From 1991 to '95, Emmitt Smith won four rushing titles as the Cowboys won three Super Bowls. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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It's nearly impossible to hold one of the greatest records in sports and still be labeled underrated, but that's exactly what Emmitt Smith is. The all-time leading rusher reportedly will retire from the NFL today, and no doubt will be described by announcers, analysts and writers as a future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players of his generation.

The simple truth, however, is Smith is more than that. He is the greatest running back of all time.

What makes Smith so underrated is that, as deserving as he is of the honor, most experts would have a hard time putting Smith on their list of the top-three tailbacks ever and possibly even their top five. While immortals such as Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders certainly deserve to be near the top of the list, Smith has done everything to earn his place atop the throne.

Smith is everything you want in a running back. He is the epitome of the "complete back" often referenced by coaches. He was a ferocious blocker, a deadly receiver out of the backfield and, if he was given an open lane, chances were that the ball he was holding would end up in his legendary storage room that houses every one of his 175 touchdown balls.

Although Smith played on immensely talented teams with offensive lines stocked with Pro Bowlers, his accomplishments shouldn't be diminished. No one would dare penalize Joe Montana for playing amongst legends. Montana is widely considered the best quarterback ever, despite playing alongside Jerry Rice and Roger Craig, behind an All-Pro offensive line and in a Bill Walsh-inspired West Coast offense that turned Steve Young from a backup has-been into a Hall of Famer.

Smith was the heart and soul of the Cowboys during their run of three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s. That was never more evident than in '93 when Smith missed the first two games of the season as the star-laden Cowboys started the year 0-2. Smith missed portions of two other games that season, and both resulted in Dallas losses. The Cowboys went on to win the Super Bowl that year on the legs of Smith.

Contrary to what others believe, Smith also didn't outstay his welcome in the NFL or play beyond his years in order to rack up records. Last season he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards (937) and ran for nine touchdowns. If Smith had retired after nine seasons as Brown did he would have more yards and touchdowns than the Cleveland Browns great. If he had called it a career after 13 seasons as Payton did he would also have more rushing yards and touchdowns than Sweetness. But most wouldn't even put No. 22 in their class.

While Brown had the mystique, Sanders the highlights and Payton the reputation, Smith has the numbers, titles and intangibles that make him the Michael Jordan of ball carriers. His predecessors are certainly immortals in their own right -- but it's important to note that Smith never quit on his team, never failed to block for his quarterback, never finished a playoff game with negative rushing yards, never was replaced on goal-line or passing situations and never played on mediocre teams while he won rushing titles.