October 27, 2002

STATEMENT BY NFL COMMISSIONER PAUL TAGLIABUE ON THE BREAKING OF WALTER PAYTON’S NFL CAREER RUSHING RECORD BY EMMITT SMITH:

No one is more worthy to succeed Walter Payton as the all-time NFL rushing leader than Emmitt Smith.  He kept a photo of Walter Payton in his high school locker and then came to embody the qualities – both athletic and personal -- that were so admired in Walter.  Now Emmitt takes Walter’s place in the record book, and the NFL could not be more proud.