End of the line for Smith, Cowboys

Emmitt Smith rushed for 17,162 yards and 153 TDs -- including eight seasons with at least 10 -- during his stay in Dallas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Emmitt Smith, the leading rusher in NFL history, will no longer be gaining yards for the Dallas Cowboys.

After 13 seasons with the Cowboys, Smith was released Thursday to make way for a younger, cheaper running back. It's also the first major roster shake up since new head coach Bill Parcells took over, although team owner Jerry Jones has made it clear he was handling this decision.

"It is with great emotion that I announce that Emmitt Smith will not be a part of the 2003 Dallas Cowboys football team," Jones said at a news conference. "As an organization we have got to start thinking about life without Emmitt at running back."

The timing gets Smith on the market for the start of free agency; teams can begin signing players Friday.

Smith's status has been in doubt for months because of his contract and age. He turns 34 in May and was due a base salary of $7 million next season, with a salary-cap figure of $9.8 million.

He'll still count $4.9 million against next season's cap. Had Dallas waited until June 1, Smith would've counted $2.8 million against the 2003 cap, with the remaining $2.1 million hitting in 2004.

Video Select a link to launch a video clip   Emmitt thinks his departure is best for the Cowboys, but he's not done playing just yet. Visit Video Plus He is Emmitt Smith Name: Emmitt J. Smith III Age: 33 (Born May 15, 1969) NFL highlights: Since the Dallas Cowboys made him 17th overall pick in 1990, Smith has won three Super Bowl titles, four rushing titles. MVP awards in regular season (1993) and Super Bowl (January 1994). He's first on the all-time rushing list (17,162); first in career rushing touchdowns (153), career carries (4,052), 1,000-yard seasons (11). Nine-time Pro Bowl choice, four-time All-Pro. College highlights: In three seasons at Florida, set 58 school records, including yardage marks for a career (3,928), season (1,599) and game (316). Reached 1,000 yards in seventh game, fastest in college history. All-American once, all-SEC three times. Also led team in receiving twice and joined Herschel Walker as only freshmen to finish in top 10 in Heisman Trophy balloting. High school highlights: A sign in front of Escambia High in Pensacola, Fla., reads: Home of Emmitt Smith. There, he ran for 8,803 yards and 106 touchdowns, both third on the national list at the time. His 45 100-yard games remain a national record and he fumbled only six times. Personal: At his 30th birthday dinner, he proposed to actress Pam Lawrence, a former Miss Virginia who was first runner-up for Miss USA. They married that summer and this past May, on Smith's 33rd birthday, she gave birth to a son, Emmitt Smith IV. They also have two daughters, Rheagen and Jasmin. Quote: "My goal every week is to break the 100-yard mark. If I do that enough, those records and all the stuff will come anyway."

Smith would love to go to a team that can provide a good line and a chance to earn a fourth Super Bowl ring, such as Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay, in his home state, or the Oakland Raiders, who often provide jobs for aging superstars.

Whether those teams want him or could offer enough playing time to satisfy him remains to be seen. Smith may have to choose between a small role on a good team or a big role on a bad one. If those offers don't materialize, or he doesn't like his choices, there's always retirement. But Smith said Thursday he's not thinking about that yet.

"I have not thought about retirement," Smith said.

Smith said he believes he can still be a featured back, despite failing to gain 1,000 yards last season for the first time since he was a rookie. He had 975, with only two 100-yard games and a paltry average of 3.8 yards per carry.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Emmitt Smith can make a significant contribution to winning in the NFL today," Jones said.

He's missed only four games because of injury in his career and remains in good shape. He's said he wants to keep running until he passes 20,000 yards; his career total is 17,162.

"I don't foresee myself being a backup," Smith said last month at the Super Bowl. "I still feel like I have a lot of years left in me. To me, I feel like I'm a 1,300-yard back on a year-to-year basis if I have all of the elements around me."

Smith hasn't cracked 1,300 yards the past three seasons. He's been hampered, though, by a tattered line and a passing game that's been among the league's worst.

