CFZ The best Cowboys WR most fans have never heard of

Bobhaze

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The original #80. Tony “Thrill” Hill is IMO one of the top 4-5 receivers in Cowboys history. And most Cowboys fans know little to nothing about him.

Tony Hill was drafted in the 3rd round in 1977, and after a slow rookie season, he led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and TDs for the next 9 seasons.

In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson- along with the great Tony Dorsett- became the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yards WRs and a 1,000-yard RB, when he recorded 60 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 TDs. Pearson and Hill also became the first WR tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.

Hill was often in the shadow of the OG #88, HOF WR Drew Pearson who made the NFL’s 70s All Decade Team. But Hill had a surprisingly great career. Here are some of his highlights:
  • Tony Hill had more career yards than Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant, making him 3rd all time in receiving yds in team history.
  • He led the team in receptions 9 straight seasons from 1978-86.
  • Hill played in 17 playoff games in his 10 seasons, including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championships. He caught a thrilling TD reception in SB XIII against the Steelers.
  • Averaged 16.7 yds per reception for his career.
  • Had a whopping 26 games of 100 yds or more receiving.
  • He caught passes in 59 straight games.
  • Hill was named to the Cowboys 50 year anniversary team.
  • Hill should be in the ROH.
The next time a list of the all time great Cowboys receivers is made, don’t forget about Tony “Thrill” Hill. I have him as the 4th best WR in Cowboys history behind only Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, and Bob Hayes.
 

CowboyRoy

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The original #80. Tony “Thrill” Hill is IMO one of the top 4-5 receivers in Cowboys history. And most Cowboys fans know little to nothing about him.

Tony Hill was drafted in the 3rd round in 1977, and after a slow rookie season, he led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and TDs for the next 9 seasons.

In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson- along with the great Tony Dorsett- became the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yards WRs and a 1,000-yard RB, when he recorded 60 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 TDs. Pearson and Hill also became the first WR tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.

Hill was often in the shadow of the OG #88, HOF WR Drew Pearson who made the NFL’s 70s All Decade Team. But Hill had a surprisingly great career. Here are some of his highlights:
  • Tony Hill had more career yards than Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant.
  • He led the team in receptions 9 straight seasons from 1978-86.
  • Hill played in 17 playoff games in his 10 seasons, including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championships. He caught a thrilling TD reception in SB XIII against the Steelers.
  • Averaged 16.7 yds per reception for his career.
  • Had a whopping 26 games of 100 yds or more receiving.
  • He caught passes in 59 straight games.
  • Hill was named to the Cowboys 50 year anniversary team.
  • Hill should be in the ROH.
The next time a list of the all time great Cowboys receivers is made, don’t forget about Tony “Thrill” Hill. I have him as the 4th best WR in Cowboys history behind only Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, and Bob Hayes.

No receiver on the cowboys was better than TO. You can argue that some other guys had longer and better Cowboy careers, but none of them were a better receiver than TO.
 

xwalker

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The original #80. Tony “Thrill” Hill is IMO one of the top 4-5 receivers in Cowboys history. And most Cowboys fans know little to nothing about him.

Tony Hill was drafted in the 3rd round in 1977, and after a slow rookie season, he led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and TDs for the next 9 seasons.

In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson- along with the great Tony Dorsett- became the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yards WRs and a 1,000-yard RB, when he recorded 60 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 TDs. Pearson and Hill also became the first WR tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.

Hill was often in the shadow of the OG #88, HOF WR Drew Pearson who made the NFL’s 70s All Decade Team. But Hill had a surprisingly great career. Here are some of his highlights:
  • Tony Hill had more career yards than Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant.
  • He led the team in receptions 9 straight seasons from 1978-86.
  • Hill played in 17 playoff games in his 10 seasons, including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championships. He caught a thrilling TD reception in SB XIII against the Steelers.
  • Averaged 16.7 yds per reception for his career.
  • Had a whopping 26 games of 100 yds or more receiving.
  • He caught passes in 59 straight games.
  • Hill was named to the Cowboys 50 year anniversary team.
  • Hill should be in the ROH.
The next time a list of the all time great Cowboys receivers is made, don’t forget about Tony “Thrill” Hill. I have him as the 4th best WR in Cowboys history behind only Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, and Bob Hayes.

