A Legend! And apparently a good dancer!

Success due to surrounding cast and longevity.

This guy was a winner and had a nose for the endzone. He wasn't the biggest or fastest but he played hard every down.

he's a great running back who stayed in great condition for a long time. and he played for many many years which dramatically increased his numbers.

This guy wasn't the fastest or strongest running back, but he played with heart and had a nose for the end zone.

Good back, who benefitted from a great line and a strong team.

But I'm not giving five stars to any damn Cowboy.

He was good, but his line was better. I still can't give him a bad rating, no matter how bad I hate the Cowboys.

UPDATE: At least he can dance...

UPDATE: Come on, we all saw him in Arizona. He was a step slower with no blockers, and he looked BAD. For that I gave a four. Now calm down, take a couple deep breaths, and relax, Emmitt fans. Its just the internet, right?

HE IS THE ALLTIME BEST HANDSDOWN. IT'S MORE THAN I COULD SAY FOR BARRY SANDERS.EVERY B. SANDERS FAN SEEMS TO FORGET HE QUIT, HE KNEW HOW TO SIGN THE 4 YEAR CONTRACT WITH DETRIOT, THEN AFTER A YEAR GOES BY HE HAS HIS FATHER GO TO DETRIOT LIONS HEADQUATERS TO TELL THEM THAT HE QUITS! AND YOU BARRY SANDERS FANS HAVE THE GUTS TO CALL HIM THE BEST OF ALLTIME. HA!!!!!!!! HE'S A QUITTER,TO HIS TEAM ,TO HIS FANS & HIMSELF.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S NOT THE ALLTIME RUSHING KING AND STILL DOESN'T HAVE A SUPERBOWL RING. BUT HE CAN ALWAYS BORROW ONE FROM EMMITT SMITH.

Overrated!!! Much like the other stars of the 90's Cowboys, he was a cog in the Dallas machine. He was a good, solid, all around back with good toughness who was fortunate to be drafted by the Cowboys and to stay injury-free for almost all of his LONG career (which is what got him the rushing record), but great? Special? No way!

Emmitt Smith was never that good, he had his O-line did the hard stuff while he ran with ball for a TD and collected all the credits and records which he never deserves in the first place. If Barry Sanders or Payton had the O-Line Emmitt did they would beat his record by a long shot (3x). Emmitt is so Overrated.

One of you wrote that Barry Sander's could borrow a ring from Emmitt (being that Barry never won one).Well I don't see how that could be a problem since Emmitt didn't earn a single one of his.The rings, the yards, touchdowns, and records were for the most part all gifts from his amazing O-line.I mean yes Emmitt Smith is the all time leading rusher of all time.What does that truly mean though Cowboy fans.That really means that this man was the best ever in the history of football to grab the football with both hands, put his head down, and run through huge gaping holes.You may be reluctant to agree but all you Emmitt fans know that at least 40% of the running backs durring Emmitt's time could have easily matched his numbers had they played with those O-lines.Even still another 15% could have sutpassed him. And that's just the running backs that played durring his time. That's not even considering the many of other running backs who were way better before Emmitt's time and are currently better now.If you're a cowboy fan of course you're always gonna point to the records,the yards, and the rings, but I have to beleive that deep down in that crack-destroyed brain of yours you know the dark, awful truth that Emmitt Smith isn't even one of the top 50 running backs ever.He's one of the most over rated player's ever because he's given too much of the credit that his O-line deserves.But then again that is the nature of the game and I'm pretty sure that all running backs are given more credit than their actually due. For that reason and that reason I would actually give him 3 stars but I have to offset the Fanboys who gave all those 5's so that his average can be more realistic to what he deserves which is a 3 stars.

Overrated because of the line....Barry Sanders he was not.

Though I'm a Redskins fan I'll give him his due. He was a versatile player.

Then again, if Barry had Aikman, an OL, and a good WR to take some pressue of his back, he'd be a god. I sometimes wonder what it would be like if Barry and Emmitt had switched teams.

Hard to not give five stars to the leading rusher of all time. I don't have him in my top five, probably not top ten. He was however a great running back. Yes he ran forever but in an age where talented players can't keep their legs under them longevity is almost as important as talent. Let us not forget that most running backs are retired when he was busting out 20 + TDs. So just because you don't like him give the man some credit.

this is another egotistical piece of crap. He had 56 million carries just to set records. He's not even in the top 25 running backs of all time. He couldnt hold Mike Alsott's jockstrap. He kept every football for his trophy room, what a buttmuncher. He thinks hes one of the best, but hes really a bum who masterbates to himself watching sportscenter.

emmitt smith hung on way to long, tainted his career. would have been okay if it was with a big market team or a winner, but the f-ing cardinals? i guess he was good but he sucks ass cause he always kept every single touchdown ball. not his first or hundread of his career but EVERY SINGLE ONE! thats really stupid. one.

Best Arizona Cardinal Running Back off all time.

