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wasn't just Emmitt. That entire team was stocked, locked, and loaded. Michael Irvin was probably the 2nd best WR of that entire era. Really only Jerry Rice was better imo. Maybe Sterling Sharpe would've been better if not for the career ending injury. Maybe Cris Carter was as good. But that's it. The OL was massive and talented and the best in the entire league for a good 5-6 year run. The TE's were pretty solid with Jay Novacek. Not to mention their 90s defenses were the #1 defenses in the league for like 3 years in a row from '92 to '94. In the 90s they were a top 5 defense unit every single year during their Super Bowl runs. And then they went and added Deion Sanders- the greatest CB ever in '95.

That was an All-Star super team.

Thanks, Vikings.

well, most folks agree that Emmitt's O-line was vastly superior to Barry's O-line

most folks that know football also think that Emmitt's O-line was one of the best of all-time in the NFL

Perhaps Emmitt made the O-line look very good and helped earn them the accolades they seem to get?

and, perhaps giving credit to a great O-line isn't a slight to the running back

well, most folks agree that Emmitt's O-line was vastly superior to Barry's O-line

most folks that know football also think that Emmitt's O-line was one of the best of all-time in the NFL

Perhaps Emmitt made the O-line look very good and helped earn them the accolades they seem to get?

and, perhaps giving credit to a great O-line isn't a slight to the running back

Eh, there's a difference between giving credit to Emmitt's o-line, and replying to any and all compliments toward Emmitt with "yes, but..."-- which is a LOT of what goes on when discussing Emmitt's relative success.

You don't have to convince me, I'm a huge fan of Emmitt Smith.

But I was talking more about individual accolades at the pro level.  Emmitt, Michael, and Troy were easy HOF selections.  The linemen get talked about a lot, but only LArry Allen has been inducted to the HOF.  If that o-line was so otherworldly-good that it's the main reason Emmitt and Troy were successful-- as a lot of folks like to imply-- then I'd expect more of them to be in there...

I’d take a look at how they were honored during their playing careers.  Allen, Newton, Stepnoski, and Williams not only received multiple Pro Bowl nods but multiple All Pro nods, which are much harder to come by.  I don’t think Williams will ever be a HOF because he has too much off the field baggage and his career wasn’t so impressive that you just can’t leave him out.

I still wouldn’t be surprised if Newton and Stepnoski don’t get voted in at some point.  Whether they do or not it doesn’t change the fact that was a hell of a line that was dotted with All Pros almost across the board.

But I understand getting a little salty.  There does seem to be a lot of “Yeah, but the line” when Emmitt’s name comes up.  He was terrific in his own right.

This game is dumb, bad, kind of amazing.

Jolly Rogers 0-4 vs Niners in the P.O.s