Cowboys TE history

[jobberone]

Since I'm a huge homer, I don't know how much stock to give this idea. But I'll give this a shot with your help.

I think Dallas has had the best group of TEs in NFL history. I haven't actually gone back to look at other teams so I may regret saying this. But I cannot remember one team having so many great TEs.

Actually our first good TE was Jim Doran who was our first Pro Bowl selection in 1960. I'm not actually including him in a list of our greats but thought I'd throw that little nugget out there.

And while throwing out nuggets of irrelevance, Pettis Norman and Frank Clarke played TE over the next few years. Clarke moved to TE part time when Bullet Bob came and Gent and Dial were playing WR as well. Norman played in two NFL Championship games and two SBs. He caught 183 passes for almost 2500 yards which is a goodly 13.6 ypc. He scored 15 TDs. Not a bad start for Dallas TEs. And he shared time with Clarke and Ditka.

Speaking of Ditka. While I'm glad Jackie Smith and Ditka were Cowboys I'm not going to talk about them. You know them and they really belong primarily to other teams. But they were great and added to the lore of the Cowboys.

Billy Joe Dupree arrived as a number one pick at #20 in 73 and by 76 was putting up some pretty good numbers esp for a TE of that day and era. He played in SB X, XII, and XIII. He was the top receiver for SB XII. He went to 3 Pro Bowls, played in 181 st8 games in 11 years, never missing a game. He still holds the record for receptions by TEs in the playoffs with 39 in 19 games. Overall he caught 267 passes for almost 2600 yards and an amazing 42 TDs. Remember TEs were tertiary receivers and mostly blocked. Dupree is known as a fine blocker. To me, he was the first truly great Dallas TE and in my not so humble opinion deserves to be in the HOF.

Doug Cosbie arrived in 79 as a third round pick. To me he was the first modern day TE for the Boys. He went to three Pro Bowls and played in three NFC Championship games before retiring after the 88 season. He caught 300 passes for over 3700 yards at 12.4 a clip with 30 TDs. Cosbie was 6-6 and 235 and was a mismatch for LBs, CBs and safeties.

Jay Novacek arrived via trade with the Cardinals and was a 6th round pick for them. He was in the Cosbie mold and played 5 years for the Cardinals and 6 for the Boys. He was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl pick from 91 to 95 for us. He caught 422 passes for 4622 yards and 30 TDs. Not so bad huh. And he was Aikman's outlet. Along with Irvin he basically was the number 2 receiver and saw many 3rd down passes.

I shouldn't have to introduce Witten to you who joins a very distinguished group.

As an aside, think about all the great positions represented by Cowboys. Not one single position doesn't evoke some great memories of multiple players in our history.

It's been a long and pleasant journey as a Cowboys fan these last 45 years. What a ride. What a rush.

 

[windward]

Jean Fugett was no slouch either. Heck, even our second tier guys like Jay Saldi, Eric Bjornson, LaFleur, Jackie Harris were productive

 

[AdamJT13]

I think Dallas has had the best group of TEs in NFL history. I haven't actually gone back to look at other teams so I may regret saying this. But I cannot remember one team having so many great TEs.

Depth-wise, I think you'd have to give it to us – and that's only if you count what guys did as Cowboys, which means guys such as Mike Ditka, Jackie Smith and Tony McGee aren't really included.

We are the only team to have four tight ends with at least 265 catches and 3,500 yards while playing for us. A lot of teams don't even have one, and some teams have never had anyone even close to that.

The only other teams who have had four guys almost as productive (while members of that team) are the Colts and the Bengals. Here's how our four guys stack up with theirs --

[B]COWBOYS			YEARS		REC.	YARDS	TD[/B]
Jason Witten		2003–2008	429	4,935	25
Jay Novacek		1990–1995	339	3,576	21
Doug Cosbie		1979–1988	300	3,728	30
Billy Joe Dupree	1973–1983	267	3,565	41
	[B]	TOTALS			1,335	1,5804	117[/B]

[B]COLTS[/B]				
John Mackey	 	1963–1971	320	5,126	38
Marcus Pollard		1995–2004	263	3,391	35
Ken Dilger		1995–2001	261	3,181	18
Dallas Clark		2003–2008	256	3,082	31
	[B]	TOTALS			1,100	14,780	122[/B]

[B]BENGALS[/B]				
Rodney Holman		1982–1992	318	4,329	34
Tony McGee		1993–2001	299	3,795	20
Bob Trumpy		1968–1977	298	4,600	35
Dan Ross		1979–1985	263	3,204	16
	[B]	TOTALS			1,178	15,928	105[/B]

 

[Aikbach]

Novacek was actually picked up in what was known as Plan B Free Agency at the time, just a fancy name for being claimed off of waivers as the Cardinals cut him before the start of the 1990 season.

