13 Dallas Cowboys who should be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

[Hardline]

Our local HOF voters need to really start shouting from the rooftops for these players,

 

[Diehardblues]

It's even more interesting how some use volume career numbers to overrate players. Man, you are on a roll tonight, buddy!!!!!

I was just pointing out the numbers out since you didn’t seem to be aware. I was surprised when I learned Eli was top 10 in passing yards and TD’s. I think others must be too. It’s not an effort to endorse him.

I think it’s more of an example how longevity can balloon personal stats . It’s true in baseball and basketball too but those sports seem to idolize those type of numbers .

 

[Diehardblues]

Today's stats must be adjusted. Surprised you didn't acknowledge that!!!!!!!!!!!!

And how in the world did you miss "To me". Seriously, it changes everything, and renders all your arguments moot!!!!!!!!! Acknowledge it, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you know that Vinnie Testaverde retired 6th in passing yardage and 7th in passing TD's? So, according to your argument, Testes should be in the HOF!!!!

Greg, that was way too easy. Cmooooooon, you can do better than this.

Again, I wasn’t endorsing Eli. It was an example how longevity can balloon personal stats for average type careers.

I’m more surprised you thought Rodgers and Brees are borderline HOF who will be 1st Ballot. They aren’t even arguable .Many HOFamers are arguable or borderline but not 1st Ballots.

 

[Diehardblues]

Rodgers in by years AP1. He's very in.
Brees in by PBs and a ring. Just so consistently good. A machine,

Eli is a joke. Shouldn't make it. He's the Frank Gore of QBs.

Pro Football Reference HOF Monitor gives a nice comparison chart

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_QB.htm

Yep..There’s many HOFamers which are arguable or borderline but not 1st Ballots. They are unanimous.

Anyone denying that level of talent or accomplishment must have motives beyond the norm. And therefore those opinions wouldn't be recognized.

 

[Diehardblues]

Each NFL.

Our local HOF voters need to really start shouting from the rooftops for these players,

Each NFL city only gets one Sportswriter to vote except for NY and LA which have 2 teams.

Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News has been the representative from Dallas for years.

John McLain retired now from Houston Chronicle is their representative was always supportive of older Cowboys too and was interviewed in the recent Deep Blue segment about Howley which is Cowboys local coverage broadcast on local affiliates .

 

[CCBoy]

Nate Newton​

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Washington Commanders[edit]​

Although he was selected by the Tampa Bay Bandits in the 1983 USFL Territorial Draft, he opted to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Commanders in May.[2] On August 29, 1983, he was waived and was injured in a serious car accident on the same night he was cut.[3]

Tampa Bay Bandits[edit]​

In February 1984, he signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the defunct United States Football League, who drafted him in 1983, in what the USFL called a Territorial Draft. He played there for two years (1984 and 1985) as an offensive tackle, under head coach Steve Spurrier.[4]

Dallas Cowboys[edit]​

In 1986, Newton signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys after the USFL folded. He started out as a reserve offensive lineman, and was nicknamed "the Kitchen" because he was bigger than William "The Refrigerator" Perry, of Chicago Bears fame.[5] Even though he became a starter at left guard in 1987, his struggles to maintain his playing weight almost cost him being waived. Jimmy Johnson became the Cowboys coach in 1989 and eventually moved him to the starting right tackle position and forced him to get into better shape after Johnson beat him in a running race.[6]

In 1992, because of the improved play of Erik Williams, he was moved back to left guard, in order for the team to have the best player combination possible in the offensive line. From 1992 to 1995, together with Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, Mark Stepnoski, John Gesek and Kevin Gogan, he was part of some of the best offensive lines to play in NFL history, known as “The Great Wall of Dallas”.[7]

Newton was a six-time Pro Bowler, attending the game from 1992 through 1996 and once again in 1998. Only Larry Allen (10) has been to more Pro Bowls with the Cowboys on the offensive line. He is tied with Rayfield Wright and John Niland for six appearances each. He was not re-signed by the Cowboys after his contract expired at the end of the 1998 season.

His ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped the Cowboys win 3 Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995.

He was one of the best guards in the NFL for over a decade. He was a very powerful player and was known from some great confrontations against Reggie White among other great players. Despite playing in the trenches, Newton was one of the more colorful players in Cowboys history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Newton#References

 

[CCBoy]

Dallas Cowboys (first stint)[edit]​

In the 1974 NFL Draft, for the first time in their history, the Dallas Cowboys had the first overall draft choice. The No. 1 selection was acquired from the Houston Oilers in exchange for Tody Smith and Billy Parks. The Cowboys ended up drafting Jones, making him the first football player from a historically black college to go that high in the NFL draft.

He became a starter at left defensive end during his second season in 1975 and by 1977 he had helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII. After playing five years for the Cowboys from 1974 through 1978, Jones at 28 years old and in the prime of his athletic career, left football to attempt a professional boxing career.

Dallas Cowboys (second stint)[edit]​

He returned to play for the 1980 season, replacing John Dutton at defensive end and performing better than his first stint with the team.

