in the secondary?
Today, we’re going to be taking an in-depth look at the 2010 Dallas Cowboys team, and the best players on the squad in terms of fantasy football payday.
So, who are 10 Cowboys players that could help your fantasy football team win a title?
Without further ado, let’s begin…
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August 16, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, NFL, NFL History, Opinion, Rankings/List, Sports Records | Comments Off
Conference Dominance:
Which NFL Conference is truly the Best?
Throughout the history of the NFL we have seen shifts of power through its two conferences: the NFC and AFC. Each conference has had its periods of dominance and its periods of mediocrity. But in order to show the balance that the conferences have exhibited is evident through their respective Super Bowl Championships: the NFC with 23 and the AFC with 21. The question I raise is: who is the NFL’s dominant conference now.
For most of the last decade the AFC has had its way with the NFC winning 7 of the 10 last Super Bowls. Based on that statistic alone it is reasonable to say that the NFC has been the AFC’s perennial whipping boy. But as Bob Dylan once said “The Times they are a Changin”. While we approach a new decade of NFL Football (contingent on the NFL and Unions annual whiny bitch fest also known as CBA Negotiations) I aim to examine which conference will step up and win the Battle of the New Decade.
The gap between the NFC and AFC has greatly been narrowed over the last few years. From 2000 to 2006 the AFC won 6 of 7 Super Bowls; but over the last three years the NFC has won 2 of 3 with stunning performances from underdog Giants and Saints while the Cardinals competed in one of the best Super Bowls in a long time. It’s a clear sign that the conferences are entering a stage of parity, with each conference battling to gain the edge.
While the AFC has had the clear edge in the last decade it’s starting to lose its luster Its top teams of the decade are at a cross roads. The Colts suffered playoff misery with their defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. Their coaching staff is in transition and they need to continue to remain ahead of the curve. Something a lot of teams fail to do.
Along with the Colts, the New England Patriots are at a turning point: Ever since their monumental loss to the New York Giants the Pats have really begun a slow downward spiral. With the infusion of youth during the last two drafts the Patriots will struggle to remain amongst the Elite, but with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick anything is possible. The Steelers have to deal with the distraction of Ben Rapelisberger (couldn’t resist) and the Chargers are monumental chokers.
Those four teams used to be consistently at the top of their divisions but now they face a lot of obstacles in their path of success. The AFC used to be the ROCK of the NFL but now it seems that it’s losing its foundation; with the creeping advancement of the NFC the AFC will have to work hard to maintain its dominance.
I think the main reason the NFC has gained traction on the AFC can be traced back to the Quarterback position. During the time of AFC domination (2000-2006) Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger all hosted the Lombardi Trophy (along with some balding afterthought known as Trent Dilfer, widely considered one of the worst QB’s to win the big game.) In comparison during that time frame the NFC sent QB’s such as: Kerry Collins, Brad Johnson, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasslebeck, and Rexy “not so sexy” Grossman (along with future hall of famers Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb, But they both failed to win the big one as well).
It’s clear that from the 2000-2006 seasons the NFC really struggled to develop the Franchise Quarterback capable of winning the big game. It’s safe to say the NFC really had average quarterback play during the early part of the decade. I believe the tide began to shift during from the 2007 season to the end of the decade as the NFC stepped up its quarterbacking core.
Old guns began playing young again as Kurt Warner and Brett Favre experienced a career renaissance. Established QBs such as Donovan McNabb and Drew Brees maintained their stellar play. Along with young guns such as Tony Romo and Eli Manning making their mark on the NFL along with future stars such as Aaron Rodgers and future cornerstones such as Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan. From 2007 to 2009 the NFC gained an influx of talent in their QB ranks that could compare to the elite of the AFC. From the 2007 season to the end of the decade Eli Manning and Drew Brees were able to win the Super Bowl and establish the credibility of the NFC.
What made their victories so special was that they came against the AFC Elite in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Winning can be traced to the quarterback position and you can see that the NFC may have a fighting chance to win the battle with the AFC.
