HOF Cowboy O line

[burmafrd]

Rayfield Wright Is in. Larry Allen will be a first ballot guy.
John Niland should frankly have made it in. Maybe he will someday. We have several more that are just on the edge of maybe being good enough. Step I think has a chance. Sad about Eric Williams injury- there is no doubt he would have gone in without it. Some day far in the future maybe we will have five guys in the HOF that started on our O line.

 

[BourbonBalz]

God, I keep hoping we will one day find another Erik Williams. Loved how that guy played. Big, strong, nasty. He didn't take any crap off anyone, including Reggie White. We sure could use another just like him. Anyone heard any news recently regarding advances in cloning?

 

[sureletsrace]

God, I keep hoping we will one day find another Erik Williams. Loved how that guy played. Big, strong, nasty. He didn't take any crap off anyone, including Reggie White. We sure could use another just like him. Anyone heard any news recently regarding advances in cloning?

If so, can we please just clone 5 Larry Allens? plzplzplz

 

[BAT]

IMO Ralph Neely and even Nate Newton need to be at least honorable mentions. Even though Nate was a bit overrated, thank Madden for that.


I also think Erik Williams should be in both the HOF and ROH. I don't think I have ever seen as dominant an OL (during his admittedly short peak) as Erik Williams, that includes Larry Allen.

 

[joseephuss]

Larry Allen will be the only Dallas Hall of Fame offensive lineman. Niland and Neely are probably deserving, but I can't see them making it after all this time. It took much too long to get Wright in the HoF as is.

The argument is that Emmitt ran behind such a great line, but only one of those guys will make the HoF and that is Allen. Emmitt won 3 rushing titles and was part of 2 SB championships before Larry joined the Cowboys.

 

[RS12]

Rayfield Wright Is in. Larry Allen will be a first ballot guy.
John Niland should frankly have made it in. Maybe he will someday. We have several more that are just on the edge of maybe being good enough. Step I think has a chance. Sad about Eric Williams injury- there is no doubt he would have gone in without it. Some day far in the future maybe we will have five guys in the HOF that started on our O line.

You think Mark Stepnoski has a sniff at Canton? Sorry I just dont see it. Nice player, didnt do it long enough.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Larry Allen will be the only Dallas Hall of Fame offensive lineman. Niland and Neely are probably deserving, but I can't see them making it after all this time. It took much too long to get Wright in the HoF as is.

The argument is that Emmitt ran behind such a great line, but only one of those guys will make the HoF and that is Allen. Emmitt won 3 rushing titles and was part of 2 SB championships before Larry joined the Cowboys.

I assume you mean other than Rayfield Wright.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Had Erik Williams not had a brain fart and almost killed himself in that car accident, I think he would've been a surefire HOFer. Too bad the injuries took their toll and shortened his career.

 

[Manster68]

God, I keep hoping we will one day find another Erik Williams. Loved how that guy played. Big, strong, nasty. He didn't take any crap off anyone, including Reggie White. We sure could use another just like him. Anyone heard any news recently regarding advances in cloning?

Before the injury, Big E was the best offensive lineman I had ever seen. Even better than Larry Allen throughout his entire body of work.

How many offensive linemen do you know that got named Offensive Player of the Week?

That's right... ONE! >>>>>> Erik Williams!

He is the only one ever to do that.

And who did he do that against?

Oh Yeah!

Reggie White! ------ Sunday, November 1, 1992 ---- Look it up counselor.

 

[joseephuss]

Before the injury, Big E was the best offensive lineman I had ever seen. Even better than Larry Allen throughout his entire body of work.

How many offensive linemen do you know that got named Offensive Player of the Week?

That's right... ONE! >>>>>> Erik Williams!

He is the only one ever to do that.

And who did he do that against?

Oh Yeah!

Reggie White! ------ Sunday, November 1, 1992 ---- Look it up counselor.

It is a close battle, but I give the slight edge to Allen. He was very dominate. Defenders hated to see him pulling from the guard position and coming at them. They began to run way around him and take themselves out of the play rather than face him. Plus Allen could play more than one position. Williams was a right OT. Allen could play the much harder position of left OT.

 

[Manster68]

It is a close battle, but I give the slight edge to Allen. He was very dominate. Defenders hated to see him pulling from the guard position and coming at them. They began to run way around him and take themselves out of the play rather than face him. Plus Allen could play more than one position. Williams was a right OT. Allen could play the much harder position of left OT.

I am with you Joseephuss, it is a close battle. It is too bad that we will never truly know.

In 1996, William Fuller was being interviewed on ESPN (that show that used to star Roy Firestone). He was asked who is the best tackle he ever faced. Without a hesitation in his breath, he said Erik Williams.

Considering Fuller went up against the likes of Bruce Matthews, Randall McDaniel, Anthony Munoz, Willie Roaf, Jumbo Elliott, Harris Barton, and Jackie Slater, I think this says volumes in terms of Erik Williams.

But yeah, Larry Allen - best ever? I don't have a problem with that at all.

 

[THUMPER]

Before the injury, Big E was the best offensive lineman I had ever seen. Even better than Larry Allen throughout his entire body of work.

How many offensive linemen do you know that got named Offensive Player of the Week?

That's right... ONE! >>>>>> Erik Williams!

He is the only one ever to do that.

And who did he do that against?

Oh Yeah!

Reggie White! ------ Sunday, November 1, 1992 ---- Look it up counselor.

One of the main reasons why I liked Erik Williams so much was because of how he played against, and frustrated Wedgie Whine! That playoff game in 1995 against the Packers when he had Wedgie crying on the sidelines and cussing at the cameraman was one of the true highlights of my life as a Cowboys fan.

Can you tell I didn't like Wedgie? Great player but I couldn't stand the guy so I loved it when Big-E would shut him down and shut him up.

