Cowboys Top 5 All Time List

quickccc

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Can you list and rank Best/Favorite Cowboys Top 5 All Time players at their positions ?

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/lineups.htm

:Here's a Look at My Cowboys List/ Top 5 Player-Position Rankings:

Head Coaches
1 Tom Landry
2 Jimmie Johnson
3 Jason Garrett
4 Barry Switzer
5 Wade Phillips

1) Tom Landry
2) Jimmie Johnson
3) Bill Parcells
4) Jason Garrett
5) Wade Phillips

Sorry i had to have this re-do over with Parcells .....but who was the better head coach Wade Phillips vs Barry Switzer ?
 

fivetwos

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- i went back and forth with Michael Irvin vs Bob Hayes .. but deciding factors played into it.

- Irvin not only dominated even HOF' corners like Darrell Green, Aneas Williams, Rod Woodson, but he was as inspirational and emotional
leader as i've ever seen in a Cowboys career. When he talked- the entire team listened. He set the tone.
We simply were never even close to same once he got injured and retired.

- i also never saw Bullet Bob Hayes play in person, but his frightening speed revolutionized the game with how zone coverage had to be implement to deal with him.
so it's based off highlights, and hear say. - And i strongly prefer ranking players i've seen play.

- John Dutton was merely a run stopper, and just serviceable like at that. Not warranted the No.1 pick we gave up for him.
He wasn't a Dave Butz vs run difference maker.
Ratliff undersized as he was as a NT, was constantly double teamed ...and yet still splitting that double team.
Reluctance to move to DE, and permanent NT work eventually wore him out.
I would've placed Lai Glover before Dutton and Cole.

- Roy Williams in his first two years playing along side his mentor Darren Woodson, was the most intimidating fear factor and playmaker
we've ever had at safety during my time of watching the Cowboys, ditto with the entire NFL. WRs were actually pulling up over the middle because
they were that frightened of Roy's brutal hitting ability. Plus Williams was a ball hawk INT guy as well.
when it came to run support, hard tackling, blitzing, and INTs, i thought he was head and shoulders over a Mike Downs.
.
That's why it's somewhere between difficult and impossible to rank players from different eras.

What Dutton and Cole did back then were extremely important to the success the team was having at the time. Nothing against Ratliff at all. Great player. Just much more of a running game league back then.

This inspired me to read a bit about Hayes, and never knew this.....

Hayes was dealt to SF in 75 for a 3rd rounder, which become Duke Fergerson. Fergerson was later dealt to Seattle for a 2nd, which became Glenn Carano.

My first ever live Cowboys game was at Baltimore in December 1981. Obviously one of my all time treasures as a memory, but that's the only game in NFL history in which that was the only start for each QB. I didn't know and would have guessed it happened several times.

Back to the point of comparing different eras.....Dallas scored 37 points that day, and Carano passed for all of 51 yards.
 

quickccc

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That's a tough one.
Jimmy won 2 SBs in his 5 years.
Took Tom 29 years to win 2 SBs.
That was what I was thinking.
Love me some Landry though!!!

Actually it did not take Landry 29 years to win 2 SBs.

It took him12 years to win his first SB (in 1972 vs Dolphins) ...and he followed up with his 2nd SB five years later in 1977 vs Denver.
 

john van brocklin

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Actually it did not take Landry 29 years to win 2 SBs.

It took him12 years to win his first SB (in 1972 vs Dolphins) ...and he followed up with his 2nd SB five years later in 1977 vs Denver.
You're correct
My point was that Tom won 2 in 29 years
Jimmy won 2 in 5.
So the % of sb wins
per season is heavily in Jimmy's favor.
Both were great coaches.
Tom was a great role model for many.
I know he was for me.
Cowboys fans were blessed to have both !!!
 

john van brocklin

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It's almost sacrilegious to say, but even though I think Tom was overall the better innovator, Jimmy was the better game-day coach.

Landry left at least two Super Bowl wins on the field by not starting Roger Staubach sooner and not developing the game plan around Tony Dorsett in Super Bowl 13.
I remember reading or hearing the Steeler saying that they couldn't stop Tony Dorsett, but Landry tried to preserve Dorsett by giving him as few carries as possible. But when you have that much speed, you have to unleash it on the field.

