Silver and BlueBlood

The NFL Network recently offered an episode in its Top 10 series in which they named their top ten Dallas Cowboys of all time. While the names on their list are all undeniably great, they used flawed logic in their selections. I intend to set the record straight by giving you the real top ten Cowboys of all time.

First, the NFL Network’s Top 10:

1. Tom Landry
2. Roger Staubach
3. Michael Irvin
4. Bob Lilly
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Troy Aikman
7. Tony Dorsett
8. Randy White
9. Don Meredith
10. Drew Pearson

The biggest flaw in the Network’s approach was their allowing a non-player on the list. Tom Landry certainly ought to be considered the number  one greatest Cowboy of all time on any list that included players and coaches. But if you include coaches, then you have to consider Jimmy Johnson. Moreover, if you include coaches, then what about front office personnel and ownership? Clint Murchison, Tex Schramm and Gil Brandt might have something to say about any list that was not restricted to players.

For that reason, in my estimation, the lists ought to be kept separate. Make one for players and another for non-players.I, therefore, present for your approval the top ten players to ever wear the Star on their helmet.

As with any good list, I will start at the bottom and work my way to the (drum roll) top.

10. Drew Pearson – Drew has yet to be honored with membership in the ring of honor, let alone the NFL Hall of Fame. Still, without his production and contribution, the ’70s Cowboys would never have made five Super Bowl appearances in ten years.

9. Mel Renfro – The greatest defensive back in team history, Renfro earned ten Pro Bowl honors in his first ten years in the NFL. As a rookie, he led the team with seven interceptions and led the league in punt and kickoff return average. Mel is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honor.

8. Michael Irvin – He was one of the Triplets of the ’90s, and the spiritual leader of that team. His off-the-field antics aside, Irvin was recognized by teammates and opponents alike as the hardest-working, most fiercely competitive member of one of the greatest teams in NFL history.

7. Lee Roy Jordan – For fourteen years, Jordan was a fan favorite. He was supposed to be too small and too slow to play middle linebacker. He proved he was neither. Jordan was named to five Pro Bowls and was also named All-Pro once. He remains perhaps the greatest linebacker in team history (although, DeMarcus Ware may have something to say about that some day.)

6. Tony Dorsett - It pains me not to put Dorsett higher. He is one of my all-time favorite football players. He was pure poetry in motion. When he arrived at the University of Pittsburgh they had gone 0-11. His senior year, they were 11-0 and national champions. When his college days were done, he was the all-time leading rusher in the NCAA and remained such until Ricky Williams finally surpassed him twenty years later.  Until the Herschell Walker trade, the trade with the Seahawks for the draft pick that would become Tony Dorsett was the greatest draft day coup in team history. Dorsett would go on to win offensive rookie of the year, gain nearly 13,000 yards in his career and anchor the running game for two Super Bowl teams.

5. Randy White – Dubbed the “Manster” – half man, half monster – Randy White remains one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history. He was named to nine consecutive Pro Bowls and was selected All-Pro each of those nine seasons (1977-85). He was NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1978 and was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII. If not for number two on this list, I would have Randy ranked higher and name him the greatest defensive player in team history.

4. Emmitt Smith – Emmitt was too slow to be a great halfback. Everybody knew that. Everybody but Emmitt, who set his eyes on a huge prize and pursued it relentlessly until he had achieved it. That prize was the revered all-time rushing record, held at the time by the great Walter Payton. By the time he retired, Emmitt was the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and had been one of the key components of the football machine that claimed, for the first time in league history, three Super Bowls in four years. That said, he remains my second-favorite Dallas runner. I would take Tony any day. However, with Emmitt’s mind-boggling, odds-defying accomplishments, he deserves this number four spot.

3. Troy Aikman – The first overall pick in the 1989 draft, Troy spent his rookie season playing a human pinata. He got the stuffing kicked out of him as he languished on the worst team in franchise history. The Cowboys only won one game that year. That could have been disastrous. Such experiences often are to young quarterbacks. But Troy had “it.” He had that intangible quality that makes a man a leader, a winner. He would guide his team to four consecutive NFC title games and three Super Bowl victories in that four-year span…and would only be a seven-year veteran when it was done. He made five straight Pro Bowls and six overall. He was All-Pro three times. He resurrected the franchise from the grave known as the late 80s.

