This weekend. All the haters can suck it.

[FirstTimer]

How many HOF players were on the Lions offense again during Barrys playing days. I mean the man retired because he was tired of being on such a mediocre team year in and year out.

This always irks me with Barry. Especially when you get into GOAT talk. Barry taking his ball and going home hurts him big time in the discussion because a guy like Payton put up with even shittier teams for longer and stayed with it.

Barry made the playoffs in half of his NFL seasons. That's not that bad. And it should be noted that in the playoffs Barry played like shit so some would have to think that Barry needs to look into the mirror as well as to why his teams didn't go further.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Shaun Alexander > Emmitt

Woh woh woh..
Walter Jones + Steve Hutchinson = Rudi Johnson >> Alexander.

[FirstTimer]

I wonder what kind of numbers Barry Sanders would have put up as a Cowboy?

I wonder what kind of numbers Payton would have put up as a 49er or Cowboy.

:acid:

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

lol.. What would this league look like if being on a playoff team half your career is so bad forces you to retire.

[bucky]

I wonder what kind of numbers Payton would have put up as a 49er or Cowboy.

:acid:

That would have been scary.

[Hasselbeck]

Woh woh woh..
Walter Jones + Steve Hutchinson = Rudi Johnson >> Alexander.

I threw that one in there just for you sir.

In all seriousness, I'm in the Barry camp.. but you definitely couldn't go wrong with Emmitt in the 90's. I remember the MNF game where he carried the 'Boys to a win over NY with literally one arm.

Emmitt was one of the greatest to play the game at that position. If there are players better than him, it's only a small handful.

[dave]

This always irks me with Barry. Especially when you get into GOAT talk. Barry taking his ball and going home hurts him big time in the discussion because a guy like Payton put up with even shittier teams for longer and stayed with it.

Barry made the playoffs in half of his NFL seasons. That's not that bad. And it should be noted that in the playoffs Barry played like shit so some would have to think that Barry needs to look into the mirror as well as to why his teams didn't go further.

FT has a really good point here.

A least one coach said Smith was a great player at any time in any conditions, but Sanders only excelled at certain times.

I'm not sure if I agree, but I can't remember a great Sanders playoff game. I can remember more great Smith playoff games than I care to remember.

[FirstTimer]

FT has a really good point here.

A least one coach said Smith was a great player at any time in any conditions, but Sanders only excelled at certain times.

I'm not sure if I agree, but I can't remember a great Sanders playoff game. I can remember more great Smith playoff games than I care to remember.

In '93 he lit up Green Bay. The Lions lost.

Barry and those Lions teams were built to win and play one way. In the playoffs though that style was really conducive to winning games. I don't want to use the term one dimensional but something along those lines...

[dave]

In '93 he lit up Green Bay. The Lions lost.

Barry and those Lions teams were built to win and play one way. In the playoffs though that style was really conducive to winning games. I don't want to use the term one dimensional but something along those lines...

The Eagles have the same problem. Andy Reid thinks a 95-5 pass/run ratio is a winner.
The Eagles ran shotgun on first down more than 31 other teams did on 2nd and 18.

[FirstTimer]

I'd also like to throw in there that Emmitt ran for nearly 1,000 yards for the Arizona Cardinals at the age of 35. Not that it's a hard and fast comparison or example but in my mind this proves he was a damn good back and would have put up monster numbers in his prime/over his career anywhere he played.

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

I'd also like to throw in there that Emmitt ran for nearly 1,000 yards for the Arizona Cardinals at the age of 35. Not that it's a hard and fast comparison or example but in my mind this proves he was a damn good back and would have put up monster numbers in his prime/over his career anywhere he played.

don't forget 9 tds ..at 35 ....with the cards.

[ram29jackson]

Yea, Im still learning to read so bare with me.

Again its not debatable. Barry Sanders never, ever had half the talent Emmit Smith on his team but still managed to have stellar years and even went for 2000. Emmit was solid but wasnt on Barrys level. Barry doesnt retire, Emmit plays second fiddle. Thats based on what I seen not some shot in the dark assumption.

Barry Sanders the best I have seen in my day while Emmit is one of your 3 favorite players. No need to argue any more, that says it all.

...being the best on a losing team means absolutely nothing.

think of it this way . Emmitts record is actually more impressive because its harder to get that many yards on a team that doesnt need to rely on one guy because they spread the ball around and are successful at passing.

Emmitt had the best of both worlds. Great runner on a great team.
Barry was a great runner but left early because the Lions couldnt produce a winner.
Being a great individual on a great team is more impressive than being a great player on a bad team. Again- being the best on a losing team ultimately adds up to nothing in a team sport.
I am not saying Barry sucked haha. I am just saying advantage Emmitt.

[Aso]

I havent even brought up the benefit of playing in a dome 12 games a season. Playing against one of the weakest defensive divisions in the league. Meanwhile Emmitt was facing LT &Reggie White 4 times a year , a division with 2 SB winners , and 3 teams with consistently top 5-10 defenses most of his career. The surrounding team was better but so was the level of competition.

Well looks like this argument is coming to it's conclusion except for this, I needed to comment.

Packers, Bears, and Vikings were not bad defensive teams though. There were some pretty good defensive teams between 89-98 on those teams.

LT had declined and was not the all-pro he used to be when Emmitt came along. He only played aganst Reggie White between 90 and 93 and after Buddy Ryan left they really started to lose people on defense. Also the Redskins were trash for the most part after 1991.

Barry played against some good Bears defenses, Reggie White played on the Packers between 94 and 98 as well and the Vikings teams in the 90's had some really good front seven's, that defensive line specifically.

I think saying he played better defenses is a poor argument.

[Tailback U]

This always irks me with Barry. Especially when you get into GOAT talk. Barry taking his ball and going home hurts him big time in the discussion because a guy like Payton put up with even shittier teams for longer and stayed with it.

Barry made the playoffs in half of his NFL seasons. That's not that bad. And it should be noted that in the playoffs Barry played like shit so some would have to think that Barry needs to look into the mirror as well as to why his teams didn't go further.

I've been skimming through this thread and didn't really want to get involved but this statement is downright silly.

Blaming a running back for a teams playoff losses is retarded. You know, I know it, we all know it.

I don't know what it is with VSN, but everyone always wants to pin the loss or the win on 1 guy.

I remember you guys talking about how Joe Montana played like shit in the playoffs but still won and is widely recognized as the GOAT.

The Lions' playoff failures are not Barry Sanders fault. Comparing Barry and Emmitt by their rings is stupid, IMO. Stick to film and stats.

[BigBucs]

There is no "more with less" other than your imagination.

My imagination? What a homer. So you gonna sit here and tell me with a straight face that the talent surrounding both Emmit/Barry was equal or even close to equal during their careers? :obama:

I wonder what kind of numbers Barry Sanders would have put up as a Cowboy?

More intriguing question is what kind of numbers Emmit would have put up in Detroit.

In '93 he lit up Green Bay. The Lions lost.

Barry and those Lions teams were built to win and play one way. In the playoffs though that style was really conducive to winning games. I don't want to use the term one dimensional but something along those lines...

Because once Barry was shut down there were no other options while in Dallas you had Novachek, Harper, Irvin and Aikman. Barry was the Lions 1st and only option outside of Moore. Barry opened the offense, not the other way around. In Dallas if one HOF was off another would get them going.