EMMITTnROY's Countdown to Kickoff - My 66 Favorite Cowboys of All-Time

[EMMITTnROY]

61. Chuck Howley

Why he makes my list: Let's just check the credentials. Six Pro Bowls. Fourth member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Thirteen years as a Dallas Cowboy. First defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP, and the only player to this day to win Super Bowl MVP from a losing team. Picking off two passes and causing a Johnny Unitas fumble will make that happen. The next year, when the Cowboys beat Miami 24-3 in Super Bowl VI, Howley picked off Bob Griese and ran it back 41 yards to set up the Cowboys' nail-in-the-coffin touchdown. (By the way, that was the Dolphins' last loss before their perfect season run the next year.) And we've seen lots of underdog stories so far, so how about a nice feel-good comeback story? Howley was the Chicago Bears' first round draft pick in 1958, and hurt his knee so bad in his second year that he was forced into retirement. While the Cowboys were struggling through a winless first season as a franchise, Howley spent 1960 out of football. The next year, he tested his knee out at a West Virginia alumni football game and he decided it felt pretty good. The Cowboys, desperately seeking help, gave him a try out. I guess he did pretty well.

Would you like a Big Gulp with that? When Howley retired the first time and was out of football for a year, he went home to Wheeling, West Virginia and worked at a gas station. He was a 24 year old former first round draft pick, completely broke, and pumping gas for a living. Pity the fool that tried to shoplift at that place in 1960.

But what about the chess club? At West Virginia University, Howley lettered in varsity football, track, wrestling, gymnastics (!!), and swimming. I gotta be honest, I would pay good money to see an old tape of ol' Chuck doing a floor routine. A back handspring, a roundoff, a somersault, the uneven bars, the balance beam, something, I don't care. Heck, I'd even settle for a cartwheel or the splits.

(Chuck practicing for his face off with Lee Roy Jordan in Dance Dance Revolution.)

 

[Angus]

Thanks again.

 

[tyke1doe]

Skip Bayless was an idiot for going to the back of the plane. I would have stayed by behind in my seat.

But I guess it did make a great story, and that's what journalism is all about, if you're brave enough.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

i hope James Washington makes your list!

 

[EMMITTnROY]

60. Bonnie-Jill Laflin

Why she makes my list: Ummm.. Is this is a trick question? Just look directly north right now to get your answer. She is one of the hottest Cowboys Cheerleaders of all-time, but also one of the most successful and famous as well. Bonnie-Jill became a Cowboys cheerleader in 1996, after slumming for a couple of years with the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers cheerleading squads. Don't hold that against her, though, boys-- she moved from her home state to the Dallas area because she knew that the ultimate cheerleading gig was being one of America's Sweethearts. The next year, she was Miss August in the Cowboys Cheerleaders Calendar. The next year, she became Miss Dallas/Fort Worth USA. Bonnie-Jill has since become an actress, model, founder and CEO of a sports clothing line, dancer, sportscaster, TV host, and NBA scout. Where have you seen her before? Ally McBeal, Nash Bridges, The Jamie Foxx Show, Baywatch, Hotlines, SpeedWorld, Cold Pizza, and Howard Stern. Don't watch too much TV, more of a magazine reader? She has been featured in FHM, Stuff, Maxim, STUN!, Unleashed, OYE, Muscle and Fitness, and Fitness Rx. (OK, given, if you read those mags, that doesn't exactly qualify you as a magazine "reader"). Maybe you watch TV, but like me, only for football. Then you've probably seen her in commercials for Nike, Fritos, FedEx, Wrangler, Carl's Jr, Miller Genuine Draft, Budweiser, McDonald's, Bacardi, and Coors. You watch much MTV, VH1, or CMT? She has been in videos for Lou Bega ("Mambo Mambo" and "Tricky Tricky"), Little Texas (God Bless Texas), and Creed ("What If"). After all this success, you know what, to this day, she attributes all of it? Being a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.


WOW: Bonnie-Jill, working for the Los Angeles Lakers, is the first ever female NBA scout. She is also the assistant GM for the Lakers' new developmental team.

Proof that her allegiance still lies with the Boys: Bonnie-Jill has two Calico cats. Their names are Dallas and Star.

WOW Part II: Bonnie-Jill is one of the only people in the world with both a Super Bowl ring (as a cheerleader with the 49ers in 1994) and an NBA championship ring (she has three, for assisting and scouting with the Lakers during their 1999-2001 run).

Quotables: Askmen.com has called her "The Ultimate Cheerleader". Formen.ign.com says "ESPN went and built the perfect woman." Maxim magazine lists her at #95 in their 2005 "Hot 100 Women In The World". FHM magazine listed her as one of the hottest and "Most Eligible" women in the world.

