D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 39. Ralph Neely (1965-1977)Career Highlights/Awards - 2x Pro Bowl selection (1967, 1969) - 3x All-Pro selection (1967, 1968, 1969) - 2x Super Bowl Champion (VI, XXII - NFL 1960s All-Decade Team member Originally drafted by the Houtson Oilers in the AFL Draft and the Baltimore Colts in the NFL Draft, Neely ended up as a Cowboy after the Colts traded his rights to the team. Neely accepted the Oilers offer at first, but soon after learning that his rights to negotiate to Dallas, returned his check to Houston and signed with Dallas. The Governor's Cup stemmed from this incident. A stalwart on the Cowboys offensive line for thirteen seasons, Neely used his amazing quickness to dominate opposing defensive lineman, in an era which saw him go up against the likes of Deacon Jones, Carl Eller, Fred Dryer, and LC Greenwood just to name a few. He spent most of his career at right tackle and saw some action at right guard during 1970, before taking over the left tackle position from Tony Liscio which he manned until the end of his career in 1977. For his amazing success during his career, Neely was named to the 1960s All-Decade Team by the NFL following his retirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 38. George Andrie (1962-1972)Career Highlights/Awards - 5x Pro Bowl selection (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969) - 1x All-Pro selection (1969) - 1x Super Bowl Champion (VI) Andrie was drafted in the sixth round of the 1962 NFL Draft, despite not playing his senior season at Marquette as the school had dropped their football team. His rookie year, he won the starting right defensive end job and saw immediate success, making the NFL's All-Rookie Team that year. He was known for his combination of excellent size and strength which enabled to hold his own against the run, but also possessed a quickness and agility that allowed him to become a great pass rusher. His height also allowed him to excel at swatting down passes if he couldn't get to the quarterback. Andrie played most of his career next to the great Bob Lilly, and along with Jethro Pugh and Larry Cole, the foursome helped form the original "Doomsday Defense". During his career, Andrie was a member of teams that brought the Cowboys two NFC Championship victories and one Super Bowl championship. Retiring after the 1972 season due to back problems, Andrie still remains fourth all-time on the Cowboys sack list, and also had eight straight games where he recorded a sack making it the fourth longest such streak in club history. To this day, Andrie remains one of the best defensive ends to ever wear the Star. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 37. Danny White (1976-1988)Career Highlights/Awards - 1x Pro Bowl selection (1982) - 1x All-Pro Second Team selection (1982) - 1x Super Bowl champion (XII) "I don't think anybody could have followed Roger and done as well as Danny..." - Tom Landry Signed by the Cowboys in 1976, Danny White served primarily as a punter and backup to Roger Staubach, but following Staubach's retirement after the 1979 season became the starting quarterback himself. White showed promise, leading the team to three consecutive NFC Championship games between the 1980 and 1982 seasons, but drew heavy criticism from after losing each of the three despite being heavily favored. Fans and even teammates began to show support for Gary Hogeboom to replace White as the starting quarterback, even after the 1983 season in which he posted his best statistical season of his career. Before the 1984 season, Tom Landry named Hogeboom the starting quarterback, and after five games that year the move looked to have paid off as the team stood at 4-1. However, following a divisional loss to St. Louis and inconsistant play from Hogeboom, White was reinstated as the starter and led the team to just five more victories that season, missing the playoffs. The team did make it back to the postseason the following year, but lost to St. Louis in the playoffs once again. Whether because of injury or inconsistent play, White would not finish a full season as the starting quarterback for the remainder of his tenure with the Cowboys. White appeared in just two games during the 1988 season and suffered a season-ending knee injury. The team elected not to pick up an option on his contract following the season, and in April 1989 White retired - paving the way for Troy Aikman. In essence, White was a player who, while not the greatest at his position, did what it took to win in the league. He had a winning record in the regular season, led the team to multiple postseason appearances, and threw for a lot of yards and touchdowns. However, because he never took the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, his career was and always will be judged accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 36. Daryl "Moose" Johnston (1989-1999)Career Highlights/Awards - 2x Pro Bowl selection (1993, 1994) - 2x All-Pro selection (1993, 1994) -3x Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) "I couldn't have done it without you" - Emmitt Smith to Johnston, after breaking the NFL rushing record Another member of