 

[Manster68]

One of the main reasons why I liked Erik Williams so much was because of how he played against, and frustrated Wedgie Whine! That playoff game in 1995 against the Packers when he had Wedgie crying on the sidelines and cussing at the cameraman was one of the true highlights of my life as a Cowboys fan.

Can you tell I didn't like Wedgie? Great player but I couldn't stand the guy so I loved it when Big-E would shut him down and shut him up.

Okay Thumper, tell me what happened right after that season?

Yeah, Reggie went crying to the NFL about Erik Williams (even after his accident) beating him up - and that is not supposed to happen to Reggie White!

That is when the "Erik Williams Rule" came into effect. BTW, the "Emmitt Smith" rule went into effect then also (but that is a different topic).

To stay with the main topic, I think many people don't realize just how good John Niland was. He dominated his postion from 1967-1973. Gene Upshaw and Larry Little got the fanfare though being from the upstart conference. So Niland will never make the Hall unfortunately.

If you ever get to see the DVD of Super Bowl VI, watch on the opening drive in the 3rd quarter, near midfield. Niland will pull to his right, turn upfield, and annihilated HOF MLB Nick Buoniconti. He sends him back over 5 yards. Niland did that to so many players.

 

[burmafrd]

Niland was just plain mean. He had the nasty disposition you want in an O lineman. He beat up on people. AND he was the best guard playing at that time= he was only 250 lbs but he dominated people. The Only guard I know of that was able to stop Merlin Olsen in his prime. And merlin was almost as good as Lilly.

 

[BAT]

Niland was just plain mean. He had the nasty disposition you want in an O lineman. He beat up on people. AND he was the best guard playing at that time= he was only 250 lbs but he dominated people. The Only guard I know of that was able to stop Merlin Olsen in his prime. And merlin was almost as good as Lilly.

Yep. Niland was a beast. But the Cowboy OL who made All Decade Teams (more distinction than pro bowls IMO) are:

1960's: Ralph Neely
1970's: Rayfield Wright
1980's: None
1990's: Larry Allen, Mark Stepnoski


*I honestly believe that Erik Williams was more deserving than Stepnoski, but he was one of the top centers of his time (even when he was not w/the Cowboys).

 

[THUMPER]

Okay Thumper, tell me what happened right after that season?

Yeah, Reggie went crying to the NFL about Erik Williams (even after his accident) beating him up - and that is not supposed to happen to Reggie White!

That is when the "Erik Williams Rule" came into effect. BTW, the "Emmitt Smith" rule went into effect then also (but that is a different topic).

You're right, that really ticked me off too. That pencil-neck Tagliaboob just gave in to the hype that Wedgie was unstoppable and therefore Williams must have cheated in order to shut him down like that. Thus the "Erik Williams Hands-To-The-Face Rule" was born. Wen you watch that playoff game you see very few times hat Big-E gets his hands in Wedgie's face but a lot of times when he has them in his chest and is pushing him to the ground or away from the play.

To stay with the main topic, I think many people don't realize just how good John Niland was. He dominated his postion from 1967-1973. Gene Upshaw and Larry Little got the fanfare though being from the upstart conference. So Niland will never make the Hall unfortunately.

If you ever get to see the DVD of Super Bowl VI, watch on the opening drive in the 3rd quarter, near midfield. Niland will pull to his right, turn upfield, and annihilated HOF MLB Nick Buoniconti. He sends him back over 5 yards. Niland did that to so many players.

I have been pushing for Niland to be recognized by the Hall for over 20 years now. From 1968-73 he was made 6 consecutive PB appearances, and from '69-74 6 consecutive times named to one All-NFL/All-Conference team or another, and twice named AP 1st team All-Pro. All that in 9 seasons with the Cowboys! He played one more year with the Eagles in 1975.

Niland had issues with domestic violence after he left the Cowboys (probably before too but he wasn't busted for it) as well as drug and alcohol addiction and finally a year in prison for bank-loan improprieties. I believe THAT is what kept him from receiving serious consideration by the mediots on the HoF Selection Committee. Well, that and the fact that he was a Dallas Cowboy for most of his career.

His on-the-field performance was certainly worthy of induction into the HoF and that was the excuse they used for Lawrence Taylor. I'm not saying that Niland was the greatest OG to ever play the game but he has never been given serious consideration by the HoF and has never been a finalist.

"That ain't right."

 

[burmafrd]

Neely was very good no arguement at all. I liked Niland because I have seen film of him standing up Merlin Olsen and other top DTs. I saw him pancake Rosie Grier!!

 

[THUMPER]

Neely was very good no arguement at all. I liked Niland because I have seen film of him standing up Merlin Olsen and other top DTs. I saw him pancake Rosie Grier!!

For some reason, Niland had his best success against the bigger DTs but struggled against guys like Alan Page. It also seemed to be something about the Rams' DTs that he did well against. Olsen-270, Grier-285, & Roger Brown-300 were all huge guys for their day but Niland had great success against them through the years.

Speaking of Roger Brown, he's another guy that's been overlooked by the HoF mediots (he's never been a finalist). Pretty much the same stats as Niland in terms of PBs & AP1s. He also played 10 seasons (Lions & Rams). I think he was underrated because he was so big but that's just so stupid IMO.

It's the same lame argument that I hear about Wilt Chamberlain, that he wasn't really that great because he was so much bigger than everyone else. The same goes for the Jim-Brown-was-not-much-smaller-than-the-DLs-he-played-against crap.

There were lots of guys their size but not with their talent. It's not like there weren't 300-lb guys who tried to make it in the NFL, or players over 7-feet in the NBA, or RBs over 230 lbs. There were but they didn't have the skills that these guys did.

Anyway, Roger Brown should receive serious consideration for the HoF.