The Cowboys tried phasing Smith out last season after he passed Walter Payton on the career rushing list. Realizing his Dallas days might be ending, Smith pried the nameplate off his locker at team headquarters before leaving for the season finale.

Troy Hambrick moves up to No. 1 on the Cowboys' depth chart, but certainly won't be handed the job. Dallas has the fifth pick in the upcoming draft and could sign a proven veteran in free agency, such as Stephen Davis, released Wednesday by Washington.

While Smith was cut with an eye on the future, his departure severs the final link to a celebrated part of the team's past.

Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin were stars of an offense that led Dallas to three Super Bowl championships in the 1990s. Known as "The Triplets," they began breaking up when Irvin retired in 1999 because of a neck injury. Aikman was cut after the 2000 season.

Smith's departure makes safety Darren Woodson the final player left from Dallas' championship teams in 1992, '93 and '95.

Regardless of whether Smith continues his career elsewhere, he'll always be remembered as a Cowboy.

Emotional goodbye IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Even in his final day with the Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith was full of smiles and gifts for the man who made the decision to let him go. Smith surprised nearly everyone at Thursday's news conference announcing his release by bringing mementos from better days for owner Jerry Jones. What could have been an awkward and contentious ending for both sides was instead a fond farewell, mostly because Smith was in surprisingly good spirits. Smith was exceedlingly gracious toward Jones, who drafted Smith out of Florida with the 17th pick in 1990, even as he repeatedly emphasized that he's not ready to retire. "I've got to turn to the man and say, 'Thank you,'" Smith said, his arm draped around the back of Jones' chair. "Sixteen other teams forgot about me. But they know about me today. This man gave me the opportunity." The 33-year-old Smith was released to make way for a younger, cheaper running back for the Cowboys, who finished 5-11 for a third straight season. It's the first major roster shakeup since Bill Parcells took over as head coach, although Jones made it clear it was his decision. Still, Jones looked emotionally drained Thursday and didn't mince words about what Smith's release meant for his struggling franchise. "This burns the bridges. There's no looking back. We have to get it done without him," Jones said. "This is not a happy day for me personally. This is not a red letter day for the Dallas Cowboys." FULL STORY

"He will forever be a part of the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said. "I mean that more than as a legacy."

Drafted 17th in 1990, he instantly clicked with Aikman and Irvin to fuel Dallas' resurgence from 1-15 the season before he arrived to Super Bowl champs his third season.

Defying critics who said he was too small and slow, Smith won rushing titles in 1991, '92, '93 and '95, and was the MVP of the '93 regular season and the Super Bowl that followed. His combination of individual achievement and team success is unprecedented for a running back.

In addition to the rushing yardage record, he holds NFL rushing marks for career attempts, touchdowns in a season and in a career, and for 1,000-yard seasons. He holds postseason rushing records for yards, touchdowns and 100-yard games.

He's third behind Jerry Rice and Payton in yards from scrimmage and second to Rice in career touchdowns. He's one 100-yard rushing game from tying Payton for tops in that category.

While his records are sometimes knocked as being byproducts of longevity and a dominant line, Smith's supporters -- including many of the greatest backs of all-time -- credit him for capitalizing on his advantages and for remaining healthy. Few elite running backs have stayed in the lineup as long as Smith has and some, like Barry Sanders and Jim Brown, just didn't want to.

Smith's crowning moment came Oct. 27, when he broke Payton's career rushing record of 16,726 yards during a game against Seattle at Texas Stadium.

He did so in vintage style, taking a small opening and stretching it into an 11-yard gain. He capped that drive by scoring his 150th career rushing touchdown.

Smith took aim at Payton's record before his rookie season, even writing it down as a goal.

Now his sights are set on 20,000. If he gets it, it won't be with a star on his helmet.

 

Related information

Stories

Emmitt Smith Scrapbook SI's Don Banks: Not a lot has changed for Emmitt Smith SI's Dr. Z: Where does Emmitt rank among the great runners?

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video