Tom was from the old school of hierarchy, i.e., I'm going to play the players who were here first versus the more talented player who has to wait his turn.
Jimmy just wanted to win. All that hierarchy and earn your dues stuff came secondary to who gives me the best chance to win.

Loved me some Landry, and he was an excellent role model. But on game day? I'm taking Jimmy Johnson.
I agree with alot of what you posted.
Tom had a lot of great qualities
But could be stubborn.
 

john van brocklin

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- i went back and forth with Michael Irvin vs Bob Hayes .. but deciding factors played into it.

- Irvin not only dominated even HOF' corners like Darrell Green, Aneas Williams, Rod Woodson, but he was as inspirational and emotional
leader as i've ever seen in a Cowboys career. When he talked- the entire team listened. He set the tone.
We simply were never even close to same once he got injured and retired.

- i also never saw Bullet Bob Hayes play in person, but his frightening speed revolutionized the game with how zone coverage had to be implement to deal with him.
so it's based off highlights, and hear say. - And i strongly prefer ranking players i've seen play.

- John Dutton was merely a run stopper, and just serviceable like at that. Not warranted the No.1 pick we gave up for him.
He wasn't a Dave Butz vs run difference maker.
Ratliff undersized as he was as a NT, was constantly double teamed ...and yet still splitting that double team.
Reluctance to move to DE, and permanent NT work eventually wore him out.
I would've placed Lai Glover before Dutton and Cole.

- Roy Williams in his first two years playing along side his mentor Darren Woodson, was the most intimidating fear factor and playmaker
we've ever had at safety during my time of watching the Cowboys, ditto with the entire NFL. WRs were actually pulling up over the middle because
they were that frightened of Roy's brutal hitting ability. Plus Williams was a ball hawk INT guy as well.
when it came to run support, hard tackling, blitzing, and INTs, i thought he was head and shoulders over a Mike Downs.
.
Agree on Roy Williams.
Totally different player after Woodson retired
And the NFL outlawed his patented horse collar tackle.
 

CowboyRoy

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It's highly uninformed when folks dismiss Walker as if he were just some marginal back. Truly one of the special athletes of the 20th century. I contend that his 88 season was arguably the finest season a RB has ever produced given the circumstances.

Herschel Walker played 12 seasons for 4 teams, including the Cowboys and Eagles. He had 1,954 carries for 8,225 yards, 512 catches for 4,859 yards and scored 84 touchdowns. He was selected to play in 2 Pro Bowls.

How much better would his career have been if not traded to the Vikings where he wasted away for a while for a coach who was mad about the trade & wouldn't play him?

most of these types on here are biased uninformed fans.
 

CowboyRoy

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In fairness you only count a part of his career lol
Walker was late in starting his career but top 5 cowboys players to me doesn’t count their career in another league or another team
So let’s look at your scenario
In the 3 years Walker was here, forgetting about the other two years.
First 3 year Zeke still had more yards rushing than Walker did. In no way was Walker a better running back as a cowboy than Zeke
Even if you twist his career here to match a narrative
Walker 2778 yds 24 TD
Zeke 4048 28 TD
Just using your first 3 years

It’s 2 different conversations.

and your not including receiving yards there buddy. It’s clear your purposefully screwing the data.

Walker was the better back. Zeke longer career. Then we get into details like team quality. Which favored zeke immensely.

then of course zeke was much younger during that time while walkers first 3 years started with his 7th year after college.

apples to apples the total yards is near identical at 5200 yards each with zeke a few more total tds over first 3 years.

so even in your pigeon holed scenario walker is right there, playing on terrible cowboys teams 7 years after college while zeke is in his youthful prime behind great olines in a great offense.
 
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CowboyRoy

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Depends upon other NFL teams that had the big interest in Walker and how they could best tailor and scheme to his strengths while minimizing his limitations.
Especially for an athlete that was one of the fastest players in the NFL during his time era.
What limitations did walker have?
 

conner01

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It’s 2 different conversations.

and your not including receiving yards there buddy. It’s clear your purposefully screwing the data.

