2021 season countdown thread

[Jake]

Getting the thread back on track...21 days to Tampa Bay

A variety of characters have worn #21 over the years - Zeke, Deion, Julius Jones, Mike Jenkins - but the first one I remember watching was Doug Dennison. Dennison was an effective goal line back for the Cowboys from 1974-1978, but he had the occasional fumbling problem. Undrafted out of Kutztown in 1974, my earliest memory of Dennison was his fumbling near the goal line in a Monday Night game at Philadelphia. The Cowboys led 7-0 in the 3rd and were looking to take control of the contest, but Dennison coughed it up and Joe Lavender returned it 96 yards to tie the game at 7 - I can still see Roger chasing him but to no avail.

The Eagles would win the game 13-10, despite being dominated (385 yards to 165 yards), sending the Cowboys to 1-1 instead of 2-0. The following Sunday, Dallas inexplicably lost in Texas Stadium to a bad Giants team (NY finished 2-12) and two narrow defeats later Dallas was staring at 1-4. The Cowboys would rally to finish 8-6 but missed the playoffs by one game, the only time that happened during their stretch of 20 straight winning seasons. That Dennison fumble changed the course of the entire season - at least in my young mind - and I never cared much for him afterwards. Perhaps I was a bit harsh.

Here's the infamous fumble:

 

[Motorola]

In addition to his greatness on the field, Deion Sanders was one of the biggest stars who benefited quickly and often after unrestricted free agency came to the NFL in 1992.
Played for three different teams three straight seasons, from the Falcons to the 49ers to the Cowboys - 1993-1994-1995.

 

[Bobhaze]

Getting the thread back on track...21 days to Tampa Bay

A variety of characters have worn #21 over the years - Zeke, Deion, Julius Jones, Mike Jenkins - but the first one I remember watching was Doug Dennison. Dennison was an effective goal line back for the Cowboys from 1974-1978, but he had the occasional fumbling problem. Undrafted out of Kutztown in 1974, my earliest memory of Dennison was his fumbling near the goal line in a Monday Night game at Philadelphia. The Cowboys led 7-0 in the 3rd and were looking to take control of the contest, but Dennison coughed it up and Joe Lavender returned it 96 yards to tie the game at 7 - I can still see Roger chasing him but to no avail.

The Eagles would win the game 13-10, despite being dominated (385 yards to 165 yards), sending the Cowboys to 1-1 instead of 2-0. The following Sunday, Dallas inexplicably lost in Texas Stadium to a bad Giants team (NY finished 2-12) and two narrow defeats later Dallas was staring at 1-4. The Cowboys would rally to finish 8-6 but missed the playoffs by one game, the only time that happened during their stretch of 20 straight winning seasons. That Dennison fumble changed the course of the entire season - at least in my young mind - and I never cared much for him afterwards. Perhaps I was a bit harsh.

Here's the infamous fumble:

I believe Doug Dennison was the reason the Cowboys felt they had to make a radical move at RB going into the 1977 draft which resulted in the great Tony Dorsett trade up. Dennison was a decent power runner, but was just not speedy enough to make defenses more honest.

 

[Motorola]

I believe Doug Dennison was the reason the Cowboys felt they had to make a radical move at RB going into the 1977 draft which resulted in the great Tony Dorsett trade up. Dennison was a decent power runner, but was just not speedy enough to make defenses more honest.

Pro Football Reference lists Dennison as the first Kutztown U. football player to play in the NFL (out of seven), but isn't the most famous. (HOF WR Andre Reed)

 

[Motorola]

Question to CZoners: do you consider Sanders as one of the greatest Dallas Cowboys players, or one of the greatest NFL players who played part of his career for the Cowboys? I ask because, having spent my adult life in metro Atlanta, I saw the hype and craze that started when "Primetime \ "Neon Deion" was drafted 5th overall in 1989, then the eruption-explosion that took place among Falcons fans when in his first game, Sanders took his second punt return in for a TD. He established himself as a perennial league top 10 \ superstar player his first 5 seasons in Atlanta. I admired and cheered his play when he wore the star...but #21 is not an "OG" Dallas Cowboys player - a la Hayes, Lilly, Dorsett, White (Randy & Danny), Allen, Aikman, Emmitt.

Counterpoint to my take above is that Sanders' time in Dallas equalled his tenure in Atlanta - and play continued to be elite (All-Pro, Pro Bowl, etc.).

 

[Hagman]

 

[ArtClink]

Question to CZoners: do you consider Sanders as one of the greatest Dallas Cowboys players, or one of the greatest NFL players who played part of his career for the Cowboys? I ask because, having spent my adult life in metro Atlanta, I saw the hype and craze that started when "Primetime \ "Neon Deion" was drafted 5th overall in 1989, then the eruption-explosion that took place among Falcons fans when in his first game, Sanders took his second punt return in for a TD. He established himself as a perennial league top 10 \ superstar player his first 5 seasons in Atlanta. I admired and cheered his play when he wore the star...but #21 is not an "OG" Dallas Cowboys player - a la Hayes, Lilly, Dorsett, White (Randy & Danny), Allen, Aikman, Emmitt.

Counterpoint to my take above is that Sanders' time in Dallas equalled his tenure in Atlanta - and play continued to be elite (All-Pro, Pro Bowl, etc.).

He was great but he was allergic to tackling, at least when he played here.

 

[Motorola]

18 hours into the countdown thread about Cowboys players who wore #21
- no comments from the CZ Membership about the current Cowboys player wearing that jersey number (throw stones & whip me too) - who has performed at a level approaching franchise records.

