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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 two seed Troy Aikman facing off against fifteen seed Clint Murchison
And now we come to the final first round matchup of our midsummer tourney. Strangely, when voting wraps up on this particular contest, we will be over halfway through our collection of games (the first round had 32 games; the rest of the tournament totals 31). And, from here on out, the voting should be closer, and the choices more excruciating. So, enjoy the last of the comparatively easy first round matchups: second-seeded Troy Aikman, arguably the most accurate passer in NFL history, versus fifteenth-seeded Clint Murchison, the franchise's first owner. Can Murchison give the Hall of Famer a run for his money? 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: Troy Aikman
Position: quarterback
Seed: 2
Essentials:
Name Years Career AV Pro Bowls All-Pro RoH HoF
Troy Kenneth Aikman 1989-2000 122 6 0 yes yes
Bio: Aikman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1989 draft,but his status with the team was uncertain for his first few seasons in Dallas. Jimmy Johnson used a first round pick in the 1989 supplemental draft to select his University of Miami quarterback, Steve Walsh (who was traded to the Saints in 1990). That uncertaintywas erased as soon as the Cowboys hired Norv Turner to be their offensive coordinator in 1991. Although Aikman only played ten games before injuring a knee that year, he still made the first of six consecutive Pro Bowls.
In 1992, Aikman played all sixteen games, set career highs in completions (302), passing yards (3,445) and touchdown passes (23), and led the team to a 13-3 record and the first of three Super Bowl titles (Super Bowl XXVII). During the Cowboys' 1992 playoff run, Aikman was spectacular, completing nearly 70% of his passes, breaking Joe Montana's record of 83 passes without an interception, tossing eight touchdowns, and boasting a 126.4 quarterback rating. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXVII.
Aikman was known for his precision as a passer; his ability to hit receivers in stride was legendary. In 1993, he led the NFL in completion percentage, at 69.1% and, from 1991-96, never dipped below 63%. He was also a quiet but fiercely competitive leader, and set the mark as the winningest quarterback in a single decade, with 90 wins in the 1990s. On opening day, 1999, he caped off his decade of excellence by throwing for five touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, in a come-from-behind win over the Commanders. Games like this and the 1994 Championship Game were evidence that Aikman could have put up Dan Marion-like numbers had the system required that he do so. But, as he noted in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, he sacrificed numbers for wins.
Aikman retired with 47 different Cowboys passing marks, including wins by a QB, pass attempts, completions, completion percentage, touchdowns, passing yards, and interception percentage. During his career he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection (1991-96), led the team to three Super Bowl victories, and was the Super Bowl XXVII MVP. In 1996, he was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year. Aikman was inducted into the Ring of Honor in 2005 and elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.
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: Clint Murchison
Position: owner
Seed: 15
Essentials:
Name Years Career AV Pro Bowls All-Pro RoH HoF
Clinton William Murchison, Jr. 1960-84 -NA- -NA- -NA- no no
Bio: In 1960, the NFL, in response to the AFL establishing a franchise in Dallas, approved a competing franchise, and Murchison was approved as the owner. He started off with a bang; his first order of business was to hire Tex Schramm, who, in turn, hired Tom Landry and Gil Brandt. The four men formed a perfect leadership team: Landry enjoyed absolute authority over the day-to-day running of the actual team; Brandt was unhindered in the area of drafting and scouting players, and Schramm made league inroads and oversaw many of the team's day to day administrative concerns.
The under-appreciated aspect of this chain of command was Murchison's hands-off attitude; his general attitude was to hire experts and let them execute the aspect of the business that fell in their expertise. He therefore delegated a great deal of operational control. This alleviated the potential for second guessing and arguments over player selection or credit for the team's success. Indeed, this laissez faire attitude has been credited by many observers as the driving force in the team's 20 consecutive winning seasons.
That's not to say that he didn't know what he was doing or have a firm grasp on how well his charges were performing. One of Murchison's most important moves was to give Landry a ten-year contract extension after what can be generously described as a slow start. Buoyed by the extension, Landry and the Cowboys established themselves as an annual championship contender from the mid-60s to the early 80s - almost the entire duration of Murchison's tenure. Indeed, one could argue that it was Murchison's selling of the team in 1984 that was the death knell to the Cowboys extended run at the top of the mountain.
Alright, BTBers, which man advances to the next round?
Poll
Who is the "better" Cowboy?
- Troy Aikman
- Clint Murchison
73 votes | Results
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