All Time Cowboys Rankings (at each position)

[pgreptom]

Don't like QBs or Ts but enjoyed reading.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Is this the thread where we pretend Bob Hayes was a better receiver than Terrell Owens?

I don't think the list is "best as a Cowboy".
Best career, TO should be #1.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Imagine what shape the franchise would be in if the Jones family had owned the team from the very beginning back in 1960. I have a hard time believing they would have gone to 8 super bowls with Jerry and his bunch of idiots had been running things starting with the inaugural season.

Jerry with no salary cap for decades? Dynasty. The Yankees of the NFL.

 

[Illiniferret]

Imagine what shape the franchise would be in if the Jones family had owned the team from the very beginning back in 1960. I have a hard time believing they would have gone to 8 super bowls with Jerry and his bunch of idiots had been running things starting with the inaugural season.

Jerry would have won a lot. Pre salary cap Jerry would have gotten who ever we needed.

 

[plasticman]

Hey, great job overall, but.....

You have to include Danny White as the #2 or #3 punter. His potential to pass or run from that position neutralized a lot of blocking for return attempts.

I would put Danny also as #3 quarterback with Romo as #5. Danny was an extremely consistent field general. In his very first season as the starter the Cowboys had the #1 offense in scoring. Danny led the Cowboys to three consecutive conference championship games and played an integral part in previous playoff games when Staubach was out.

Michael Irvin was the Cowboy's leading receiver for 8 consecutive seasons. That puts him in a tie with Tony Hill. Tony must be included in the top five, I would take out Owens, was very short term, and of no consequence. Three time Pro Bowler Tony Hill participated in 17 playoff games.

I would put Garrison as the #1 FB. There was no tougher Cowboy player in their history. He was a great blocker but also a great runner, fought for every inch. Love Johnston, but please! Great receiver, but when was he ever a running threat like the others?

Herschel Walker was a great RB indeed but I would say that Duane Thomas contributed more on field as a RB. He was an integral part in the Cowboys 1st ever championship. Or I might keep Herschel and conclude that Murray was #6 on a list of great RB's, two in the HOF.

I think that placing Haley above Martin tells me that perhaps you never saw Martin play? I could be wrong and I am disappointed that his sacks are not considered official. Haley was another part timer, Martin produced chaos in the offensive backfield for 11 seasons starting with his rookie year.

"Too Mean" never missed a game in his last 9 seasons. Co MVP of SB12, by the way. Craig Morton still has nightmares. Unofficially, he is credited with 17 sacks in the 20 playoff games he started.

That's just a few nitpicks, I agree with 95% of it.

 

[JoeKing]

Danny White over Dak - how can you rank someone over a QB who got his team to several NFC championship games? He should be in front of Romo as well.

I don't like it when Danny White is underrated either but it happens often.

 

[noshame]

Bob Hayes changed the NFL.
Danny White #3 Dandy Don somewhere on there. Playing QB when OL had to block with their elbows and defenders could rip your head off was a little more challenging .

 

[xwalker]

.
Here's Ranking All Time Dallas Cowboys players - Top 5 at each position (My List)
How would YOU rank them ?

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/lineups.htm

QUARTERBACKS
1 Roger Staubach
2 Troy Aikman
3 Tony Romo
4 Dak Prescott
5 Danny White

WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Michael Irvin
2 Bob Hayes
3 Drew Pearson
4 Terrell Owens
5 Dez Bryant

SLOT WRS
1 Cole Beasley
2 Kevin martin
3 Butch Johnson
4 Patrick crayton
5 Randall cobbs

TIGHT ENDS
1 Jason Witten
2 Jay Novacek
3 Doug Cosbie
4 Billy Joe Dupree
5 Pettis Norman

RUNNING BACKS
1 Emmitt Smith
2 Tony Dorsett
3 Zeke Elliott
4 Hershel Walker
5 DeMarco Murray

FULLBACKS
1 Darryl Johnston
2 Robert Newhouse
3 Ron Springs
4 Don Perkins
5 Walt Garrison

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1 Rayfield Wright
2 Erik Williams
3 Tyron Smith
4 Mark Tuinei
5 Pat Donovan

OFFENSIVE GUARDS
1 Larry Allen
2 Zack Martin
3 Nate Newton
4 John Niland
5 Herb Scott

CENTERS
1 Mark Stepnoski
2 Travis Fredrick
3 Ray Donaldson
4 Andre Gurode
5 John Fitzgerald

