Moved to DFW from New Orleans so never a Cowboys fan (who dat!) but man that was an awesome watch. Despite never being a Cowboys fan Emmitt Smith is to this day my favorite non-Saint NFL player. Just a stand up guy and an absolute dawg on the field. Seeing him get emotional talking about breaking the NFL rusher record and Troy, Moose, and Irvin not being in uniform on the field with him really got me. Also loved the recap of his shoulder injury game against the Giants.

I hope EJ has a solid year for the Ags

Switzer looks good for 87.

CatD11Ag said:

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I don't think this record will be broken with the modern game. Running backs are not featured as much and longevity is a big factor.

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If Henry can have two more big years, he'll have a chance to break it if he wants to hang on in a lesser role for several years past his prime. He can realistically get to 15+k in the next two years, then he's got a real shot if he does the 3-4 years of 700-900 years a season as a non-feature back.

The bigger issue is running backs have taken the hint and are retiring before all the hits turn their brain to pudding. Very few guys are doing the Emmitt/Frank Gore thing anymore where they hang on for 3-4 extra years in a part time role.

Good post. I thought about Henry and will be interesting to see if he can get close. I know he is very diligent about taking care of his body, diet and fitness. He is 31, and would have to gain almost 7k yards to surpass Emmitt.

Always surprised to see Curtis Martin on this list. He was quietly great for 10 seasons, had over 1600 yards in year 10, and then retired after year 11.

CatD11Ag said:

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I don't think this record will be broken with the modern game. Running backs are not featured as much and longevity is a big factor.

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And Barry hung them up early. He would be at least second on this list.

Emmitt was a man amongst boys. My goodness, they just don't make RBs like they used to.

Loved this. So many good childhood memories watching those highlights. Definitely got misty eyed episodes 7 and 8.

_lefraud_ said:

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Always surprised to see Curtis Martin on this list. He was quietly great for 10 seasons, had over 1600 yards in year 10, and then retired after year 11.

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The football life episode of him on NFL network is one of the best I've ever seen. Just a really good guy.

Southlake said:

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I was a Cowboy fan well before the Jerry years. I break it down into Landry cowboys / Jerry cowboys

Absolutely hated the way Jerry treated Tom. Tom deserved so much more as well as Tex Schramm who was the architect of the teams.

Now, the cowboys are the laughing stock of the NFL and the sports world.

But I will say, my respect of Troy has doubled since watching this show. Now I see why he bags on the cowboys so much.

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I've noticed that you are very prone to hyperbole and being over-dramatic.

I have finished all 8 episodes, and I enjoyed it. As a 49ers fan, I loved watching the coverage of the 49ers and Cowboys playing in 3 consecutive NFC Championship games from 1992 to 1994 in episodes 3 to 5 and the winners of those games going on to win those Super Bowls. The clashes between Charles Haley and then 49ers head coach George Seifert well-documented and ultimately led to Haley's trade to the Dallas Cowboys in 1992. Haley said, "95% of what they said is rue but that 5% pissed me the hell off." The 49ers and Cowboys are forever connected with Ken Norton Jr. (2 with the Cowboys in 1992 and 1993 and 1 with the 49ers in 1994), Charles Haley (2 with the 49ers in 1988 and 1989 and 3 with the Cowboys in 1992, 1993, and 1995) and Deion Sanders (1 with the 49ers in 1994 and 1 with the Cowboys in 1995) all winning Super Bowl rings with both teams.

Jerry Jones is very egoistic, but he is an excellent business and marketer, who is known for taking calculated risks. He fundamentally changed the NFL's business model by prioritizing team-specific marketing and revenue over league-wide agreements, as exemplified by his independent deals with Nike and Pepsi. This move sparked a legal battle with the NFL but ultimately led to increased commercial autonomy for individual franchises. It contributed to the Cowboys' transformation into a highly valuable business and created a new blueprint for NFL team success and revenue generation. I like how Jones said he would not allow any of his players who "disrespected the flag" to play.

Because Jerry Jones is both the owner and GM, he is heavily blamed for the Cowboys' longest active NFC Championship Game drought. Since the start of the 1996 season, the Cowboys are the only NFC team that has not reached the NFC Championship Game. Since their last Super Bowl win in 1995, the Cowboys have gone 5-13 in the playoffs (5-5 in Wild Card round and 0-8 in Divisional Round). They have gone one and done 8 times in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006 2007, 2016, 2021, and 2023, including 5 times at home in 1998, 2007, 2016, 2021, and 2023. The Cowboys squandered two excellent opportunities to host the NFC Championship Game as the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2007 and 2016. Also, the Cowboys not only became the first No. 2 seed to lose to a 7th seed in the expanded playoffs, but they got embarrassed by the Packers from start to finish at home.