Jones earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors three times from 1981 to 1983. He retired at the end of the 1989 season, having never missed a game, playing the most games by any Cowboys player (232) and being tied with Mark Tuinei and Bill Bates for most seasons (15).[9] (Jason Witten had since broken his record for games played while L.P. Ladouceur has broken his record for most seasons played).

Jones was one of the most dominant defensive players of his era,[citation needed] playing in 16 playoff games and three Super Bowls. He was part of three NFC championship teams and the Super Bowl XII champion. His success batting down passes convinced the NFL to keep track of it as an official stat.[10]

The NFL did not start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; although the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season. According to the Cowboys' stats, Jones is unofficially credited with a total of 106 quarterback sacks (third most in team history) and officially with 57.5. He is the fifth leading tackler in franchise history with 1,032.

In 1985, he achieved a career high of 13 sacks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_"Too_Tall"_Jones​

 

[CCBoy]

Martin was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft. During his first years with the team, the coaching staff looked to instill in Martin a sense of aggressiveness, confidence and mental toughness, that didn't come naturally to him. He eventually improved his physical strength and his technique by practicing against future hall of famer Rayfield Wright. He also developed into an emotional player and fierce competitor, so much so, that he was nicknamed "Too Mean". By his third year in 1975, he was a full-time starter.

The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season. According to the Cowboys' stats, Martin is unofficially credited with a total of 114 sacks,[2] leading the Cowboys in sacks seven times during a nine-year period, with a high total of 23 sacks in 1977.[3] Martin played only on passing downs as a rookie, but still led the team in quarterback sacks with 9, tying Willie Townes rookie team record. Martin took down the QB 7.5 times in 1974 and 9.5 times in 1975. Martin broke out with 15 1/2 sacks in 1976 and made the Pro Bowl for the first time. He still holds the team record for most sacks for a rookie (9 - 1973) and in a season (23 - 1977).[4] His unofficial career franchise sack record lasted 30 years, before being broken by DeMarcus Ware in 2013.[5]

His 1977 season was one of the greatest ever by an NFL player. In a 14-game season he totaled 85 tackles and a league-leading 23 sacks[6] (more than Michael Strahan's 22.5 record in 16 games), he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-Pro selection, was a key player in the Cowboys winning Super Bowl XII, and a co-MVP of the game with Randy White.

Martin remained the team sack leader or co-leader every year, but his totals started to dwindle as his personal problems (financial problems and addictions) grew bigger. He followed up his 23-sack 1977 season with a 16-sack performance in 1978, 10 in 1979, 12 in 1980, 10 in 1981, 8 in 1982 and 2 in 1983.

As part of the famed Doomsday Defense, "The Beautiful" aka "Too Mean" went to the Pro Bowl four times. Former Cowboys GM Tex Schramm stated: "He'll be remembered as one of the great Cowboys of the golden years ... He was a great player, one of the first great pass rushers".[7] Martin, along with Don Meredith, is among the few players to play his high school (Dallas South Oak Cliff High School), college (East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University–Commerce), and pro career (Dallas Cowboys) in and around the Dallas, Texas, area. He never played a home game, on any level, outside of North Texas.

Martin retired in 1983 after refusing to take a Cowboys ordered drug test and during a feud with the team in which he claimed he was being forced to play injured. Martin later admitted in a 1986 autobiography that he did indeed have a cocaine addiction at the time.[8]

In 2009, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Martin to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2016 [9]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Martin

 

[CCBoy]

​

Emerson Walls​

Dallas Cowboys[edit]​

Pro scouts thought he was too slow for the National Football League after he ran the 40-yard dash in a disappointing 4.72 seconds during workouts.[1] Eventually, however, his hometown Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent, entering the league as a 21-year-old. Although he was being targeted by opposing quarterbacks who were throwing away from more experienced players, he made an immediate impact by leading the league in interceptions as a backup,[2] until he was named the starter in the fifth game of the season and finished with a league leading 11 interceptions.[3] Coached by the legendary Tom Landry, he received a Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie for his contributions.[4]

In the 1982 strike-shortened season, he again led the league in interceptions after recording seven in just nine games. Surrounded by a strong defensive unit, which included players like Randy White and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Walls continued his outstanding play and again led the league in interceptions in 1985 with 9. In the history of the NFL, only he and safety Ed Reed have led the league in interceptions three times.

Walls received Pro Bowl honors four times (1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985). During this period of time however, the Cowboys were unable to win a Super Bowl, as they lost the NFC title game in 1981 and 1982 and fell short again in 1983 and 1985. Despite this, Walls remained one of the most feared cover cornerbacks in the league; eventually, quarterbacks were forced to stop throwing the ball to his side. He led the Cowboys in interceptions five seasons, tied with Terence Newman for leading the most seasons in franchise history.[5]

He also was known for his contract disputes with the Cowboys, which were eventually settled in 1987, when Walls was given a three-year deal worth $5.05 million. This made him the second-highest paid cornerback in the league.[6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everson_Walls

THIS ONE JIMMY DID:

The team waived him at the end of the 1989 season, because of a lack of production and an incident that happened after a loss to the Phoenix Cardinals, when head coach Jimmy Johnson saw him talking with some friends among the Cardinals players.[7] His 44 interceptions ranks him second on the Cowboys career list.