Along with the Quarterback one of the most vital areas of success is the skill and experience of the Head Coaches. And during the period of AFC Dominance the AFC boasted future hall of fame coaches such as: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Jeff Fisher. While the NFC can boast coaches such as Andy Reid, Mike Holmgren, Tom Coughlin and John Fox, those coaches are nowhere near the caliber of the AFC.
Through the AFC coaches you had some of the best game planners, game managers and scouts the NFL has ever seen. The NFC constantly had coaches coming and going with teams repeatedly having to change philosophies and personnel. The stability that the AFC had during this time frame allowed their teams to maintain philosophies and really develop their teams in their image.
But with the shift towards parity in the NFL the NFC has had coaches such as Ken Whisenhunt, Sean Peyton, Mike McCarthy and Brad Childress, who throw their names into the conversation as the future elite coaches in the NFL. We will soon be able to tell if the new blood in the NFC will help narrow the gap between the conferences.
The last issue I’d like to address is the overall talent increase in the NFC. You can look at the NFC and find elite players at every position. While it’s true you can find equally talented players in the AFC it has been a long time since the NFC has been able to boast talent that it has today: Quarterbacks such as Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Tony Romo can all be argued as top 5 NFL QBs.
You have the best all around running back in Adrian Peterson. Wide Receivers such as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson (yes a Lion can be amongst the best players in the NFL), Miles Austin, Michael Crabtree and many other blossoming stars. Some of the best defenses reside in the NFC with players like DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Charles Woodson, and Julius Peppers wreaking havoc on opposing QB’s while giving offensive coordinators nightmares. The talent level of the NFC has reached a level not seen in the NFC since the days of the Cowboys Triplets.
This is truly a golden age for the NFC and if its vast talent can finally step up, the NFC can take over as the dominant conference. But don’t think the AFC will concede this battle as they still boast talented players and masterminds at the coaching position. While I still consider the AFC as the dominant conference, for the first time in almost a decade the NFC is in position to do something about it and I can’t wait for the war known as the 2010 season.
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August 14, 2010 | Filed Under Bob Lilly, Century Team, Coach Tom Landry, Cowboy Bob, Cowboy Fans, Cowboy History, Cowboys Coach, Cowboys History, Dallas Cowboys, Demeanor, Distinction, Doomsday Defense, Due Recognition, Fame Career, Football Players, Football Season, Franchise History, Hall of Fame, Joe D, Juggernauts, Leg Injury, Legends of the Star, NFL History, Nfl Team, Noted Photographer, Pro Bowl, Ring of honor, Sheer Determination, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Team Nickname, Texas Stadium, Tom Landry, Ultimate Team, Undisputed Leader, draft pick | Comments Off
Many great players have worn the Dallas Cowboys uniform with pride and distinction during the teams glorious 50 year history. None however, can lay claim to the ultimate team nickname, “Mr. Cowboy” save one, the great Bob Lilly. Though...
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August 8, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, History, NFL, NFL History, Troy Aikman | Comments Off
Watching the Hall of Fame speeches invokes a lot of emotions for fans of the NFL. Emmitt Smith’s speech was especially moving, especially when he spoke about his relationship with “Moose” Johnston.
The relationships that bond these players are remarkable, and the Cowboys of the 1990’s had quite a strong group. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin were known as the “Triplets”.
Where have all the “Triplets” gone? With many teams implementing a committee approach in their backfields, has limited the amount of featured backs in the NFL.
Coaches also have more specialty players than ever before. The Cowboys had one of the best trio of stars in the history of the NFL. Were they the best? You be the judge, as we look at several of the best “Triplets” in the history of the NFL.
Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, and Raymond Berry
Johnny Unitas
‘Johnny U’ paved the way for the forward pass in the NFL. He threw a TD pass in 47 consecutive games, which is a record that still stands today. Unitas was a three time MVP, and will be remembered as one of the best QBs of all time.
Lenny Moore
Moore was a dual threat RB, as he was used as a receiver as well as a runner. He had 5 straight seasons of at least 40 catches, which was a big feat for a RB in those days. Moore scored in 18 straight football games, which was only matched by LaDanian Tomlinson in 2005- 40 years later.
Raymond Berry
Berry was known for his sure hands, as he only dropped two passes and fumbled once in his entire career. He played his best game in “The Greatest Game Ever Played”, with 12 receptions for 178 yards and a TD.
Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann
Terry Bradshaw
He was the first QB to win 4 Super Bowls. He called his own plays, and although he only through for 300 yards or more seven times, he did it twice in Superbowl games. He totaled 932 yards passing and 9 TD in his four Superbowl wins.
Franco Harris
Harris will always be known for making “The Immaculate Reception” against the Raiders in the 1972 AFC Championship game. He was selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls, and also had eight straight 1,000 yards rushing seasons.
Lynn Swann
Lynn Swan was known for his blazing speed and soft hands. He came up big in 1975, 1978, and 1979 Super Bowls. He totaled 364 yards receiving and grabbed 3 TD passes.
Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Roger Craig
Joe Montana
Joe Montana is widely regarded as the best QB of all time. He was known as ‘Joe Cool’ as he was calm under pressure, and has 31 4th quarter comebacks in his career. He started in four Superbowl games, winning all four.
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is considered the best WR of all time, and possibly the best player in the history of the NFL. He was known as a perfectionist, and his work ethic translated to his amazing production on the field. He has numerous receiving records, including receptions, receiving yards, and TDs.
Roger Craig
Craig was the first running back to having a 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Only Marshall Faulk has matched his feat. He was the perfect fit for the West Coast offense.
Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmit Smith
Troy Aikman
Troy never put up gaudy numbers, but he will always be remembered for his accuracy, toughness, and leadership. With all the big personalities on the Cowboys in the 90’s, he owned the huddle.
Emmit Smith
The NFL’s all time leading rusher was not the most physically gifted athlete, but his heart and desire can not be measured. He was known to lay it all on the line for the team. He once single-handedly beat the New York Giants with a separated shoulder.
Michael Irvin
The ‘Playmaker’ was widely recognized as the hardest worker on the Cowboys, during his tenure there. He lived up to his nickname, as his continually made big plays in clutch situations for Aikman.
Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed
Jim Kelly
Kelly was the architect of the K-Gun offense, which was a no-huddle spread offense that Kelly ran to perfection. He led the Bills to four straight Superbowls, but unfortunately the talented Bills could never pull one off.
Thurman Thomas
Thomas was a multi-dimensional threat that fit perfectly into the Bills spread offense. He led the AFC in rushing in 1989, 1990, and 1993. During the 1989-1990 seasons, Thomas totaled 3,742 yards rushing and receiving, which was 200 more than any other player.
Andre Reed
Reed was the number one receiver for Kelly during their successful run. He is toward the top of almost every statistical category. Reed was part of “The Comeback”, as the Bills trailed the Houston Oliers 35-3 at half. The Bills stormed back in the second half, and Reed caught 3 TDs to help Buffalo complete the comeback victory.
John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Rod Smith
John Elway
John Elway was one of the greatest QBs to never win a Super Bowl, prior to the 1997 season. Elway won two straight Super Bowls in 1997-98, after losing three previous attempts. Elway will always be known for his clutch play and comeback wins.
Terrell Davis
Davis was the help that Elway was lacking in Denver’s three previous Super Bowl losses. During the 1996-98 seasons, Davis averaged 2,066 total yards and 17.6 TDs. He was an integral part of the Broncos’ success during those seasons.
Rod Smith
Smith is the only undrafted player in NFL history to eclipse the 10,000 yard mark. He was great blocker in addition to giving Elway a #1 target. Smith had 5 receptions for 152 yards against the Falcons in Super Bowl 33, which included an 80 yard TD.
Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and Issac Bruce
Kurt Warner
We all know his story. Bag boy turned league and Super Bowl MVP. He pulled the trigger for the “Greatest Show on Turf”. In his two full seasons (1999 and 2001) he averaged 4,591 yards passing and 38.5 TD passes.
Marshall Faulk
Faulk will go down as one of the best all-around RBs of all time. He was as good a receiver as he was a runner, and had an amazing three year for the Rams. During the 1999-2001 seasons, he averaged 1,374 yards rushing, 5.4 YPC, 881 yards receiving, 83 receptions, and 19.6 TDs.