You remember this commercial?? I sure do. My friend and I always talked about the girl at the end that turns around and smiles and how perfect and hot she was. We used to watch that commercial and just sit there and say "wait for it... wait for it.." That girl was Bonnie-Jill Laflin.

PS: do yourself a favor and go to bonnie-jill.com

 

[cowboyeric8]

I'm not so sure she is worthy of #1

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Tui's life was cut way to short .....RIP

 

[Angus]

More thanks! I'd say you are more than a fan of Bonnie-Jill: perhaps a devotee?

 

[Kangaroo]

More thanks! I'd say you are more than a fan of Bonnie-Jill: perhaps a devotee?

You noticed he stopped posting after that one; I bet he had to go buy a new keyboard from all the drool and :jerk:he splashed on it.

 

[5Stars]

Damn, she is hot!

I never knew, or even considered, that the Cheerleaders got SuperBowl rings, too!

Wow, that's cool...

Did anyone else know that?

 

[EMMITTnROY]

I'm not so sure she is worthy of #1

yeah, I think you may be right.. I probably underrated her a little..

More thanks! I'd say you are more than a fan of Bonnie-Jill: perhaps a devotee?

more thanks for the thanks! and yes.. fan.. devotee.. stalker.. I have so many names..

You noticed he stopped posting after that one; I bet he had to go buy a new keyboard from all the drool and :jerk:he splashed on it.

haha! nope, im still on my one featured Cowboy a day schedule.. i just havent got to post today cause I started a new job.. there will be a new one tomorrow.. ps-- i have a really funny comeback to your post, but i dont wanna get banned.. but just know that I had one!!

Damn, she is hot!

I never knew, or even considered, that the Cheerleaders got SuperBowl rings, too!

Wow, that's cool...

Did anyone else know that?

yeah, pretty cool, huh? I gotta be honest, I had never thought about it either.. and if I had, I wouldnt have thought that they would get one..

 

[Kangaroo]

yeah, I think you may be right.. I probably underrated her a little..


more thanks for the thanks! and yes.. fan.. devotee.. stalker.. I have so many names..


haha! nope, im still on my one featured Cowboy a day schedule.. i just havent got to post today cause I started a new job.. there will be a new one tomorrow.. ps-- i have a really funny comeback to your post, but i dont wanna get banned.. but just know that I had one!!


yeah, pretty cool, huh? I gotta be honest, I had never thought about it either.. and if I had, I wouldnt have thought that they would get one..

You are doing great just could not pass up the opportunity and I hope you know it was in jest :

 

[EMMITTnROY]

You are doing great just could not pass up the opportunity and I hope you know it was in jest :

Thanks man.. and yep, I know you were kidding.. I actually laughed out loud when I read it..

#59 coming up..

 

[EMMITTnROY]

#59. James Washington

Why he makes my list: There was just something about James Washington. Maybe it was the doo rag, I dunno. But I just liked the guy. He wasn't a superstar (heck, that picture you see is the ONLY picture I could find of him in a Cowboys uniform on the internet). He wasn't a household name. He never made a Pro Bowl. But he could cover a reciever and he could light up a runningback. He would get you some interceptions and force you some fumbles. He had a swagger. And a doo rag. Plus, he came up big in some big games. How big? He intercepted a Jim Kelly pass in Super Bowl XXVII, but that was just a warmup. Emmitt won the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, and he definately deserved it. But if they gave a Super Bowl MVP Runnerup trophy, Washington would have won it hands down. Why? How about a forced fumble, an interception, and a fumble recovery returned 46 yards for a touchdown. His teammates loved him, and he loved his teammates. He personified the Cowboys of the 90s: swagger, heart, toughness, talent, team player.

Why he'd be a hit at funerals: During Emmitt Smith's retirement ceremony, Emmitt was saying his thank you's to all his former teammates. As he was reading his list, he got more and more choked up. When he got to the name "Daryl Johnston", Emmitt was to the point that he could hardly even speak as the tears were welling up and his voice kept cracking. Then out of the corner of the packed press conference room, a voice breaks the tension, saying, "That's all right dog." The entire place busted out laughing, including Emmitt. The tears were replaced by laughter and smiles, and Emmitt was able to continue on. Once again, James Washington was looking out for a teammate.

What do Michael Irvin's snub and cowpies have in common?: When Michael Irvin missed out on making the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, Washington was a wee bit upset. "I think it's bull----." He wasn't done. "I think it's bull----, and you can write that." He still wasn't done. "You're talking about a guy who changed the way you play the game, a guy who changed the way that teams drafted cornerbacks. You'd double cover Michael, and he'd still be making plays." Still not done. Washington had one last zinger in him. "We didn't double Art Monk." Cowboys fans everywhere, please take this moment to applaude one Mr. James Washington.

Washington's looking all GQ in his press picture for FoxSports Radio.. I'm guessing he wasn't live on the air when he related his thoughts on Michael Irvin not making the Hall..