Hate this guy, played way to long just to get the record. There is no way that he is the best player in history. He had an all star o-line, and a QB, and a hall of fame WR. Without them, he would be nothing but an average back. Overrated. BARRY SANDERS IS THE MAN!

wasnt even a top five in the decade.

Very good back with great vision and presence, on the other hand, he had Aikman, Irvin, a great line and a pretty good "D" most years, things Barry Sanders rarely had! You people who put him above Barry don't know much about football!

Amazing offensive line, i hated watching the o line perform until the 90's cowboys, amazing. but smith was an avarage back

most overated player of all time. sorry. he was good but nothing near all the hype

He had the best offensive line in the history of the NFL, I give them five stars. But Emmitt, he sucked.

Played way to long. he played for a good team thats it. There are so many better running backs out there.

Emmit Smith isn't even near the best Barry Sanders was way better he retired early look how long emmitt played thats not the best yardage for how long he played People who just might beat his easy to beat records will be one of these people i shall list......Curtis Martin, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Clinton Portis. These people are all better then Emmitt Smith. If you want to see true greatness look at people like Dan Marino who even at the end of his career stayed an outstanding player and had good passing yards for how long he played.

Vastly overrated. Virtually an obscenity that he's the all-time leading rusher in league history...

Should be number 1. This guy was a champ. never quit and I was sad to see him leave the cowboys he was all they had at the time.

He's good, but not great. He had an outstanding OL to work with that gave him gaps and holes up the a**. The only reason he's up so high in the record books is because he played so d*** long. I would consider him just about one of the most over rated players ever in NFL history.

He had more rushin yards and more touchdowns than anyone else. He was the best player on the best team during the 90s, and did a lot for the game of football. Isnt a selfish guy, and loves the game of football. How can he NOT be the best?

One of the greatest running backs of all time.

Tuinei was an undrafted player who started as a defensive tackle. Nate Newton was also undrafted. Nobody ever heard of Larry Allen and Erik Williams coming out of college. Before that there was Kevin Gogan and John Gesek. Not exactly household names. Regarding his toughness, remember the playoff game he won against the Giants AFTER he seperated his shoulder? Got the tough yards when needed. Payton is still the best, but Emmitt's not far behind. Barry Sanders? Check out how many games that he ended up with zero or negative yards.

A scrub... Emmitt Smith is a discrace to the game. He ran through holes ten miles wide created by his all-star O-line. I take that back, he stummbeled through the holes like a flippin' chicken with its head cut off. The pu$$y-a$$ bi-o-tch would always run OB so he wouldn't get hit. He has such a big ego he can't see that he sucks pecho. Why didn't you throw in the towel earlier you sick-a$$ mofo! All the other great backs went out while they were the best: Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown. But you, you son of a bi-o-tch, you had to keep on going for 15 flippin' seasons just so you could have your name in the record books. Well geuss what? Despite that fact, everyone knows you are the most overrated sack of $hit that has ever walked the face of the planet!

Fatastic? lol Anyway... doesn't even come close to Barry Sanders in over all talent. I don't care how many career rushing yards he has. He has always been overrated.

a tough son of a gun,great initial burst and power.to those who credit his line,look what he is doing at arizona,and look at his stats after the o-line declined,he put up back to back 1,300 yard seasons at 31years old

Emmitt has the records but there are better backs then him but add the records and the rings and the FACT that he is a future hall of famer, he has got to get more respect then just a line because he had talent.

I hesitated between the 3 and 4. Emmitt was a very good back, could both run and catch, though as a receiver there are a few of his contemporaries who would rate higher. Durable. Though the one stat that makes me give him a 3.5 is something that I' not sure is an official one, but the announcers seemed to have acess too. He was consistently the NFL back who had most yards per carry prior to being touched by the opposition. This shows his line cetainly was responsible for much of his yardage. Definitely not in the same class as Brown, Payton, Dickerson, Sanders, Sayers

There were better RBs, but none as consistently productive.. why won't he keep some dignity and hang it up?

In my opinion, he is the greatest running back ever. Here's why: 1.) Most Carreer Yards Rushing 2.) Most Carreer Touchdowns 3.) Most Carreer Post-Season Touchdowns 4.) Most Carreer Post-Season Yards Rush 5.) Most Carreer Superbowl Titles 6.) You Kidding? You Need MORE?

I love to watch him play.

The greatest running back of all time. Numbers don't lie... Takes a back seat to no one. Simply the best...

I've always been a cowboy fan. and always hearing how barry was better than emmitt. based on the team that they were on. and, that barry retired early, rising the question if he would have stayed. if ands or buts, you cant use that, because you dont know. maybe he would've gotten hurt or something. my whole point is that here Emmitt stayed in, and played throughout his career, and there's no denying that he's the best because the stats prove it. I'm missing emmitt, and not seeing him in the backrfield for the cowboys anymore. #22 EMMITT SMITH, THE BEST OF ALL-TIME!!!