Issac Bruce
Ike Bruce was one of the most popular Rams, as indicated by the chants of “Bruuuuce”, every time he touched the ball. In the Rams 1999 Super Bowl run, he led the team with 317 yards receiving and 2 TDs. He caught a 73 yard TD in the Super Bowl, which ended up being the game winner.
Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, and Marvin Harrison
Peyton Manning
Manning has been one of the most durable and dependable QBs over his career. He has won league MVPs as well as a Super Bowl MVP, and the Colts will always be contenders as long as he is behind center.
Edgerrrin James
‘Edge’ joined the Colts in 1999, after Marshall Faulk was traded to the Rams. In his 7 seasons with the Colts, Edge had at least 1,500 yards rushing 4 times and he had at least 11 TDs 4 times. The year after he was released by the Colts, Indianapolis won the Super Bowl. Edge was given a Super Bowl ring by the Colts management for his years of service.
Marvin Harrison
Harrison and Manning were an amazing QB/WR combo from 1999-2006. Harrison holds the record for most receptions in a season with 143, 4 straight seasons with at least 100 receptions, 8 straight seasons of at least 10 TD receptions, and 8 straight seasons of at least 1,100 yards receiving.
Tommy Rowan is the co-founder and writer for fantasyfanplay.com
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August 8, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, History, Jerry Rice, NFC East, NFL, NFL History, Opinion, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Rankings/List | Comments Off
On Saturday evening, seven NFL legends took center stage at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio for enshrinement into the league's Hall of Fame.
Those seven legends, who I am presenting to you in this slide show, are Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Emmitt Smith, Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, and Jerry Rice. Together they comprise one of, if not the best, Hall of Fame classes ever.
Watching each inductee give their speech and take their place among the previously enshrined players I get goose bumps all over.
When I was younger, I remember dreaming about being one of the greatest football players of all time.
Even though physical limitations put that dream out of reach, I grew up with football. The sport is a huge part of my life and every Sunday spent watching football games has made my life that much more enjoyable—especially when I got to watch truly special players like the seven listed above.
The Hall of Fame is a place where each player, coach, or contributor enshrined within has contributed something so great to the sport they are considered among the greatest of all time.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in 1963 with 17 inductees: Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell, Joseph Clark, Dutch Clark, Harold Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Earl Lambeau, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, John McNally, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Brown, and Jimmy Conzelman.
With the addition of the 2010 class, the Hall of Fame now includes 260 all-time greats.
Through 2008, all but one of the player inductees played some part of their pro career in the NFL—the lone exception being Buffalo Bills guard Billy Shaw, who played his entire career in the American Football League (AFL) prior to the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Canton, Ohio was selected as the location for the Hall of Fame for three reasons: first, the NFL, then known as the American Professional Football Association, was founded in Canton in 1920; second, the now-defunct Canton Bulldogs were a successful NFL team based in Canton during the first few years of the league; and finally, the community of Canton successfully lobbied the NFL to have the Hall built in their city.
To be eligible for the nominating process, a player must have been retired at least five years, and as of 2007, a coach must also have been retired for five years. Any other contributor such as a team owner or executive can be voted in at any time.
I felt honored on August 7, 2010 to have watched the induction ceremony for this class because they are so great
Congratulations to each of them for making the NFL the greatest sport of all and for making my Sundays that much more enjoyable.
We have all witnessed one of the best, if not the best, Hall of Fame classes assume their rightful place in Canton amongst their fellow legends of the gridiron.
I hope you all enjoy this article. Do not be afraid to comment or like this article, but please show respect when commenting. Thank you for your time!
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August 8, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, NFL, NFL History, Opinion | Comments Off
Emmitt Smith is a credible leader on and off the field and it was showcased and evident last night where thousands of fans, hall of famers, and the world watched in wonder as 7 inductees graced the stage.
Plain and simple, the speech was epic.
Smith talked about his time growing up in Pensacola, Florida and the heroes that provided him with the strength to allow him to blossom into the player he became. His tone was inspirational with a hint of confidence, mixed with gratitude.
“Whatever achievements I have earned over the course of my life, clearly have not been due to my abilities alone, but were also due to the belief of so many” Smith stated.