2. Bob Lilly – The Cowboys first-ever draft pick remains the best first-round pick they have ever made. Bob Lilly was recognized by many as the greatest defensive lineman of his generation. The official website of the Pro Football Hall of Fame says this about Lilly:

For…14 seasons, his play on defense was so outstanding that he became popularly known as “Mr. Cowboy.” Bob starred as a defensive end in 1961 but then moved to a defensive tackle spot in his third season with even more sensational results. As a tackle, Lilly was a first-team All-NFL choice every year from 1964 through 1969, then again in 1971, and 1972. The only years he missed first-team honors was his final two seasons in the league and in 1970 when he was a second-team choice.

Equally effective as both a pass rusher and a rushing defender, Lilly continually battled double-team and even triple-team opposition but he rarely was delayed in his pursuit of the ball carrier. Quick, agile and coordinated, he even scored four touchdowns in his career. One came on a 17-yard interception return in 1964 while the other three came on fumble recoveries. Altogether, he returned 18 fumbles for 109 yards.

Lilly would easily have been number one, if not for…

1. Roger Staubach – I came into full football consciousness in the 1970s. It was a great time to be a Dallas Cowboys fan. They made five Super Bowls in a ten year span. The team was stacked with men who played the game at the highest possible level. Great names like Dorsett, Garrison, White, Renfro, Pugh, Jordan, Martin, and Jones patrolled the gridiron with ferocity and a deep-seated dedication to excellence. It was the era of the DoomsDay and DoomsDay II defenses. It was the time of the Dirty Dozen rookies. It was glorious. But above them all, leading men into battle like the soldier and warrior he had always been was Roger Staubach.

Captain America

Every Dallas Cowboy fan of that era knew that, regardless the score, if Roger “Dodger” “Captain America” Staubach was on the field, our team was never out of it. He was the king of the comeback. The greater the pressure, the better he played. Again, I let the HoF website speak:

Roger Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys as a 27-year-old rookie in 1969 and didn’t win the regular quarterbacking job from until his third season in 1971. But for the nine seasons he was in command of the potent Cowboys attack, the Dallas played in six NFC championship games, winning four of them, and also scored victories in Super Bowls VI and XII.

The 6-3, 200-pound Staubach wound up his career after the 1979 season with an 83.4 passing rating, the best mark by an NFL passer up to that time. His career chart shows 1,685 completions in 2,958 passing attempts, which were good for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns.

Making Staubach particularly dangerous was his ability to scramble out of trouble – his 410 career rushes netted him 2,264 yards for a 5.5-yard average and 20 touchdowns. He led the NFL in passing four times. He was also an All-NFC choice five times and selected to play in six Pro Bowls.

So many great players have worn that star on their helmet, it seems almost a shame to even make a list like this. But, hey, as David Letterman knows, everyone loves a list.

This is one of mine. There will be others. In fact, I have determined to offer my Top Ten Top Ten Lists.

Stay tuned…

For the next 14 seasons, his play on defense was so outstanding that he became popularly known as “Mr. Cowboy.” Bob starred as a defensive end in 1961 but then moved to a defensive tackle spot in his third season with even more sensational results. As a tackle, Lilly was a first-team All-NFL choice every year from 1964 through 1969, then again in 1971, and 1972. The only years he missed first-team honors was his final two seasons in the league and in 1970 when he was a second-team choice.

Equally effective as both a pass rusher and a rushing defender, Lilly continually battled double-team and even triple-team opposition but he rarely was delayed in his pursuit of the ball carrier. Quick, agile and coordinated, he even scored four touchdowns in his career. One came on a 17-yard interception return in 1964 while the other three came on fumble recoveries. Altogether, he returned 18 fumbles for 109 yards.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Jerry Jones, the NFL’s version of P.T. Barnum, may not be as articulate as the old ringmaster, but he has proven himself every bit the slick showman/businessman.

Until now.

In a bewildering move, Jones has eschewed any Ring of Honor inductions for the 2010 season. As previously noted, that just doesn’t make sense…especially when you consider how Jerry never misses an opportunity to promote his team and capitalize on a golden (or greenback) opportunity.

It isn’t enough for me to sit in the critic’s corner and tsk tsk the man. There must be logic behind the argument in order to validate it. My argument for a 2010 Ring of Honor celebration stands on two powerful legs:

1. The timing. The inaugural year of the billion-dollar playground for Jerry’s Boys is a once-in-a-team’s-lifetime opportunity. There may never be a more appropriate time to celebrate the team’s accomplishments and the men who have helped to make the Dallas Cowboys America’s Team. Any new additions to the RoH is a wonderful excuse to parade all of the still-among-us, hallowed members before their adoring fans.
2. The candidates. Timing alone isn’t enough. There must be men worthy of the honor; men whose careers were not only fraught with accomplishment, but whose names were synonymous with the team.