that vaunted 1989 draft class by the Cowboys, Daryl Johnston didn't waste time asserting himself as a valuable contributor on offense. By 1992, everyone knew about the "Moose". His throwback style of play that would see him make crushing block after block for Emmitt Smith, followed by the occasional catch out of the backfield from Troy Aikman. Johnston even saw time on special teams and was a major contributor there as well. Johnston's biggest contribution to the team was his lead blocking for Smith, who broke the NFL's All-Time rushing record in 2002. Johnston, however, wasn't leading the way on Smith's record-breaking run. After starting an amazing 149 consecutive games (including playoffs) as he was forced to retire during the 1999 season due to a neck injury. "Moose" was on the sidelines though during the game against Seattle and was the first person Smith found and hugged afterward, telling Johnston, "I couldn't have done it without you." Due in large part to Johnston's success, the NFL created the fullback position as it's known today in the Pro Bowl in 1993, enabling Johnston to become the first true fullback selected to the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 35. Mark Stepnoski (1989-1994, 1999-2001)Career Highlights/Awards - 3x Pro Bowl selection (1992, 1993, 1994) - 2x Second-Team All-Pro selection (1992, 1994) - 2x Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII) - NFL 1990s Second-Team All-Decade member "That’s how he’s able to neutralize and play at 260 pounds. You rarely see him out of position when blocking somebody." - Kevin Donnelly Yet another successful pick of the new Jimmy/Jerry era, Stepnoski was a third round selection in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys out of Pittsburgh and it didn't take long for him to contribute as he was named the teams starting center his rookie season. Stepnoski would go on to anchor an offensive line that not only helped Emmitt Smith win three straight rushing titles, but also helped lead the way for Dallas to win consecutive Super Bowls for the first time in team history. For the time, Stepnoski was considered an undersized player. At just 6'2" and 265 pounds, it's hard to imagine he found success in the league. Due to an unparalleled technique and an iron-strong lower body, however, Stepnoski was named to three Pro Bowls during his tenure in Dallas. Mark was one of the teams first big-named players to leave the team following the '94 season via unrestricted free agency, signing with the Houston Oilers. He continued his streak of success, making the Pro Bowl twice during his four season stint with the team. In 1999, Stepnoski returned to Dallas and anchored the line for three more years, before finally calling it quits in 2001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 34. Cornell Green (1962-1974)Career Highlights/Awards - 5x Pro Bowl selection (1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972) - 3x All-Pro selection (1966, 1967, 1969) - 1x Super Bowl Champion (VI) "I mean, if Cornell had any kind of hands, he would’ve had three times as many interceptions as he got ... and the guy played basketball in college." - Gil Brandt A college basketball star during his tenure at Utah State, Green was actually drafted by the Chicago Bulls as a fifth-round pick in the 1962 NBA Draft. Green, however, elected to pursue a career in football and was signed by an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. It was a move that would be recognized as just another innovative personnel decision that the franchsise was renowned for during the early years of the team. Green would see action in all fourteen games his rooke season before finally taking over as a starter at cornerback during the 1963 season and never looked back. His first year as a starter, Green set career bests with seven interceptions and and recovered a fumble which he returned for a touchdown. He would go on to become a big-time contributor to Landry's intricate defensive schemes, leading the team in interceptions four times over his career and making four Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro four times during his first eight seasons in the league. After fellow teammate Mike Gaetcher retired in 1970, Mel Renfro was moved to cornerback and Green moved to strong safety. The following season, Green made his fifth Pro Bowl, his first as a safety. The Cowboys defense also got even stronger after the move, making two straight Super Bowl appearances with Green ruling the secondary. Green is the only the third player in franchise history to make a Pro Bowl appearance at multiple positions, the other two being fellow teammate Mel Renfro and offensive lineman Larry Allen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 33. Ezekiel Elliott (2016-present)Career Highlights/Awards - 3x Pro Bowl selection (2016, 2018, 2019) - 2x All-Pro selection (2016, 2018) - 2x NFL rushing leader (2016, 2018)"He has the mental ability and work ethic to succeed right away. He was always one of the first on the field, and one of the last to leave. I feel as strongly about him winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year as I did with Todd Gurley at this point last