As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of
the game evolving, conventional wisdom suggests that players
from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided
to defy that notion.
I have taken on the daunting task of compiling an All-Time Dallas
Cowboys team. The franchise has five Super Bowl titles but in
recent vintage postseason success has been minimal. Since
winning their fifth Vince Lombardi Trophy in 1995, the Cowboys
have won just four playoff games. Nonetheless, the franchise has
had many legendary players and teams.
There are some rigid criteria. The player needed to have played at
least four seasons as a Cowboy. Since the free agency era began
30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. No 1-3 year
rentals on this team. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first
consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number
of All-Pro seasons is another consideration with longevity also
helping immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras,
I’m not going to convolute this discussion.
Generational reminders
Just because the Cowboys biggest pockets of success were
1966-1985 and 1991-1996, being a member of those teams does
not automatically warrant a hall pass for this team. In the late 1980s,
the franchise went sideways. Since the turn of the century, there have
been some subpar and talented teams that disappointed when it
mattered. Players from those teams, however, still get consideration
for this team.
To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep
format, which means some worthy players get left off the list. So,
before you make a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself,
“Who do I take off the list?”
OFFENSE
QB -- First team: Roger Staubach. Honorable mention Troy Aikman.
Staubach was a six-time Pro Bowler who led the Cowboys to a pair
of Super Bowls. The Hall of Famer was nicknamed “Captain
Comeback” because he pulled many games out of the fire. He had
the highest passer rating in NFL history at the time of retirement.
Staubach personified the Dallas Cowboys more than any player.
Aikman does not have the gaudy stats but when he had to get the
job done, he did. Despite the common narrative, the Hall of Famer
and six-time Pro Bowler was more than just a caretaker for the team’s
three Super Bowls in the 1990s.
RB -- First team: Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett. Honorable mention:
Calvin Hill, Ezekiel Elliot.
Though he was blessed with an all-time great offensive line and
supporting cast, Smith was the weapon teams game-planned to stop
but still could not do it. The NFL’s all-time leading rusher led the
Cowboys back to glory in the 1990s with three Super Bowl titles on
the way to a Hall of Fame career. Dorsett also had a Hall of Fame
career and was the franchise’s all-time rushing leader until Smith
entered the equation. Hill was a journeyman, having played for four
teams but his first six were with the Cowboys. During which time, he
rushed for 5,009 yards and 39 touchdowns. He caught 139 passes
for 1,359 yards. He was All Pro as a rookie in 1969. Elliot has
been dominant in his first four NFL seasons, compiling 5,405 rushing
yards. He also has 1,619 on 189 catches. Elliot is a three-time Pro
Bowler and was first-team All Pro as a rookie in 2016.
FB -- First team: Don Perkins. Honorable mention: Darryl Johnston.
Modern day Cowboy fans may disagree with Johnston being
honorable mention. Perkins lacked long-distance speed but made up
for it with quickness and balance. He was a punishing blocker and
first player in franchise history to be named All Pro. Perkins rushed for
6,217 yards and 42 touchdowns. Johnston, who was nicknamed
“Moose” because of his large stature. The two-time Pro Bowler was
Emmitt Smith’s escort. Though he seldom carried the ball, Johnston
was a threat as a receiver, catching 294 passes.
WR -- First team: Michael Irvin, Bob Hayes. Honorable mention:
Dez Bryant, Drew Pearson.
The brash Irvin was known as “The Playmaker” -- and for good
reason. Irvin is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions and
yardage for wide receivers, behind tight end Jason Witten. Irvin was
a Pro Bowler five times and All Pro once but was the heartbeat of
three Super Bowl champions. Hayes was known as “Bullet Bob” and
is the only athlete with an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.
His 71 receiving touchdowns stood as a franchise record until
2017. Pearson’s 489 receptions seem miniscule by today’s
standards but considering he played from 1973-1983, when the
forward pass was far less prominent and part of that time was a
14-game regular season, those numbers are quite impressive.
Pearson is not in the Hall of Fame but worthy. Leg injuries
eventually plagued Bryant as he lost explosiveness but at his peak,
Bryant was Irvin-like dominant. Bryant holds the franchise record
with 73 touchdown receptions. He was a three-time Pro Bowler in
eight seasons and was All Pro in 2014.
TE -- First team: Jason Witten. Honorable mention: Billy Joe
Dupree
Witten, who is still active, was never the biggest or fastest but has
achieved excellence over a long period of time as an 11-time Pro
Bowler and four-time All Pro. Witten holds the franchise for
receptions and yardage, trailing only Tony Gonzalez in both
categories on the NFL all-time list among tight ends. DuPree
became an immediate starter in 1973 after Mike Ditka retired.
Though overshadowed by other premier weapons, DuPree was
an outstanding blocker and reliable pass catcher.
OT -- First team: Rayfield Wright, Tyron Smith. Honorable
mention: Erik Williams, Ralph Neely.
