Favorite whipping boys from the glory years

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Certainly a disappointment for a 1st overall pick. But it wasn't his fault where he was picked. It was a pretty poor draft class...lot of forgettable names in the top 10 of that draft.

Maryland was decent. Always gave his best. Just didn't have a lot of tools.

Sure, I was a wee lad. I just remember Jimmie Jones was from the same class and outplayed him.

 

[buybuydandavis]

players that were the equivalent of a Jeff Heath

There is only one GOAT!

 

[buybuydandavis]

Who were some of the players from the glory years of the 70’s and 90’s that you loved to rag on? I’m talking about players that were the equivalent of a Jeff Heath or Nick Hayden type player back then, those who didn’t deserve to see the field. Even though those were our glory years, I’m sure there were players that you just loathed.

Many of the whipping boys *were* my favorites, including Heath. Especially Heath.
I'm also President of the Phil Costa fan club, though also the only member I'm aware of.

I love players who outplay their draft pick and/or contract.
That includes Nick Hayden.

Don't blame them for management not providing better options.

 

[buybuydandavis]

CB Larry Brown coverage used to give me fits.

Most of us knew the Raiders were buying fools gold when they signed him after the Steelers QB odonnel gifted him with a couple gimme interceptions in the SB

People overestimate DBs so easily when they get a couple of easy picks.
One of the bigger failings in the draft. See Mo for details.

 

[T-RO]

Many of the whipping boys *were* my favorites, including Heath. Especially Heath.
I'm also President of the Phil Costa fan club, though also the only member I'm aware of.

I love players who outplay their draft pick and/or contract.
That includes Nick Hayden.

Don't blame them for management not providing better options.

Best post of the thread.

I hated--really hated--seeing Costa on the field but the dude was undrafted! He over-performed while the Cowboys front office wildly under-performed, making his playing time necessary.

Heath also wildly outperformed his expectations, the money invested in him...and actually contributed. He was great ST player and not a horrible safety. Should have never been a starter, sure. Not his fault.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Russell Maryland was a huge disappointment. 1st overall pick and was being outplayed by Jones and Casillas. Not that those two were not good players. 1st overall is supposed to be a difference maker. Maryland was not.

Russell "Oww Oww My Toe" Maryland.
Certainly didn't deliver #1 Pick value.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Best post of the thread.

I hated--really hated--seeing Costa on the field but the dude was undrafted! He over-performed while the Cowboys front office wildly under-performed, making his playing time necessary.

Costa provided some highlite reel material with his mystery snaps though!
Really a testament to Tony that he didn't lose many, if any, of those.
Did he lose *any* of them? I don't remember one.
It was really absurd how many of those mystery snaps Costa served up. Part of the fun of Phil.
But aside from the mystery snaps, Costa was having a good season starting until the nasty ankle injury ended him. We certainly weren't better off the next year with Ryan Cook at C.

EDIT: We couldn't have started Cost w/o Tony fielding his snaps. It just would have been unacceptable with any other QB, thought I don't remember any other QB ever having to field so many.

 

[ottawacowpoke]

When I saw the Thread Title I was thinking the OP meant the Cardinals.

 

[TexasBoys2288]

None were whipping boys in my book, because they were winners. Those teams took the field and the fans knew that they would play the game at 110% and give everything they had to win. Even the guys that sucked gave it all they had.

 

[shabazz]

Dude big cat was a great player though, 3 bad plays vs all the great plays he made. but yeah people remeber Thanksgiving and not the relentless pressure he could bring to a game.

I’m hope I’m wrong about this but has there been a better defensive tackle better than leon Lett here the last couple decades?

id even argue that he was as good as or better than 1st rounder Russell Maryland

 

[BoysForLife]

Rafael Septien

For the off the field issue not his on field performance

Concur. Took advantage of a handicapped girl didn't he?

 

[tomokawan]

Terrence Newman. Drew Brees loved him.

