DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders will forever be intertwined in one of the greatest debates in sports history.
Sanders joined 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday and was asked, not who's the greatest running back of all-time, but how was his career similar and different from Smith's?
"Oh, wow. We were different in that I probably could have used a few more Nate Newton's (six-time Pro Bowl guard with the Cowboys) in front of me," Sanders said, while also mentioning that he would have liked to have had five-time Pro Bowler Mark Stepnoski blocking for him, as well as Michal Irvin and Troy Aikman surrounding him.
"I think we're both kind of shifty in our own way. Emmitt was probably a little more patient as a runner. It's funny because I was hearing about Emmitt Smith when I was in high school. He was highly touted, one of the nation's top players. So, it was just cool for me to end up being his nemesis, or adversary, or thought of as the top running back in the league along with him. But I think there are a lot of (similarities between us), being that kind of slippery, elusive guy, that can hit a home run from anywhere on the field."
Sanders was a 10-time All-Pro and has the fourth-most rushing yards in NFL history (15,269). Had he not retired early, Sanders would have very likely passed the league's all-time leading rusher at the time, Walter Payton, who had 16,726 yards. Payton, of course, is also considered to be one of, if not the best running back of all-time.
Smith was a six-time All-Pro, 3-time Super Bowl winner, and is the leading rusher in NFL history with 18,355 yards.
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