"What do most fans mean"...

If Hill and Pearson had started their careers at the same time, Hill might be the one remembered as the great WR.

He is overlooked because the bulk of Hill's career was in the years when the team was declining.
 

Motorola

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The original #80. Tony “Thrill” Hill is IMO one of the top 4-5 receivers in Cowboys history. And most Cowboys fans know little to nothing about him.

Tony Hill was drafted in the 3rd round in 1977, and after a slow rookie season, he led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and TDs for the next 9 seasons.

In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson- along with the great Tony Dorsett- became the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yards WRs and a 1,000-yard RB, when he recorded 60 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 TDs. Pearson and Hill also became the first WR tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.

Hill was often in the shadow of the OG #88, HOF WR Drew Pearson who made the NFL’s 70s All Decade Team. But Hill had a surprisingly great career. Here are some of his highlights:
  • Tony Hill had more career yards than Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant.
  • He led the team in receptions 9 straight seasons from 1978-86.
  • Hill played in 17 playoff games in his 10 seasons, including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championships. He caught a thrilling TD reception in SB XIII against the Steelers.
  • Averaged 16.7 yds per reception for his career.
  • Had a whopping 26 games of 100 yds or more receiving.
  • He caught passes in 59 straight games.
  • Hill was named to the Cowboys 50 year anniversary team.
  • Hill should be in the ROH.
The next time a list of the all time great Cowboys receivers is made, don’t forget about Tony “Thrill” Hill. I have him as the 4th best WR in Cowboys history behind only Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, and Bob Hayes.
"Thrill" was so very good for so long.
I remember in college Tony Hill being very popular among the female fans because of his good looks.
 

Bobhaze

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Thrill Hill, he was a great talent...his runs after the catch were his bread and butter early in his career. Never got the credit he deserved i believe....
Two of my favorite highlights of Hill’s career-
1. His TD catch in SB XIII. Drew Pearson made a tremendous deceptive block on that play. Here’s a link to the SB 13 highlights. Hill’s TD is at :32 seconds in the video:
2. His TD catch in ‘79 to beat the dead skins to clinch the NFC East in that great comeback. Here’s a highlight video of that game:
 

morat1959

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The original #80. Tony “Thrill” Hill is IMO one of the top 4-5 receivers in Cowboys history. And most Cowboys fans know little to nothing about him.

Tony Hill was drafted in the 3rd round in 1977, and after a slow rookie season, he led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and TDs for the next 9 seasons.

In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson- along with the great Tony Dorsett- became the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yards WRs and a 1,000-yard RB, when he recorded 60 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 TDs. Pearson and Hill also became the first WR tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.

Hill was often in the shadow of the OG #88, HOF WR Drew Pearson who made the NFL’s 70s All Decade Team. But Hill had a surprisingly great career. Here are some of his highlights:
  • Tony Hill had more career yards than Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant.
  • He led the team in receptions 9 straight seasons from 1978-86.
  • Hill played in 17 playoff games in his 10 seasons, including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championships. He caught a thrilling TD reception in SB XIII against the Steelers.
  • Averaged 16.7 yds per reception for his career.
  • Had a whopping 26 games of 100 yds or more receiving.
  • He caught passes in 59 straight games.
  • Hill was named to the Cowboys 50 year anniversary team.
  • Hill should be in the ROH.
The next time a list of the all time great Cowboys receivers is made, don’t forget about Tony “Thrill” Hill. I have him as the 4th best WR in Cowboys history behind only Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, and Bob Hayes.
Good stuff right here!
 

Bobhaze

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"What do most fans mean"...

If Hill and Pearson had started their careers at the same time, Hill might be the one remembered as the great WR.

