Bettis

[Guest]

I heard watching the game tonight, it may of been Jerome Bettis last game. If so I'm sad to see him go, he has represented the school so well.

How great would it be next year to have Tim Brown, and Bettis, paying visits to recruits.

 

[Melphion]

Thatd be great, but I would like to see him pass Curtis Martin on the all time rushing list first.

 

[NDLyght37]

Just 1 step closer to JB calling games on NBC.

 

[Domer95]

Maybe then they'll let Tom Hammond just call horse racing.

 

[Irish Envy]

After hearing Bettis speak up on ND on the ESPN post-game radio show, I feel he'll be back in South Bend working for Notre Dame or doing scouting, etc.

 

[Rip Rap]

No one has ever answered this for me:

Bettis never actually graduated, correct? If so, isn't he just a subway alumnus?

I mean, how does that work?

 

[Aerosmith777]

Thatd be great, but I would like to see him pass Curtis Martin on the all time rushing list first.

It'll never happen. Martin just got the league rushing title, while Bettis seems to have had his last 1000 yard season years ago. Personally, I think Martin has a real shot at the all time mark if Emmit Smith would just friggin retire already, which I would love to see b/c I think its a joke Smith has that record. I'll take Walter Payton, Jim Brown, or Barry Sanders in their primes any day of the week over Emmit Smith.

 

[NDLyght37]

I think its a joke Smith has that record. I'll take Walter Payton, Jim Brown, or Barry Sanders in their primes any day of the week over Emmit Smith.

Amen. Emmitt's a great player...but the best of all-time???

Anyways, who saw Hines Wards' reaction to the loss and the possible retirement of Bettis? I didn't know JB was that respected...not only in Pittsburgh, but areound the League as well.

 

[Guest]

No one has ever answered this for me:

Bettis never actually graduated, correct? If so, isn't he just a subway alumnus?

I mean, how does that work?

He left ND early, but i heard somewhere he later received his ND degree.

Even if he didn't receive his degree I'd still consider him an alum, He went there for 3 years i believe. He left his mark there, and he's represented ND well. Doesn't talk bad about ND like some ND alums do. Zorich, Taylor, etc....

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

Bettis is a class act, There isnt a guy who deserves a superbowl ring more than him. He'll be back for one more year.

Lets go Steelers.

 

[irishgo8]

if Emmit Smith would just friggin retire already.

Aero this week i believe Smith made it official he is retiring! http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1983306

 

[jiggafini19]

Aero this week i believe Smith made it official he is retiring! http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1983306

Here is a guy that was considered too small for the NFL. On a team of drug addicts, criminals and overall bad human beings, he kept a good image and clean record. Played injured, played hurt, played well while doing so. A class act all the way.

Did he have Aikman, Irvin, Moose and Novacek? Yes. Did he have a great front five in front of him? Yes.

Would Derrick Lassic have done what Emmitt did if he were the feature back on Dallas? No way in hell.

E Smith might not be Payton, Brown or Sanders, but he's in the top five backs ever. Most rushing yards is most rushing yards. With Terrell Davis' career being over and the pass being the way of the gun in the NFL, this one could last a long time in the record books.

I can't figure out why so many people don't like this guy. Barry Sanders didn't have the heart to keep playing. Not Emmitt's fault he got there first.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Here is a guy that was considered too small for the NFL. On a team of drug addicts, criminals and overall bad human beings, he kept a good image and clean record. Played injured, played hurt, played well while doing so. A class act all the way.

Did he have Aikman, Irvin, Moose and Novacek? Yes. Did he have a great front five in front of him? Yes.

Would Derrick Lassic have done what Emmitt did if he were the feature back on Dallas? No way in hell.

E Smith might not be Payton, Brown or Sanders, but he's in the top five backs ever. Most rushing yards is most rushing yards. With Terrell Davis' career being over and the pass being the way of the gun in the NFL, this one could last a long time in the record books.

I can't figure out why so many people don't like this guy. Barry Sanders didn't have the heart to keep playing. Not Emmitt's fault he got their first.

I just think he's overrated (but of course, I'm a Giants fan and obviously biased). I didn't say the guy wasn't a worthy hall of famer, its just, I think if Walter Peyton had that o-line in front of him for his entire career, the record would have been 20,000 yards. And if Sanders or Jim Brown had it, they both would have beaten Peyton's mark in their relatively short careers. I just hate it when people try to make him out to be the best back of all time. There's probly 5 or 6 guys off the top of my head I'd rather have than Smith (Peyton, Sanders, Brown, Sayers...ok 4). But still, I just think there are a lot of guys who could have been the all-time rushing champ if they had that line in front of them for their entire careers.

Not to mention that even though Smith might not have been like his drug addict teammates, I kinda can't help lumping them all in together b/c of guilt by association a lot of times...

 

[NDLyght37]

My Top 10:
1. Jim Brown (I never really saw him...but the way those "old-timers" talk about him is reverent)
2. Barry Sanders (The best I ever saw)
3. Walter Payton
4. O.J. Simpson
5. Gayle Sayers
6. Emmitt Smith
7. Eric Dickerson
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Jerome Bettis/Franco Harris (Tie)
10. Curtis Martin/John Riggins (Tie)
Hon. Mention: Bo Jackson, Terrell Davis, Jamal Anderson...Injuries killed all three careers.

And if he had his head on straight, Ricky Williams would have been up there too, IMO.

 

[irishgo8]

My Top 10:
1. Jim Brown (I never really saw him...but the way those "old-timers" talk about him is reverent)
2. Barry Sanders (The best I ever saw)
3. Walter Payton
4. O.J. Simpson
5. Gayle Sayers
6. Emmitt Smith
7. Eric Dickerson
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Jerome Bettis/Franco Harris (Tie)
10. Curtis Martin/John Riggins (Tie)
Hon. Mention: Bo Jackson, Terrell Davis, Jamal Anderson...Injuries killed all three careers.

And if he had his head on straight, Ricky Williams would have been up there too, IMO.

What O.J. Simpson? The wife killer? If i had a choice i would choose someone else just cause i dont want a murderer.

 

[jiggafini19]

My Top 10:
1. Jim Brown (I never really saw him...but the way those "old-timers" talk about him is reverent)
2. Barry Sanders (The best I ever saw)
3. Walter Payton
4. O.J. Simpson
5. Gayle Sayers
6. Emmitt Smith
7. Eric Dickerson
8. Marshall Faulk
9. Jerome Bettis/Franco Harris (Tie)
10. Curtis Martin/John Riggins (Tie).

AeroSmith, E Smith isn' the best. That would be Payton. #2, Jim Brown. 3, Sanders, 4 E Smith. 5, Dickerson.

My dad saw Sayers play live on several occasions at Wrigley Field. He and many others feel there may not have been anyone better. The guy returned kickoffs, too. Great runner, but Jim Brown was the best runner. Payton was a pass catcher, blocker and played QB during the dark ages of the Bears pre-Ditka. The total package was Payton. He hit linebackers like linebackers hit running backs.

 

[Irish Envy]

1) Payton
2) Sanders
3) Brown
4) OJ Simpson
5) Dickerson

Those are my top 5.