If these two conditions exist, then we can conclude that Jerry has dropped the shiny, silver ball on this one. The first condition hardly requires argument. Just look at it and nod your head, because you know I am right. That leaves only the matter of the candidates. Can we find men worthy of induction to such a hallowed place in such a momentous season?

My answer is, Yes! Yes, we can. As I stated in the first part of this two-part diatribe,  I believe it would be the better part of wisdom for Jerry to select one man from the old regime and one from his own glory days.

And now, the candidates:

The Old School Boys

Drew Pearson, Wide Receiver, 1973 – 1983

Hall of Fame 'Fro

If you were watching the Cowboys on December 28, 1975, unless you suffer from amnesia or have recently undergone a lobotomy, you remember the play forever dubbed as the Hail Mary. It was a last-second, desperation bomb from Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson…and it remains the single most miraculous, memorable play in franchise history.

That play alone would be reason enough for Cowboys fans to forever revere Drew Pearson. But that kind of prime-time heroism was a regular part of this players repertoire. He was, for a decade, Captain America’s go-to guy. He was elected to three Pro Bowls and named three times to the All-Pro team. Drew caught 489 regular season passes for 7822 yards and scored 48 touchdowns. He participated in 22 post-season games, catching 67 passes for 1105 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.

Pearson’s numbers are not extravagant by today’s standards, but he was a notable player of his era and a singular presence in the 70’s Cowboys’ receiving corps. Lynn Swann, the 70’s Steelers’ standout receiver and NFL Hall of Fame member played fewer years and caught fewer passes than Pearson. In fact, if history could erase one Jackie Smith end zone bobble, the Cowboys and Steelers would have won the exact same number of Super Bowls that decade, with the Cowboys having made one more appearance than their nemesis…and any so-called big-game separation between Swann and Pearson would be nil.

Drew Pearson is the original number 88. He was a great player with soft hands, big-play ability, and remains the finest sideline-catch, tip-toeing receiver I have ever seen. It is a shame that he isn’t enshrined in Canton, and an absolute travesty that he is not already a member of the Ring of Honor.

Charlie Waters, Strong Safety, 1970 – 1981

Charlie Waters is often mentioned in the same breath with Cliff Harris, primarily because the two were the NFL defensive backfield equivalent of Butch and Sundance. They patrolled the field with precision and ferocity, striking fear in the hearts of rival receivers. Harris is in the Ring of Honor; Waters is not…yet.

Charlie Waters was named to the Pro Bowl three times, from 1976-1978. In both ‘77 and ‘78. the Pro Football Writers named him first-team all-NFL. Waters appeared in 160 games, recorded 41 interceptions, and scored two defensive touchdowns. He had an NFL record nine interceptions in the playoffs, including three in one game. In Waters’ twelve year career, the Cowboys never suffered a losing season and appeared in five Super Bowls, winning two of them.

A beloved Cowboy and lucid communicator, Waters found himself in the booth as a radio analyst for the team for a few seasons. He also served on Dan Reeves coaching staff in Denver, proving himself both a student and teacher of the game.

His wait to be honored by the team that would not be the same without him has been utterly too long.

Billy Joe DuPree, Tight End, 1973 – 1983

Besides having one of the all-time cool names, DuPree was the first great Cowboys Tight End. (He wasn’t of course, the last. There will someday be three Tight Ends whose resumes will be too impressive to dismiss without serious consideration, but that is another discussion.)

Billy Joe played in 159 regular season games for the Cowboys, 102 as a starter. he caught 267 balls for 3565 yards and 41 touchdowns. He appeared in 19 playoff games, scoring four touchdowns. He had four receptions for 66 yards in Super Bowl XII versus Denver, and caught two passes for seventeen yards and a touchdown against the Steelers in Super Boxl XIII.

As to awards, DuPree was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1976-78. The Associated Press named him first-team all-Conference in 1976 and ‘78. The UPI bestowed that same honor for all three years from 76 to 78. He was also named the NFL’s Man of the Year once.

Names from the Nineties

Larry Allen, Guard/Tackle, 1994-2005 with Cowboys

Eleven-time Pro Bowler. Six-time first team All-Pro. Stands alongside Rayfield Wright as the greatest offensive lineman to ever wear the star on his helmet. No argument. No debate. No decision. No-brainer.