There were two things that were most striking about the newly minted hall of famer’s speech in Canton, Ohio. First, Emmitt not only carried the legacy of his own illustrious career, but also carried the name of his grand father, father, and son which he now sees as all four of them sharing and encompassing such a great honour through their shared name.
Second, and most important, his message about the difference between dreams and goals was directed to players, fans, and society in general to help express his recipe for success.
And he couldn’t have been truer in his assessment and statements.
He went on to explain that in order to transfer dreams and translate them into goals, you must actively write them down on a piece of paper. Once you do that, it’s written, stated, and a bona fide goal for you to achieve. You have set a path to reach greatness.
That type of inspirational reasoning is one which should resonate with all who watched and serve as a reminder to all who require motivation in achieving greatness. It’s true; you cannot achieve your most desired goals if you only dream them. The act of writing it down is the simple, yet effective difference, between those who succeed and those who fail.
Smith had a lifelong childhood dream of playing as a running back in the National Football League playing for the Dallas Cowboys and did everything he could to reach that goal.
“When I was six years old, I was watching the Dallas Cowboys on television with my father and some of our relatives. I clearly remember turning to my father and saying, 'One day I'm going to play professional football and I'm going to play for the Dallas Cowboys.'
My father turned to me and said, 'sure, that would be a good goal for you to have, son."
Smith delivered, what I believe to be, a speech that places among one of the best speeches in sports history. Just like his belief in turning dreams into goals, his speech was clearly articulated with a purpose in mind.
Emmitt Smith was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys who was drafted in the first round, 17th overall in the 1990 Draft. He is a multi-record holder, but best known for his 3 Super Bowl victories and current long standing NFL record in career rushing yards with 18,355 yds. He culminated his career with the Arizona Cardinals and retired in the 2004 season.
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August 8, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, NFL, NFL History, Opinion | Comments Off
Let me start off by congratulating the man who was one-third of a triumvirate that broke Washington Redskins fans' hearts throughout the 1990's.
Emmitt James Smith III was truly a phenomenal running back out of Florida, who ran behind a stacked offensive line and gave former Cowboys' quarterback Troy Aikman relief and release when defenses tried to shut down on Dallas' passing attack.
After all, this is a man from Florida who was not only a great Gator but a great pro, too, especially on Monday night games.
Durinf those classic Monday Night Football games, he'd demolish the Giants', Eagles', and particularly, Redskins' backs in front of millions, and wave the teams bye-bye on to 100+-yard performances.
Those special days were overshadowed by his accomplishments in January, a month in which Emmitt seemed to give the team his all in order to hoist Lombardi Trophy after Lombardi (three in four years, to be exact).
(Because he had the luxury of a solid line protecting him and Aikman at almost all times during the 1990s, he truly had the benefit of the doubt in reaching (and later eclipsing) Walter Payton's NFL all-time rushing record [amassing over 16,000 yards] faster than Barry Sanders in Detroit ever would have.)
In addition, I was very impressed with the speech that he gave on Saturday, August 7, 2010. He dedicated it to his deceased father, family, and Cowboys' execs and former teammates alike. It showed a touch of class and grace that he has reflected on the gridiron as well.
When his friend, former Dallas wideout, Michael Irvin went on cocaine binges and cavorted with ladies of the night, Smith's name never surfaced in any type of scandal.
Furthermore, even though he eventually married comedian Martin Lawrence's ex-wife Patricia, no brouhaha evolved from that transition. (In fact, Emmitt and wife have been married for over 10 years with some nice kids.)
Yet despite this occasion of celebrating NFL legends such as Smith, San Francisco giant Jerry Rice, Denver/ESPN vet Tom Jackson, and Boss Hog Russ Grimm, I was sick of hearing ESPN announcer Chris Berman ask rather indulgently of the partisan Dallas crowd in Canton, Ohio, "How 'bout them Cowboys?"
I've never been a Cowboy fan, and I never will.
The blue and silver, the star, the hubristic nonsense of hearing how there was a retractable roof with a hole, built specifically in the middle of Texas Stadium, so that God can watch His favorite team play on Sunday...
Enough.
I'm sick of Jerry Jones, Roger Staubach, Tom Landry, Bob Hayes, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Tony Dorsett, Tony Romo, Wade Phillips, Miles Austin, TO, DeMarcus Ware...and even the Starz Westerns' cable channel...
