Recently my sons and I did a learning exercise at home. The focus of the experience was to try and determine those best Cowboys not in the NFL Hall of Fame. Here's the list we came out with at our house. How 'bout yours?
Note: Emmitt Smith & Larry Allen are not included. If they don't make it. The folks in Canton should just quit. So with that caveat, and in no particular order except the first one, here goes:
1. Bob Hayes. The original #22 changed the game. Rick Gosslein of the Dallas Morning News has done yomen work making the case. Hopefully he's in the class to be announced Sunday. Should've happened while the Bullet was alive.
2. Drew Pearson. The original #88. Nobody caught more clutch passes, including the Hail Mary. What people don't remember is he nearly won the game in SF after Dwight Clark made "the Catch." A car wreck that killed his brother shortened his career too early.
3. Cliff Harris. Heart & Soul of Doomsday Part I along with his sidekick Charlie Waters. Overlook and underrated for far too long.
4. Chuck Howley & Lee Roy Jordan. Howley was a great player who played big in big games. Only player in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP for a losing team (the Blooper Bowl). He played even better the following year in the Super Bowl win against Miami. Jordan was the heart and soul of Doomsday I, an enforcer of discipline. Around him you'd better have come to play.
5. Harvey Martin & Ed 'Too Tall' Jones. In his prime Harvey was among the elite players in the league. His co-MVP with Randy White proves that point. Jones was the first defensive end with the reach and body of an MVP power forward, i.e. Karl Malone. If they counted batted down passes like sacks he'd be a first round HOFer.
6. Charles Haley. Five rings. Three with us beats the 9ers 2.
7. Darren Woodson. The Cowboys all-time leading tackler and an undisputed team leader in the 90's and earlier this decade.
8. Deon Sanders. Best shut down corner ever and incredible special team player who lives and works here. Hope he goes into Canton as a Cowboy.
9. Don Meredith. Best Cowpoke QB not in HOF. Played with lousy offensive lines early in his career. Danny White deserves honorable mention.
10. Daryl Johnston. Here's hoping DJ introduces Emmitt when he goes into Canton on the first ballot. After all he lead the way on most of the yardage Emmitt got.
Others to Consider:
Gil Brandt. The last of the original Cowboy triplets not in the HOF (Landry, & Schramm). He invented the modern scouting system. Deserves strong consideration now.
Billy Howton. West Texas boy who had a stellar career as a wide reciever in the 50's and 60's. When he retired after playing with the 'boys at the end of his career he had over 500 catches and nearly 8500 yards recieving. Not as impressive today but near the top when he left the game.
Clint Murchison Jr. Great owner often overlooked because of Landry, Schramm and Brandt. His philiosophy: Hire good people and let them do their job is not the prevailing philosophy today. Right Jerry? He gave Tom Landry the longest contract extension in the history of American sports in February of 1964 when TL's record was 13 wins 38 losses. Built Texas Stadium, cutting edge for its day even if critics called it the Halfastrodome!
Last night night Babe laufenberg announced his five ways to fix todays Cowboys. My response will be the next post. Until next time Cowboy Nation.
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