2021 season countdown thread

[Motorola]

Mark Washington had great coverage and those plays and still couldn’t stop him.

If I had a dollar for each time I've seen that "highlight".....

 

[Motorola]

I could probably beat his 40 time.

Not a bad- looking player card for way back then.

 

[Motorola]

Some of you may remember that many years ago to start the preseason the NFL would play a college All-Star game featuring last year‘s NFL champions versus a team of college All-Star/now NFL rookies. Coming off of their Super Bowl VI win it was the Cowboys turn to be in the game in 1972. At that point in history the college All-Stars were really not competitive against the pros anymore and the Cowboys handily won the game 20 to 7.

And who scored the lone touchdown for the college All-Stars? Why soon to be Dallas Cowboy rookie Robert Newhouse.

Newhouse only received on scholarship offer - from the University of Houston.
Outstanding senior season and college career that cumulated in 1971.
50 years - a HALF CENTURY - later....he still hold Cougars football records.

 

[Motorola]

43 days to Tampa Bay

Cliff Harris comes to mind first because he's the first #43 I saw play. Don Perkins deserves a mention as well.

Perkins spent a year on the Colts practice squad before joining the Cowboys in 1961. All he did that season was win Rookie of the Year playing for a losing team that finished 6th in the seven-team Eastern Conference. Perkins went on to become a six-time Pro Bowler as the Cowboys grew from expansion bums to title contenders during the 1960s. Perkins is one of 19 players in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Harris was a safety out of Ouachita Baptist College in Arkansas (their stadium is now named after him). He played his entire 10-year career with the Cowboys during the 1970s, winning two Super Bowls. A six-time Pro Bowler, Harris made the All-Decade team for the 70s. He is also a member of the Ring of Honor.

I was around when Perkins played.
First Cowboys player to rush for 100 yards in a game.
First Cowboys player to become NFL All-Pro.
Averaged 4.1 yards per carry - playing fullback.
Third player selected for the Cowboys Ring of Honor - Perkins was inducted along with Don Merideth, one year after Bob Lily.

 

[Motorola]

Cliff Harris - undrafted - "Captain Crash" is one of only 13 players (at last count) to play in five Super Bowls; awarded NFL All-Pro 4 times.
I forgot that Harris returned punts for the Cowboys too.
And -- the wrong that was finally righted -- Harris will be inducted into the HOF...joining all of the other players that were selected to be on the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

 

[Jake]

42 days to Tampa Bay

Several number 42s come to mind, although no Ring of Honor greats in the bunch:

Two of them, RB Claxton Welch and S Randy Hughes won SB rings, although only Hughes was a key contributor to one. In SB XII, Hughes made 5 tackles, recovered 2 fumbles, and picked off a pass.

In more recent years we've had the legendary RB Troy Hambrick, an over-the-hill Chris Warren, and starting S Barry Church, who started a conference title game as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

[Hagman]

 

[AsthmaField]

42 days to Tampa Bay

Several number 42s come to mind, although no Ring of Honor greats in the bunch:

Two of them, RB Claxton Welch and S Randy Hughes won SB rings, although only Hughes was a key contributor to one. In SB XII, Hughes made 5 tackles, recovered 2 fumbles, and picked off a pass.

In more recent years we've had the legendary RB Troy Hambrick, an over-the-hill Chris Warren, and starting S Barry Church, who started a conference title game as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hey man, I don’t think I’ve said thanks for the thread, so thank you. It is a good idea and a pretty good amount of work.

It is appreciated.

You too Hagman…

 

[Hagman]

I was really busy yesterday for Day 42, but I want to give a shout out to Randy Hughes. The guy had great talent and he's an example of a great football player who was cheated out of reaching his full potential by injury. During his era our safeties were Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters and Randy---and we didn't lose much of anything when Randy was on the field. When I compare the greatness and the depth that we had at safety then to today--and how the Jerry Jones Cowboys devalue the position--I can only sign and long for the old days.

Randy Hughes was taken in the fourth round of the 1975 draft, and so was one of the Dirty Dozen rookies who reinvigorated the franchise for three more Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XII he made 5 tackles and had an INT and recovered two fumbles, back when great players on defense got turnovers for us. During his first 4 season he, of course, couldn't dislodge Harris and Waters, but did often play the nickel in passing situation, and started all of 1979 when Waters was out with a bad knee.

His Wiki entry states:

On December 8 1979, he dislocated his right shoulder playing against the Philadelphia Eagles, which became an injury that eventually would end his career.
In 1980 he was the likely replacement for the retired Harris at free safety, but he missed most of the year, after reinjuring his right shoulder during pre-season and it being operated on twice He was replaced in the starting lineup by Dennis Thurman.
In 1981 he was projected as a starter, but dislocated his right shoulder while playing against the Los Angeles Rams in pre-season. The injury would open the door for rookie Michael Downs to earn the free safety job and for Hughes decision to retire before the start of the regular season.
Although he played six seasons and recorded 9 interceptions with the Cowboys, his career never fully blossomed because of recurring shoulder injuries. He tied a team record with interceptions in 3 straight playoff games.

So thanks for the memories Randy, you were part a deep, talented group of safeties that took us to championship games.

