Emmitt the opponent feels strange to Jones

[Gunzlingr]

If Jerry Jones had his way, Emmitt Smith would have retired following last season and never worn another uniform other than the Cowboys' blue and silver.

To him, that's how the career of the most celebrated player in franchise history should have ended.

But the Cowboys' owner knows that was not realistic, considering Smith's desire to continue playing and the Cowboys' need to move in another direction under new coach Bill Parcells.

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[Cntrygal]

Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher and a legend dear to the hearts of Cowboys fans everywhere, was released in a salary-cap move last February. At least that was owner Jerry Jones' excuse. Naturally, the logical assumption was that new head coach Bill Parcells wanted to be rid of the highly paid but past-his-prime Smith -- something Parcells denies.

Smith, 34, wasn't ready to quit playing. So he found employment with the Arizona Cardinals, who hoped he might help them win a few games and attract a crowd for a change.

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