Emmitt is a good back, but the best ever? It's not even close. To all of you Cowboy fans who don't like people saying that he is only as good as his line, think about this. I don't know the exact numbers, but if you take each season he played and count the number of offensive lineman that made the pro-bowl each season, the total is around 20. Payton had 3, Barry had 1. Need I say more?

Greatest running back in NFL history.

stop hurting our eyes

Emmitt's line his first few years in the league is overrated by today's fans. He eventually had the best line in football, but only in his prime. Later in his career, when he was STILL going to the Pro Bowl, he had a sorry line. Last year, given his usuall carries, he still would've eaked out 1,000 at his advanced age with one of the worst lines in football. The "great line" argument holds no water. He also caught. He also blocked. He carried his team. He once got the Cowboys into the playoffs single handedly beating the Giants. Literally, his other arm was hanging at his side! He had Payton-like heart and was consistent. He had a gain almost every play. He didn't need long runs to get his numbers. He was consistent, which is FAR more important than occasional bursts with many losses (cough-sanders-cough). A complete back with heart. And rings.

The greatest cowboy ever and one of the toughest running backs ever to play in the NFL. Many dis him, but never have a good explanation why.

he's awesome. i dont care what the people who say the line was good. he is awesome.

This guy sucks so much balls. Emmit had a good line and played till he was dead. I could get the record under those fattys.

emmitt did have a great O-line, but is smart and sees the field like a great running back. Many people say, it was just his 0-line and without he would have never been so great. All good running backs have good 0-lines, but to break as many records as emmitt it's not just his line. Maybe you people who say it's just his line, never watched emmitt smith play that much. Because the emmitt i saw took hits and kept going, when you thought he was going down, he would keep going for and extra ten yards. Emmitt is one of the best all around tailback in the game, he is a great blocker, good hands, and hardly ever fumbles. He also has a great heart, you dont find backs like him every day. So to all of you that say it's just his line, maybe you should watch some highlights of him before you speak. You dont win 3 super bowls, be a super bowl mvp, a pro bowl mvp, lead the NFl in rushing td's and yards because you suck. So give credit where credit is due.

Great running back, but i can't rate him with Walter Payton because Emmitt had a better team around him for more years, and cause he had more carries than Walter when he broke his record. All that said, he was the 2nd best all around running back.

He deserves a 5 for what he has done on the field for the Cowboys and the NFL. He was the shining star when Dallas was knee deep in controversy. He isn't the best, the fastest, strongest, but he has heart. He holds the NFL rushing record now on paper, but people who follow the game knows that it is only a number. Walter Peyton and Barry Sanders played with at best average lines, and they did more in 10 years than Emmitt did. Emmitt needed more carries than Walter, and that was behind his Pro Bowl line. Walter, while he was still alive, told the media once that he hoped Barry Sanders would break his record. When Barry retired, only then did the Peyton family endorse Emmitt. He's a top 10 all time runningback, but he's not the best.

THIS GUY COULD BE THE BEST OF ALL TIME IF IT WASNT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE

I've never been a Cowboys fan, but Emmitt Smith has been a pleasure to watch over his career. I don't think it's fair to judge his accolades and yards gained by saying "it's all due to the offensive line", as some people say. I think Walter Payton is superior, but nobody breaks the all-time rushing record like Smith did unless they are great players in their own right. I think Parcells should start Emmitt next season, as he provides a quality presence in the backfield, even if it's only for another year. Keeping Emmitt Smith will allow Parcells to concentrate on other problems the Cowboys have (and there are MANY problems with that team, make no mistake). If Smith starts, I have no doubt that he could go for yet another 1000 yard season.

the guy's better than a one, but i gotta bump him down a little. he got to where he is in yardage by consistency and time, not by talent. while he is good, he doesn't have that break away ability or agility that some of the greats, like Sanders, had. Somebody said, "he cant' go 80 yards in one attempt, but he can go for 40 twice". for me, that doesn't cut it.

Will Emmitt ever be equaled. His age seceeds his power to go on. I will always remember the great #22 breaking every tackle and slipping tyhrough every defender. Bye, Dude.

shouldnt have broken paytons record

He was a good player when he played on a good team, but when the Cowboys started to stink, his numbers went down. See a pattern?

I don't see any of us out there doing what he has done. And aside from the field, Emmit is a true Man among men. You don't see him in negative news articles. He donates more money than most of us will ever make, to charity. Leave him be. He's great.

i dont care what anybody says,when u hold the record for most rushing yards of all time,u have to be a great player

simply, the greatest running back to ever play the game. Most touchdowns,most yards, 3 time super bowl champ.Good blocker,power up the middle, watch some emmitt hightlights and you'll agree with me.

finally someone said it!!!!!

A couple of more games, hopefully, and he will be the all-time leading rusher. He holds so many records and is high on the list of many others and because he plays for the Cowboys he gets very little respect. Well, history will vindicate him. League MVP, Super Bowl MVP. The first player to lead the league in rushing and go to the Super Bowl and win it the same year. He did it twice! Give the man his due.

soon to be the greatest nfl running back of all time.