Smith, who recently completed his ninth season, might be the best
tackle in franchise history. Smith is a seven-time Pro Bowler and
four-time All Pro. Smith has been a starter since Day One, adept at
both left and right tackle. Wright was a stalwart at tackle from 1967-
1979 and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006
was long overdue. Wright made six consecutive Pro Bowls and
was a six-time All Pro. Neely became an instant starter in 1965
on the way to a solid 13-year career. He was a four-time All Pro
and two-time Pro Bowl. He was one of the NFL’s best tackles of
the 1960s. Williams gave Troy Aikman an eternity to pass and
opened many boulevards for Emmitt Smith during the Cowboys
1990s dynasty. Williams was a four-time Pro Bowler and three-
time All Pro.
OG -- First team: Larry Allen, Zack Martin. Honorable mention:
Nate Newton, John Niland.
Allen came near the end of the Cowboys 1990s glory years but
was a perfect fit for the greatest offensive line in NFL history. From
Div-II Sonoma State (CA), which no longer fields football, to 11-time
Pro Bowler, seven-time All Pro and Pro Football Hall of Famer. Martin
just completed his seventh season and already has a career of
excellence. Martin is equally proficient as a run and pass blocker.
Martin is a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All Pro. Niland
was part of the Cowboys Super Bowl VI victory. He was a six-time
Pro Bowler and three-time All Pro in nine seasons with the
Cowboys. Newton was nicknamed “The Kitchen” when he became
a starter during some fallow years in franchise history. Newton
opened up many highways for Emmitt Smith on the way to a six-
time Pro Bowl and two-time All Pro career.
C -- First team: Andre Gurode, Honorable mention: Mark Stepnoski.
Gurode became the first rookie to start on opening day at center in
franchise history. Gurode was a Pro Bowler for five straight seasons
and second-team All Pro in 2009. Stepnoski had two stints with
the Cowboys (1989-1994; 1999-2001), playing for the Houston Oilers/
Tennessee Titans in between. Stepnoski had three Pro Bowl
Tennessee Titans in between. Stepnoski had three Pro Bowl
and two All Pro seasons as a Cowboy.
DE -- First team: Harvey Martin, Ed “Too Tall” Jones. Honorable
mention: Charles Haley, George Andrie.
At 6-foot-9, “Too Tall” was an appropriate name because his
performance towered over opponents. He had two stints with the
Cowboys (1974-1978; 1980-1989). In between, Jones pursued a
professional boxing career. Jones was a Pro Bowler and All Pro
professional boxing career. Jones was a Pro Bowler and All Pro
three times. He had 57.5 official sacks and is the fifth all-time leading
tackler in franchise history. Martin terrorized many foes from 1973-
1983. He held the team’s unofficial sack record for over 30 years
at 114. Sacks were not kept as an official stat in the NFL until 1982.
Martin was co-MVP with teammate Randy White in Super Bowl XII.
He was Defensive Player of the Year in 1977, five-time Pro Bowler
and one-time All Pro. Andrie spent all 11 seasons with the Cowboys
and was known for coming up big when it mattered most. Andrie
was a five-time Pro Bowl and made All Pro one time. The Cowboys
acquired Haley in a trade from San Francisco before 1992 and
helped the Cowboys go from playoff participant to Super Bowl
champion three times in four seasons. Haley was Defensive
Player of the Year in 1993.
DT -- First team: Bob Lilly, Randy White, Honorable mention:
Jethro Pugh, Jay Ratliff.
With Lilly (1962-1975) and White (1975-1988), you had back-to-back
Hall of Famers. Imagine if they played together. Lilly might be the
best defensive tackle in NFL history and one of the best defensive
players regardless of position, seven-time All-Pro and 11-time Pro
Bowler. White was a beast in the middle as a nine-time All Pro and
Pro Bowler. Lilly and White each played on a Super Bowl winner.
White was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII with teammate Harvey Martin.
Pugh played in the shadows of more heralded stars during his 15
seasons. Pugh recorded 95.5 career sacks. He was a two-time All
Pro and helped win two Super Bowls. Ratliff was an undersized
defensive tackle but was a fierce competitor who frequently got
penetration. Ratliff reached the Pro Bowl four times in nine
seasons.
OLB -- First team: Chuck Howley, DeMarcus Ware, Honorable
mention: Dexter Coakley, Dave Edwards.
Howley’s career as a Chicago Bear lasted just two years because
of a knee injury but he enjoyed 13 stellar years as a Dallas Cowboy.
Howley was the only player in NFL history to be Super Bowl MVP
on the losing team. However, he helped the Cowboys win the Super
Bowl one year later. The six-time All Pro was one of the best
coverage linebackers in NFL history. He intercepted 24 passes
and recovered 17 fumbles. Though he played his three seasons
in Denver, one of which ended in a Super Bowl triumph, Ware
flourished as a pass rusher in Dallas becoming the franchise’s all-
time sack leader. Ware was a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time
All Pro as a Cowboy. Coakley joined the Cowboys at the end of
their 1990s run of greatness. Though undersized, he was a tackling
machine in making three Pro Bowls in eight seasons. Edwards
machine in making three Pro Bowls in eight seasons. Edwards
never made the Pro Bowl in his 14 seasons in large part for playing
in the shadow of Howley and Jordan. Edwards, however, was no
less vital to the success of the Doomsday Defense. He had 13
interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries.
