37 days to Tampa Bay
Ike Thomas only played one season for the Cowboys, but he made his mark. A 2nd round pick out of Bishop College, he returned two kickoffs for TDs. One of them was for 101 yards vs the Jets, a franchise record at the time (Alexander Wright broke it by taking one 102 yards) and still the Cowboys rookie record 50 years later. He was part of the SB VI winning Cowboys team, averaging 42.1 yards per kickoff return that season.
He was traded to Green Bay in 1972 for punter Ron Widby and a 1973 second round pick. That pick turned out to be WR Golden Richards, who would catch the clinching TD pass from Robert Newhouse in SB XII. Thomas would go on to play in the WFL and CFL before ending his playing career in 1979.
James Washington was drafted in the 5th round by the Rams in 1988. He fell in the draft after having his junior and senior seasons at UCLA ended early with torn knee ligaments. He played little in his 2 seasons in LA, yet the Cowboys chose to sign him after the Rams left him unprotected in Plan B free agency.
Washington found a home in Dallas, despite twice losing his starting safety position. First when Dallas traded for Thomas Everett, but he was starting again after Ray Horton was injured and picked off a pass in SB XXVII. In 1993 he lost out to Darren Woodson, but started SB XXVIII against the Bills three WR base offense. He made a game-changing play early in the 3rd quarter with Dallas trailing 13-6, scooping up a fumble and returning it 46 yards for the tying TD. Dallas went on to win, 30-13.
After Everett left in free agency, Washington regained a starting role at free safety becoming the defensive signal caller for the top-ranked defense in the NFL. He left in 1995 as a free agent, playing one poor season for Washington and even getting into a fight with a fan after a loss. The Commanders released him in 1996.