 

[cowboyeric8]

Great write up on James. Very worthy

 

[Funxva]

We didn't double Art Monk."

This man was worthy definately. This statement made him god-like in my view. Epitome of a Cowboy.

 

[Kangaroo]

#59. James Washington

Why he makes my list: There was just something about James Washington. Maybe it was the doo rag, I dunno. But I just liked the guy. He wasn't a superstar (heck, that picture you see is the ONLY picture I could find of him in a Cowboys uniform on the internet). He wasn't a household name. He never made a Pro Bowl. But he could cover a reciever and he could light up a runningback. He would get you some interceptions and force you some fumbles. He had a swagger. And a doo rag. Plus, he came up big in some big games. How big? He intercepted a Jim Kelly pass in Super Bowl XXVII, but that was just a warmup. Emmitt won the Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, and he definately deserved it. But if they gave a Super Bowl MVP Runnerup trophy, Washington would have won it hands down. Why? How about a forced fumble, an interception, and a fumble recovery returned 46 yards for a touchdown. His teammates loved him, and he loved his teammates. He personified the Cowboys of the 90s: swagger, heart, toughness, talent, team player.

Why he'd be a hit at funerals: During Emmitt Smith's retirement ceremony, Emmitt was saying his thank you's to all his former teammates. As he was reading his list, he got more and more choked up. When he got to the name "Daryl Johnston", Emmitt was to the point that he could hardly even speak as the tears were welling up and his voice kept cracking. Then out of the corner of the packed press conference room, a voice breaks the tension, saying, "That's all right dog." The entire place busted out laughing, including Emmitt. The tears were replaced by laughter and smiles, and Emmitt was able to continue on. Once again, James Washington was looking out for a teammate.

What do Michael Irvin's snub and cowpies have in common?: When Michael Irvin missed out on making the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, Washington was a wee bit upset. "I think it's bull----." He wasn't done. "I think it's bull----, and you can write that." He still wasn't done. "You're talking about a guy who changed the way you play the game, a guy who changed the way that teams drafted cornerbacks. You'd double cover Michael, and he'd still be making plays." Still not done. Washington had one last zinger in him. "We didn't double Art Monk." Cowboys fans everywhere, please take this moment to applaude one Mr. James Washington.

Washington's looking all GQ in his press picture for FoxSports Radio.. I'm guessing he wasn't live on the air when he related his thoughts on Michael Irvin not making the Hall..

He is a great interview they had him on a show last year or so and they asked him about Emmitt and the MVP in that superbowl he said it is my own fault I should never have given the ball back to Emmitt should have ran it in for a TD. Man what a safety collection we had back then in those SuperBowl runs just think on it.

Washington, Everret, Gant (shark dance), Woodson, Marion that is quite of bit of solid talent at safety

 

[sf49rh8r]

66. Mark Tuinei

Why he makes my list: Mark Tuinei played 15 years, his entire NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. So he is one of the longest tenured Cowboys of all-time. He made the Pro Bowl twice and was a critical part of the Cowboys' three Super Bowl championships in the 90s. He blocked for three of the best Cowboys runningbacks of all-time, Tony Dorsett, Herschel Walker, and Emmitt Smith.

Fun stuff: Tuinei was an underdog story. He actually made the Cowboys squad as an undrafted rookie free agent from Hawaii in 1983 and at the time, he was actually a defensive lineman. He was switched to the offensive line in 1985 and became a full-time starter in 1987. He actually ended up playing the most critical position on the O-Line, left tackle. So this undrafted free agent defensive lineman ended up playing the most important offensive line position for a 3 time Super Bowl championship team.

Tragic End: At the young age of 39, and just two years after he retired from the Cowboys because of bad knees, a friend found Tuinei unconscious in his car. He was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital.

Mark was a college teammate of mine back in the day and one of my highlights was that of his wife Pono letting me put on his Super Bowl ring. Mark was genuinely a good guy and is missed by all of Hawaii. In fact the year that he made his the Pro Bowl he and Jesse Sapolu both hosted a dinner for all former alumni to attend. Mark brought along with him Mark Stepnoski and Daryl Johnston. Rest in Peace my Brother. May he forever be remembered for the greatness he did and not how he left us. Thanks for putting him on the list.

 

[sf49rh8r]

Got a great shot of myself and a classmate at our class reunion with one of the all time great Cowboys. Ed "Too Tall" Jones. I'd love to post it but my computer skills are that advanced. LOL!!

Kyle

 

[paladin]

This thread is an oasis in the middle of the Texas summer
Cool, crisp and refreshing
I can't dispute a single ranking, it's your list of favs.

I remember a spags(?) article during Patrick Craytons rookie training camp recounting truly epic efforts during his college days and foreshadowing coming days. For some reason he's caught my eye ever since.

Thanks for the ongoing effort, I look forward to the rest.