Smith approaches Payton milestone

Norv Turner remembers his first year with Emmitt Smith. It was 1991, Smith's second year in the NFL, and Turner knew he had someone special.

Turner was the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator when Smith rushed for 1,563 yards to lead the NFL in rushing that year. With the 937 yards he had as a rookie from the University of Florida in 1990, Smith had 2,500 yards in two seasons.

Turner knew then Smith was on his way to being a great running back. Eleven years later, Smith is 92 yards shy of breaking Walter Payton's record of 16,726 career rushing yards.

Smith, 33, can reach the milestone Sunday at home against Seattle. The thought made Turner think back to the early years.

''That was a great time,'' said Turner, now the Dolphins' offensive coordinator. ''When you're there at the beginning of something like that with Emmitt, getting to see him take off and go, that was a great accomplishment. I think at that point, you knew if he stayed healthy he was going to have a great career. He's done a great job.''

Turner has coached other top backs, including Stephen Davis in Washington, LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego and Ricky Williams with the Dolphins.

Turner said Smith was the best because of his work ethic, durability, intelligence and toughness. He said Williams has those same qualities, and Turner said Williams also can have a great career.

Williams, who has 711 rushing yards in his first season in Turner's system, is amazed at what Smith has been able to do.

''I think it's great,'' said Williams, who is in his fourth year and has 12,794 yards to go to catch Smith right now. ''He's been doing it for a long time and people don't give him his due. I think just to play as many games, to carry the ball as many times as he has, it's a feat in itself. I think he deserves it.''

Noteworthy: Through seven weeks, there have been 47 starting quarterbacks, and more are on the way with Chad Hutchinson starting Sunday for Quincy Carter in Dallas. If injuries force Randy Fasani and Rob Johnson into the starting spots at Carolina and Tampa Bay, respectively, the number will reach 50. . . . Kansas City running back Priest Holmes has scored a league-leading 14 touchdowns. No player has had that many touchdowns after seven games. Holmes is on pace to break Marshall Faulk's single-season NFL record of 26 touchdowns. . . . Who would have thought San Diego and New Orleans would be a combined 12-2 and St. Louis and New England would be 5-8?