Any older Cowboy fans remember James Hadley?

[Fla Cowpoke]

Met him last night....he claims to have played for the Cowboys in the early 70's. He was a DE at the University of Florida. Have tried searching old rosters and can't really seem to find anything.

He says his one claim to fame was that they were playing Georgia, not sure if it was in a bowl game or just a regular game but he was going against some stud OG from UGA. First play of the game, he lines up, ball about to be snapped and the throws up through his facemask onto the Georgia guard...who obviously was caught off guard. Ball gets hiked, he knifes past the guard and sacks the QB. Only tackle of the game, as after that the guard just literally pounded him to a pulp for throwing up on him.

I was only 5 or 6 at the time he is referring to so I don't remember him. He mentioned backing up Harvey Martin.

Anyhow, wondered if any of the experts remember him.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

http://www.fanbase.com/James-F-Hadley

 

[Hostile]

Met him last night....he claims to have played for the Cowboys in the early 70's. He was a DE at the University of Florida. Have tried searching old rosters and can't really seem to find anything.

He says his one claim to fame was that they were playing Georgia, not sure if it was in a bowl game or just a regular game but he was going against some stud OG from UGA. First play of the game, he lines up, ball about to be snapped and the throws up through his facemask onto the Georgia guard...who obviously was caught off guard. Ball gets hiked, he knifes past the guard and sacks the QB. Only tackle of the game, as after that the guard just literally pounded him to a pulp for throwing up on him.

I was only 5 or 6 at the time he is referring to so I don't remember him. He mentioned backing up Harvey Martin.

Anyhow, wondered if any of the experts remember him.

No one named James Hadley ever played in the NFL nor was drafted by the Cowboys. Harvey martin was drafted in 1973, so he couldn't have been taken before him if he claims to have backed him up. My guess is that his case is similar to that of wrestling great Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart. He also claims to have played for the Cowboys, but there is no record of him ever playing in the NFL or making the Cowboys roster. He was probably an invitee to Training Camp that never made the team.

 

[Fredd]

I have never heard the name before...that doesn't mean anything necessarily, but I became a fanatic of the cowboys in the early 70's (thank you roger staubach)....

 

[jobberone]

Maybe to him practicing on the Cowboys squad is the same as playing for them. I can see that.....sorta. Great story about throwing up though. And I just ate.....

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Several of the things he told me seemed to check out....he did not mention being drafted so I got the impression he may have been the equivalent of a UDFA. Wondering if maybe he wasn't a camp body or something. Knew I'd get some info here. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

One of my high school/college friends was back in town and I met with him...he introduced me to Mr. Hadley. He is a tall guy....about 6'5 and pretty lean. My 16 year old son is 6'5" and 270 and they looked pretty much eye to eye...my son was bigger overall but have to remember that Mr. Hadley is pushing 70 years old. I got the impression that he was in camp more than one year....he didn't seem like he was being boastful or exxagerating...in fact, it was my friend that brought up football and of course my son being the size he is and being a HS football player the conversation just went there.

Mr. Hadley has been a teacher and football coach...started at one of our local schools the year it opened in 1972-73. He has gone several other places as a coach in the Tampa area and came back to the local school and plans to teach a couple more years.

I think any errors about the dates is probably more my bad memory than anything else. He is listed on the U of F roster so there isn't any reason to believe he was lying and his story about throwing up is probably not one you would bring up unless it truly was one of your "highlights".

Does seem that at best he might have been a camp body....

 

[Pokes12]

He never played for the Cowboys and he did not backup Harvey Martin. He is making this up. another could have been that never was.
Check out Obert Logan. Now that boy did play for the Pokes.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

He never played for the Cowboys and he did not backup Harvey Martin. He is making this up. another could have been that never was.
Check out Obert Logan. Now that boy did play for the Pokes.

Like I said, I think the mistakes are more on my part as far as dates and times....as far as playing for the Cowboys...it is possible he said he was with the Cowboys and in my mind I took that as playing for the Cowboys. Seems some are quick to try and tear others down...I am going to try to find out more info and will update. Not a big deal either way.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Camp body does not equal "played for the Cowboys" to me.

