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LeSean McCoy has responded to detractors who argue that Emmitt Smith is unquestionably the greatest running back in NFL history. The former Philadelphia Eagles standout maintains that honoring past legends does not require him to downplay his own achievements.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, McCoy acknowledged that Smith holds the records but argued that statistics alone do not fully capture a running back's value. He also noted that he never relied on watching Smith's highlights for pregame motivation.
Irvin Draws the Line
Michael Irvin, a Hall of Fame wide receiver, made his position clear during the exchange. Irvin believes Smith operated on a completely different plane, stating that Smith was "greatness" while labeling McCoy merely "great." While Irvin conceded that McCoy was more elusive in the open field, he contended that Smith's durability translated into more victories. Irvin pointed to Smith's NFL-record 18,355 career rushing yards, far ahead of McCoy's 11,102, which ranks 23rd all-time.
The debate intensifies when legends like Irvin weigh in on historical rankings, adding a personal dimension to the discussion.
Current Eagles Feel the Pain
As the legends argue about the past, the current Eagles are struggling in the present. Philadelphia is mired in a six-game losing streak, its worst stretch in 14 years, following a 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Former quarterback Nick Foles said on his podcast that the team has internal issues, stating, "This is probably gonna go viral, but I have to say it, like, this team has something wrong." Head coach Nick Sirianni dismissed the comments during a radio appearance, noting that Foles is not in the locker room. The offense ranks last in the NFL with 2,122 total yards this season.
Old Friends Defend Each Other
Super Bowl champion Darius Slay Jr. jumped into the conversation to support McCoy. Slay wrote on X that it is not a crime to think a player was better than the old guard, saying, "but its not a crime to think or kno u was a better player than the OGs."
Jason Kelce also spoke up, though about a different issue involving former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Kelce said a report that players wanted Stoutland gone upset him. He told 94WIP, "That one very much upset me," adding that the decision came from the building, not the players.
The Eagles face the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.
Originally reported by yahoo.