Enough.
Yes, people (read: Dallasians, or whatever is the title for people who live in Dallas) will read this article and regard me as a hater.
They'll say that I need to come join the team and erase all the worries of staying pat with a moribund team like the Redskins, who haven't seen steady glory since U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush I were in office.
So be it. You can call me what you want, but seeing the eloquent, "Dancing-With-the-Stars" shimmying, Just-for-Men-wearing gentleman from Pensacola, Florida, just made me one of a thousand people (heck, a million-plus) who cringed whenever another one of "them" got over-lauded by the league.
I get sick when I see too many Cowboys in Canton or when one gets a cushy national network job on say, Fox, yukking it up with Joe Buck.
Again, it's not a rarity to see Redskins' fans give praise to our NFC East rivals--when they truly deserve it. (We're classy like that.)
But we pride ourselves on seeing idiots like Lawrence Taylor (the New York Giants are the second most-hated, followed by the Iggles) receive their comeuppance as LT did on May 6, 2010.
With all that said, Emmitt, you're a semi-class act, the same one who reportedly mentioned his glee whenever he watches the nation's capital's team lose to "America's team" (another sick Dallas claim)--even years after you retired.
So, behind the ear-to-ear, pearly-white grins, and the accolades the league still bestows on you, you are the enemy. Always will be regarded as such.
Dallas fans, yes, gloat and berate me for being the southern conglomerate that has won five Super Bowls to our measly three. Show me tons of evidence, stats, facts to convince me that Dallas is--and always will be--No. 1.
So, yes, it's on, Dallas. I can't wait to see you get thrashed by the Redskins in your Mall-of-America mess of a stadium on September 12.
And, of course, I want to see Dallas get beaten by Washington in every two inter-division games every season.
Hail to the Redskins!
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August 4, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, NFL, NFL History, Opinion | Comments Off
Emmitt Smith has been consistently portrayed as a “boring” running back. He lacked elite speed and size, and his running style wasn’t particularly dazzling. Heck, most people don’t even consider Smith the best running back of his era, giving that distinction to Barry Sanders.
But Smith was the epitome of consistency during his illustrious 15-year NFL career. From 1991 to 2001, Smith broke the 1,000 yard barrier every season. During the first five years of that stretch, he rushed for over 1,400 yards, including 1,700+ twice.
Some also forget that during the beginning of his career, Smith was a terror in the passing game. From 1991 to 1997, he caught 40+balls every year, including a career-high 62 in 1995.
And of course there are the touchdowns. The league’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns reached pay-dirt at least 10 times in eight of his NFL seasons. In his otherworldly 1995 campaign, he scored a then-record 25 rushing TDs.
Smith’s magnificent career will culminate this Saturday night in Canton, Ohio. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be Smith’s presenter as he is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame. But let’s not forget that Smith was also one of college football’s most consistently productive running backs during his three-year stint at the University of Florida. During that time, he amassed 3,928 rushing yards. When Smith left for the NFL in 1990, that total was UF’s all-time record.
That total didn’t even approach the all-time rushing mark at the time–Tony Dorsett’s 6,082 yards–because Smith had left school as a junior. So what would have happened had he stayed at Florida for another season? Could he have eclipsed Dorsett’s mark, or even Ron Dayne’s current record of 6,397 yards, had he stayed for his senior season?
At first glance, the difference seems insurmountable. The 2,154 yards needed to tie Dorsett’s total would be extremely difficult, even for a back of Smith’s caliber. Only five running backs have ever rushed for that many yards in a single season in the history of college football: Barry Sanders, Kevin Smith, Marcus Allen, Troy Davis, and LaDainian Tomlinson.
But there’s no doubt that Smith possessed the talent to approach the number. His yards-per-game average rose steadily throughout his career at Florida. He gained 1,341 yards in his freshman season, becoming the fastest player in the history of college football to reach 1,000 yards. In year two, he amassed just 988 yards after missing 3+ games due to injury. Had Smith been healthy, however, he would have gained 1,395 yards (assuming the same yards-per-game average). In his incredible junior season, Smith erupted for 1,599 rushing yards–a school record.
