Question For old timers and 90s Cowboy fans

[LucaBrasi]

If I had to rank the 88s

Irvin
Pearson
Dez Bryant

Antonio Bryant
The great Jackie Harris

Everyone else I never saw play the Colin Ridgways and Ron Sellers.

Irvin - you knew he was getting the ball, you couldn't do much about it.

Pearson - Mr Clutch. Enough said

Bryant - he's prolific at scoring - 65 TDs, he was dominant in 2014, injuries have slowed him. A good player, that is sometimes great.

Tough to compare eras, they throw more in this era, and the rules make it easier to do so. It doesn't matter to me what # a guy is, I guess Jerry has made a big deal about 88 and to an extent when Ware wore #94, but just produce and win, that's all I care about honestly.

 

[xwalker]

Seen on here and heard on radio stations along with the Break and Talkin Cowboys people have been all over Dez. Here is my question has Dez lived up too the jersey number he wears 88. 88 means something to us Boys fans just like 33 12 22 8 and 82 will one day . As a boys fan from birth my 88 will always be Irvin has Dez lived up too the 88 club

Not even close.

Irvin was clutch.

Irvin was the emotional AND work ethic leader of 3 Super Bowl teams.

Irvin was distraught when they lost.

Irvin got every ounce out of his ability.

 

[Bullflop]

Dez is what he is and that's a very good WR when healthy. As far as living up to what Irvin was, the answer is no. Irvin was very consistent and an extremely clutch performer, even against many elite CBs. Unfortunately, Dez is neither consistent nor clutch, certainly when compared to Michael Irvin. Actually, there's no real shame in that. Very few have or ever will fit into that lofty category. Irvin will always be known as one for the ages.

 

[rockj7]

Kind of a bad time to ask this question coming off dez's performance last week

Bark I asked the question because I had asked my Dad a Boys fan As well I said Pop if Dezs number was let's say number 85 or 81 or whatever number would people be on him. I'll use another example to a much much much bigger extint Lebron and the number 23 when you wear a particular number expectations are given fair or unfair. that's why I posed the question.

 

[landroverking]

IMO no

 

[xwalker]

I love Mike. But Dez just tied his TD record in about 5 3/4 seasons.

There was an on going joke back then about Irvin getting them to the 1 yard line and then Emmitt got credit for the TD.

They didn't really need to pass in the red zone because they could just bully their way in with the run.

 

[Everson24]

No Dez has not fully lived up to Irvin's number. He still has time, but Micheal was truly clutch in the biggest games. He did have a fumble early in that 1994 Championship game that contributed in the Cowboys failing to win 3 straight Super Bowls, but he always showed up ready to play. He was the heart and soul of the 90s Cowboys.

Dez just disappears at all the wrong times it seems. The one exception was the second Eagles game in 2014 when he had 3 TDs. Every big game we play, I keep hoping that Dez will show up big but all too often we are left wanting. He is great in the red zone, but not nearly clutch enough throughout the game.

 

[brymatt94]

May be a Millenials v.s. Baby Boomer debate.

 

[Bullflop]

Even Drew Pearson, also #88, would rate as a better all-around receiver in my estimation. He was extremely clutch and consistent as well. Unfortunately, his career was cut a bit short by an auto accident when he hit the back of a semi. He was Staubach's go-to guy for many years.

 

[Shuff]

Absolutely not and I have been watching games since the franchise began. He disappears to often and is shut down a lot by the better corners. I believe we play better without him, that way Dak can concentrate on finding the open receiver instead of trying to make Dez happy.

 

[Ratmatt]

No!

 

[Biggems]

I love Mike. But Dez just tied his TD record in about 5 3/4 seasons.

You are not seeing the big picture. Emmitt was our TD machine. We were a run first and run often offense. Also, how many times did Mike find a way to go down inside the 5, just so his best bud could just walk in untouched? It is more of a passing league now. Also, we never used the fade route with Mike, like we do with Dez. CBs are not allowed to be nearly as physical in today's NFL, as opposed to Mike's. We pass far more in the red zone now than we ever did during our 90s run. These are all factors as to why Dez has better TD stats than Mike. I take Mike every single day over Dez.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

IRVIN

Let me lay it out as I saw it then. Irvin,

1. Irvin came in and said here is a list of guys in locker room that won't help get us where we want to go.
2. Irvin was asked about this bad team he was on. He said with such confidence - "it's a temporary condition"
3. Irvin gladly left all the meat on the one for Emmitt. He would make a catch, get us close and Emmitt punched it in. He would joke that he left it one the 1 yard line for Emmitt.
4. Irvin went out there thinking I've got to go out there and TAKE WHATS MINE.
5. Irvin cared about 1st downs and wins.



BRYANT

Let me lay it out as I see it now. Dez.

1. Dez came in, throws up his X... diamond this... etc.
2. Dez does a T.O. Impression
3. Dez is easily taken out of games. Not even effective as a decoy.
4. Dez goes in there thinking ITS OWED TO ME.if it don't come easy, as planned. He does hoodini.
5. Dez cares about his contract and trying harder and doing more "next season"

 

[MRV52]

Drew Pearson and Irving were on another level. I love Dez but he has a ways to go yet.

 

[Zordon]

Something wrong happened on Dez's two most spectacular plays. (The Catch, The hailmary that wasn't)

 

[fairviewfarmer]

I watched Drew Pearson for 10 years and Michael Irvin for 11 years..........No, Dez is not in their category.....yet.......

 

[Clove]

They are different types of receivers with different types of coordinators. Irvin was a precise route runner who had deceptive speed playing with one of the most accurate, strong arm timing QBs of our generation. Dez is a gifted jumping receiver who had real game speed, strong on slants and things of that nature, but inconsistent route runner, and catcher.

So far if I were to rate the 4 88's, it would be Irvin, Pearson, Dez, Antonio. The reason Person is ahead of Dez is because Dez hasn't won a Super Bowl yet. I can't put a guy ahead of guys who's won Super bowls.

 

[slomoxn]

You're exactly right, but his antics on the sidelines were much worse than Dezs, but some folks on here don't cut Dez any slack.

Irvin's antics on the sideline were NEVER about him, i don't know if Dez's ever were but one thing Mike never was is a distraction. Consumate team player that worked harder than anyone on he team, the first to push themselves so hard they'd throw up and go right back out. Don't have to like him but when he went off on the sidelines it was in the same vein as Aikman unless you're saying it's ok for one and not the other.

 

[landroverking]

Didn't Frank Clark wear 88?

 

[MileyDancer]

If he hasn't even lived up to his contract, he definitely hasn't lived up to #88.