RETURNERS
1 Bob Hayes
2 Deion Sanders
3 Mel Renfro
4 Reggie Swinton
5 Kevin Williams

KICKERS
1 Dan Bailey
2 Chris Bonoi
3 Nick Folk
4 Richie Cunningham
5 Rafael Septien

PUNTERS
1 Matt McBriar
2 John Jett
3 Mike Saxon
4 Toby Gowin
5 Chris Jones

DEFENSIVE ENDS
1 Charles Haley
2 Harvey Martin
3 Ed Jones
4 Tony Tolbert
5 Jim Jeffcoat

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1 Bob Lilly
2 Randy White
3 La' Roi Glover
4 Jethro Pugh
5 Jay Ratliff

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
1 DeMarcus Ware
2 Chuck Howley
3 Dexter Coakley
4 Thomas Henderson
5 D.D. Lewis

MIDDLE LINEBACKERS
1 Lee Roy Jordan
2 Bob Breunig
3 Sean Lee
4 Ken Norton Jr.
5 Dat Nyguen

CORNERBACKS
1 Deion Sanders
2 Mel Renfro
3 Everson Walls
4 Cornell Green
5 Terrence Newman

SAFETIES
1 Cliff Harris
2 Darren Woodson
3 Charlie Waters
4 Roy Williams
5 Mike Downs

HEAD COACHES
1 Tom Landry
2 Jimmie Johnson
3 Jason Garrett
4 Barry Switzer
5 Wade Phillips

OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS
1 Norv Turner
2 Dan Reeves
3 Ernie Zampese
4 Kellen Moore
5. Jason Garrett

DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS
1 Dave Wansted
2 Ernie Stautner
3 Dave Campo
4 Butch Davis
5 Mike Zimmer
.

• Erik Williams should be #1 for OT.
  • Jerry would have Zero Super Bowls wins without EW.
  • He probably would have a 4th (94 season) if EW didn't have the auto accident during that season.
    • Lack of pass protection was the reason the Cowboys lost to the 49ers in that NFC championship game.
  • EW made Reggie White cry on national TV.
  • EW is the only OLineman that I've ever seen "take over a game".
  • For a 2 year stretch we was the best OLinemen in the NFL.
  • At the time John Madden said he was the best ever.
  • The auto accident cost him a shot at the HoF but he still made 1st team All Pro twice after shredding his knee to the point that Doctors were uncertain if he would be be able to play again.
    • He was a shell of himself after the accident but still better than most.
  • Tyron has more physical talent with regards to movement skill but has never dominated in the way the EW dominated defenders.
  • Larry Allen bullied defenders because it was fun.
  • EW literally wanted to kill them and eat their children.
  • Darren Woodson laughed in an interview when asked if Charles Haley was the meanest player on those teams.
  • Woodson stated emphatically that EW was the meanest player that he has ever seen.
    • Woodson has a great description of EW's pre-game demeanor.
    • DW describes him as an angry Bull blowing snot everywhere.
    • Nate Newton describes how he stayed away from EW pre-game because EW like to throw other OL around as part of his warmup.
    • Nate said Larry Allen was the only player that would get anywhere close to EW during pre-game.

 

[mrmojo]

Jerry with no salary cap for decades? Dynasty. The Yankees of the NFL.

Yankees of the 80s maybe... ..

 

[xwalker]

.
Here's Ranking All Time Dallas Cowboys players - Top 5 at each position (My List)

HEAD COACHES
1 Tom Landry
2 Jimmie Johnson
3 Jason Garrett
4 Barry Switzer
5 Wade Phillips

Jimmy Johnson was the Cowboys Head Coach.

Jimmie Johnson is a race car driver...

• If they listed "2nd WR" instead of "Slot WR" Tony Hill would be on my list.
• 
  
• Travis Frederick was better than Stepnoski. Frederick was the best OC in the NFL most years that he played.
• 
  
• I would put Harvey Martin at #1 over Haley.
• 
  
• Darren Woodson was better than Cliff Harris. Even Harris would not deny that fact.
• 
  
• There is not really an apples-to-apples way to compare Landry and Johnson.
  
  • Jimmy won 2 Super Bowls in 5 years.
  • Landry won 2 in 29 years.
  • What Jimmy did in a short period of time was one of the best coaching/GM performances in the history of sports.
  • If there was a coach/-defacto-GM category Jimmy would be top 5 in NFL history. Obviously Belichick would be #1.
  • Tex Schram was an all time great GM but that was much more on the marketing side.
  • He deferred all draft decisions to Gil Brandt.