Enough said.

Darren Woodson, Strong Safety, 1992 – 2003

Arguments could be made concerning who was the greatest offensive player of the 1990s Cowboys. Was it Aikman? Smith? Irvin? Allen? But on the defensive side, no man was as good, as consistant, and as consistantly good as Darren Woodson. He was the Qb of the Dallas D. He was great from start to finish. He was leadership personified. He was a quick thinker and a hard hitter. He was everything the Cowboys could have hoped for when they made him the 37th pick overall in the ‘92 draft…everything and more.

Woodson was a 5-time Pro Bowler (in consecutive years, ‘94-’98) and was named first-team all-Pro three times, in ‘94, ‘95, and ‘96. He started 162 regular season games for the Cowboys, recording 803 tackles and 138 assists. He also recorded 23 interceptions and scored two defensive touchdowns, one of them a 94-yarder.

If there is any justice in the world, Woodson will find himself enshrined in Canton soon. If Jerry has any sense at all, he will beat the NFL to it and place him in the Ring of Honor.

Jay Novacek, Tight End, 1985 – 1995

Aikman had Irvin to outfight defenders for tight passes and outmaneuver them for underthrows. He had Smith to keep eight men in the box much of the time. He also had a raw-boned, bow-legged, tough-as-nails security blanket named Novacek.

Novacek is the only candidate in this list who was not drafted by the Cowboys. He was drafted by the Rams, where he played his first three years. Only a sixth round pick, Novacek exceeded all expectations. As a Cowboy, he was elected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1991 – 95. He was named first-team all-Pro in ‘92.

For his career, Novacek caught 422 passes for 4630 yards and 30 touchdowns. He contributed to all three of the Cowboys’ Super Bowl wins in the Nineties. In thirteen playoff games, he caught 62 passes for 645 yards. He scored six post-season touchdowns, including one each in Super Bowls XXVII and XXX.

Conclusion

This is not a suggestion that Jerry Jones sweep all of these men into the RoH this year. Not at all. It is hard evidence that an induction ceremony in 2010 is more than just a good idea: it is a great idea. Any of these men would be worthy of induction in this year of years for the franchise.

If only the Ringmaster could see that.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Jerry Jones recently announced that there would be no new additions to the Ring of Honor in the 2010-11 football season. For a man with such business acumen, that seems like a horribly short-sighted decision. Of all the years to forgo such a celebration! The debut season in the new stadium is tailor-made for the revelings and ritual associated with a Ring of Honor induction ceremony.

If there were no worthy candidates, then I would support Jones on this front. He certainly should not force the issue by shoehorning in some marginal talent. No thoughtful Cowboys fan wants to see the NFL’s most glorious franchise water down what is tantamount to the team’s hall of fame. Only the best of the best should find their names among the Landrys, Staubachs, and Aikmans of the world.

The arguments for and against inclusion in the RoH have been many and varied. Some would have it limited to those Cowboys whose busts reside in Canton. Others want every Cowboy who was slightly above average elevated to those lofty heights.

The first extreme is too reactive. The Ring of Honor may indeed be a sort of precursor to NFL Hall of Fame induction, but membership in the RoH ought not be contingent on membership in the HoF. The RoH is the horse and the HoF the cart. Let’s not get the cart ahead of the horse. Besides, Cowboys fans who remember the glory of the Seventies understand that the HoF has some glaring omissions when it come to the men who wore the silver star to five Super Bowls in that decade. (They rectified one of those when they honored the great Rayfield Wright a couple years ago.)

One can be too restrictive with Ring of Honor honors. But one could also be too liberal. To date, the liberal thing has never been a problem. We don’t want it to become one. That said, there are right now enough legitimate, bona fide Cowboy greats standing in the line of left-outs to insure that a RoH celebration this year would not need feature a “how-in-the-heck-did-they-let-that-guy-in-there” dud.

It says here that Jerry should choose two men to induct – one from the old regime and one from the Jones era. In doing so, he could both right an old wrong and celebrate his own success as owner and General Manager. In one fell swoop, he could bridge the ever-widening generation gap and open the new state-of-the-art stadium with a grand celebration of glories past and yet to come.

It makes perfect sense. Maybe it makes too much sense for Jerry “The Ringmaster” Jones.

In our next offering, I will submit the names of the men I think should top the list of candidates. I will do so with the solemn vow that there won’t be a dud in the whole she-bang.

Stay tuned…

Popularity: 13% [?]