Bob Hayes, HOFer Class 2009

Well, the original number 22 finally made it. Less than half an hour ago the NFL Hall of Fame class of 2009 was announced and Bob Hayes finally made it. I wish he were here to celebrate the day. He's not here but his sister is. Cudos to her and Rick Gosselin of the Dalls Morning News should be congratulated for their willingness to never give up. Later we can talk about who should be the next Cowboy in Canton but today is the day to celebrate with the Hayes family and the entire Cowboy Nation.

Best Cowboys not in Hall of Fame

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.

The Embarassing End of an Icon

Yesterday's loss to the Ravens was embarassing enough. A humiliating way to close out Texas Stadium, but more on that in a minute. For 56 and a half minutes the defense kept us in the game while the offense sputtered with penalties, incompletions and a general lack of focus. Then the dam burst and the defense gave up two long touchdowns on successive plays and the game was over. This loss should cost Wade Phillips his job and Jason Garrett too. If you're the head coach and you call the defensive scheme then you have to accept responsibility for what happened. By the way, remember the fake punt? That's a coaching issue.

But hope still lives and the dream is still alive! Win and we're in.

Somewhere Texas E. Schramm is fuming. Watching the final farewell to Texas Stadium on television was embarrassing. It was too long. Roger Staubach rambled incoherently and the quality of the production was minor league. Not Frisco minor league but Hooterville minor league. It looked like somebody drew it up on a napkin. Too bad. Jerry Jones should know better but then again maybe he doesn't and that's the problem.....Until next time from somehwere in the Cowboy nation.