http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1981383
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Updated: Feb. 1, 2005, 1:59 PM ET
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<!-- template inline --> Running back Emmitt Smith (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=821), the NFL's all-time leader rushing, will retire this offseason, sources told ESPN's John Clayton and Chris Mortensen.
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</td> <td bgcolor="#ecece4" width="200"> <!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE STARTS HERE--------------------> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="6"> <tbody><tr valign="top"> <td colspan="2"> Emmitt Smith (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=821)
Running Back
Arizona Cardinals</td> <td rowspan="2" width="65">http://espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/statsid/s821.jpg</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="67"> Profile (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=821)
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</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!---------------------HEADSHOT TABLE ENDS HERE--------------------> </td></tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="8">
</td> <td bgcolor="#ecece4" width="200"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" width="190"> <tbody><tr align="center" bgcolor="#002175" valign="top"> <td colspan="6"><center>2004 SEASON STATISTICS</center></td></tr> <tr align="right" bgcolor="#bcbcb4"> <td width="17%">Rush</td> <td width="17%">Yds</td> <td width="17%">TD</td> <td width="17%">Rec</td> <td width="17%">Yds</td> <td width="17%">TD</td> </tr> <tr align="right" bgcolor="#bcbcb4"> <td>267</td> <td>937</td> <td>9</td> <td>15</td> <td>105</td> <td>0</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------> A league source told Mortensen it was possible that Smith could announce his retirement Thursday in Jacksonville.
Smith, 35, played 13 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=dal), and the last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ari). He becomes an unrestricted free agent in March.
Smith was in Jacksonville Monday, where he was at a dinner to honor past Super Bowl MVPs. When asked about retiring, he told the Dallas Morning News that he wanted to retire as a Cowboy, but stopped short of saying he would retire this offseason.
"I will, in some way, shape or form," Smith said about retiring as a Cowboy. "There's always a chance (of not playing in 2005). Somebody has got to want me, and if they don't want me, then what? ... I want to play. I want to do what I want to do."
Smith may sign some sort of ceremonial one-day deal with Dallas. In recent years, other veteran star players have returned to the teams where they spent their glory days.
The St. Paul (Minnesota) Pioneer Press speculated that Smith could join an investment group that is trying to buy the Vikings.
After an injury-plagued first season with the Cardinals in 2003, Smith rushed for 937 yards and nine touchdowns last season in 15 starts.