In his first 3 games he's rushed for 67, 59 and 52 yards. He needs 362 to pass Walter Payton as the all-time leading rusher. At the rate he's going he won't break the record until the Cowboys' 10th game of the year.

I can't help but think that the Cowboys' offense might be better if his playing time were adjusted. Should Emmitt Smith still be starting for the Cowboys?

And for those of you who think it was selfish of Cal Ripken Jr. to keep his consecutive-game streak going, how does this situation compare?

Yes the Cowboys arent going anywhere anyways, and Emmitt deserves that record. With NFL careers for RB's getting shorter and shorter, what he has done is amazing and will probably last longer than Jim Brown's record did.

[quote]Originally posted by Joe in Philly:
And for those of you who think it was selfish of Cal Ripken Jr. to keep his consecutive-game streak going, how does this situation compare?

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I was anti-Cal, so I'll bite. This is different. During the entire "streak," Cal was still the best shortstop option the Orioles had. The issue was whether a day of summertime rest would have refreshed him enough so that he would perform even better on the days he was playing. I thought so. Cal didn't. Neither did his managers (at least not enough to take Cal on over it). So we'll never know.

On the other hand, Emmitt is no longer the player he was. No amount of rest is going to turn back that particular clock. This is turning into a farce. Apparently, the Cowboys are committed to playing with less than their best team on the field, just so Emmitt can get a record. (Of course, if this causes the Cowboys to lose more frequently, then there's a bright shining silver lining in that dark gray cloud after all.)

Yes, I agree it is a farce that he is still running as much as he is. As Howard Eskin says "He's stealing a paycheck". However the Boys are not having a good year so I guess management feels they might as well give the Dallas fans something to get excited about in going after a record.

His numbers aren't *that* bad so far; there are better and younger RBs who haven't rushed for as many yards.

Plus the Cowboys are not that good, so it's not like he's hurting them that badly. I want him to break the record. That solid, sexy thick little man is a real treasure.

Let's see what he does against the 0-3 Rams.

I truthfully think that emmit has been over-rated since he has been there. If other backs had had the team he has had throughout the years they too would have the numbers. Can you picture if Barry Sanders was on this team years ago???? there would be no touching him in any book. Emmit has had a team.... something others have not had. The numbers he is putting up now is evidence that without a team he really isn't all that. Granted he is older but that doesn't mean all that much when you come right down to it.

So far, Emmitt is ranked 8th in the NFC, has less carries than all but two of those players. There is nothing overrated about Emmitt Smith, past and present. He's played on some good teams, that's what team sports are about. No question he's not the player of just a few years ago. And no question Sanders would be over and above all backs if he had played with the teams Emmitt has. Not the case, no sense minimizing what Smith has accomplished and will accomplish before the year is done. Keeping Smith on the team so he will reach that record is one of the few good decisions Cowboys management has made in the past few years (maybe since Johnson left). Anyway, what else does Cowboy fans have to look forward to, Quincy Carter running around like a poor imitation of Donovan McNabb.