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As we head into the summer doldrums, BTB introduces its own form of March Madness to get you through the slow period until training camp: a 64-player "Best Cowboy of all time" tournament! Today’s first round match-up features seven seed Dez Bryant facing off against ten seed Georgie Andrie
A day after our most rousing, close battle of the tournament thus far, we are treated to a match-up between two closely-seeded combatants: seventh-seeded Dez Bryant, who is probably the most recent iteration of the Cowboys' best player, and tenth-seeded George Andrie, an under-rated member of Dallas' first "Doomsday" defense. Will we see another nail-biter? You know the drill: read the bios and hit the poll, BTBers!
Wanna keep tabs on the state of the bracket or look ahead to future contests. All the Midsummer Madness info you could ever want can be found right here.
Player: Dez Bryant
Position: wide receiver
Seed: 7
Essentials:
Name Years Career AV Pro Bowls All-Pro RoH HoF
Dez Bryant 2010-present 52 2 1 no no
Bio: Bryant was selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and the team's expectations for him were immediately clear, as he was given jersey number 88. As a rookie, Bryant, as the third receiver, finished with 45 receptions for 561 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns, adding two punt returns for scores, including a 93-yarder against the Giants, the longest for any Cowboy since 1974. In 2011, he earned the starting role, increasing his season totals to 63 receptions for 928 yards and 9 touchdowns.
In every year since then, Bryant has caught at least 88 passes, and totaled no fewer than 1,233 yards and twelve touchdowns, becoming the first receiver in team history with three straight 80-catch, 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown seasons. In the process, he has become arguably the most feared wideout in the NFL; in 2014, he led the league in receiving touchdowns with 16, also a franchise record. In recognition, he has been elected to Pro Bowl the last two seasons, and was an All-Pro in 2014. After the 2013 season, he was ranked number 25 on the NFL Top 100 players list; its a certainly that he will be higher on this year's list.
Although he only has five years under his belt, I left that Bryant merited a seventh seed because he's been so dominant thus far. The scary part is that Bryant is just getting started; Dez had just entered the heart of his career, and should make a run at the record books before all is said and done. Indeed, he's a good bet to have a Hall of Fame caliber career. I for one will enjoy watching it unfold.
Selected by Dallas in first round (17th player overall), 1990 … Won rushing crowns in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 … Led NFL in rushing touchdowns three times … Major contributor to Cowboys Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII, XXX victories … Named first-team All-Pro 1992-95 … In 1993, named NFL’s MVP and MVP in Super Bowl XXVIII … 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons … Became NFL’s all-time rushing leader in 2002 … Career totals: 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns rushing; also had 515 receptions … Born May 15, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida. - See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=291#sthash.i2MiaRqc.dpuf
Player: George Andrie
Position: defensive end
Seed: 10
Essentials:
Name Years Career AV Pro Bowls All-Pro RoH HoF
George Joseph Andrie 1962-72 89 5 1 no no
Bio: Andrie was selected in the sixth round of the 1962 Draft, winning the starting right defensive end job as a rookie, and making the All-Rookie team. After a year on the left side, he returned to RDE in 1964, playing next to Bob Lilly for the duration of his career. Andrie always played well in the big games. In the famed "Ice Bowl, he returned a Bart Starr fumble for a touchdown; in Super Bowl V, Andrie knocked out Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas with a shoulder tackle in the second quarter; in the 1971 NFC Championship game, he intercepted a John Brodie pass deep in 49ers' territory, returning it to two-yard line, setting up Calvin Hill's game-winning touchdown.
At 6-6 and 260, Andrie had excellent size and strength to hold his ground against the run, yet boasted rare quickness and agility, which made him the franchise's first great pass rushing defensive end. Although the NFL didn't recognize quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; the Cowboys' in-house stats credit Andrie with a total of 97 sacks. From 1964-67, he led the team in sacks each season, registering a high of 18.5 in 1966. In 1966-67, Andrie went eight straight games with a sack, the fourth longest such streak in club history. He ranks fifth on the team's all-time sack leaders list.
In his eleven-year career, Andrie missed only two games, and started 136 of the 141 games played. He helped the Cowboys to two NFC Championships and one Lombardi, in Super Bowl VI. Over the course of his career, Andrie was named to the Pro Bowl five straight times (1965–1969), was selected All-Pro once, in 1967, and second team All-Pro three times (1966, 1968-'69). He was also selected Pro Bowl MVP in 1969.
Alright, BTBers, which man advances to the next round?
Poll
Who is the "better" Cowboy?
- Dez Bryant
- George Andrie
45 votes | Results
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