Any older Cowboy fans remember James Hadley?

[CCBoy]

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.

Agreed, I knew a Little All American linebacker from A&I that didn't make it past a tryout with the Giants...he was really talented at the NAIA levels.

 

[burmafrd]

Agreed, I knew a Little All American linebacker from A&I that didn't make it past a tryout with the Giants...he was really talented at the NAIA levels.

at that level of play a guy with a great motor and a lot of want to and who studies film and such can really stand out. But when it comes to the NFL you first have to have a certain level of raw talent and many just do not have that.

 

[xwalker]

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

This indicates that he played at Florida in 1966 and 1967.

Harvey Martin's 1st year with the Cowboys was 1973.

Even if he was a training camp guy or tryout guy it seems that all of that would have happened before 1973.

 

[CCBoy]

at that level of play a guy with a great motor and a lot of want to and who studies film and such can really stand out. But when it comes to the NFL you first have to have a certain level of raw talent and many just do not have that.

Eugene Upshaw, Randy Johnson, Sid Blanks, David Hill, Jim Hill, Ernest Price, Levi Johnson, Eldridge Small, Dwight Harrison, Don Hardeman, all from the earlier eras, and then Daryl Green, John Bailey, John Randle, Earl Dotson, Roberto Garza...all made it in the NFL, from A&I...but you are correct in the statement that success on the collegiate levels doesn't guarantee success on another unless there is sufficient talent where they given a chance and that talent matches criteria of the team giving the tryout.

Level played, isn't the limiting element...the Javelinas in their past had a dominant and National program.

 

[theSHOW]

sad thread lol

 

[xwalker]

I've met a few guys around DFW that said they spent time with the Cowboys. Some of them really did go to training camp and I think some others got tryouts but I could only verify the ones that were actually on the TC roster at some point.

Everyone of them said the reason they didn't make it was because of an injury. They usually say it was a knee injury. I guess they think that sounds better than just saying they didn't have the talent to make it.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

It's still the slow time, so I was bored....not every thread is Pullitzer prize material.

And I appreciate the comments most have made. There was nothing about the guy being boastful, he wasn't bragging and it was actually my friend that even brought it up because he knows the Cowboys are my team. It was a completely random meeting with this guy....my college friend was here with his daughter and family for college orientation....I had not seen him in 25 years and I don't think he had been back here since high school. We made plans to meet at the Beach and he was walking from his hotel to the restaurant and actually ran into Mr Hadley as he got to the restaurant. It was completely a chance meeting.

My friend knew him fairly well as he played football for him and then also apparently worked with him 10-15 years after he graduated. Talked to him today and he is going to try to get more info about his experience with Dallas. I will update what I find out.

I have known several guys that have had tryouts at different places....I am struggling to remember exactly what he said and I am sure his memory might be jumbled. Some things we were talking about regarding the local high school that he still teaches at were technically correct but the way he remembered things was just a little off.

My main intent was trying to find out to what extent he may have been with the team....it seems pretty obvious especially from Hostile's posts that if he was here, it probably wasn't long and he certainly probably was never "on the team". I have been a Cowboys fan since 1971 but I was 5 years old then....I didn't remember the name but there are a lot that I don't remember unless there is a little anecdote or perspective about the player.

 

[TwoDeep3]

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, Hos may have answered this, but here are two sites that are invaluable if you post on any board. In my case argue on any board.

http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/teams.nsf

http://www.drafthistory.com/

I checked the rosters of 68 - 80 and didn't see his name.

I also checked all players drafted with the second site. It has a way to drill down to players in alphabetical order. THis is what I found.

1970Hadley, DavidChiefs DBAlcorn State
1989Hadley, FredSaints WR Mississippi State
1986Hadley, RonJets LBWashington


That's it for Hadleys.

I'd check it against the Dallas picks. You can sort by teams and all their picks. I tried that and saw nothing. Old eyes, small print sort of thing. You may need to check my work.

Good luck.