 

[Thomas82]

And Hayes played when the season was 12 and 14 games making his records even more impressive!

Right on!!

 

[Thomas82]

After his first 5 seasons, Zeke is currently the Cowboys' 3rd all-time leading rusher behind Emmitt Smith (17,162) and Tony Dorsett (12,036) with 6,384 yards. Here's a look at his body of work in the NFL so far:

*2x NFL Rushing Champion (2016, 2018)
*3x Pro Bowl (2016, 2018, 2019)
*First Team All-Pro (2016)
*Second Team All-Pro (2018)
*PFWA All-Rookie Team (2016)

 

[Thomas82]

So far in his career, Zeke has had 4 top 10 finishes among the NFL's rushing leaders in his first 5 seasons. Last season was his first finish outside the top 10 (11th), with a career-low of 979 yards.

 

[Thomas82]

Since it's Throwback Thursday, here's a recap of all Zeke accomplished as a rookie:

-Pro Bowl (2016)
-1st Team All-Pro (2016)
-PWFA NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year
-PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team
-NFL Rushing Leader (2016)
-FedEx Ground Player Of The Year (2016)
-Offensive Rookie Of The Month - October 2016
-4x Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week
-NFC Offensive Player Of The Week - Week 10, 2016
-NFL Castrol Edge Clutch Performer Of The Week - Week 10, 2016
-2x NFL FedEx Ground Running Back Of The Week - Weeks 4 and 5, 2016

Cowboys Rookie Records:
-Most Carries (322)
-Most Yards (1,631)
-Most Rushing Touchdowns (15)
-Most Total Touchdowns (16)
-Most 100-Yard Games (7)

NFL Records:
-4 consecutive games of 130+ rushing yards
-Longest streak by a rookie in leading both teams in rushing for a game (14 games)

Other Accomplishments:
-One of only 2 rookie running backs (Gayle Sayers) to have a 60+ yard touchdown run and 80+ yard touchdown reception in the same season.
-Zeke is one half of the first rookie QB/RB tandem (Dak Prescott) to make the Pro Bowl in the same year.
-The Cowboys were the first team in NFL history to have a rookie QB throw 20 touchdown passes and a rookie RB run for 15 touchdowns.

 

[Thomas82]

Here is Deion Sanders' overall body of work in the NFL:

-2x Super Bowl Champion (XXIX, XXX)
-8x Pro Bowl (1991-1994, 1996-1999)
-8x 1st Team All-Pro (1991-1994, 1996-1999)
-NFL Defensive Player Of The Year (1994)
-NFL 1990's All-Decade Team
-Atlanta Falcons Ring Of Honor
-Pro Football Hall Of Fame (2011)

 

[Thomas82]

Deion said in his autobiography that the Raiders offered him the most money of all the teams courting him, but he chose the Cowboys because of the opportunity to win back-to-back Super Bowls, more playing time on offense, and his friendship with Michael Irvin. He went from being a luxury to a need for the Cowboys when Kevin Smith tore his Achilles tendon and was lost for the 1995 season. At the time Deion signed his contract, he was the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

 

[Thomas82]

Deion played 5 years with the Cowboys, putting up 14 interceptions, along with 3 defensive touchdowns (2 from interceptions, 1 from a fumble recovery). He averaged 13.3 yards per punt return and returned 4 punts for touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 624 yards as a receiver. Also in those 5 years, Deion was a 4-time Pro Bowl and 3-time All-Pro selection. Most importantly, he brought a level of fear to the secondary that influenced the game way more than statistics could measure.

 

[maryquality]

20 more days!!! Former players who wore #20 are HOF'er Mel Renfro and Ron Springs. Current player wearing #20 is Tony Pollard.

 

[Motorola]

20 more days!!! Former players who wore #20 are HOF'er Mel Renfro and Ron Springs. Current player wearing #20 is Tony Pollard.

Mel Renfro excelled in his rookie season and continued his all-around great play for 14 seasons - all with the Cowboys. Safety, punt return, cornerback, kick returner - Landry even chose him as the starting halfback in the 1966 season!

 

[Bobhaze]

Question to CZoners: do you consider Sanders as one of the greatest Dallas Cowboys players, or one of the greatest NFL players who played part of his career for the Cowboys? I ask because, having spent my adult life in metro Atlanta, I saw the hype and craze that started when "Primetime \ "Neon Deion" was drafted 5th overall in 1989, then the eruption-explosion that took place among Falcons fans when in his first game, Sanders took his second punt return in for a TD. He established himself as a perennial league top 10 \ superstar player his first 5 seasons in Atlanta. I admired and cheered his play when he wore the star...but #21 is not an "OG" Dallas Cowboys player - a la Hayes, Lilly, Dorsett, White (Randy & Danny), Allen, Aikman, Emmitt.

Counterpoint to my take above is that Sanders' time in Dallas equalled his tenure in Atlanta - and play continued to be elite (All-Pro, Pro Bowl, etc.).

Although he was obviously a great player, I don’t consider Deion Sanders’ career to be mostly about his days in Dallas. He was more of a soldier of fortune IMO.

 

[Bobhaze]

Hall of Famer Mel Renfro! The OG #20!

Part of the greatest draft class in Cowboys history- the 1964 draft. There were three HOFers in that draft. Mel Renfro, Riger Staubach and Bob Hayes.

 

[Motorola]

Ron Springs was another Dallas Cowboy that even in limited roles, was one the best all-around players in the NFL during his half-dozen seasons with the Cowboys. Springs was the Swiss army knife on the team that made three consecutive NFC Championship game appearances. Halfback\ fullback. kick returner - one of the best pass catchers out of the backfield in the early '80s.