 

[blueblood70]

• Erik Williams should be #1 for OT.
  • Jerry would have Zero Super Bowls wins without EW.
  • He probably would have a 4th (94 season) if EW didn't have the auto accident during that season.
    • Lack of pass protection was the reason the Cowboys lost to the 49ers in that NFC championship game.
  • EW made Reggie White cry on national TV.
  • EW is the only OLineman that I've ever seen "take over a game".
  • For a 2 year stretch we was the best OLinemen in the NFL.
  • At the time John Madden said he was the best ever.
  • The auto accident cost him a shot at the HoF but he still made 1st team All Pro twice after shredding his knee to the point that Doctors were uncertain if he would be be able to play again.
    • He was a shell of himself after the accident but still better than most.
  • Tyron has more physical talent with regards to movement skill but has never dominated in the way the EW dominated defenders.
  • Larry Allen bullied defenders because it was fun.
  • EW literally wanted to kill them and eat their children.
  • Darren Woodson laughed in an interview when asked if Charles Haley was the meanest player on those teams.
  • Woodson stated emphatically that EW was the meanest player that he has ever seen.
    • Woodson has a great description of EW's pre-game demeanor.
    • DW describes him as an angry Bull blowing snot everywhere.
    • Nate Newton describes how he stayed away from EW pre-game because EW like to throw other OL around as part of his warmup.
    • Nate said Larry Allen was the only player that would get anywhere close to EW during pre-game.

some makes sense but that loss by switzer in the NFCCG was nothing to do with EW , i think its ironic all the flak Dak, romo, and zeke get for making mistakes that cost us games but i remember MI fumbling twice and cant remember but maybe ES or someone also turned it over we got down 21`-0 i believe and mad valiant effort to comeback but lost by 10..you cant spot that SF team 21 points and expect to win..the LT dint and wouldn't have made difference..

EW had zero to do with 21-0 start and that falls at the feet of the star players who blew the game with TOs..

sounds familiar doesn't it..4 in row was there for the taking and well they blew that game period..the meg stars that brought us the other hardware lost this one..

 

[xwalker]

some makes sense but that loss by switzer in the NFCCG was nothing to do with EW , i think its ironic all the flak Dak, romo, and zeke get for making mistakes that cost us games but i remember MI fumbling twice and cant remember but maybe ES or someone also turned it over we got down 21`-0 i believe and mad valiant effort to comeback but lost by 10..you cant spot that SF team 21 points and expect to win..the LT dint and wouldn't have made difference..

EW had zero to do with 21-0 start and that falls at the feet of the star players who blew the game with TOs..

sounds familiar doesn't it..4 in row was there for the taking and well they blew that game period..the meg stars that brought us the other hardware lost this one..

Wrong.

EW played RT not LT

The offensive game plan changed due to problems at OT.

Aikman was not an ad-lib QB.

They couldn't execute their precision timing based offense and could overwhelm with their OL which was the formula for the Super Bowl years.

 

[Jarv]

Top 5 QB

Staubach, Aikman, Merideth, Morton and White

Screw stats, etc. These were the 5 best QB.

Romo and Dak begin the best of the rest.

Good list, except for Morton in my opinion. Just not enough plays or time with our team to put him there. The best thing he really did for the boys was give up a slew of turnovers when we destroyed the Broncos in the Superbowl.

I move Romo into that top 5, although Dak has a chance yet to pass him, his story isn't finished yet.

 

[buybuydandavis]

• If they listed "2nd WR" instead of "Slot WR" Tony Hill would be on my list.

WR#2 simply has an easier row to hoe.

Along those lines, I wouldn't even include "Slot WR" in the list. If I'm making the all time lineup, one of the WR#1s goes into the slot, and none of the slot WRs even appear.

I suppose it's *possible* to be so much better in the slot than out wide that a slot WR is better in the slot than the WR#1s. But I don't see it at all on these lists. I'll take any of the WR#1s out of the slot over the Slot WRs, and it's not even close. Maybe in very specific situations and matchups I'd take Beasley over some of the WR#1s. Probably not ever Irvin. But that's about it.

I've often thought the slot is just a better place for your WR#1. No sideline helping the defender.

Lesser WRs get *relegated* to the slot and WR#2. The WR#1s here are just *better* wherever they happened to be lined up.

