Whose the Greatest Runningback of All-time?
By the Numbers:
Heisman Trophies:
Barry Sanders recieved it in 1988; Emmitt Smith N/A
Rookie of the Year Award:
Barry Sanders recieved it in 1989; Emmitt Smith in 1990
Longest Run from Scrimmage:
Barry Sanders 85 yards; Emmitt Smith 75 yards
Average yardage per carry:
Barry Sanders 5.0; Emmitt Smith 4.2
Most Yards in a Single Season:
Barry Sanders 2,053; Emmitt Smith 1,773
Total Number of Rushing Yards:
Barry Sanders 15,269; Emmitt Smith 17,354*
Total Number of Rushing Touchdowns:
Barry Sanders 99; Emmitt Smith 154* (19 in post season for E.S.; not counted in total)
Number of Fumbles in Pro Career: (The lower the number the better)
Barry Sanders 41; Emmitt Smith 56
Rushing Titles:
Barry Sanders 4*; Emmitt Smith 4*
Most Consecutive Games 100+ Yards:
Barry Sanders 14 games*; Emmitt Smith 9 games
Most Consecutive Seasons with 1000+ yards:
Barry Sanders 10 (every season barry played); Emmitt Smith 11
Most Consecutive Seasons with 1500+ yards:
Barry Sanders 4*; Emmitt Smith 2
Number of Seasons over 2000+ yards: (Only 5 players have ever done this)
Barry Sanders 1; Emmitt Smith 0
Number of Super Bowls won:
Barry Sanders 0; Emmitt Smith 3
NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award:
Barry Sanders 2; Emmitt Smith 0
NFL MVP of the League
Barry Sanders twice in 1991 and 1997; Emmitt Smith once in 1993
* meaning NFL record
Logically Speaking:
My love for Barry Sanders and his style of running/playing the game is quite evident and yet purely logical When Barry decided to call it quits and retire from football in 1998, he was the second leading rusher of all time with 15,269 yards, only to Walter Payton, and would have passed him the next season to become the leading rusher of all-time yardage-wise. At this time Emmitt Smith only had a total of 12,566, nearly 3000 yards less than Barry Sanders. Given Barry started a year earlier than Emmitt, so we'll count the 1999 season for Emmitt to give him a total of 13,963. Barry Sanders had over 1,300+ more yards than Emmitt Smith in the same amount of time against the same time-frame of defenses, and on a much worse team than Emmitt was on.
It wasn't until the 2002 season that Emmitt Smith had acculated enough yardage to pass Barry and become the second leading rusher of all-time. It took Emmitt Smith 13 years to do what Barry did in 10!!! Unlike Emmitt as well, Barry retired at the peek of his career. In the past 2 years Emmitt has rushed for a total of under 1,150 yards. In Barry's last year, he rushed for over 1,491, and averaged over 4.3 yards a carry. If Barry would of stayed in the game and played 13 years (the time in which it took Emmitt to catch up to Barry), then Barry would have had over 20,000 yards.
Thus making him the greatest runningback to have ever graced the gridiron, and dazzled us all. Thank you Barry for 10 wonderful seasons! I am greatful to say I got to watch Barry Sanders as I was growing up and stood in awe, as so many others did. Play after play, breaking ankles, cut on a dime, 0 to 60 in nothing flat with no help, knowing every down that 11 men on the opposing team were trying to hurt him because he frustrated them so with his jitterish moves. Like a machine, Barry time after time made defenders lose thier footing trying to keep up with him. With thier body going one way, and their head watching Barry go the other, opposing teams were dazzled as so many of we were only to see Barry yet again burst through a pile of men where there couldn't of possible have been a hole and scamper 50 yards for a touchdown. Ultimately the ball was handed to the refree and he'd walk back to the bench, no spiking, no celebration, not one personal foul in ten years acting as though he'd been there 1,000 times, and he had. Seeing the smile on his face though, you'd of thought it was his first time, everytime.
1) Raululu's Street
2) Great Sports Rivalries
3) Pro Football Hall of Fame
4) The Emmitt Zone
5) NFL History