Emmitts comments about Cowboys. Diamond surrounded by trash - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

mavsfanforever · 08-01-2003, 01:02 PM

SAN ANTONIO – Emmitt Smith told Sports Illustrated that breaking the NFL career rushing record was his only highlight of the 2002 season, the Dallas Morning News reported Friday.

Smith, now with the Arizona Cardinals, told the magazine that last season "was the worst year I ever went through playing football. Too much damn drama. Too much selfishness by too many guys on the team. Too much media frenzy around the team," according to the paper.

"People always looking to me for answers, and I didn't have the answers for them about why we were so bad. It felt like being a diamond surrounded by trash," Smith said to the magazine, according to the report.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he was unaware of the depth of Smith's frustrations.

"He never showed his frustration, he just tried to do anything he could to help us win ball games," Jones said to the paper Thursday. "That's the way he has always been.

"If you can have a highlight when you win five games, he certainly was the highlight and arguably the highlight of the last 14 years."

Last season, Smith finished under 1,000 yards rushing for the first time since his rookie season in 1990. He broke Walter Payton's all-time rushing yardage record with a 109-yard outing against Seattle at Texas Stadium.

"It was just a mental grind," Smith told the magazine about the season, according to the Morning News. "When I got the record, it was like God said, 'I'm going to give you one moment this year.' "

Smith was released by the Cowboys in February and signed a two-year deal for about $8 million to play for the rebuilding Cardinals, who lost their starting quarterback and top wide receiver and running back from last year.

The Cowboys head to Arizona for a preseason contest on Aug. 9 and the Cardinals and Smith make a regular season visit to Dallas on Oct. 5.

sturm und drang · 08-01-2003, 01:11 PM

"It felt like being a diamond surrounded by trash,"

I don't know... this quote leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Admittedly our team sucked last year and was plagued by selfishness-- and worse, apathy-- but still. Classless comment, which chafes all the more coming from Emmitt.

Drbio · 08-01-2003, 01:28 PM

It takes a big man to bash former teammates who can't really respond in kind. If it was so bad, why not address it then? Did it really take a cowardly parting shot now? Emmitt hit the floor on this one.

Diamond my butt. He's a cracked cubic zirconia at best.

Blonde Bomber · 08-01-2003, 03:38 PM

well see who's the diamond this year when he plays with not much of a better team in the Cardinals then what the Cowboys were last year. A washed up Blake + rookie receivers being counted on in the passing game + an average at best line doesn't add up to a very good year for Emmitt.
I'll be suprised if he breaks 1,000 yards rushing.

I can't wait for that so called "trash" on defense to put the smack down on his ass this year.
Me thinks he's bit off more than he can chew and there was no reason for him to come out and bash his former teammates like that. I'm loosing respect for Emmitt little by little for all these comments he letting out about the organiztion that gave him everything. He should have nothing but good things to say about his stay here. Mr. Jones has shown nothing but respect to Emmitt in the way he handled the situation this offseason and he should show a little back..

Dooby · 08-01-2003, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Too much damn drama. Too much selfishness by too many guys on the team.

When I think of any one player being selfish last year, I come up with #22 Emmitt Smith. The whole friggin season was about him.

Emmitt, I still love ya, but shut up.

mavsfanforever · 08-01-2003, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Blonde Bomber
well see who's the diamond this year when he plays with not much of a better team in the Cardinals then what the Cowboys were last year. A washed up Blake + rookie receivers being counted on in the passing game + an average at best line doesn't add up to a very good year for Emmitt.
I'll be suprised if he breaks 1,000 yards rushing.

I feel he will get 1000+ yards just because the offensive line is still marginally better than the line cowboys had.

MFFL · 08-01-2003, 07:16 PM

I am suprised that Emmitt made comments like this. He is usually very good in interviews and rarely puts his foot in his mouth.

Maybe a misquote or it was taken out of context?

FilthyFinMavs · 08-01-2003, 08:11 PM

I think he was misquoted just like A-Rod was in his recent article. Until I hear Emmitt confirm this I can't bash the guy. IT just doesn't sound like anything Emmitt would say. We through away our season for him. We missed out on other runnings back progression for him. Isn't Emmitt and Darren Woodson real good friends? He is bashing Darren when he says things like this. While the comment does have some truth to it I don't think he was a diamond at all. He was just surrounded by trash but by no means was he a diamond.

MFFL · 08-01-2003, 08:58 PM

Emmitt could have been talking about the other running backs on the Boys last year. I know there was ZERO love lost between Emmitt and Hambrick.

FilthyFinMavs · 08-01-2003, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MFFL
Emmitt could have been talking about the other running backs on the Boys last year. I know there was ZERO love lost between Emmitt and Hambrick.

Thats a possibility and makes some sense.

mavsfanforever · 08-02-2003, 12:00 AM

Well, IMO emmitt has always been selfish. It did help us when he was #1.

NYCdog · 08-02-2003, 12:15 AM

I actually agree with Emmitt on this one

Last year's Cowboy's did suck. They lost to the Texans..........a freaking expansion team!

And the team is basicly the same this year, besides the addition of the "Tuna."

I dont have a good feeling about this season.

Maybe we shoud swing a deal with the Texans for Drew Henson or Dave Ragone?

DNNF · 08-03-2003, 08:57 AM

Emmitt is ALWAYS selfish. A winning team always need couple of those like Irvin, and Emmitt who always want the ball to win. But that's when they are in the prime.
However, you can't have the ball all the time when you sux like last year.

That whole last year was all about him breaking the record. If I am Jerry Jones, I would fly to AZ and slap Emmitt in the head. What an ungrateful bastard !!!

MFFL · 08-03-2003, 09:14 AM

Posted on Sun, Aug. 03, 2003

CAMP LIFE
YESTERDAY AT CAMP
By Kathleen O'Brien
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Emmitt Smith pulled back from his critical remarks published in Sports Illustrated this week.

Several of Smith's former Cowboys teammates were upset by his comments that he felt like"a diamond around trash" last season. In the article, Smith also said that the only positive moment of the 2002 season was when he broke Walter Payton's NFL career rushing record.

Saturday, Smith said, "The statement itself about a diamond being surrounded by trash, that statement was that the Cowboys were a diamond organization, and the trash was the way we played. The way we played did not represent that organization all that well last year."

Smith, now with the Arizona Cardinals, also said the comments were not directed at his former teammates.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for all the players down there," Smith said, "and especially for Mr. [Jerry] Jones and his family.

Drbio · 08-03-2003, 02:35 PM

spin baby spin.....

Rhylan · 08-03-2003, 02:41 PM

Chan Gailey, Campo, Coslet, Jack Reilly qualify as trash to me.. in as much as their competency level.

Of course, I like Campo. He's a good dude.

But still, Emmitt was stupid to come out and say this. But if he gets 1300 yards this year, he's got a place to talk.

Dirk41= konsesjonen · 08-03-2003, 02:48 PM

There was just no need to say that, what does it accimplish? Like other's have said, Arizona is know Oakland or TB.