WIDE RECEIVERS
1 Michael Irvin
2 Bob Hayes
3 Drew Pearson
4 Terrell Owens
5 Dez Bryant

SLOT WRS
1 Cole Beasley
2 Kevin martin
3 Butch Johnson
4 Patrick crayton
5 Randall cobbs

 

[buybuydandavis]

Yankees of the 80s maybe... ..

Fair enough. I haven't paid attention to baseball in decades.

 

[blueblood70]

Wrong.

EW played RT not LT

The offensive game plan changed due to problems at OT.

Aikman was not an ad-lib QB.

They couldn't execute their precision timing based offense and could overwhelm with their OL which was the formula for the Super Bowl years.

sorry regardless of what postion he played and was missing getting down 21-0 was pure mistakes that were not forced, they dropped the ball...funny thing why didnt that vaunted defense stop SF after they got the ball, isnt the at the narrative with our poor offensive play turning it over the defense would be counted on to stop them???

they lost the game due to TOS by skill players not the qb not the OL they got down 21-0 due to TOs and defense not bowing their back after the TOS..

sounds very familiar..also the less very familiar..

so no im rights this loss was TOS not because of missing EW..period facts go watch it again..i dotn need to watch i remember it like it was yesterday..

 

[quickccc]

Hey, great job overall, but.....

You have to include Danny White as the #2 or #3 punter. His potential to pass or run from that position neutralized a lot of blocking for return attempts.

I would put Danny also as #3 quarterback with Romo as #5. Danny was an extremely consistent field general. In his very first season as the starter the Cowboys had the #1 offense in scoring. Danny led the Cowboys to three consecutive conference championship games and played an integral part in previous playoff games when Staubach was out.

Michael Irvin was the Cowboy's leading receiver for 8 consecutive seasons. That puts him in a tie with Tony Hill. Tony must be included in the top five, I would take out Owens, was very short term, and of no consequence. Three time Pro Bowler Tony Hill participated in 17 playoff games.

I would put Garrison as the #1 FB. There was no tougher Cowboy player in their history. He was a great blocker but also a great runner, fought for every inch. Love Johnston, but please! Great receiver, but when was he ever a running threat like the others?

Herschel Walker was a great RB indeed but I would say that Duane Thomas contributed more on field as a RB. He was an integral part in the Cowboys 1st ever championship. Or I might keep Herschel and conclude that Murray was #6 on a list of great RB's, two in the HOF.

I think that placing Haley above Martin tells me that perhaps you never saw Martin play? I could be wrong and I am disappointed that his sacks are not considered official. Haley was another part timer, Martin produced chaos in the offensive backfield for 11 seasons starting with his rookie year.

"Too Mean" never missed a game in his last 9 seasons. Co MVP of SB12, by the way. Craig Morton still has nightmares. Unofficially, he is credited with 17 sacks in the 20 playoff games he started.

That's just a few nitpicks, I agree with 95% of it.

- And yet Harvey Martin is Not even coming close to being talked about as a Hall of Famer ... much less Cowboys Ring of Honor .
Deacon Jones was one of those sack masters not included in sacks whereas NFL did not record sacks in that area ,,yet he's in a HOF'er - why not Harvey ? Especially being on America's Team.

- BTW, Haley was Not a " Part-Timer " .He was a full time ledged starter .. i think you may have him confused with Fred Dean or Greg Townsend?

- Hershel was a great all purpose player with sprinter speed he rushed for 1500+ yards as his career high with Cowboys
Duane Thomas was a malcontent here, was once even traded by Cowboys, but even the team he was traded to did not
want him.
Strange stat was he led NFL in TDs his rookie year but only rushed for a total of 2,000+ yrds in an entire NFL career ?

- Owens out ? That's just too hard to do with a sure fire HOF'er that just flat dominated with every step he take. ..if TO wasn't such a malcontent himself, i'd ranked him even ahead of Drew.

 

[quickccc]

Hey, great job overall, but.....

You have to include Danny White as the #2 or #3 punter. His potential to pass or run from that position neutralized a lot of blocking for return attempts.

I would put Danny also as #3 quarterback with Romo as #5. Danny was an extremely consistent field general. In his very first season as the starter the Cowboys had the #1 offense in scoring. Danny led the Cowboys to three consecutive conference championship games and played an integral part in previous playoff games when Staubach was out.