year." - Gil Brandt The Cowboys attempted to get by during the 2015 season after letting DeMarco Murray walk during free agency, and while veteran free agent Darren McFadden did okay running behind "The Great Wall of Dallas v.2.0", the Cowboys found themselves with the option of selecting a player many draft pundits viewed as a dynamic running back and best at his position in the class. Some thought the front office would take Jalen Ramsey, a talented player capable of lining up at safety or corner...but in the end the Cowboys would take the player they felt could help take the weight off of their veteran QB, Tony Romo, and take advantage of the line the team had assembled. Zeke wasted no time in proving his worth, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl nominations his rookie season while leading the NFL in rushing yards. He and teammate Dak Prescott, who took the world by storm as a rookie 4th round draft pick, would lead the team to a playoff win during the Wild Card round but sadly fell short to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. The 2017 season saw Elliott be suspended for conduct detrimental to the league, after allegations of domestic abuse were made against him. While Elliott would go on to appeal and the allegations were eventually found to be false, Elliott would eventually lose his appeal and miss six games. He would bounce back the following season, however, once again leading the NFL in rushing yards and aide his team in reaching the playoffs once again. After a wild card win over the Seahawks, the team would once again fall to the eventual NFC Conference Champion Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. 2019 saw Zeke have yet another productive season, recording 12 touchdowns, his second-best total during his career. While Zeke has emerged as one of the franchise's best players at the running back position and a leader on the offense, he has had his fair share of off-the-field issues which hopefully won't lead to yet another suspension anytime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 32. Dak Prescott (2016-present)Career Highlights/Awards - 2x Pro Bowl selection (2016, 2018) - AP Offensive Rookie Of The Year (2016) - Career passer rating of 97.0 ranks seventh all-time"I love Dak Prescott. I love everything about him. ... I think he's a very unselfish player, I wouldn’t say that about everybody, and he only wants to win. He truly doesn’t care about his stats. He just wants to win, he’s a leader, his teammates love him.'' - Troy Aikman A 4th round pick by the team out of Mississippi State, not many fans nor pundits could imagine Dak Prescott would go on to the career he has had thus far. Starting out the 2016 season at the bottom of the depth chart, Prescott would go on to earn the starting job after injuries to starter Tony Romo and backup Kellen Moore, and he would shine. Along with fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott, Prescott would lead the team to a 13-3 record while throwing for over 3600 yards, 29 total TDs while throwing just four interceptions and a 67.8% completion percentage which ranked fourth amongst all quarterbacks that season. He would go on to earn AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and be voted the 14th best player by his peers on the NFL Top 100 players of 2017 list. Hopes were high for the Cowboys in 2017, but due to several injuries to key players, a suspension to Ezekiel Elliott, and somewhat of a sophomore slump from Prescott after a week nine game against the Atlanta Falcons which had Dak get sacked eight times as the team was thumped 27-7. It was in large part due to this game that the team would end up missing the playoffs that season. After a sluggish start to the 2018 season, Dak and the team would rebound after a trade deadline deal brought former first round pick Amari Cooper to the franchise. Dak would go on to help lead the team to pivotal wins against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to help lead the team to a 10-6 record and playoff berth, where they would yet again win in the wild card round only to fall in the divisional round. Prior to the 2019 season, Kellen Moore and Jon Kitna were welcomed on board to help in the young quarterbacks development, and while the team would unfortunately fail to make the playoffs and end Jason Garrett's tenure with yet another 8-8 season, Prescott would have the best season of his career, statistically ranking among the top QBs in almost every category. If Dak can continue to progress, which all signs point to him doing, the sky is the limit for him and hopefully the Cowboys as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 31. Everson Walls (1981-1989)Career Highlights/Awards - 4x Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985) - 3x All-Pro selection (1982, 1983, 1985) Going undrafted due to running a 4.72 forty-yard dash during workouts, Walls was eventually signed by his hometown Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted rookie free agent. Walls didn't take long to show up the scouts who doubted his ability, as he became a starter his rookie season and lead the league in interceptions with eleven, earning a Pro Bowl