Mr. Smith Returns to Dallas

Emmitt Smith is writing the final chapter of his NFL story, signing a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday and set to retire as a member of the team he started with in 1990.

Smith announced his retirement from the NFL during a press conference at Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville on February 3. After being notified that he would not be returning to the Arizona Cardinals, Smith entertained some offers from other teams, but finally decided to cal it a career. He spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals.

Once he submits his retirement papers to the NFL, the Cowboys will place the future Hall of Famer on the Reserve/Retired list.

Smith�s career numbers are astounding for a player many deemed too small and too slow to be an impact player in the NFL: 18,335 rushing yards, 4,509 rushing attempts and 164 touchdowns � all NFL records. He won four NFL rushing titles and was the NFL and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in 1993. His final numbers for Arizona last season were 937 yards and 9 touchdowns � ironically the same number of yards he ran for his rookie season with the Cowboys.

The NFL All-time Rushing leader was the first player in NFL history to compile eleven 1,000 yard rushing seasons. He is also second behind receiver Jerry Rice in yards from scrimmage (21,579) and total touchdowns (179). He rushed 306 times for 1,407 yards and 18 touchdowns in the post-season.

A member of the �Triplets�, Smith, along with quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin became the nucleus of the Dallas Cowboys team that went from 1-15 in 1990 to winning three Super Bowls in four years and establishing themselves as the Team of the 90s.