Michael Irvin was the Cowboy's leading receiver for 8 consecutive seasons. That puts him in a tie with Tony Hill. Tony must be included in the top five, I would take out Owens, was very short term, and of no consequence. Three time Pro Bowler Tony Hill participated in 17 playoff games.

I would put Garrison as the #1 FB. There was no tougher Cowboy player in their history. He was a great blocker but also a great runner, fought for every inch. Love Johnston, but please! Great receiver, but when was he ever a running threat like the others?

Herschel Walker was a great RB indeed but I would say that Duane Thomas contributed more on field as a RB. He was an integral part in the Cowboys 1st ever championship. Or I might keep Herschel and conclude that Murray was #6 on a list of great RB's, two in the HOF.

I think that placing Haley above Martin tells me that perhaps you never saw Martin play? I could be wrong and I am disappointed that his sacks are not considered official. Haley was another part timer, Martin produced chaos in the offensive backfield for 11 seasons starting with his rookie year.

"Too Mean" never missed a game in his last 9 seasons. Co MVP of SB12, by the way. Craig Morton still has nightmares. Unofficially, he is credited with 17 sacks in the 20 playoff games he started.

That's just a few nitpicks, I agree with 95% of it.

White unfairly will always be criticized for not getting the team over the top in those NFC title games - thought i've thought that was more the failure of the Landry Defense.

One NFC title game could not be helped as he suffered a concussion vs Washington per Dexter Manley

And we never added more impact players we just continue to get more scrubs or stay with the same ole roster
what made matters worse is Danny's game decline such that scrub Gary Hogeboom
managed to make it a QB controversy .. that was an insult to any Cowboys career legacy that White had.

The Fullback guys ? ..i'll leave that up to the Old Schoolers here to determine.

 

[DCCowboys11]

Pretty good list. When it comes to the coaches though, Bill Parcells has to be in top 5.

 

[plasticman]

- And yet Harvey Martin is Not even coming close to being talked about as a Hall of Famer ... much less Cowboys Ring of Honor .
Deacon Jones was one of those sack masters not included in sacks whereas NFL did not record sacks in that area ,,yet he's in a HOF'er - why not Harvey ? Especially being on America's Team.

- BTW, Haley was Not a " Part-Timer " .He was a full time ledged starter .. i think you may have him confused with Fred Dean or Greg Townsend?

- Hershel was a great all purpose player with sprinter speed he rushed for 1500+ yards as his career high with Cowboys
Duane Thomas was a malcontent here, was once even traded by Cowboys, but even the team he was traded to did not
want him.
Strange stat was he led NFL in TDs his rookie year but only rushed for a total of 2,000+ yrds in an entire NFL career ?

- Owens out ? That's just too hard to do with a sure fire HOF'er that just flat dominated with every step he take. ..if TO wasn't such a malcontent himself, i'd ranked him even ahead of Drew.

Harvey Martin was a Dallas Cowboy, that's why he isn't in the Hall of Fame. The bias was very real.

Harvey Martin, four consecutive Pro Bowls, 1st team All Pro in 1977 where he was also a Super Bowl MVP, averaged almost 1 sack per playoff game, 17 sacks in 20 Cowboy playoff games. They started recording sacks in 1982, Martin's 10th season, he had 8 sacks.

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 , leading the Cowboys in sacks seven times during a nine-year period, with a high total of 23 sacks in 1977 .

Martin averaged 10 sacks a season for 11 regular seasons. He is one of several deserving Cowboys that have been denied so far.

When I say Haley was part time I mean that Haley played 5, mostly shortened, seasons for the Cowboys. He averaged 11 starts per season, had two seasons with double digit sacks, averaged less than 7 sacks a season. He had 3.5 sacks in 9 playoff games for the Cowboys.

Even if you add up Haley's total career numbers in sacks, Cowboys and 49ers combined, Martin still had him beat.

Owens was another part timer, three late career seasons just isn't enough. He was never a team player, didn't help the Cowboys accomplish anything. Again, Tony Hill was the leading Cowboy receiver for 8 consecutive seasons, played in 5 conference championship games and two Super Bowls, in my opinion he is far more deserving, I don't care how good Owens was for other teams.

One of the scenarios I listed was replacing Murray with Duane Thomas and keeping Herschel Walker. However, one of my reasons for elevating Thomas was how he played big in big games. In 1970 he ran for 313 yards in 3 playoff games. I will admit that this one was tough, your list isn't wrong, there were six candidates and five slots, in my opinion.