Plankton
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https://www.si.com/2017/11/01/dalla...r-staubach-troy-aikman-tony-romo-dak-prescott
Don Meredith lit his cigar and took a puff as he nodded along to his coach’s lecture. Tom Landry stood facing the chalkboard, presiding over one last quarterbacks meeting before the 1968 Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Landry allowed his players to smoke inside meeting rooms, and in training camp that year Meredith had persuaded many of his teammates to trade in their cigarettes for cigars. Meredith had recently perfected the art of twirling the cigar around in his fingers and enjoyed showing off his tricks, especially during meetings that dragged on, like this one. “He twirled it like guys used to do with silver dollars as magicians,” recalls Meredith’s backup, Craig Morton.
Meredith tapped Morton to get his attention. “Hey, Curly, watch this one!”
Landry turned and barked, “Don, are you listening to me?”
Flustered, Meredith quickly put the cigar back in his mouth. Too late, he realized he’d accidentally inserted the wrong end. Meredith violently spit the cigar out. It hit the chalkboard and landed next to Landry. “There were ashes everywhere, ashes over Coach Landry, as Meredith is spitting and choking,” Morton remembers.
Meredith and Landry, 1967.
Getty Images
Meredith leaned over and stuck his tongue out to reveal a big, red blister, sending Morton into a fit of laughter. Landry stood motionless, unamused. “Craig,” he said, “would you like to leave the room to try to control yourself?”
Even if they weren’t always so behind closed doors, make no mistake: Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks have always been among the coolest cats in sports. Meredith was one of the first in a line of Cowboys quarterbacks who turned the position into an iconic role in sports. In total, 40 men have started a game for Dallas, some more memorably than others.
What’s it like to be the leading man on America’s Team? Hear it from 17 men who’ve held the job. It’s not just about the fame and fortune. Close, but no cigar.
Don Meredith lit his cigar and took a puff as he nodded along to his coach’s lecture. Tom Landry stood facing the chalkboard, presiding over one last quarterbacks meeting before the 1968 Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. Landry allowed his players to smoke inside meeting rooms, and in training camp that year Meredith had persuaded many of his teammates to trade in their cigarettes for cigars. Meredith had recently perfected the art of twirling the cigar around in his fingers and enjoyed showing off his tricks, especially during meetings that dragged on, like this one. “He twirled it like guys used to do with silver dollars as magicians,” recalls Meredith’s backup, Craig Morton.
Meredith tapped Morton to get his attention. “Hey, Curly, watch this one!”
Landry turned and barked, “Don, are you listening to me?”
Flustered, Meredith quickly put the cigar back in his mouth. Too late, he realized he’d accidentally inserted the wrong end. Meredith violently spit the cigar out. It hit the chalkboard and landed next to Landry. “There were ashes everywhere, ashes over Coach Landry, as Meredith is spitting and choking,” Morton remembers.
Meredith and Landry, 1967.
Getty Images
Meredith leaned over and stuck his tongue out to reveal a big, red blister, sending Morton into a fit of laughter. Landry stood motionless, unamused. “Craig,” he said, “would you like to leave the room to try to control yourself?”
Even if they weren’t always so behind closed doors, make no mistake: Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks have always been among the coolest cats in sports. Meredith was one of the first in a line of Cowboys quarterbacks who turned the position into an iconic role in sports. In total, 40 men have started a game for Dallas, some more memorably than others.
What’s it like to be the leading man on America’s Team? Hear it from 17 men who’ve held the job. It’s not just about the fame and fortune. Close, but no cigar.