 

[Hagman]

Ok, I'm an old fart, and I love those old Cowboys. I also have to give recognition to one of my pet cats from back-in-the-day Claxton Welch. He wasn't super talented or anything, but was one of those backup kind of guys who you have to have to round out a good team. Heck, maybe not even that. As as a pet cat you often root for guys without any good reason for doing so, and maybe I just rooted for him because I though that Claxton Welch was just a cool name.

He was the Cowboys 9th round pick in 1969, and had the most speed of any of the other running backs in camp---of course Bob Hayes could smoke him in a foot race. Spent most of that first year on the taxi squad, making only a brief appearance on the roster before being waived to make room for a linebacker. The Saints signed him and played him for one game, when he got cut. Dallas resigned him in 1970, and he played in 8 games. He was part of a team that went to two Super Bowls, and was a part of our first Super Bowl in in Number VI. He was a journeyman in the NFL for the Chiefs and Patriots before retiring.

Again, he's not one of the Cowboys immortals. But he was a piece of the squad that went to two Super Bowls.

And a pet cat of mine with a great name.

 

[Jake]

41 days to Tampa Bay

I'm sure there are others, but @maryquality can probably handle this one for us. Charlie Waters was drafted in 1970, made the all-rookie team and played in SB V as a safety. An all-ACC WR his senior year at Clemson, he was moved to CB in 1971. He played there for 4 seasons, not his best position but he never gave up and filled a need as best he could. He was moved back to safety when Cornell Green retired and flourished opposite Cliff Harris.

Waters won 2 SBs, played in 3 Pro Bowls, and retired in 1981 after missing the entire 1979 season with a torn ACL. To this day, Waters is still tied with the most career playoff interceptions (9), with Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott. Not bad for a guy who has been retired for 40 years.

 

[mrmojo]

41 days to Tampa Bay

I'm sure there are others, but @maryquality can probably handle this one for us. Charlie Waters was drafted in 1970, made the all-rookie team and played in SB V as a safety. An all-ACC WR his senior year at Clemson, he was moved to CB in 1971. He played there for 4 seasons, not his best position but he never gave up and filled a need as best he could. He was moved back to safety when Cornell Green retired and flourished opposite Cliff Harris.

Waters won 2 SBs, played in 3 Pro Bowls, and retired in 1981 after missing the entire 1979 season with a torn ACL. To this day, Waters is still tied with the most career playoff interceptions (9), with Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott. Not bad for a guy who has been retired for 40 years.

Charlie was very good at getting the turnovers, fumbles and interceptions, and was quite deft at blocking punts. The 1976 playoff loss to the Rams, Charlie single handedly kept us in the game. Playing CB early on his career nearly ended his career before it even started, I'm sure Harold Jackson and Charley Taylor are still in his nightmares, but Landry stuck with him and the move to safety made him a Cowboy all-time great.

But a great player, one of my favorites from those 70s teams. I cant remember if he was Butch Cassidy or Sundance?

 

[Hagman]

 

[Jake]

Charlie was very good at getting the turnovers, fumbles and interceptions, and was quite deft at blocking punts. The 1976 playoff loss to the Rams, Charlie single handedly kept us in the game.

Yep, Waters blocked 2 punts but the Cowboys could only rush for 85 yards in 28 attempts. That was the last game before Tony Dorsett was drafted.

 

[Ranched]

I have a gut feeling our Boys will be shining against those Bucs. Never mess w/a women's intuition.

 

[Jake]

This has been my personal experience.

Never mess w/a women's (insert whatever she says here).

 

[Jake]

40 days to Tampa Bay

Bill Bates was an undrafted safety from Tennessee. A long shot to make the roster, Bates stood out on special teams. He was so good that he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Year his rookie season. He didn't become a starter until 1986 when incumbent Dextor Clinkscale held out for more money. Dallas released Clinkscale in October and the job was Bates through 1988. After that he was used in nickel and dime packages while continuing to contribute on special teams.

Bates' run as a Cowboy almost ended in 1989 as Jimmy informed him he would be unprotected in Plan B free agency. The Vikings were interested so the Cowboys changed course and protected Bates. He'd go on to win the Bob Lilly award 5 times and collect 3 SB rings before retiring in 1997. He spent his entire 15-year career in Dallas.

 

[Hagman]

 

[Thomas82]

Woah, vaguely remember that. Did something happen to Emmitt that day?

Emmitt was playing with a contusion in his quad IIRC. He had taken a helmet in that area the week before in Atlanta and left the game early.

 

[Thomas82]

43 days to Tampa Bay

Cliff Harris comes to mind first because he's the first #43 I saw play. Don Perkins deserves a mention as well.

Perkins spent a year on the Colts practice squad before joining the Cowboys in 1961. All he did that season was win Rookie of the Year playing for a losing team that finished 6th in the seven-team Eastern Conference. Perkins went on to become a six-time Pro Bowler as the Cowboys grew from expansion bums to title contenders during the 1960s. Perkins is one of 19 players in the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Harris was a safety out of Ouachita Baptist College in Arkansas (their stadium is now named after him). He played his entire 10-year career with the Cowboys during the 1970s, winning two Super Bowls. A six-time Pro Bowler, Harris made the All-Decade team for the 70s. He is also a member of the Ring of Honor.

It's also worth mentioning that Don Perkins retired as the NFL's 5th all-time leading rusher.