Yes the blood line in Dallas has been royal at the position with Clarke, Ditka, DuPree, Smith, Cosbie, Novacek and now Witten manning the position for the last 40 years but there have been rough patches; particularly between 1996-2003, an era that saw Dallas audition the likes of Eric Bjornson, the often injured David LaFleur, Jackie Harris, Mike Lucky, James Whalen, OJ Santiago, Tony McGee before finding some stability with Dan Campbell the very year Jason Witten was drafted, by 2004 Witten was the starter and the position has been ace since then with respectable backups in Anthony Fasano, Tony Curtis and Martellus Bennett.

 

[yentl911]

I would have to look but I think the Chargers are in the running as well - Kellen Winslow Sr and Gates.....I bet their numbers are right up there with anyone's nut they don't have the depth we have had over the years for sure.

 

[Aikbach]

I would have to look but I think the Chargers are in the running as well - Kellen Winslow Sr and Gates.....I bet their numbers are right up there with anyone's nut they don't have the depth we have had over the years for sure.

Don't forget Alfred Pupunu.

 

[THUMPER]

Why even mention Jackie Smith? He did nothing for us in the single season he was here, in fact he didn't even play during the regular season. He did catch 3 passes in the playoff game against the Falcons but he cancelled those out with his drop of a TD pass in the SB, for which he will eternally live in infamy!

You didn't mention Lee Folkins or Jean Fuggett or Dan Campbell, David LeFleur, & Eric Bjornson, who all produced a LOT more than Jackie Smith did.

Otherwise, a great thread. I was just wondering where AdamJT13 was and here he pops up with some great info to support the post.

IMO, Billy Joe Dupree is one of the most underrated TEs in history. The guy was one of the best in terms of TD% at 15.35% and averaged 13.4 yards per catch for his career. Compare his TD% with Tony Gonzalez's 8.29% and you get the idea.

Cosbie was outstanding as was Novacek. Witten will one day be in the HoF and even though he won't likely surpass Gonzalez in career receptions he will be thought of as one of the top-5 ever to play the position when all is said and done.

 

[jchocolate82]

Why even mention Jackie Smith? He did nothing for us in the single season he was here, in fact he didn't even play during the regular season. He did catch 3 passes in the playoff game against the Falcons but he cancelled those out with his drop of a TD pass in the SB, for which he will eternally live in infamy!

You didn't mention Lee Folkins or Jean Fuggett or Dan Campbell, David LeFleur, & Eric Bjornson, who all produced a LOT more than Jackie Smith did.

Otherwise, a great thread. I was just wondering where AdamJT13 was and here he pops up with some great info to support the post.

IMO, Billy Joe Dupree is one of the most underrated TEs in history. The guy was one of the best in terms of TD% at 15.35% and averaged 13.4 yards per catch for his career. Compare his TD% with Tony Gonzalez's 8.29% and you get the idea.

Cosbie was outstanding as was Novacek. Witten will one day be in the HoF and even though he won't likely surpass Gonzalez in career receptions he will be thought of as one of the top-5 ever to play the position when all is said and done.

I dont know about yall but that just gives me chills and to think he's only what like 26 or 27. If he keeps playing at a consistent high rate he'll be known as one of the greatest TE's to play the game. If he couldve only scored a TD on that lost helmet play against the eagles that wouldve been his premier remembered highlight

 

[jobberone]

Depth-wise, I think you'd have to give it to us – and that's only if you count what guys did as Cowboys, which means guys such as Mike Ditka, Jackie Smith and Tony McGee aren't really included.

We are the only team to have four tight ends with at least 265 catches and 3,500 yards while playing for us. A lot of teams don't even have one, and some teams have never had anyone even close to that.

The only other teams who have had four guys almost as productive (while members of that team) are the Colts and the Bengals. Here's how our four guys stack up with theirs --

[B]COWBOYS            YEARS        REC.    YARDS    TD[/B]
Jason Witten        2003–2008    429    4,935    25
Jay Novacek        1990–1995    339    3,576    21
Doug Cosbie        1979–1988    300    3,728    30
Billy Joe Dupree    1973–1983    267    3,565    41
    [B]    TOTALS            1,335    1,5804    117[/B]

[B]COLTS[/B]                
John Mackey         1963–1971    320    5,126    38
Marcus Pollard        1995–2004    263    3,391    35
Ken Dilger        1995–2001    261    3,181    18
Dallas Clark        2003–2008    256    3,082    31
    [B]    TOTALS            1,100    14,780    122[/B]

[B]BENGALS[/B]                
Rodney Holman        1982–1992    318    4,329    34
Tony McGee        1993–2001    299    3,795    20
Bob Trumpy        1968–1977    298    4,600    35
Dan Ross        1979–1985    263    3,204    16
    [B]    TOTALS            1,178    15,928    105[/B]

Mackey and Dupree also played in totally different eras as TEs. And look at their TD and yards total despite not being featured. Wonderful contribution here Adam.

