Who are the most underrated players in Cowboys history?

Kevin Smith.
He was on his way to being a top top corner in this league until his achilles went pop.

Newman is a good one. Just did a search and it was Bob Hayes, Emmitts, Dorsett, Tony Hill, Danny white, etc. I don't see any of them fitting the question. I think Bob meant more forgotten players you rarely hear about..

Bobhaze said:

I have a short list of guys for this list. But first my criteria:

• A guy who was never a star
• Contributed to teams that won playoff games
• Is under appreciated outside of Cowboys world. (And maybe in Cowboys world as well)

Tuani

Western said:

In the superb bowl era of over 55 years, only Tom Brady (7), Joe Montana (4), and Terry Bradshaw (4) have more super bowl trophies than Troy (3)--by logical extension are Brady, Montana, & Bradshaw overrated?

The intensity, pressure, and execution in playoff football games is extreme -- especially for the most important player on the team -- the QB.
Troy excelled in the playoffs, & in championship games -- when the games mattered the most, & precision discipline in the passing game becomes a heightened & fierce obstacle to overcome.
Labeling Troy as "overrated" is completely absurd.

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Here are my three most underrated in no particular order:

• Larry Cole- DE- 1968-1980- played for 13 seasons and played in a whopping 26 playoff games for Dallas, including 7 NFC championship games and 5 SBs, and has two rings. Made many big plays in huge games. His tackle of John Riggins on 3rd and 3 in that skins game in 1979 saved the game and season. One of Tom Landry’s favorite players.
• Tom Rafferty- G/C- 1976-1989- played for 14 seasons, mostly at C, and played in 18 playoff games including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championship games. One of only 5 Cowboys to play for BOTH Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson. In 1989, he started the first 8 games at C, and was succeeded by a young guy named Mark Stepnoski.
• Bill Bates-S/ST- 1983-1997- played 15 seasons and became a fan favorite as a ST star and backup safety. Played in 14 playoff games, 3 SBs and 4 NFC championship games. Was another of the guys who played for Landry and Jimmy.

Who’s your most underrated Cowboy?

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Tuani

Chuck Howley- Super Bowl 5 MVP. He could very well have been Super Bowl 6 MVP, I don;t think anyone could have argued against that and I'm pretty sue that winning the year before, even though the Cowboys lost, took him out of contention.

The great players make the big plays in the big games and Howley dominated in the playoffs as an outside linebacker for the Cowboys throughout the late sixties to the late 70's.

Six time Pro Bowler, five time 1st team All Pro.. In 12 seasons as a Cowboy he missed 8 games. as an outside linebacker he had 24 regular season INT's and 18 recovered fumbles. In the 1970 and 1971 Super Bowls he had a combined 3 INT's and a fumble recovery.

And yet, he is not in the Hall of Fame. Linebackers that have done far far less are in the HOF. His exclusion is the greatest injustice in the history of the NFL.

Chuck Howley was the 4th inductee in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Tony Tolbert - The first ever NFL draft with Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson yielded three central pieces to the Dynasty of the 90's. They were Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston and Mark Stepnoski, all major participants in the Cowboy offense that won three Supe Bowls in four seasons. This was their #1, #2m, and #3 round picks.

Their 4th round pick was Tony Tolbert, a DE.

We certainly remember Charles Haley. We remember big Leon Lett who also played DE before moving to DT. We remember Jim Jeffcoat, the old veteran.

However, Tony Tolbert was the starting LDE during those dynastic years.

Tony Tolbert played nine seasons with the Cowboys from 1989 to 1997, truly the most exciting period of time in the Cowboy history. He was there for it all and I mean ALL.

Tony Tolbert never missed a single game in his career. For all nine seasons he played in every single game. Each season, his number of solo tackles for a DE was amazing.

Tolbert participated in 15 playoffs games. In 1995, a Super Bowl season, Tolbert had five sacks in the playoffs.

Kevin Williams. He saved the Cowboys 1995 season with a few great catches.

Rocket

Joey Galloway and ss Roy Williams.

Bobhaze said:

I have a short list of guys for this list. But first my criteria:

• A guy who was never a star
• Contributed to teams that won playoff games
• Is under appreciated outside of Cowboys world. (And maybe in Cowboys world as well)

Here are my three most underrated in no particular order:

• Larry Cole- DE- 1968-1980- played for 13 seasons and played in a whopping 26 playoff games for Dallas, including 7 NFC championship games and 5 SBs, and has two rings. Made many big plays in huge games. His tackle of John Riggins on 3rd and 3 in that skins game in 1979 saved the game and season. One of Tom Landry’s favorite players.
• Tom Rafferty- G/C- 1976-1989- played for 14 seasons, mostly at C, and played in 18 playoff games including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championship games. One of only 5 Cowboys to play for BOTH Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson. In 1989, he started the first 8 games at C, and was succeeded by a young guy named Mark Stepnoski.
• Bill Bates-S/ST- 1983-1997- played 15 seasons and became a fan favorite as a ST star and backup safety. Played in 14 playoff games, 3 SBs and 4 NFC championship games. Was another of the guys who played for Landry and Jimmy.

Who’s your most underrated Cowboy?

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I’m not sure any of these would be considered under rated . Cole was a key part of Original Doomsday front 4. And Rafferty a key piece of OL in late 70’s and 80’s. Bates arguably the biggest name on special teams in Cowboy history .

Maybe our definition of under rated or under appreciated is different?

I think of guys under rated or unappreciated as guys who could have started on other teams and later did like Butch Johnson , Craig Morton and maybe even Calvin Hill.

Hardline said:

L. P. Ladouceur

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If only he had made just one bad snap in his career then maybe somebody would have realized just how perfect he was.

Definately underrated.

ROGER!!!!!

Mark Tuinea
Converted DT to Off Left tackle

tyke1doe said:

Dexter Coakley

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I second this, he was a pretty great linebacker that many don't talk about. I personally think he's one of the franchises best LBs that joined the team during the rebuilding years.

cowboyec said:

DE jim jeffcoat.
he had a helluva career for us.
followed harvey martin...no easy task.
but like too tall...was an excellent run defender.
he was solid.

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Jeffcoat is who I was thinking of!!!

Also, Eugene Lockhart. Steve Pelluer was better than most think he was.

FuzzyLumpkins said:

Tolbert, Jones, Casillas, Brown, Jones, Everett, and Washington of that 1992 championship defense. Talking heads called them no names when each and every one them were above average at their position.

Then there is DLaw, Dak, and the rest of the highly talented yet overpaid -to varying degrees- players.

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Casillas was a 2 time pro bowler before coming here.

Alundis Brice and Clay Shiver.

kskboys said:

Jeffcoat is who I was thinking of!!!

Also, Eugene Lockhart. Steve Pelluer was better than most think he was.

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mean eugene the hitting machine.
LOVED his arm pads.
helluva player.

Larry Brown started his rookie year and all 3 SB championships. Not bad for a 12th round pick.

kskboys said:

Casillas was a 2 time pro bowler before coming here.

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And he was a starter on the no name defense.

Charlie Waters
Tony Tolbert
Mark Tuinei
Danny White
Robert Newhouse
Don Meredith

Bobhaze said:

How can Tony Romo- the team’s all time leading passer- be considered “underrated”? Romo has been idolized by many Cowboys fans. I think Romo was a really good- but not great QB. If anything, I think he’s been overrated.

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I disagree. I know lots of Cowboy fans that couldn't wait to run Romo out of town. There were just as many people that hated him as idolized him. I still believe he was a lot better that he gets credit for.