Emmitt Smith passes Walter Payton [All-time Rushing Leader]

espn.com ^ | October 27, 2002

[VaBthang4]

Emmitt Smith broke the late Walter Payton's NFL career rushing record Oct. 27 with an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' game against Seattle.

Smith got the record with a run over the left side with 9:10 left in the game. After he got tripped up at the line of scrimmage, he kept moving forward, extending his arm to get the final yards. That run gave the 33-year-old Smith 16,728 career yards, passing his idol Payton's mark of 16,726 yards. Payton, who played for the Bears, had held the mark since he retired after the 1987 season. Payton died in November 1999 from a rare liver disease. Payton needed 190 games over 13 seasons to set the mark. Smith, in his 13th season, played in his 193rd game Sunday. The record run came on Smith's 20th carry of the game, only the second time this season he's had at least 20 carries. A few plays later, he went over 100 yards for the first time this season, and then capped the drive with a 1-yard TD run, his 150th career rushing TD, extending his own NFL record.

[VaBthang4]

Emmit is a Soldier. I cant think of a runningback who deserves it more.

Kudos.

And he is a [real] Christian.

[VaBthang4]

[rintense]

Too bad Barry retired.

[NeoCaveman]

Congrats to Emmitt

He's a real class act.

[Non-Sequitur]

Well, if someone had to take the record it might as well be Emmitt Smith. He's no Sweetness, but he's darned close. And for the record that is the first and last time I will ever say anything good about the goddam Dallas Cowboys.

[BraveMan]

Cowboys Bump . . .

[VaBthang4]

Small "G"?

HaterAde?

Nevermind. ~Grin~

[Tripleplay]

Barry Sanders had 3 to 5 years left when he retired.........But at least he will be able walk when he is 50.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

He's also a Gator.

[Mr. Mojo]

My top 5 all-time NFL running back rankings:

1) Gale Sayers
2) Jim Brown
3) Walter Payton
4) Emmitt Smith
5) O.J. Simpson

[rintense]

He was a good work horse and never had a serious injury. I think he could have gone another 7 years from the time he retired.

[Non-Sequitur]

My antipathy of the Cowboys goes back for decades. A good friend of mine, a die hard Cowboys fan, was also the associate pastor of our church. One day he showed up at church wearing a ballcap with that big star on it. "Look, daddy", my darling 6 year old daughter said, pointing at the cap, "Goddam Dallas Cowboys."

[sinkspur]

And for the record that is the first and last time I will ever say anything good about the goddam Dallas Cowboys.

He, he. Da 'Boys must've whupped your team's ass a few times?

[Jonathon Spectre]

Congratulations to a class act all the way. No one deserves it more.

[VaBthang4]

I think it is "damned".

~Grin~

[Trajan88]

I can see keeping the football on the record-breaking run. Deserved and he should get his props.

With #22, it has always been about HIS numbers. He keeps every football that he scores a td with.

What the hell does he do with all that pigskin? Does he have a plexiglass wall at home with the 150 something balls? If so, does he lay out a mat a pray to it every day (like Jimmy "life-like" hair use to stare at his fish tanks)?

If Smith donates the balls to charity - that's fine, but if he keeps these things, he's a dork.

For the record, I'm a Redskin fan (and no I don't like Danny Snider as their owner).

Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88; Law Hall (may it R.I.P.) Ramp 9 Mule; f.u.p.

p.s. When's Barry Sanders coming out of retirement?

[My Favorite Headache]

Never sold out to drugs,booze,cheating,got his degree,christian,and is the best running back to hit the field. Just watch as another record falls in 2 games.

Cowboy fan of 25 years....even in another loss at least this came out of the darkness. I hope Emmitt stays on for another year and secures the record some more.

[Non-Sequitur]

My second favorite team has always been whoever happened to be playing the Cowboys at the time.

[rintense]

p.s. When's Barry Sanders coming out of retirement?

Never gonna happen. Although the bitterness runs deep in Michigan, Barry was also a class act (other than the suddent retirement). I only remember seeing him spike the football once. Every other time, he simply handed it to the official.

[Non-Sequitur]

I know. This is a family forum. :)