He would've been an all-time great, but for

[LocimusPrime]

• E Williams injury
• Mike Irvin - injury. He's still an all time great, but I feel he had another 2-3 years to pad the stats

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Before everybody laughs, I want to put one name out there nobody would think of: David LaFleur.

I know he's considered a monumental bust, but he was just starting to come on in 1999 when he got back issues that ended his career. He had seven touchdown receptions that year, was a great blocker, and had enough speed to get downfield. In 2000, he played hurt, had just 12 catches, and fell out of the NFL as another Cowboys blunder.

LaFleur was never going to be a Jason Witten, but he was a complete tight end that could have done a lot of good things for a long time if not for that back.

 

[xwalker]

In my view, both were bitten by somewhat self-inflicted wounds but neither received any favors in terms of the quality of our drafting during their tenures.

It does feel like Romo, Witten and Ware were a bit "wasted".

Those players should have been be the core of championship teams. If the Cowboys had won a Super Bowl in that era, all 3 should could been HOF types. Romo had better numbers than most QBs in NFL history and Ware/Witten are obvious HOF choices. They might try to screw Witten on the HOF because they don't seem to put many TEs in. Romo obviously won't be a HOFer now. Ware seems like a lock.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Roy Williams 31.

People say he found religion and got married or no longer had Woodson idk what the real reason was. He was a top 3 safety by the end of his rookie season. I've never seen someone fall off the way he did. He was the most ferocious hitter I've seen in my 20 years as a fan and went completely soft very abruptly.

Roy Williams was over-rated in college and exposed in the pros.

 

[robbieruff]

But for lack of any measurable athletic ability, BrainPaint would've been an all-time great...

 

[DFWJC]

If it wasn't for not winning more playoff games........Tony Romo.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" an NFC championship game.......Danny White.

Yeah, almost goes without saying; top 4 QB rating in NFL history but often played with bad o-lines and horrendous defenses.
Had a small chance a couple of times (very slim chance 2007 and 2014) but it usually takes way more than that to get a ring.
I mean, guys like Rodgers and Brees...who are better...only have one each.

It was what it was.

 

[Scotman]

Before everybody laughs, I want to put one name out there nobody would think of: David LaFleur.

I know he's considered a monumental bust, but he was just starting to come on in 1999 when he got back issues that ended his career. He had seven touchdown receptions that year, was a great blocker, and had enough speed to get downfield. In 2000, he played hurt, had just 12 catches, and fell out of the NFL as another Cowboys blunder.

LaFleur was never going to be a Jason Witten, but he was a complete tight end that could have done a lot of good things for a long time if not for that back.

I put Romo, but I also thought of LeFleur. Just about the time it started coming together for him his back gave out. I totally agree with this.

 

[DFWJC]

If not for "the trade" Hershel Walker probably has a jacket.

Yeah, but nobody would ever deny his greatness.

 

[DFWJC]

I loved Duane Thomas. Two of my favorite quotes are from him and Roger:

DT: “If the Super Bowl is the ultimate game, how come there is another one next year?”
Roger: "I enjoy sex as much as Joe Namath, only I do it with one girl."

That quote by Roger was somewhat heroic, actually.

 

[Shadowfax]

Kevin "Pup" Smith. He was a shutdown corner that dominated everyone, including Jerry Rice. Tore his Achilles and was JAG.

 

[plasticman]

Some great choices, here are a few more:

LB Billy Cannon Jr.- 1984 1st round draft pick broke his neck halfway through his rookie year, this combined with the Sherrard injuries led the way to a talent gap and subsequent losing seasons

CB Kevin Smith - might have been the best CB ever drafted by the Cowboys but a foot injury ruined his career. I never saw another CB do a better job on covering Jerry Rice.