Walker was the better back. Zeke longer career. Then we get into details like team quality. Which favored zeke immensely.

then of course zeke was much younger during that time while walkers first 3 years started with his 7th year after college.

apples to apples the total yards is near identical at 5200 yards each with zeke a few more total tds over first 3 years.

so even in your pigeon holed scenario walker is right there, playing on terrible cowboys teams 7 years after college while zeke is in his youthful prime behind great olines in a great offense.
I was just comparing there first 3 years since that’s what you seem to want. Walker actually play 5 full seasons and 5 games into his 6th as a cowboy
Receiving
Walker 189 rec 2057 yards 24 td
Zeke 135 rec 1199 yards 28 td
Walker had 800 more recieving yards and half the rushing yards
 

GMO415

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QBs
1 Roger Staubach
2 Troy Aikman
3 Danny White
4 Bledsoe
5. Dak


Now, that's better.
 

quickccc

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Looking back at that now the time just seems so insane.

https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Herschel_Walker_trade

Minnesota Vikings received
  • RB Herschel Walker
  • Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1990 (54) (Mike Jones)
  • San Diego's 5th round pick - 1990 (116) (Reggie Thornton)
  • Dallas's 10th round pick - 1990 (249) (Pat Newman)
  • Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1991 (68) (Jake Reed)
Dallas Cowboys received
 

CowboyRoy

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I was just comparing there first 3 years since that’s what you seem to want. Walker actually play 5 full seasons and 5 games into his 6th as a cowboy
Receiving
Walker 189 rec 2057 yards 24 td
Zeke 135 rec 1199 yards 28 td
Walker had 800 more recieving yards and half the rushing yards

Walker in his first 3 seasons had 5200 combined yards. Zeke has 5200 combined yards. Zeke has like 3 or 4 more TD's. Its almost identical. And this is Zeke in his prime with a stud Oline and great offense. Walker is basically in his 7th year after 6 years in the USFL and the Cowboys team at that time was awefull and a bad line.

Im just saying. You must not have watched Walker much. Won the Heisman and along with Bo Jackson one of the best athletes of our time. Pull up a Walker highlight youtube video.

He was 6-1, 225 pounds and ran a 4.3 40. He ran around people, through people, and by people.

He also was one of the better kick returners when he played.

Zeke played more years when he was in his prime so he had more of a career here with his full seasons. Thats about it. As far as who was the better RB, its really not a conversation.

So if someone asks me who was the best back to ever play for the Cowboys, my answer is Emmitt and Walker.

If all your doing is adding up yards and years then the list makes itself. There is no arguing. Its just a math problem.
 

RS12

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It's almost sacrilegious to say, but even though I think Tom was overall the better innovator, Jimmy was the better game-day coach.

Landry left at least two Super Bowl wins on the field by not starting Roger Staubach sooner and not developing the game plan around Tony Dorsett in Super Bowl 13.
I remember reading or hearing the Steeler saying that they couldn't stop Tony Dorsett, but Landry tried to preserve Dorsett by giving him as few carries as possible. But when you have that much speed, you have to unleash it on the field.

Tom was from the old school of hierarchy, i.e., I'm going to play the players who were here first versus the more talented player who has to wait his turn.
Jimmy just wanted to win. All that hierarchy and earn your dues stuff came secondary to who gives me the best chance to win.

Loved me some Landry, and he was an excellent role model. But on game day? I'm taking Jimmy Johnson.
Outstanding well thought out post.
 

RS12

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https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Herschel_Walker_trade

Minnesota Vikings received
  • RB Herschel Walker
  • Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1990 (54) (Mike Jones)
  • San Diego's 5th round pick - 1990 (116) (Reggie Thornton)
  • Dallas's 10th round pick - 1990 (249) (Pat Newman)
  • Dallas's 3rd round pick - 1991 (68) (Jake Reed)
Dallas Cowboys received
Mike Lynn deserves his share of credit for those 90s championships. Lol!
 

RS12

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1) Tom Landry
2) Jimmie Johnson
3) Bill Parcells
4) Jason Garrett
5) Wade Phillips

Sorry i had to have this re-do over with Parcells .....but who was the better head coach Wade Phillips vs Barry Switzer ?
Wade. Switzer stayed out of the way just long enough to squeeze one last ring out of the roster Jimmy and Bob Ackles built.
 

quickccc

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Wade. Switzer stayed out of the way just long enough to squeeze one last ring out of the roster Jimmy and Bob Ackles built.

i went with Wade, who at least added his own defense ...and he didn't commit in-house war with Troy Aikman.

Just as you said, Switz just stayed outta the way, let the coordinators work it out and called the knucklehead 4th and 1's vs Philly
and went along for the ride, based off the players and the coordinators en route to a gift wrapped SB .
 
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