Saw this on AZcentral. Desert Rodents comment is pretty funny.
Both sides stand to benefit if Smith signs with Cards
Randy Galloway
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Mar. 10, 2003 12:00 AM
FORT WORTH - From Arizona Cardinals free-agent safety Kwamie Lassiter (never heard of him) on his chances of re-signing with the desert rodents of the NFL:
"Very slim. Why? Because I want to win."
What, then, does Emmitt Smith want?
In his search for new employment, Emmitt (right) makes the trip to Phoenix this week, having accepted an invitation to be wined, dined and begged by the Cardinals.
Emmitt parted ways with the Cowboys when it was clear new coach Bill Parcells is looking ahead, and will only tolerate players with the same vision.
Emmitt, however, is looking back, making his list, and checking it twice, on who will be gaining on him in future years.
A free agent who wants to win doesn't break bread with the Cardinals. Even Lassiter knows that.
But when Arizona is promising "feature back" status, and assuring you a wholesale diet of carries, plus it's a team with salary-cap room, well ...
Do the math.
The NFL's new all-time rushing leader is sitting on 17,162 yards.
A rearview-mirror check shows Jerome Bettis as the next active runner with 11,542 yards. Then there's Marshall Faulk at 10,395 and Curtis Martin at 10,361.
But Emmitt wants to live comfortably and profitably as the all-time leader. Like for 20 more years, if not 40.
His stated goal is 20,000 yards. There is no one currently in Emmitt's rearview mirror who could beat that. Arizona might be the one team that can provide Smith with the three years necessary to reach 20,000. Certainly he could be well past 19,000 in two seasons.
Forget your disgust over the dread of seeing Emmitt as a Cardinal. For what he wants, the desert could be a perfect locale. For what the Cardinals want, Emmitt is perfect.
He will sell tickets in an NFL city where they don't sell enough. And football-wise, the Cardinals' brass thinks Emmitt could be everything he sometimes wasn't at Valley Ranch.
From general manager Rod Graves:
"The leadership he would bring to our ballclub at this state, his stature, his toughness, the fact he's been in big games ... all that makes him very appealing."
Coach Dave McGinnis is not blamed for the Cardinals' woes (all the heat goes on ownership, if that sounds familiar). In McGinnis, Emmitt has another fan.
"There's a whole lot Emmitt has done for the game and brought to the game, and he still has something left," McGinnis said.
Even the Diamondbacks' Luis Gonzalez chimed in with: "From a marketing standpoint and bringing new fans in, you can't pass on an opportunity like that. Look what Randy Johnson has done for us."
For the record, Gonzalez has football influence in Phoenix. He owns Cardinals season tickets - twelve of them, which probably qualifies him for team board-of-directors status.
Both sides stand to benefit if Smith signs with Cards
Randy Galloway
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Mar. 10, 2003 12:00 AM
FORT WORTH - From Arizona Cardinals free-agent safety Kwamie Lassiter (never heard of him) on his chances of re-signing with the desert rodents of the NFL:
"Very slim. Why? Because I want to win."
What, then, does Emmitt Smith want?
In his search for new employment, Emmitt (right) makes the trip to Phoenix this week, having accepted an invitation to be wined, dined and begged by the Cardinals.
Emmitt parted ways with the Cowboys when it was clear new coach Bill Parcells is looking ahead, and will only tolerate players with the same vision.
Emmitt, however, is looking back, making his list, and checking it twice, on who will be gaining on him in future years.
A free agent who wants to win doesn't break bread with the Cardinals. Even Lassiter knows that.
But when Arizona is promising "feature back" status, and assuring you a wholesale diet of carries, plus it's a team with salary-cap room, well ...
Do the math.
The NFL's new all-time rushing leader is sitting on 17,162 yards.
A rearview-mirror check shows Jerome Bettis as the next active runner with 11,542 yards. Then there's Marshall Faulk at 10,395 and Curtis Martin at 10,361.
But Emmitt wants to live comfortably and profitably as the all-time leader. Like for 20 more years, if not 40.
His stated goal is 20,000 yards. There is no one currently in Emmitt's rearview mirror who could beat that. Arizona might be the one team that can provide Smith with the three years necessary to reach 20,000. Certainly he could be well past 19,000 in two seasons.
Forget your disgust over the dread of seeing Emmitt as a Cardinal. For what he wants, the desert could be a perfect locale. For what the Cardinals want, Emmitt is perfect.
He will sell tickets in an NFL city where they don't sell enough. And football-wise, the Cardinals' brass thinks Emmitt could be everything he sometimes wasn't at Valley Ranch.
From general manager Rod Graves:
"The leadership he would bring to our ballclub at this state, his stature, his toughness, the fact he's been in big games ... all that makes him very appealing."
Coach Dave McGinnis is not blamed for the Cardinals' woes (all the heat goes on ownership, if that sounds familiar). In McGinnis, Emmitt has another fan.
"There's a whole lot Emmitt has done for the game and brought to the game, and he still has something left," McGinnis said.
Even the Diamondbacks' Luis Gonzalez chimed in with: "From a marketing standpoint and bringing new fans in, you can't pass on an opportunity like that. Look what Randy Johnson has done for us."
For the record, Gonzalez has football influence in Phoenix. He owns Cardinals season tickets - twelve of them, which probably qualifies him for team board-of-directors status.
