04/25/24
August 10, 2010
Emmitt Smith's Bromance with Moose: The highlight of Emmitt Smith's induction speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday was his tribute to fullback Daryl "Moose" Johnston, who was in the audience to be thanked for the sacrifices he made during their playing days for the Dallas Cowboys. "People don't understand what it took to be a fullback in our system, the sacrifices you made not simply with your body but your whole spirit," said Smith, who was a big blubbery mess at the podium. Related link: The day Smith beat the New York Giants with one arm.
Barry Sanders was an amazing running back, but Emmitt Smith was an amazing football player and teammate. If you believe that football is about moving the chains and exerting your will on an opponent, Smith was one of the most powerful offensive players to ever play the game.
That Giants game ranks up there among the greatest feats of endurance in team sport. It's cool to see a New York paper give it proper credit.
I've mentioned Michael Jordan's flu game as an inspiration to me any time I'm sick as a dog and have to get anything done. Smith's shoulder game is another.
posted by rcade at 01:51 PM on August 10, 2010
In my book, Emmitt was by far the most productive back that I've ever seen play the game. I loved watching Barry Sanders run the ball but if it came down to which RB I would want when the game was on the line, it would no doubt be Emmitt.
Also, when Emmitt literally ran over the Giants with one arm. That was the most spectacular thing I've ever seen on the football field that it gave me goosebumps. I remember that game very well.
On a side note: Moose Johnston was always underrated as far as a FB goes but he deserves to get a nod to the HOF for all he sacraficed for the betterment of the team. MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!
posted by BornIcon at 01:55 PM on August 10, 2010
Emmitt also played an important role in the ownership and management education of Jerry Jones.
Emmitt stuck to his guns as Jones (who hadn't been an owner very long before drafting Emmitt) was convinced that he was going to be able to set the price for Emmitt's services during negotiations for a new contract in the "I know what I want to pay Emmitt" episode.
Credit where it's due: Jones traded up to draft Emmitt to begin with when not everyone was convinced he was going to be an impact player in the pros.
posted by beaverboard at 02:23 PM on August 10, 2010
The clips of the speech where he talks about Moose were awesome. I'm fairly neutral about Smith (I recognize his greatness, but he pounded on my Bills in two Super Bowls, so how can I love him), but that was fantastic to hear.
It would be like Martin Brodeur calling out his defensemen that played in front of him, or a quarterback give credit to every lineman that protected him.
The only thing missing was having Moose walk onto the stage in front of Smith, and then stepping aside as he walked to the podium.
posted by grum@work at 02:34 PM on August 10, 2010
Moose almost got the nod to introduce Smith, but he ultimately went with Jerry Jones. As a Cowboys fan I like the fact that the heroes of the early '90s -- the last great Dallas team -- are still on such good terms. Back when Michael Irvin was on trial on cocaine charges and a lot of pals were staying away from him, Troy Aikman showed up in court to lend his support.
posted by rcade at 03:46 PM on August 10, 2010
Back when Michael Irvin was on trial on cocaine charges and a lot of pals were staying away from him, Troy Aikman showed up in court to lend his support.
Absolutely! Troy Aikman has always stood by Michael Irving throughout his trials and tribulations which is why Aikman is the epitome of a true leader and friend.
I'm pretty sure the main reason Nate Newton stayed away was that he was caught up in his own situations.
posted by BornIcon at 04:00 PM on August 10, 2010
I've always hated the Cowboys, but I've always been an Emmitt fan. After Dwight Thomas left as our high school's football coach, he took over at Pensacola Escambia HS, where he won two state titles with Emmitt as his feature back. My junior year (Emmitt's soph season), Coach Thomas invited me and several other former players to the state championship game between Escambia and St. Petersburg HS. Emmitt crushed the Devils all night long, and after he and the Gators (yeah, he was a Gator in high school, too!) won the game, I met Emmitt and we talked football for a while. I also had the opportunity to hang out with him when we were both at UF, and I'm happy to say that I knocked a few back with the man who would become the leading rusher in NFL history, and one of the best to ever play his position.
Way to go, Emmitt...Pensacola, represent!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 02:04 PM on August 13, 2010
Great video. And the game where Emmitt beat the Giants with one arm was one of the most amazing performances on a football field I've ever seen.
We've had a lot of debates over Emmitt Smith over the years here, and I've been in the minority. A lot of people believe he was a good back that benefited from other good players; that Sanders was a far superior back. I disagreed then, and I disagree now. Smith will never get the credit he deserves, and there's nothing he could have done during his career to assure he would have except being a member of a bad team.
Joe Posnanski:
when it came to Emmitt people always talked about how good his offensive line was how good his quarterback was how good his fullback was how good his team's defense was with Emmitt Smith you tended to hear a lot about how good everyone around him was.
...He wasn't flashy. He was brutally effective. He was so quiet in his dominance that he made you appreciate the people around him. He blasted straight ahead, positive yards, all the time, straight ahead, stretching for first downs, crashing toward the goal line, imposing will. Running backs must be judged, I think, on their peak, because of the beating their bodies take, the punishment their desire must endure, the insanity that is running into a defense again and again and again. For five years 1991-1995 Emmitt Smith led the NFL in rushing four times. He scored 85 touchdowns 17 per year. He averaged 55 receptions per year*. And the Cowboys won three Super Bowls.
Smith just kept on going for a long time, which is why he's the all-time leading rusher. But I would say for those five years, he was just about the perfect running back for winning games, the running back who you would want if you were trying to win a championship. Barry Sanders scored one touchdown in six playoff games and only once in those games rushed for more than 70 yards (he famously ran for negative-1 yard against Green Bay in a 16-12 playoff loss in 1994). You could certainly point out that Sanders did not have Emmitt's offensive line, did not have the Cowboys offensive firepower to loosen up the defense, did not have this, did not have that you could spend a lot of time imagining just how great Sanders would have been with Emmitt's advantages. But it always seemed to me Emmitt created those advantages, that Barry Sanders' genius was like Dr. J's brilliance he was an artist, a performer, a jazz improvisor, a force of imagination. The Lions would sometimes take Barry Sanders out of games when the team got close to the goal line.
And Emmitt Smith kept going straight ahead. I would rather watch Barry Sanders play. I think you win more games with Emmitt Smith.
Most people I know disagree with me on that, which is nothing new. Barry Sanders' numbers are better than Emmitt's in many ways much higher yards-per-carry (5.0 to 4.2) and he retired while still in his prime and almost certainly would have more yards than Smith had he kept playing. But, if every running back in the history of the NFL was put in a draft, I would take Emmitt Smith before Barry Sanders.