selection. Surrounded by a star-studded defense, Walls continued his outstanding play by leading the league in interceptions in two more seasons, once again earning Pro Bowl honors both years and would make another Pro Bowl in 1983. During his time with the Cowboys, the team never was able to reclaim their dominance, losing the NFC title game three times in his career. Walls still remained one of the most feared covered corners in the league, eventually forcing opposing quarterbacks to stop throwing his way. He currently ranks second in team history with forty-four interceptions, and was one of the most prolific and decorated defensive backs to ever play the game. Walls is the only player to lead the NFL in interceptions three times, led the Cowboys in interceptions a franchise record five times (tied with Terrance Newman now), and is 10th on the all-time interceptions list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WizardHawk Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 One of the most underrated CBs to ever play imo. His rookie season has to be one of the all time greats. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resilient part 2 Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 33 minutes ago, WizardHawk said: One of the most underrated CBs to ever play imo. His rookie season has to be one of the all time greats. the least athletic CB and yet his ability to bait the QB into throws and get interceptions was his bread and butter. He was the biggest gambler at his position with great and horrid results at times.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 30. Jay Novacek (1990-1996)Career Highlights/Awards - 5x Pro Bowl selection (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) - 5x All-Pro selection (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) - 3x Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) Signing a Plan-B free agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys in 1990, Novacek joined the club as a little-known tight end hidden on a struggling Cardinals team. His fortunes soon changed after becoming a Cowboy, in just two seasons Novacek caught one-hundred and eighteen passes after having a total of eighty-three after five years in St. Louis. Novacek was known for more than just stats however, he became a perfect fit in Norv Turner's offense and developed into Troy Aikman's security blanket for the first half of the 1990s. Novacek once asked Aikman how he hit him with a pass while being sacked during one game, and Aikman answered "I knew you would be there", a sign of the quarterbacks confidence in his tight end and a testament to Novacek's reliability. Over his six year career with the Cowboys, Novacek was selected to five straight seasons from 1991-1995. He was also known for coming up big in the playoffs, ranking third in team history in receptions (62), receiving yards (645), and touchdowns (six). Until current Cowboy Jason Witten arrived on the scene, Novacek held most of the Cowboys' all-time records among tight ends. Although, he still ranks among the top ten receivers in club history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 29. Charles Haley (1992-1996)Career Highlights/Awards - 2x Pro Bowl selection (1994, 1995) - 1x All-Pro selection (1994) - 3x Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX) - Selected to the Ring of Honor in 2011 - Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2015 ""But without question, I think Charles Haley's a Hall of Famer." - Jimmy Johnson Charles Haley was signed as a free agent by the Cowboys before the 1992 season, and he would be a catalyst for a defense that would go on to help the Dallas Cowboys become a dynasty in the early 1990's. With Haley, a defense that was ranked 17th the year before was now 5th in 1992, and after compiling just 23 sacks in 1991 the Cowboys defense racked up 44 in Haley's first season with the club on their way to the first of three Super Bowl championships. Haley was known for his odd personality, getting under teammates and opposing players skin often. He was diagnosed as a manic depressive, who would perform lewd acts in front of teammates in the locker room and who threatened to take the heads off reporters and rarely bypassed an opportunity to verbally abuse a teammate. Yet; for all his shortcomings, ask any teammate that played with Haley and they will tell you that without him, it's highly likely Dallas wins 0 Super Bowls - even with the dynamic "Triplets". During his short; but successful, five seasons in Dallas, Haley amassed 34 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and racked up 159 tackles. Injuries would eventually force his retirement and finalize his career with the Cowboys after the 1996 season. Haley finally was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matts4313 Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 Id take Zeke and Dak over Jay, tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D82 Posted July 2, 2020 Author Share Posted July 2, 2020 43 minutes ago, Matts4313 said: Id take Zeke and Dak over Jay, tbh. That’s fair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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