New York Giants[edit]​

In 1990, Walls joined the New York Giants as a free agent, signing a two-year deal worth over one million dollars.[8] Walls started at safety for the first time in his career, and, on a standout defensive squad with Lawrence Taylor, Leonard Marshall, and Carl Banks, he eventually called most of the defensive plays.[9] It was here that Walls would record his first and only career defensive touchdown, a game-clinching interception return against the Washington Commanders to get the Giants to 7-0 on the season.



Coached by Bill Parcells, with defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and reached the NFC Championship game, where they traveled to San Francisco to face the two-time defending Super Bowl champion 49ers. With a late field goal, the Giants were able to pull off the upset, 15–13, to advance to Super Bowl XXV, where they met the AFC champion Buffalo Bills. During the game, Walls made a critical play when he tackled Thurman Thomas in the open field with less than two minutes to play - a tackle that likely stopped a sure touchdown for the Bills. The Giants would win the Super Bowl, 20–19, on Scott Norwood's missed field goal attempt as time ran out. Walls was on the Sports Illustrated cover photo as he was captured with his arms raised in victory after the Giants won the game.



In 1992, he was a starter for 2 games, before being passed on the depth chart by second-year player Lamar McGriggs. He was released on October 21, after playing as a backup in 4 more games, while registering 12 tackles and one interception.[10]

 

[CCBoy]

Darren Woodson


Woodson participated at Arizona State's pro day and performed positional drills and ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. Dallas Cowboys' defensive backs coach Dave Campo "spotted a linebacker who looked like a safety in waiting." and had Woodson perform defensive back drills.[4][5] Woodson was considered to be an undersized linebacker prospect.

1992[edit]​

The Dallas Cowboys selected Woodson in the second round (37th overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft.[7] He was the third safety drafted in 1992 and was selected with one of the draft picks the Dallas Cowboys acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in the Herschel Walker trade. The Cowboys selected Woodson at the recommendation of defensive coordinator Dave Campo.[8]

On July 27, 1992, the Dallas Cowboys signed Woodson to a four-year, $1.92 million contract.[9] Throughout training camp, he competed to be a starting safety against James Washington. Head coach Jimmy Johnson named Woodson the backup strong safety to begin the regular season, behind Thomas Everett.[10]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Dallas Cowboys' season-opening 23–10 win against the Washington Commanders. On November 8, 1992, Woodson made his first career start during a 37–3 win at the Detroit Lions in Week 10. On December 27, 1992, he made his first career sack on Bears' backup quarterback Will Furrer during the Cowboys' 27–14 victory against the Chicago Bears in Week 17.[11] Woodson finished his rookie season in 1992 as a backup safety and an extra defensive back on the nickel defense. He also appeared on special teams and led team with 19 special teams tackles and had one sack on defense in 16 games and two starts.[12]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Woodson

 

[CCBoy]

Thursday’s news that Cowboys linebacker/defensive end DeMarcus Ware was named as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 came with all the appropriate congratulatory nods from fans around the league. With nine Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro accolades, a Super Bowl win (with Denver) and a spot on the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s under his belt, Ware is considered practically a shoo-in for Canton in his first-year of eligibility.

But along with Ware’s well-deserved advancement in the enshrinement process also came a twinge of disappointment for the Cowboys faithful. Safety Darren Woodson failed to make the list once again.

Todd Brock


https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/31/darren-woodson-hall-of-fame-denied/


Woodson retired in 2003 as the franchise’s all-time leading tackler, with 1,350 of them over 12 seasons. He was instrumental in helping the club win their three Super Bowl rings as part of the 1990s dynasty, was named to five Pro Bowls, and is a four-time first-team All-Pro.

He was inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor as its 21st member in 2015, an honor that was meant to help make his case for Canton. Six times now, Woodson has made the list of semifinalists.

 

[jsb357]

A great list of Cowboy players...​

Maybe Deion was right.

Watered down HOF

 

[CCBoy]

Maybe Deion was right.

Watered down HOF

His shoulder will get sore patting himself on it so much. Really? Top 5% is a high figure and that isn't top shelf? If it's earned, it should be respected. The game continually is changing but you say quit showing respect when stats change? Straight ahead buddy, not right on....

 

[jsb357]

Romo is not getting into the HoF as a QB. He was not the best in his era or even in the top 5 in his own time.

^^^^^^^^^^ THIS

 

[buybuydandavis]

Yep..There’s many HOFamers which are arguable or borderline but not 1st Ballots. They are unanimous.

Anyone denying that level of talent or accomplishment must have motives beyond the norm. And therefore those opinions wouldn't be recognized.

"ulterior motives"
I'm not getting so dramatic about it.

Sometimes people have opinions they just don't feel like arguing over.

That's rarely *me*, mind you, but I'm an argumentative fellow.

 

[noshame]

All in
Romo is borderline, but considering the owner/GM/COACH he played under he should have had more opportunities to win.

I must say, although Howard was ANNOYING at times the whole MNF crew was so entertaining. Magical times.