Question For old timers and 90s Cowboy fans

[Boyzmamacita]

Drew Pearson was amazingly clutch, but Michael Irvin is the best 88 we ever had. Dez Bryant is more physically gifted than either of them and with dedication and focus could statistically be our best receiver ever. I'm not ready to give up on Dez.

 

[camelboy]

No

 

[Datruth88]

Seen on here and heard on radio stations along with the Break and Talkin Cowboys people have been all over Dez. Here is my question has Dez lived up too the jersey number he wears 88. 88 means something to us Boys fans just like 33 12 22 8 and 82 will one day . As a boys fan from birth my 88 will always be Irvin has Dez lived up too the 88 club

I think he's stuck in the middle right now. Not great but not bad either. Too inconsistent and hurt. When he's on though he's a monster.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Here is my question has Dez lived up too the jersey number he wears 88.

Passion - yes.

Everything else - no.

 

[robbieruff]

I love Mike. But Dez just tied his TD record in about 5 3/4 seasons.

Was Emmitt a factor in that comparison?

 

[okstateCowboy]

No. Antonio Bryant set the bar pretty high.

 

[Tabascocat]

He hasnt caught up to Pearson yet, long ways to Irvin. Dez is probably the most gifted of the three but it takes more than athleticism.

Dez has time but he needs to be more consistent. Also, his route tree isn't exactly the best either.

 

[Ranching]

Mike had a lot of issues back in the day, most people have forgotten about them, but if this forum existed back then, he would have been crucified by some of the CowboysZoners.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Yes.

This.

He may not be Playmaker but he has held his own.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Mike had a lot of issues back in the day, most people have forgotten about them, but if this forum existed back then, he would have been crucified by some of the CowboysZoners.

Oh I can imagine. I'm a big Irvin fan but I was angry with him at times back then. Water under the bridge now. It had nothing to do with how he played though. The guy was clutch.

 

[Ranching]

Oh I can imagine. I'm a big Irvin fan but I was angry with him at times back then. Water under the bridge now. It had nothing to do with how he played though. The guy was clutch.

You're exactly right, but his antics on the sidelines were much worse than Dezs, but some folks on here don't cut Dez any slack.

 

[1972COWBOY]

Irvin had some amazing players around him helping him be the star he was. Players make the players. Dez has done well, he seems he gets off focus at times and social media distractions could play apart. We didn't really have the internet back then.

 

[ChooChoo73]

No he hasn't but he doesn't have to. If he delivers as a #1 as part of a super bowl season he will have his own 88 legacy.

Dez and others like Beckam and D Jack seem to me like the type who want to prove they are one of the best which at times can be a distraction for them. Folks like Irvin, Harrison and Rice focused on the craft and expected others to see them as best. Just my opinion. I think they understood that the tedious and plodding work in the details would bring the recognition they craved vs. trying to grab the spotlight at every chance and show out.

 

[JDSmith]

I love Dez, but at the time there was no WR I'd have taken over Michael Irvin, and that includes Rice. Jerry Rice was a better receiver, but Irvin was the heart of the team IMO. Dez is vastly more gifted physically - but while Irvin was almost never the best athlete on the field, he was almost always the best WR.

Irvin couldn't sky and fight for the ball the way Dez can and while strong he wasn't as hard to tackle as Dez, but he was a great route runner and he was as tough as they came.

So no, to this point Dez hasn't quite lived up to the Irvin standard - but there is no shame in that, very few guys ever have IMO.

I was too young to have really seen Pearson, I was only a kid when he played, so I can't compare them directly.

 

[Cowboyz88]

So far, no.

My avatar's name sake was a All-decade player and should be a Hall of Famer. Irvin IS a Hall of Famer.

Dez wouldn't even make the Ring of Honor at this point.

 

[mrmojo]

No a long ways to go.

The original 88 Drew was the greatest clutch receiver I ever saw. It's a shame he is not in the HOF. Some of the greatest plays in NFL history were made by Drew.

Irvin was a leader and a big/strong wide receiver. He refused to be beat and was probably the hardest working Cowboy. He lived up to his playmaker name.

 

[negativecreep]

Jury is still out imo

Up to this point though, no

Agreed.

 

[tyke1doe]

I love Mike. But Dez just tied his TD record in about 5 3/4 seasons.

The Cowboys were an Emmitt-led team. The Cowboys have been a passing team under Romo and while Dez has been here. Of course, he's going to have better stats.
He's no where near Irvin. No one said Irvin ran poor routes. And he's workout regiment as was Jerry Rice-esque.

 

[bark]

Kind of a bad time to ask this question coming off dez's performance last week

 

[Blackspider214]

Not even close.

Dez would be a #3 WR behind Harper and Irvin on those teams.