He is overlooked because the bulk of Hill's career was in the years when the team was declining.
That’s factually incorrect to say “the bulk of Hill’s career was in the years when the team was declining”. The Cowboys made the playoffs in 8 of his 10 seasons. He played in 5 NFC championship games- ‘77, ‘78, ‘80, ‘81 and ‘82. The only years the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs in Hill’s career were ‘84 and ‘86.
 

Motorola

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That’s factually incorrect to say “the bulk of Hill’s career was in the years when the team was declining”. The Cowboys made the playoffs in 8 of his 10 seasons. He played in 5 NFC championship games- ‘77, ‘78, ‘80, ‘81 and ‘82. The only years the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs in Hill’s career were ‘84 and ‘86.
Had the Cowboys gotten a couple more NFL championships, Tony Hill's career would have been more known and dicussed.
 

jazzcat22

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The original #80. Tony “Thrill” Hill is IMO one of the top 4-5 receivers in Cowboys history. And most Cowboys fans know little to nothing about him.

Tony Hill was drafted in the 3rd round in 1977, and after a slow rookie season, he led the Cowboys in receptions, yards and TDs for the next 9 seasons.

In 1979, Hill and Drew Pearson- along with the great Tony Dorsett- became the first team in NFL history to have two 1,000-yards WRs and a 1,000-yard RB, when he recorded 60 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 TDs. Pearson and Hill also became the first WR tandem in Cowboys history, to record 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the same year.

Hill was often in the shadow of the OG #88, HOF WR Drew Pearson who made the NFL’s 70s All Decade Team. But Hill had a surprisingly great career. Here are some of his highlights:
  • Tony Hill had more career yards than Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Dez Bryant.
  • He led the team in receptions 9 straight seasons from 1978-86.
  • Hill played in 17 playoff games in his 10 seasons, including 2 SBs and 5 NFC championships. He caught a thrilling TD reception in SB XIII against the Steelers.
  • Averaged 16.7 yds per reception for his career.
  • Had a whopping 26 games of 100 yds or more receiving.
  • He caught passes in 59 straight games.
  • Hill was named to the Cowboys 50 year anniversary team.
  • Hill should be in the ROH.
The next time a list of the all time great Cowboys receivers is made, don’t forget about Tony “Thrill” Hill. I have him as the 4th best WR in Cowboys history behind only Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, and Bob Hayes.

I liked Tony Hill as much as I did Drew Pearson. Yes ROH worthy.
 

xwalker

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That’s factually incorrect to say “the bulk of Hill’s career was in the years when the team was declining”. The Cowboys made the playoffs in 8 of his 10 seasons. He played in 5 NFC championship games- ‘77, ‘78, ‘80, ‘81 and ‘82. The only years the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs in Hill’s career were ‘84 and ‘86.
Declining is a relative term. It does not mean bad.

He was a rookie with 2 regular season catches in 1977 when they won the last Landry era Super Bowl.

Then they had 1 Super Bowl loss, then the final 8 years of Hill's career they had zero Super Bowl appearances.

They never had more than 3 seasons without a Super Bowl appearance since the inception of the Super Bowl until the streak of no Super Bowl appearances starting in 1979 and stretching thru to 1992.

For Cowboys fans of the mid/late sixties and seventies that was a decline.
 

jazzcat22

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……my positive point was stating “ may as well spend time reminiscing”

never said there was anything wrong with it

The Cowboys best years are behind them…

As if there will be nothing good going forward....so hence, the reminiscing comment, as if that is all that will be.
I guess Detroit, Cleveland, can never reminicse then. :laugh:
 

Bobhaze

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Declining is a relative term. It does not mean bad.

He was a rookie with 2 regular season catches in 1977 when they won the last Landry era Super Bowl.

Then they had 1 Super Bowl loss, then the final 8 years of Hill's career they had zero Super Bowl appearances.

They never had more than 3 seasons without a Super Bowl appearance since the inception of the Super Bowl until the streak of no Super Bowl appearances starting in 1979 and stretching thru to 1992.

For Cowboys fans of the mid/late sixties and seventies that was a decline.
I was just quoting you…you said, “He is overlooked because the bulk of Hill's career was in the years when the team was declining.” But it wasn’t declining until the last two years of his career.
 
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