TE Todd Christensen - drafted as a FB, changed to TE, got into a contract dispute with Tex Shramm, This time Tex was wrong, Christiansen went on to a Pro Bowl career with the Raiders. Wait, it gets worse. Because he was no longer on the team, the Cowboys needed another TE, so in the 3rd round the Cowboys bypassed the BPA, a quarterback, and took TE Doug Cosby. Cosby had a nice career but nothing like the guy who the Cowboys passed over. The QB's name was Joe Montana. So, yeah, it would have been great, Montana a Cowboy, throwing to his TE, Todd Christiensen

Carl Lewis, as in Olympic Gold Medal hurldler, Carl Lewis drafted in the 12th round of 1984. Lewis decided against an NFL career.....such a shame. He could have been great.

DT Scott Appleton - the Cowboys drafted the big DT from Texas in the 1st round, 4th overall pick but he was stolen by the AFL when the Houston Oilers acquired him. Appleton was Staubach's nemesis during the college "championship" game featuring #1 ranked Texas against #2 ranked Navy. He would have been part of a devastating duo, him and Bob Lilly.

G Billy Shaw - Bob Lilly wasn't the only Hall of Famer taken by the Cowboys in their inaugural draft. Shaw was selected in the 14th round but, again, he got snatched by the AFL team Buffalo Bills.




,

 

[jobberone]

Duane Thomas

 

[jrumann59]

While Jimmy Smith may seem like blunder in hindsight he had a pretty bad condition and the expansion draft was a gamble. I can't fault the team for leaving him exposed he had not played much at all.

 

[Bullflop]

Jimmy Smith, the WR, (not the DB) was drafted in '92 and had a broken fibula in practice. In '93, he had an appendectomy with complications from a stomach infection and was put on IR. In '94, he refused to take a pay cut and was waived. He then went on to have a great career with the Jags. He would have made quite a potent WR combination with Michael Irving one side and himself on the other. Sigh . . .

 

[joseephuss]

DT Scott Appleton - the Cowboys drafted the big DT from Texas in the 1st round, 4th overall pick but he was stolen by the AFL when the Houston Oilers acquired him. Appleton was Staubach's nemesis during the college "championship" game featuring #1 ranked Texas against #2 ranked Navy. He would have been part of a devastating duo, him and Bob Lilly.
,

Dallas traded the rights to Appleton to Pittsburgh in exchange for a wide receiver who really did nothing for the Cowboys.

 

[joseephuss]

Jimmy Smith, the WR, (not the DB) was drafted in '92 and had a broken fibula in practice. In '93, he had an appendectomy with complications from a stomach infection and was put on IR. In '94, he refused to take a pay cut and was waived. He then went on to have a great career with the Jags. He would have made quite a potent WR combination with Michael Irving one side and himself on the other. Sigh . . .

He first went to Philly briefly and then made his way to the Jags. I was a Smith fan and was hoping Dallas could get him on the field more. That dang appendectomy really changed the course of his career. He would have been a great replacement for Harper.

 

[Doomsday101]

The tragic flaw for this player was the front office (Jerry Jones) failure to recognize a talented player they actually drafted, and subsequently waived quickly in 2 years.

The player that got away, and still was an all-time great.
But for his leg injury, emergency appendectomy (in which a preseason hit was a contributing factor), & Jerry Jones denying him his salary claiming that the appendectomy was a non-football condition, this player could have been a valuate asset for the Boys.

Jimmy Smith.

That was Jimmy Johnson call, Smith was never able to get on the field

 

[Western]

That was Jimmy Johnson call, Smith was never able to get on the field

Jimmy Smith played special teams for the 1992 season, and held a stellar preseason in 1993, until he suffered the emergency appendectomy.
The potential for success existed (for instance, Michael Irvin torn his ACL in 1989, and didn't play until the 4th game of the 1990 season).
Injuries happen to rookie WR's.

Jimmy Johnson exited the scene in March 1994.
Jimmy Smith was still under contract with Dallas in June 1994.
Jerry Jones, the GM released Jimmy Smith in the summer of 1994.
The "call" to release the player was on Jerry Jones, not Jimmy Johnson.
Releasing a 2nd round draft pick after two years underscored the incompetence of Jerry Jones.

 

[CWR]

Steven Jackson had he come here where he belonged instead of trading down for Juilus Jones. Im still pissed.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I've often wondered if Alexander Wright could have been a great receiver. He had blazing speed and showed promise early on, but ended up not making it.