Record Earns Smith Fewer Carries

Emmitt Smith didn’t see it coming.

Smith knew that once he got the NFL career rushing record, his backup Troy Hambrick would get more carries. The Dallas Cowboys were playing out the string anyway and wanted to get Hambrick some reps.

But after Dallas’ 20-3 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday, Smith said it was a surprise to him that he and Hambrick would alternate every two series.

“I don’t ever recall a ballgame when I was just in for two series, then out for two series,” Smith said. “If this is what’s going to happen, then it’s going to happen.”

Smith finished with 22 yards in eight carries, and he has only 61 yards in 24 carries since he broke Walter Payton’s record on Oct. 27.

Hambrick carried the ball seven times for 42 yards Sunday.

Smith was critical of the strategy using him and Hambrick in the backfield, saying it was difficult for him to “find a rhythm.”

But since the Cowboys did reasonably well on the ground -- 18 carries for 84 yards, a 4.7 average -- Cowboy Coach Dave Campo said afterward there was a “good chance” he would continue using his two top running backs this way.

What bothered Smith was that he was never informed that the game plan had changed this week.

“I knew he is going to get more carries; they didn’t explain how they were going to do it,” Smith said. “Let’s make a decision and let’s go with it.”

Smith spent most of the second half on the sideline. He didn’t play during the third quarter, when the Cowboys had only two possessions, and carried twice in the fourth quarter.

Smith didn’t believe the plan worked well at all.

“I saw a lot of regression today. I did not see progress,” he said. “I thought we would be a much better offensive team than we are.”

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The NFL has sent all 32 teams a memo warning that they are subject to fines if they supply players -- knowingly or not -- with banned supplements.

The memo mentioned that a team already has been disciplined, without saying which team.

But a source within the league, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that team is the Oakland Raiders. ESPN first reported on the existence of the memo and that the Raiders were the team to which it referred.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the memo had been sent, but would not comment on which team was disciplined.

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Priest Holmes became the first Chiefs player to run for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons during the 17-16 win over Buffalo. He’s also the quickest to reach the 1,000-yard mark, with 1,012 yards in 10 games. It took Christian Okoye 11 games to do it in 1989.

“It makes me feel real good,” Holmes said. “I know my offensive line will definitely get paid, and I love when those big guys get those big paychecks, because those are the guys that never get the glory that they deserve.”

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Bests of the Day

*--* PASSING Att Cmp Yds TD JEFF GARCIA, 49ers 43 25 337 2 DREW BREES, Chargers 50 29 336 2 RICH GANNON, Raiders 38 26 297 0 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 43 24 296 2 AARON BROOKS, Saints 31 20 279 2 JON KITNA, Bengals 30 17 258 1 STEVE McNAIR, Titans 33 18 257 2

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*--* RUSHING Att Yards Avg TD CLINTON PORTIS, Broncos 23 136 5.9 0 DUCE STALEY, Eagles 31 136 4.4 0 MICHAEL BENNETT, Vikings 20 130 6.5 0 TRAVIS HENRY, Bills 24 126 5.3 0 CURTIS MARTIN, Jets 22 112 5.1 0

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*--* RECEIVING No Yards Avg TD TERRELL OWENS, 49ers 7 171 24.4 2 HINES WARD, Steelers 10 168 16.8 2 CURTIS CONWAY, Chargers 7 152 21.7 0 MARVIN HARRISON, Colts 14 138 9.9 2 JOE HORN, Saints 3 134 44.7 1 DONALD DRIVER, Packers 4 121 30.3 0 RANDY MOSS, Vikings 6 115 19.2 1

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*--* DEFENSE Breakdown DERRICK BROOKS, Buccaneers 11 unassisted tackles

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