Ron Wolf on Darren Woodson: "A Hall of Famer"

[Nav22]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/05/23/wolf.hall/index.html?eref=T1

"...a pair of Woodsons, Rod and Darren lead the DB's. "Mobley's effective career was too short," Wolf said. "I'd call him an 'almost.' Romo? Well, you had all the steroid charges. He helped every team he was on, but were you seeing the real Romanowski out there?

"I have no trouble with either defensive back, though. Rod Woodson certainly deserves it. Darren? Played a unique position for the Cowboys. Did everything a safetyman had to do, strongside or weak. Hell of a special teamer, too. Yes, a terrific player, a Hall of Famer."

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Great......and I agree about #28

 

[JonCJG]

Is he the best S in Dallas history? What do you old timers think?

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

I think he deserves it. He was a great player for Dallas throughout his career. Is he Dallas' best @ the position? That's a tough call. My fave five in no particular order is Cliff Harris, Charlie Waters, Woody, Michael Downs, James Washington. I'd say the best Cowboys' safety has to be either 41, 43, or 28.

 

[Duane]

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119179

 

[Chocolate Lab]

That's great that Wolf is saying that, because last year there was some discussion of potential HOF safeties on one of the talking heads shows, and they named several JAGs as being ahead of Woodson. It was sickening.

 

[Mansta54]

Is he the best S in Dallas history? What do you old timers think?

Yep!! He's the best that I've seen and I'm 44yrs....

 

[BAT]

Neither Charlie Waters, Dennis Thurman, Thomas Everett, Michael Downs, Brock Marion or James Washington (one of my favorites) are at Darren Woodson's level.

Only Cliff Harris and maybe Mel Renfro (if he had played S longer) deserve to be mentioned in the same breath.

Woodson was not flashy, but he was the biggest, most athletic, most versatile, most productive ever in Cowboys history.

 

[Redball Express]

Neither Charlie Waters, Dennis Thurman, Thomas Everett, Michael Downs, Brock Marion or James Washington (one of my favorites) are at Darren Woodson's level.

Only Cliff Harris and maybe Mel Renfro (if he had played S longer) deserve to be mentioned in the same breath.

Woodson was not flashy, but he was the biggest, most athletic, most versatile, most productive ever in Cowboys history.

Mel Renfro could and did play every position from CB to FS to SS and I believe he was All-Pro at every position.

Plus Renfro returned punts and KOs for touchdowns and even played on offense in '66 as a HB.

When Renfro came into the game, you could be absolutely sure they would throw away from him or kick the ball out of bounds because nobody wanted it in his hands.

Woodson never did anything like that, folks.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS :starspin

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Renfro was the best DB the Cowboys ever had but Woody was up there too... I think he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

 

[Sarge]

Is he the best S in Dallas history? What do you old timers think?

It's close, but I'd go with Cliff Harris.

 

[THUMPER]

Is he the best S in Dallas history? What do you old timers think?

I think if I were to pick a team of the best Cowboys players at their positions I would put Woodson opposite Cliff Harris at Safety. I have a hard time separating Harris and Waters though.

Woody was nowhere near as good in coverage as Charlie Waters was but he was an excellent tackler and a great STs guy. I would still rank Harris above Woodson.

As Redball Express pointed out, Mel Renfro was the best we ever had at any DB position (yes that includes Deion). Mel was simply great at everything.

 

[BAT]

I think if I were to pick a team of the best Cowboys players at their positions I would put Woodson opposite Cliff Harris at Safety. I have a hard time separating Harris and Waters though.

Woody was nowhere near as good in coverage as Charlie Waters was but he was an excellent tackler and a great STs guy. I would still rank Harris above Woodson.

As Redball Express pointed out, Mel Renfro was the best we ever had at any DB position (yes that includes Deion). Mel was simply great at everything.

Waters could not hold a candle to Woodson when it came to coverage ability. Woodson was playing man to man with WRs in the nickel. In his prime, Woodson was covering Jerry Rice. Waters could not do that.

And Woodson is about the same size as Chuck Howley, Cowboys LB great.

Renfro was no doubt the best DB, but he went into the Hall as a CB, the position that he spent the majority of his time playing.

At 6'-0" 190 lbs, I would place him at corner on the Cowboys All-Time team.

 

[BAT]

If DBs are the criteria, instead of Safety, then might as well throw in all the names:

Cornell Green, Herb Adderly, Everson Walls, Deion Sanders, etc.

 

[JonCJG]

Younger fans getting schooled here. Lots of great info on Renfro and Harris.

You old timers should thank your lucky stars you got to see those guys in their heyday. I can tell how good they were because of how many of you speak about them.... as if they had played just a few years ago. Good stuff!

 

[jobberone]

Mel Renfro could and did play every position from CB to FS to SS and I believe he was All-Pro at every position.

Plus Renfro returned punts and KOs for touchdowns and even played on offense in '66 as a HB.

When Renfro came into the game, you could be absolutely sure they would throw away from him or kick the ball out of bounds because nobody wanted it in his hands.

Woodson never did anything like that, folks.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS :starspin

I don't think you can compare Woodson to Renfro or Herb Adderley. Those players are really thought of as CBs and not safeties even though they did play safety at the end of their careers. Waters was a CB until he hurt his knee. And that was a time when that ususally ended a player's career. Waters never was as fast and I know this on a personal basis.

Woodson is one of the better safeties to play for the Cowboys. Different eras and different game although Renfro and Adderley could play today. I don't know if Waters and Harris could play CB today. Probably Waters was fast enough but marginal and that's the early Waters.

Waters could not hold a candle to Woodson when it came to coverage ability. Woodson was playing man to man with WRs in the nickel. In his prime, Woodson was covering Jerry Rice. Waters could not do that.

And Woodson is about the same size as Chuck Howley, Cowboys LB great.

Renfro was no doubt the best DB, but he went into the Hall as a CB, the position that he spent the majority of his time playing.

At 6'-0" 190 lbs, I would place him at corner on the Cowboys All-Time team.

I saw them and I played against Waters. He is a better coverage guy than Woodson. A fair amount too. Renfro could play today. He was that fast and that good. One of the greatest CBs to ever play this game.

And Woodson is not as big as Chuck Howley who may be the most underrated LB to have ever played. He is the early version of Zack Thomas although he was bigger. They just make plays.

If DBs are the criteria, instead of Safety, then might as well throw in all the names:

Cornell Green, Herb Adderly, Everson Walls, Deion Sanders, etc.

I agree. I think we got off track of the safety position. Both positions, CB and S, have changed a lot in the last 50 years.