From Espn...
Emmitt agrees to deal in principle with Cardinals
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By Len Pasquarelli and Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
For the first 13 years of his career, a road contest against the Arizona Cardinals was almost like a home game for Emmitt Smith. In his 14th NFL campaign, a matchup at Sun Devil Stadium will be a home game for the leading rusher in league history.
Last season, Emmitt Smith's running was negatively affected by Dallas' switch to a West Coast offense, inexperienced blockers and a patchwork line that had nine different combos because of injuries. Although he started every game last season, Smith's streak of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons was snapped. Moving to Arizona will help Smith's productivity because of its talented offensive line, which starts three former first-rounders (tackle L.J. Shelton and guards Pete Kendall and Leonard Davis) and a second-rounder (guard Anthony Clement). Since Arizona may be without its top three wideouts -- David Boston has already departed while Frank Sanders and MarTay Jenkins remain free agents -- the Cards will have little choice but to establish a running attack. Which means that although Smith will receive more carries, defenses will be geared to stop him. Unless he can double his five touchdowns last year, Smith remains a No. 3 back on fantasy squads with the likes of James Stewart.
ESPN.com has learned through league sources that Smith, released by the Dallas Cowboys four weeks ago, has reached agreement in principle with the Cardinals on all major football aspects of a contract. There remain some marketing issues to still be addressed but both sides acknowledged that those elements of the deal are close to completion.
The deal is believed to be worth $7-8 million over two years.
The Cardinals are expected to announce the agreement with Smith at a news conference late Wednesday afternoon. Smith will not be in attendance, but sources said an introduction of him to his new home city is tentatively set for Thursday, with the Wednesday acknowledgement a public relations bonanza for the media assembled in Phoenix at the annual league meetings.
"The (football) side of things is finished," said one source. "The other stuff is all part of the contract and that will be completely shortly."
Smith, 33, visited with Cardinals officials two weeks ago and, at this point, Arizona appears the only opportunity available to him as a starter.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones told ESPN's Chris Mortensen he is "not surprised" by Smith's decision.
"I think it's a pretty good opportunity for him," Jones said. "But to me, he'll always have that star on the side of his helmet."
