Small tribute to the only new defensive star we had in the late 90's - Dallas Cowboys Forum

TruBlueCowboy · 03-01-2005

I thought I'd pay a small tribute to perhaps our biggest defensive star in the late 90's. Those were some bad years. We watched the team fall apart because of poor coaches and poor drafting. There was one bright spot, though, in those horrid drafts between the Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells years. While Greg Ellis never really lived up to his draft position or the Randy Moss decision, linemen like Shante Carver had small NFL lives, and even an entire draft was wasted on cornerbacks, there was one highlight. Someone who had so much darn heart, he should have been given a chance to play with Emmitt, Aikman, Irvin, Deion, Woody, Big E, Moose, Leon Lett and the rest of them in their prime. I'm talking about Dexter Coakley. No one seems too heart-broken about Dexter Coakley's release, and he still may come back, but I thought I'd give him a small tribute because we may have seen the last of him in Cowboys Blue.

I'll always remember Dexter as the only defensive playmaker we had on those bad 90's teams. You could always count on Dexter for a game changing interception return for a TD or a crucial fumble. He had a knack for those things. Jerry Jones was notorious for not believing in spending much on linebackers and Coakley was the first one that made him ignore that rule.

Coakley won the Buck Buchanan Award two times in a row, but he was still too small for the NFL. I don't know if his size kept him out of the radar of the big colleges too, but it seems to me Coakley had to forever prove people wrong. And if you want the consumate pro, Coakley never had a bad word for anyone. If anyone had a legit gripe on the Cowboys it was those defenses in the very late 90's, early 00's that usually kept the team in games while our offense stunk up Texas Stadium. Players like Coakley are what kept the team from having locker room revolts.

All I have to say is 3 Pro Bowls ain't bad for a 3rd round pick from Appalachian State who was always told he was too small to play the game.

DallasDW00ds0n · 03-01-2005

Coakley was the man

but Woodson was the biggest defensive star in the late 90s!!!!!

Houstonboys13 · 03-01-2005

[quote=TruBlueCowboy]While Greg Ellis never really lived up to his draft position or the Randy Moss decision, QUOTE]

It's funny how Greg Ellis is still with us, and Randy Moss has changed teams, yet you still call this the "Randy Moss" decision.

**WoodysGirl** · 03-01-2005

Very nice tribute to a very deserving person... and Dexter will be missed, contrary to some of the comments being thrown around on this board.

AsthmaField · 03-01-2005

Yeah, but his eyes always kinda scared me...

TruBlueCowboy · 03-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasDW00ds0n

Coakley was the man

but Woodson was the biggest defensive star in the late 90s!!!!!

Yeah, no disrespect to Woody. He was always the man and he had to deal with a lot of crap around him in the secondary in his later years. I guess what I mean is Dexter was really the only new addition to that defense after the 90's Super Bowls who ever even came close to Woody status.

Shuttemdown41 · 03-01-2005

A tip of the hat, a toast, and a round of applause to a true Cowboy. It's sad to see him go.

DallasDW00ds0n · 03-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruBlueCowboy

Yeah, no disrespect to Woody. He was always the man and he had to deal with a lot of crap around him in the secondary in his later years. I guess what I mean is Dexter was really the only new addition to that defense after the 90's Super Bowls who ever even came close to Woody status.

yeah you are right, plus he was on pace of breaking Woodsons tackle record for Dallas.

Coakley will always be a Cowboy in my eyes

AmishCowboy · 03-01-2005

One of the best post Jimmy picks this team made until JJ and Witten came along, A Class Act, Good Luck, Dex!

TruBlueCowboy · 03-02-2005

Thought I'd bump this now that it's official he is not coming back.

Quicksilver · 03-02-2005

Crown Royal · 03-02-2005

I would like to drink a whiskey to a great, standup player. Sorry to see you go, Dex.

Ashwynn · 03-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody'sGirl

Very nice tribute to a very deserving person... and Dexter will be missed, contrary to some of the comments being thrown around on this board.

Ditto. Very well said, my exact thoughts. I wish him well in St Louis.

Az Lurker · 03-02-2005

I've always liked Dex, and I'm sad to see him go. I wish him the absolute best of luck, and glad that he was able to get one last payday.

**trickblue** · 03-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruBlueCowboy

I wish Dex well... but I hope this is the last time we ever see THIS scenario...