Expert: Duke Ha - 11/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: I recently bought an Emmitt jersey, the jersy is the current Thanksgiving day jersey. Did Emmitt ever wear this jersey or did it come out after he left?

ANSWER: Hi Michael,

If you're referring to the 1960-ish navy jersey with small blue stars on white shoulders (also with white helmets and pants), then no Emmitt Smith did not ever wear this type of jersey.  The whole "Thanksgiving Throwback" trend kind of started for the NFL in the 2001 season when it was dubbed the "Classic Throwback Weekend".  

The Cowboys chose to honor their 1990's Superbowl team by wearing the navy "Double-Star" jersey they wore twice during the 1995 season.  They wore this uniform for three Thanksgiving Days (2001-2003).  In 2004, the team chose to wear the "throwbacks" you see today and I believe Julius Jones was the first starting Runningback to wear this jersey for the Cowboys.  Emmitt Smith as you may know, was an Arizona Cardinal at this time.

The only kind of "throwback" Emmitt wore was during the 1994 season,  when the NFL celebrated their 75th anniversary and the Cowboys chose to wear a somewhat negative opposite of today's "throwback" uniform (white jersey with white stars atop royal blue shoulders).  

Personally, I believe Emmitt Smith should've worn that jersey because he should've never been allowed to leave Dallas.  He could've mentored Julius into an even better back and this whole two-back nonsense might never have come.  But of course that was all of Parcells doing.  Well I hope I answered your question Michael.  Take care and thanks for asking!!!


Duke
Dukesta22@yahoo.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Whhy do they make this jersey for Emmitt then? Or could it be a fake? Do you know about these jerseys? Anyway to find out if reebok did make this jersey?

Answer
Hello again Michael,

Hard to say why they would make a jersey for a player who never wore that style.  But my guess would be of course, marketing.  Emmitt is a legendary player for the Cowboys (probably the most beloved next to maybe Staubach) and capitalizing on his name on a style of jersey never seen before means good money and good business.  

On the other hand, it could be a fake as the counterfeit jerseys, like currency,  become more and more difficult to spot these days.  Since current Dallas Cowboy jerseys are made with tackle twill stitched on numbers and letters, it isn't that difficult to strip down an existing player name and place "E.Smith" as well as "22" on the jersey.

Personally, I have never seen a "throwback" jersey with any past players on it.  Now that doesn't mean they didn't make one, but hard to imagine they would since Emmitt, Irvin, Aikman, or even Deion never wore that style of jersey.  The Dallas Cowboys store doesn't even sell one.  I believe it would be similar to the fact that you would (or at least should) never see a "Double-Star" Staubach, Dorsett or even Ware and Romo since all past and current players never wore that style of jersey either.

I came across a white "Double-Star" Barber jersey at Disneyland no too long ago and instantly knew it to be fake.  Just because he never wore that jersey (circa 1994) and because it totally looked fake.  I would not know of anyway of finding out if Reebok ever produced an Emmitt Smith "throwback".  Your best bet is to check the jersey carefully and see if it has been stripped down and altered.  If all else fails, you can try to call Reebok, but I am not sure most of the people working the phones would even know unless you talk to someone direct who knows NFL jerseys.

I'm sorry I couldn't answer your question in its entirety, but hopefully you've gained some insight about what you have. Take care and thanks for asking!!!

P.S.  Go to this website www.nextleveltalk.com as there are ALOT of people on that forum that know ALOT about jerseys, even private dealers on there.

 
Duke
Dukesta22@yahoo.com