 

[tomson75]

Their depth sucks, but San Diego has to mentioned in this conversation. They've had two of the top 5 TE's in NFL history.

 

[jobberone]

Novacek was actually picked up in what was known as Plan B Free Agency at the time, just a fancy name for being claimed off of waivers as the Cardinals cut him before the start of the 1990 season.

Yes the blood line in Dallas has been royal at the position with Clarke, Ditka, DuPree, Smith, Cosbie, Novacek and now Witten manning the position for the last 40 years but there have been rough patches; particularly between 1996-2003, an era that saw Dallas audition the likes of Eric Bjornson, the often injured David LaFleur, Jackie Harris, Mike Lucky, James Whalen, OJ Santiago, Tony McGee before finding some stability with Dan Campbell the very year Jason Witten was drafted, by 2004 Witten was the starter and the position has been ace since then with respectable backups in Anthony Fasano, Tony Curtis and Martellus Bennett.

My bad. Novacek was also a decathlon champion and All-American in both football and decathlon. While not a native Texan he is a true cowboy in both senses of the word.

 

[Hostile]

Stats machine TEs like Tony Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe might skew the comparisons a little bit. I think Jason could break some TE records this year with a little good fortune on our side.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

IMO, Billy Joe Dupree is one of the most underrated TEs in history. The guy was one of the best in terms of TD% at 15.35% and averaged 13.4 yards per catch for his career. Compare his TD% with Tony Gonzalez's 8.29% and you get the idea.

Same here. Maybe it's because I was a kid then, but I always thought of Billy Joe as one of those devastating type TEs who was always making big plays and catching TDs. I thought he was considered one of the very best back then, but you don't hear a lot about him.

(And now I see Adam's numbers that it wasn't totally my imagination about him scoring a lot of touchdowns.)

Is it me or does Bennett remind a little of Billy Joe? Without looking up the stats, Billy Joe seemed like he had great height and long arms, and was always making catches up high or reaching out and catching it where the DB couldn't get to it.

 

[bbgun]

Doug Cosbie arrived in 79 as a third round pick. To me he was the first modern day TE for the Boys.

I always felt the "modern era" began in 1970 or thereabouts, meaning DuPree should have that designation. Doug was a very fine TE who, to this day, kinda gets overlooked. It sucks that Joe Montana was drafted six picks later, but Doug was a nice consolation prize.

http://img191.*************/img191/435/tomlandry41024.jpg

 

[Hostile]

I always felt the "modern era" began in 1970 or thereabouts, meaning DuPree should have that designation. Doug was a very fine TE who, to this day, kinda gets overlooked. It sucks that Joe Montana was drafted six picks later, but Doug was a nice consolation prize.

I have to agree on this because of the merger with the "pass happy" AFL happened in 1970. The passing game changed again in the 80's but the modern era began with the merger.

 

[DavyBaby]

I know this is crazy--but i was a huge fan of Jay Saldi. He actually got a decent amount of playing time for a third string tight end. Think about the tight end depth in the late 1970s/early 80s:
1. DuPree
2. Cosbie
3. Saldi

A pretty decent trifecta

 

[Manster68]

First of all, hats off to the starter of this thread. It is a fun one.

Secondly, hats off to Adam. The man did it again. Nice stats there friend.

Thirdly, I really liked Jay Saldi as well. When CBS would flash his picture on the TV I insisted that he was truly the ugliest player in Cowboys history.

Then Pat McQuisitan came along.

 

[Biggems]

Witten's numbers suck compared to what they could look like if we had a QB like Romo for his entire 5-6 year career. IMO, he would have at least 800 rec, 8000 yds, and 50 TDs by now.

 

[AdamJT13]

Novacek was actually picked up in what was known as Plan B Free Agency at the time, just a fancy name for being claimed off of waivers as the Cardinals cut him before the start of the 1990 season.

He wasn't cut, exactly. Plan B free agency let teams protect 37 players, and the rest became free agents. Novacek was left unprotected by the Cardinals, and we signed him.

 

[jobberone]

I always felt the "modern era" began in 1970 or thereabouts, meaning DuPree should have that designation. Doug was a very fine TE who, to this day, kinda gets overlooked. It sucks that Joe Montana was drafted six picks later, but Doug was a nice consolation prize.

http://img191.*************/img191/435/tomlandry41024.jpg

I meant it in the sense of he was the first Cowboy TE to fit today's prototypical TE. Not modern era of football.