 

[Pokes12]

No probs, brother. I am only joshing on you. He may have been in a camp and that would make him with the Cowboys. I have been a fan since the beginning and his name is not in my archives. Does look like he played college ball in the sixties. But so did I and I never made it to the Cowboys although I did try out for the Eagles when they had open tryouts in the seventies with new head coach Dick Vermeil. I did not make the team but I did make the Pottstown Firebirds.

 

[Hostile]

One of my high school/college friends was back in town and I met with him...he introduced me to Mr. Hadley. He is a tall guy....about 6'5 and pretty lean. My 16 year old son is 6'5" and 270 and they looked pretty much eye to eye...my son was bigger overall but have to remember that Mr. Hadley is pushing 70 years old. I got the impression that he was in camp more than one year....he didn't seem like he was being boa****l or exxagerating...in fact, it was my friend that brought up football and of course my son being the size he is and being a HS football player the conversation just went there.

Mr. Hadley has been a teacher and football coach...started at one of our local schools the year it opened in 1972-73. He has gone several other places as a coach in the Tampa area and came back to the local school and plans to teach a couple more years.

I think any errors about the dates is probably more my bad memory than anything else. He is listed on the U of F roster so there isn't any reason to believe he was lying and his story about throwing up is probably not one you would bring up unless it truly was one of your "highlights".

Does seem that at best he might have been a camp body....

I do not think he is lying. I am merely saying he did not make the team. They very well could have had interest in him but it did not work out to land him a spot on the roster.

 

[Blast From The Past]

I do not think he is lying. I am merely saying he did not make the team. They very well could have had interest in him but it did not work out to land him a spot on the roster.

I like how you worded it from the get go. Very classy. I too think this guy is telling the truth as he feels being in camp with the Cowboys was playing for the Cowboys. Given his age and all I can see this happening just this way.

 

[Hostile]

As an aside Fla. Cowboy, one time here in Tucson some guys told me they had run into a former Cowboys player at a bus stop here. They told me his name, and I could not recall that player. I told them I didn't think he had ever played for us. They came back after talking to him again and told me that he had played at USC with Ronnie Lott and we took him in the 6th round. I seem to recall his last named was Davis.

I did the research and there was no one drafted by the Cowboys named Davis who played with Ronnie Lott at USC. I told them former Cowboy Dennis Thurman played with Lott at USC, but we didn't draft anyone who had.

So they talked to him again and wanted me to meet him. I did. His story did not jive at all and I'm afraid I offended him. He very well could have played with Lott and Thurman at USC. But he was not drafted by the Cowboys in the 6th round of the 1981 Draft. Maybe he got a camp invite too and didn't make the team. That is certainly possible.

Now and then I used to see him at the bus stop down by where my wife works. He always has on his Cowboys cap and in the winter time a light jacket. He considers himself a former Dallas Cowboy. I have no doubt that he did play football somewhere. His knees are shot and he has the frame. He is a very nice guy, and I have considered stopping to talk to him again, but never have.

You know what it tells me? That guys like these 2 and Jim Niedhart that I mentioned earlier felt an attraction to this team and wanted very much to be a part of it. So let them be. They were there in camps and bled, sweat, and hurt to try and make our team.

 

[jazzcat22]

http://www.fanbase.com/James-F-Hadley

Nice website, I bookmarked that one.

 

[wilatino_98]

Hmm jim the anvil did play for the cowboys but on practice, and preseason games according to his Wikipedia.

 

[jazzcat22]

Hmm jim the anvil did play for the cowboys but on practice, and preseason games according to his Wikipedia.

I can make a wikipedia page on myself and claim I played for them too....

 

[burmafrd]

back in the 60's there was so much less coverage; and guys that only got tryouts and maybe lasted a few days in camp might not have been mentioned all the time.

even the clubs records might not have been all that good; and how long might they have kept them?

With the AFL and everything else going on at that time, it is possible for someone to have been in camp for a little while to get over looked. But not much else if he was there for any real time at all.

 

[CCBoy]

I can make a wikipedia page on myself and claim I played for them too....

why?

 

[jazzcat22]

why?

I wouldn't.
Just saying things on Wikipedia isn't always proven.

I believe he very well could have had a tryout, or been in camp. A lot of people make crap up, but a lot also have no reason or anything to gain by doing so, in general conversations.
Now over the years, it may or may not get enhanced. But most likely he had at least a tryout.