 

[Big_D]

You dont look for a whipping boy when you are winning championships

You don’t know the team will win the Super as the season plays out.

 

[Hennessy_King]

You don’t know the team will win the Super as the season plays out.

Once a coach and team win one they get the benefit of the doubt moving forward.

 

[bb721]

Why do some feel they need a whipping boy all the time.
Why not root for every player.

Bingo

 

[bb721]

Lance Rentzel. If you don’t know, Google him…….

 

[MikeT22]

At first fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Aikman, so many wanted Walsh instead!

LOL

 

[plasticman]

The list was long and undistinguished.......and often undeserved in the longrun.

However,

Craig Morton - A 1st round pick of the Cowboys, they drafted him purely for the strength of his arm. Previously, they were unable to find a QB with a strong enough arm to throw long to Bob Hayes without Bob having to slow down or even go back, to get the ball.

Craig could throw the ball long. He couldn't do anything else.

Well, actually, there was something else he could do. He could break your heart halfway through the 4th quarter of a close game. I know I'm wrong....technically.... but it seemed like every INT he ever threw was when a game was hanging in the balance. He was a consumate choker,

Oh, I'm not just referring to the 4th quarter, In the really big games he gave you nothing. Nothing!

Think I'm exaggerating?

One element that helped the Cowboys to win Super Bowl 12 over the Broncos was the fact that their QB eventually became none other than Craig "INT for a TD" Morton.

And his passer rating in "the Big Game" ? 0. Yes, 0, as in nothing, nada, zilch, empty set,

Now imagine, if you can, that guy as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys......with Roger Staubach sitting on the bench. Such was The Nightmare of 1970.

Ever so luckily, that was also the year that Landry unleashed one of the most dominant defensive seasons in NFL history. Actually it was the most dominant half season. They struggled mightily in the first half of the season with a nice assist from you know who.

The Cowboys started 5-4 in a 14 game season. They went undefeated the rest of the way. They did it almost entirely by the defense, although Craig did the one thing he was drafted for in one game against the hapless Oilers. He threw 4 long bombs for TD's, 3 to Hayes.

However, they beat the Browns 6-2 as Morton threw 3 INT's and the Brown's only score was a safety. Not only did Morton do nothing offensively, but he also even denied the Cowboys defense their shutout.

The Cowboys beat the Lions 5-0 in the divisional round of the playoffs. Most likely, Morton was being pressured by two defenses that day. He showed it. In a three point loss in Super Bowl 5, he threw three INT's. In 1971 he was eventually replaced by Roger Staubach and the rest is the good part of history.

My views on Craig Morton did change at some point in my life.

In the end, Craig Morton was an incredible asset to the Cowboys. Not only did his trade result in the draft pick that was used to select HOFer Randy White, but as previously mentioned, he gifted the Cowboys with a championship. I feel that kind of makes us even.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I’m hope I’m wrong about this but has there been a better defensive tackle better than leon Lett here the last couple decades?

id even argue that he was as good as or better than 1st rounder Russell Maryland

I'd give the edge to Leon over Maryland.

I'm blanking on the name, but we signed one DT in the early 2000s who was very good.,

Here he is.
Glover - 2002-2005 made the Pro Bowl for us every year.
Made the 2000s All Decade Team, but is probably just outside HOF range.

Best DT of the Jerry years, and that's a *long* time.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Heath also wildly outperformed his expectations, the money invested in him...and actually contributed. He was great ST player and not a horrible safety. Should have never been a starter, sure. Not his fault.

Heath should have played more single high. Had the speed, tacking, and hands for it, though he could be juked. Also had developed a knack for breaking on balls.
In coverage, he needed to keep the play in front of him, but they loved to play him close to the LOS where his poor lateral agility got exposed.
Like many players here, forced out of his natural roles to fill holes on the team. Helped the team, but didn't help his image. Playing over half the ST snaps surely didn't help him look good on defense, but it sure helped the team.