If we extrapolate those numbers, we can conclude an “average” Emmitt Smith would have run for at least 1,700 yards in 1990 had he stayed at Florida–perhaps more. Of course, if we could somehow simulate thousands of 1990 seasons, we wouldn’t expect Smith to rush for 1,700 each time.
In fact, the majority of the time we would expect him to not be between 1,600 and 1,800 yards. Some seasons Smith, or one of his lineman, might suffer an injury, leaving him well under the 1,600 yard total. In other seasons, however, everything would click for the Gators. In these simulated years, we might expect Smith to run for 1,800, perhaps even 1,900 yards.
There may be a problem with all of this, however; the ol’ ball coach. One of the primary reasons Smith left Florida was due to the hiring of coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier was famous for a pass-first offense, leaving Smith to think it was time to make his move to the NFL. Had Smith stayed, maybe a lack of carries would have severely limited his opportunity for the all-time season he would have needed to break the record anyway.
However, Florida’s starting running back during Spurrier’s first four seasons as head coach, Errict Rhett, actually broke Smith’s all-time rushing record at the school. He did it in four seasons, of course, but Rhett was still provided ample opportunity to make plays.
Over his three full seasons as starter (1991-93), Spurrier provided Rhett with 240 carries per season. During Smith’s career, he averaged just 233 carries a year. Yes, Smith was injured during his sophomore campaign, but had he been healthy, the resulting increase in carries-per-season wouldn’t have been dramatically higher than Rhett’s.
Further, the difference in talent between Smith and Rhett is laughable. I have trouble believing Coach Spurrier, even in his pass-happy attack, wouldn’t have provided Smith with more carries than what Rhett averaged over his four-year career. Thus, we can safely assume that, had Smith stayed at Florida in 1990, he would have received enough carries to theoretically break the all-time rushing mark.
On top of this, Spurrier brought with him a more effective passing game. Smith rushed for 3,928 yards at Florida despite the team having virtually no passing attack, making Smith the focal point for defenses. If his carries would have remained steady, the increased passing efficiency that came with Spurrier may have (at least slightly) increased Smith’s yards-per-carry in 1990.
Thus, I believe Spurrier’s presence would have actually aided Smith had he returned to Florida for his senior season. Instead of an “average” season consisting of 1,700 rushing yards, perhaps it would have been closer to 1,800. If we assume this to be the case, the hypothetical 2,155 yards needed to pass Dorsett’s rushing mark would have been within reach.
But exactly what are the chances that, just from pure luck, a running back whose “average” season is 1,800 yards rushing will eclipse 2,155 yards?
The normal distribution is very relevant to football statistics and gives us an excellent base for making probability-based predictions.
To make that determination, I must talk briefly about a concept in probability theory known as the “normal distribution .” Also knowns as the “bell curve,” the normal distribution is used to describe any set of variables that tend to cluster around the mean.
We see this all the time in football when there are a bunch of players with very comparable statistics and just a few players with “outlying” ones. Of the 1,000 yards rushers in the NFL last season, for example, 14 of 15 rushed for within 220 yards of the 1,281 yard average. The lone outlier? Chris Johnson and his 2,006 yards.
By calculating the variance among the runners, we can determine the “standard deviation.” If a set of data possesses a low standard deviation, we know that nearly all of the data clusters around the mean. A high standard deviation means just the opposite.
Calculating the standard deviation, or variance from the norm, is so important because the normal distribution is governed by standard deviations–even the distribution of football statistics. In the example above, for example, we can determine that, of the 1,000 yard rushers, there is a standard deviation of about 160 yards.
Thus, according to the normal distribution, we would expect approximately 68 percent of 1,000 yard rushers to be within 160 yards, or one standard deviation of the mean. In 2009, that would have been between 1,121 and 1,441 yards. In reality, only nine of the 15 running backs were in this range (60 percent). Over a larger sample size, however, we’d expect these numbers to level out–they always do.
Incredibly, Johnson’s 2006 rushing yards were about 4.5 standard deviations away from the mean. If we assume that this number is valid across all eras, we’d expect just 0.3 percent (or one-in-300) of 1,000 yard rushers to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark.
