News: BTB: Cowboys Midsummer Madness, Second Round: Darren Woodson vs. Randy White

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Round two of our Midsummer Madness tournament is underway! Today’s match-up features seven seed Darren Woodson facing off against two seed Randy White. Who will advance to the Sweet Sixteen?

Today we wrap up the second round in the Bert Bell Regional, with a match-up between two superb defensive players who arguably led the strongest defensive positional units in team history: seventh-seeded Darren Woodson, a member of the league's best defensive backfield in the late 90s, and Randy White, who spearheaded "Doomsday II"s great defensive lines in the late 70s and early 80s. Who will join Emmit Smith, Tex Schramm, and Mel Renfro in the Sweet Sixteen? Read the bios and comments and then 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: Darren Woodson

Position: safety

Seed: 7

How he got here: defeated Dave Edwards, 726-45

Essentials:

Name Years Career AV Pro Bowls All-Pro RoH HoF

Darren Ray Woodson 1992-2003 95 5 3 no no​

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Bio: Woodson was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft, and spent his rookie season playing on the nickel defense and special teams (leading the team with 19 "teams" tackles), then moved into the starting lineup in 1993, when he set a Cowboys franchise record for tackles for a defensive back, with 155. Woody quickly became one of the leagues' top safeties, being selected to five Pro Bowls (he was the first Cowboys safety since Cliff Harris to be chosen to consecutive Pro Bowls) and three All-Pro teams.

What made Woodson special was his versatility. He was a strong safety who, playing like the former collegiate linebacker he was, could lay the wood (recall his knockout of the Eagles' Rodney Peete in the 1995 playoffs) yet had the ability to line up as the nickle/ slot cornerback. Not only was he able to shadow receivers across the field but, by deploying him close to the line of scrimmage, the Cowboys' defensive coaches were able to use him to help stop the run and pressure the quarterback. In the mid-90s, he was the most productive player on one of the NFL's best defenses.

In his career, Woody was selected to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He also was the first Cowboys safety since Cliff Harris to be chosen to consecutive Pro Bowls, making the squad from 1994-'98. He played in sixteen playoff games, was a three-time Super Bowl champion and the winner of the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award in 2001. In 2002, he broke the Cowboys' career tackling record; unfortunately for Woodson, it occurred in the same game that Emmitt Smith set the NFL career rushing record.

Member comments:

Member Comment
Baked Potato Soup We replaced Troy Aikman faster than we’ve been able to replace Woodson.
Dr-P
Woody is the choice and is a good candidate for ROH

Yet, Woody is destined to be inducted in the Hall of pretty good

Vancity Cowboy
Woody's taking this tournament!

If I have to make 5000 fake accounts to make it happen, so be it!

Somebody is going to have to battle Terry’s artificially enhanced Romo votes anyhow
​

Player: Randy White

Position: linebacker; defensive tackle

Seed: 2

How he got here: defeated Mark Stepnoski, 892-23

Essentials:

Name Years Career AV Pro Bowls All-Pro RoH HoF

Randy Lee White 1975-88 149 9 8 yes yes​

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Bio: White was the Cowboys' first round pick (second overall) in the 1975 draft and, as one of twelve rookies from that class to make the team, was part of the famed "Dirty Dozen." As a rookie, he was moved to middle linebacker, where he backed up aging legend Lee Roy Jordan for two seasons. Never particular adept as a linebacker, White was moved to right defensive tackle during his third season (1977), where he blossomed, earning his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, and, at the campaign's end, sharing Super Bowl MVP honors with Harvey Martin.

At defensive tackle, White presented a terrifying combination of quickness, balance, toughness (he played the final four games of the 1979 season with a broken foot), and raw, brute strength (he had 21" biceps and was the first Cowboy to bench press 500 pounds). Moreover, he had an incredible work ethic, lifting weights and practicing martial arts year round. His hustle was evident during a game against Philadelphia wherein he rushed upfield toward quarterback Ron Jaworski, who hit a receiver on a slant. White peeled off, raced downfield and caught the receiver from behind...49 yards downfield.

In 1978, the "Manster" was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year after terrorizing rival QBs (and garnering a whopping 123 tackles and 16 sacks), and received the second of nine consecutive Pro Bowl nominations (and the first of eight All-Pro nods). In 1982, he was named NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year; from 1983-85, he registered at least 10.5 sacks per season. White finished his career with 111 sacks and more than 1,100 tackles.

The Cowboys made the playoffs every year of White's career save one (1984). He played for five division champions, in six NFC Championship Games and in three Super Bowls, missing only one game in his storied fourteen-year career. At the time of his retirement, he had played the second games most of any Dallas Cowboy in history, with 209. White was named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1980s. In 1994, White was placed in the Cowboys Ring of Honor and given a bust in Canton.

Member comments:

Member Comment
RKO
Randy White puts the waffle on Jaworski

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4xYQXxvLo0

jimmy.marshall2
He was like having 5 Tyrone Crawfords in 1 body

The Trenches
Randy White

is my favorite player of all time. I grew up watching him and was very sad when he retired.

I know he won’t "win" the Madness, but he has my vote whenever I see his name.

Thanks for the memories Mr. White.
​

Alright, BTBers, which man advances to the sweet sixteen?

Poll
Who is the "better" Cowboy?

• Darren Woodson
• Randy White

82 votes | Results

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