CARDINALS Emmitt Smith still uncertain about retirement
The Arizona running back had the worst season of his 14-year career.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- After the worst season in his 14-year NFL career, Emmitt Smith will wait a month or two before deciding whether to come back to the Arizona Cardinals next year or retire.
"I have to talk about next year as if I will be back because I'm under contract to be back next year," Smith said Wednesday. "But I can still make a decision. There is an asterisk there. There's a decision I can make, but I'm not making it today."
Lowest rushing mark
Smith holds the NFL career rushing record at 17,398 yards, but with one game to go this season, he has rushed for just 236 yards in 83 attempts -- 2.8 yards-per-carry -- for a 3-11 Arizona team.
His previous worst rushing was 937 yards in 1990, his rookie season with Dallas. Smith proceeded to reel off 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before gaining 975 yards in 2002, his last year with the Cowboys.
Smith missed six games this season with a sprained shoulder, an injury that occurred in his return to Dallas, where he had minus-1 yard in eight carries.
When Smith returned, he was a backup to Marcel Shipp, the hard-running back who had consecutive 100-yard rushing games in Smith's place against San Francisco and Cincinnati.
Still can help team
Smith, 34, said that he knows he can help a team even without playing in games.
"A lot of people will say 'Well, you're time has passed, and they may be right," he said.
"But I'm not here to just be playing football. I have people around I can pass this knowledge to. And as long as I have the opportunity to do that, and help Marcel Shipp or Damien Anderson, and bring a different kind of spirit and attitude to the ball club, my objective has been achieved."
Smith said he will assess his situation as he usually does, on whether he came to camp with the proper preparation, did he work hard in training camp and did he give the ultimate effort in games.
"How did I feel physically at the end of the season? If I feel good, then I can make decisions whether or not I want to move forward. If I don't feel good about it, I'll make the decision not to."
One of the main reasons Smith came to Arizona was the assurance that he would be the top back. Shipp's continued improvement may make that a tough commitment for the organization.
"I expect him to be back next season," said Rod Graves, the Cardinals' vice president for football operations. "I have heard nothing from Emmitt or his agent otherwise."
No plans to cut salary
Graves said there are no plans to cut Smith, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with Arizona.
The Cardinals said Smith brings more than just yards gained to the young team, especially with his leadership in the locker room.
"He's been a tremendous asset to this football team," coach Dave McGinnis said. "'I count as one of the best things that's ever happened to me my association with Emmitt Smith."
Smith has been a strong supporter of McGinnis, and he wants to wait until the uncertain Cardinals' coaching situation is resolved before making any decision about next year.
"When I have a chance to sit down and talk, and reflect on all that has occurred this year, and assess myself physically, and when all this stuff swirling around the ball club is aside and I understand where the direction is going to be -- all those things come into play."
The Cardinals have gone from 7-9 to 6-10 and now 3-13 in McGinnis' three full seasons as head coach, and Sunday's game against Minnesota could be his last with Arizona.
"If Mac is here -- great," Smith said. "But if he's not here, what are the plans of the people coming in?"