ILB -- First team: Lee Roy Jordan, Bob Bruenig, Honorable
mention: Eugene Lockhart, D.D. Lewis
Jordan was not as heralded as some members of the Cowboys’
Doomsday Defense but was every bit as vital. Jordan was a five-
time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro. When he played (1963-1976),
he led the franchise in solo tackles. Jordan is more than Hall of
Fame worthy. Breunig patrolled the middle fantastically for ten
seasons, making the Pro Bowl on three occasions. Breunig is
second in franchise history in tackles and started 117 consecutive
games. Lockhart became the Cowboys first rookie to start at
middle linebacker. Though he played on some lackluster teams,
Lockhart was a standout player for seven seasons. Nicknamed
“Eugene The Hitting Machine.”
CB -- First team: Mel Renfro, Deion Sanders, Honorable mention:
Cornell Green, Everson Walls.
Renfro starred as a running back in college at Oregon but with head
coach Tom Landry looking to build a dominating defense,
Renfro transitioned in tremendous fashion to defense. Renfro was
a 10-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All Pro and had 52 career
interceptions. Renfro played from 1964-1977 but why it took until
1996 to get voted into the Hall of Fame remains a mystery. Sanders,
who was known as Primetime, was a mercenary but you cannot
deny his impact on the Cowboys from 1995-1999. Sanders played
his best football as a Cowboy, four-time Pro Bowler and three-time
All Pro. Sanders intercepted 14 passes as a Cowboy despite
quarterbacks looking to avoid him. Green did not play football until
he reached the NFL. The 6-foot-3 Green played basketball at Utah
State but thanks to vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt,
the Cowboys undercovered a gem. Green never missed a game in
13 seasons. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All Pro.
Walls was often targeted by opponents but he often rose to the
challenge. He led the NFL in interceptions (11) as a rookie in 1981.
He had 44 for his career and was a four-time Pro Bowler and three-
time All Pro.
Safety -- First team: Darren Woodson, Cliff Harris, Honorable
mention: Charlie Waters, Michael Downs.
Harris was known as “Captain Crash” because of his punishing hits.
Harris appeared in five Super Bowls, two of which were wins. Harris
was a four-time first-team All Pro. Harris had 29 career inceptions.
He’s not in the Hall of Fame but is worthy of such honors. Woodson
went from college linebacker to one of the best defensive backs of
his generation. His ability to cover tight ends and receivers in the
slot allowed the Cowboys to stay in their base defense. Woodson
was a member of three Super Bowl champions. He was a Pro Bowler
five straight years and All Pro three successive years. Though
Waters played cornerback for a few years, he shined brightest at
safety. Waters, who has 41 career interceptions, was a three-time
Pro Bowler and formed one of the best safety tandems in the
business with Harris. Downs was an undrafted free agent but a
playmaker for eight seasons on mostly subpar Cowboy teams.
He was second-team All Pro in 1984, recording 34 interceptions
and 14 fumble recoveries in his career.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Bailey was an undrafted free agent and became the franchise’s
all-time leading scorer with 834 points. At the time he left Dallas in
2017, Bailey had the second-highest field goal percentage in NFL
history. Septien led the Cowboys in scoring in all of his nine seasons
with the team, making 162 of 226 field goals and scoring 388 extra
the best in league history.
P -- Matt McBriar, Mike Saxon
McBriar played for six different teams but shined most in his nine
seasons with the Cowboys. During which time McBriar made two Pro
Bowls and averaged 45.2 yards per punt. Saxon averaged 41.7
yards per punt in seven years and was a member of the 1992
Super Bowl champions.
KR -- First team: Kevin Williams. Honorable mention: Butch
Johnson.
Williams only played in 57 games with the Cowboys but his
combined kick/punt return yardage is 4,329 yards, more than any
Cowboys player ever. Johnson was viewed as the best backup
receiver in football and his valuable came as a returner.
Head coach -- First team: Tom Landry. Honorable mention:
Jimmy Johnson.
Two Hall of Fame coaches with differing legacies. Landry has the
fourth most coaching wins (270) in NFL history. Landry coached
from 1960-1988, leading the Cowboys to five Super Bowl
appearances with two wins. Landry popularized the 4-3 defense.
Johnson took over after Jerry Jones purchased the team and
fired Landry. Despite a 1-15 debut, Johnson led the Cowboys
back to glory with Super Bowl wins in 1992 and 1993.
Team -- 1971. This version of the Cowboys became the NFC
team to win the Super Bowl since the 1970 merger of the NFL
and AFL. One year after losing Super Bowl V to Baltimore 16-13,
the Cowboys went 11-3 in the regular season. On offense,
Staubach was the top-rated passer backed by a running back
trio of Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison and Duane Thomas. The
Doomsday Defense gave up just one touchdown in the last 29
quarters, including a 24-3 demolition over the Miami Dolphins
in Super Bowl VI.