In actuality, the frequency of 2,000 yard rushers is a bit higher. From 1978 (the start of the 16-game season) to 1998, there were 238 backs to scamper for 1,000 yards in a season. During that same time period, there were four 2,000 yard runners. If that sample size is to be taken as representative of reality, then a 1,000 yard rusher’s chance of reaching 2,000 yards is actually closer to about 1-in-70.
So what does this all have to do with Smith? Well, if we can decipher (or make an estimated guess) as to the standard deviation of a bunch of simulated 1990 UF seasons (had Smith stayed in school), then we can determine the likelihood of him eclipsing the (then) all-time career rushing record in college.
Of course, we don’t have any simulated 1990 seasons, so we have to use the next best thing: the standard deviation of rushing yards among top-notch college running backs from various seasons. For those still reading (Hi Mom!), I will spare you the boredom of performing these calculations in this article.
Instead, I will simply tell you that among the top 20 running backs each year in college from 1980 to 2009, one standard deviation is equivalent to about 200 yards. This is pretty steady across a wide sample size, with the mean rushing yards checking in at about 1,500.
Now, we already estimated an “average” senior season for Smith to be around 1,800 yards. If a plethora of simulated 1990 seasons for the former UF runner would yield a standard deviation anything close to the estimated 200 yards above, Smith’s chance of gaining the 2,155 yards necessary to break the all-time college rushing record would have been fairly high, relatively speaking.
Note that, according to the normal distribution, a standard deviation of 200 yards means, had Smith stayed in college his senior year, he would have had approximately a 68 percent chance of totaling between 1,600 and 2,000 yards (which seems about right, considering he rushed for 1,599 yards in his junior year).
If we assume this standard deviation to be correct, the 355 “extra” yards needed to break the record would be just over 1.75 standard deviations from the “normal” projected senior season for Smith. Finally, we have our answer. . .
According to probability theory and the normal distribution, had Emmitt Smith returned to the University of Florida for his senior season, he would have had approximately a 3-5 percent chance of breaking Tony Dorsett’s then-all-time rushing record of 6,082 yards. This is the range of opportunity that corresponds with a rushing total that is 1.75 standard deviations from the norm. Not exactly probable , but still fairly high, considering the task at hand.
And what about Ron Dayne’s current mark? Well, Smith would have needed an “extra” 669 yards–over three standard deviations away from his mean. That equates to less than a 0.1 percent chance of tallying enough yards to still be college football’s all-time leading rusher.
So it looks like Smith ultimately made the right decision in entering the NFL draft after his junior season. He may have missed a (rather small) opportunity at breaking the rushing record, but chances are he would have been drafted by a team other than Dallas in 1990. It is improbable Smith would have rushed for more yards than any other player in NFL history had he been on another team, even with talent as rare as his.
So as you watch one of the greatest running backs to ever be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this Saturday night, remember that you have one man to thank—the ‘ol ball coach.
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July 29, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith, History, NFL, NFL History | Comments Off
When the career of Emmitt Smith is discussed, the word's "greatest" is thrown around a lot.
Greatest player in Dallas Cowboys history.
Greatest running back of all time.
Both of those statements hold true for Emmitt, who used his durability and determination to break nearly every rushing record imaginable and lead the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories.
It's hard to narrow such an illustrious career into 15 extraordinary moments, but every great player has those moments that define who he is and what he can do, and these are those top 15 moments in the career of Emmitt Smith.
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July 21, 2010 | Filed Under Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, Keith Brooking, Miles Austin, NFL, NFL History, Rankings/List, Tashard Choice, Tony Romo | Comments Off
Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL. It is the most talked about, scrutinized, and the biggest money-maker. To be a Quarterback in the NFL, you not only have to be a great player, but a great leader. Leadership is one of the most underrated qualities in sports.
I have decided that I have seen way too many lists that have Wes Welker ahead of Andre Johnson and Frank Gore ahead of Adrian Peterson. I have decided to make a list that actually gets it right. Everyone has their opinions, but I think I will be closer. This is the first of many Top 10 rankings of mine. I hope you enjoy.
Statistics courtesy of Pro-football-reference.com
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