The Good Ones Who Couldn't

[rcaldw]

I was thinking about the players we have had who could really play, you saw flashes of what they would have been, but they never really made it because of injuries or factors outside the game. I'm going to start a list, see if you can add to it.

David Lafleur - never really reached his potential because of injuries. This guy, to me, was the first Witten type of TE that we had in the modern era, but his back problems cost him. He tried to play through them but in the end just couldn't.

Billy Cannon Jr. - 1st round draft choice, never really got a chance to get going, injury.

Mike Sherrard - 1st round pick in 86, had 47 catches his rookie year and never played again for the Cowboys. Resumed his career with the 49ers, Giants and Broncos, but never reached potential due to his leg injuries.

Randy Hughes - The guy was a great safety waiting to happen. Injury cut his career short.

Thomas Henderson - Yes, I know this guy actually "made it" and had some great years, but man what he COULD have been without the drugs.

Duane Thomas - How a guy with his talent drops off the map after 2 years I'll never know.

Otto Stowe - Traded to Dallas in 1973, Stowe was having an All-Pro season. Through six games, he led the Cowboys in receptions (23), receiving yards (389) and touchdowns (6) before an ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Despite playing just half of the year, he still led the Cowboys in touchdown catches and ranked second in receiving. He played just one more NFL season, seeing limited time with the Denver Broncos in 1974.

Anyway, I know there are a bunch more, just the first that come to my mind. Who can you add?

 

[JakeCamp12]

Antonio Bryant...million dollar body and a ten cent head...imagine a mature bryant and TO along with Witten and Crayton tearing up the league last year and this year.....:bang2:

 

[jman]

Justin Beriaut

 

[burmafrd]

Bryant Was NOT that talented. Certainly not to a level of Boldin, or TO, or Fitzgerald.

 

[tunahelper]

Danny Noonan- Injuries forced him out of the game. Posted one solid year inside DT and was viewed as Randy White of the future.

 

[Hailmary]

David Lafleur - never really reached his potential because of injuries. This guy, to me, was the first Witten type of TE that we had in the modern era, but his back problems cost him. He tried to play through them but in the end just couldn't.

I wouldn't exactly compare him to Witten, but yeah, had it not been for the injuries, I think he could've been a real good TE for us.

He didn't have the speed to be a downfield threat like Witten is, but I think he could have been a devastating blocker and a real endzone threat w/ his 6'7" frame of his.

He had pretty soft hands for a big guy, also.

I've had discussions/ arguments on this board about him. Some think that he was a JAG. Production-wise, they may have been correct. From the standpoint of potential, I think he could have had a very long and productive career had it not been for the debilitating back injury.

Just my $.02.

 

[Hailmary]

Bryant Was NOT that talented. Certainly not to a level of Boldin, or TO, or Fitzgerald.

Depends on how you look at it I suppose. As a #1, you are probably right. As a #2, I think he's very talented.

 

[Hailmary]

Danny Noonan- Injuries forced him out of the game. Posted one solid year inside DT and was viewed as Randy White of the future.

Wasn't he using roids while at Nebraska, and that's the reason why he couldn't hack it at the nfl level?

 

[Hailmary]

How about Jimmy Smith? Does he count? There has always been reports of how good he's looked at TC, but never got a chance to prove himself in actual games b/c of injuries. Once released and finally healthy, he's proved to be a great receiver (borderline HOF numbers actually).

As a Cowboy fan, he has to be one of the biggest disappointment in terms of "what could have been".

 

[Pokes12]

Obert Logan No. 0

 

[Rick_Deckard]

Clayton Holmes. Huge talent wasted due to substance abuse.

 

[Sitting Bull]

Antonio Anderson DT Knee
Anthony Lucas WR Leg

 

[Scranton Tiger]

I think David Lafleur would have been a monster if he had stayed healthy. The few games he did play for us when he was injury free, he was pretty much uncoverable. When he was covered, his size and outstanding hands allowed our QBs to throw it in his direction anyway.

Of the guys not mentioned, Jimmy Smith came to mind immediately. I honestly believe that if J.J. had stayed in Dallas, Smith would never have been released. I still wonder "what might have been" from about 95 to 99 with Irvin on one side and Smith on the other.

 

[Wrangler87]

Galloway fits here as well. Jerry gets ripped for this trade, but it had nothing to do with talent. Galloway could not stay on the field. When he was, he could make some plays, but seemingly got hurt on every other catch. I often wonder how it would have been different if he could have stayed healthy.

 

[5Countem5]

... if J.J. had stayed in Dallas, Smith would never have been released.

How's that?

 

[Scranton Tiger]

How's that?

Johnson drafted Smith. Kept him in Dallas despite the injuries in 92 and 93. Jimmie leaves and Smith is then gone. Right or wrong, I've always believed that if Johnson stays, Smith would have also.

 

[5Countem5]

Johnson drafted Smith. Kept him in Dallas despite the injuries in 92 and 93. Jimmie leaves and Smith is then gone. Right or wrong, I've always believed that if Johnson stays, Smith would have also.

I don't think so. I'm pretty sure after the appendicitis, infection and subsequent conflict on to of the previous injuries- everybody knew it was time for him to start over somewhere else.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Danny Noonan- Injuries forced him out of the game. Posted one solid year inside DT and was viewed as Randy White of the future.

Pretty good golfer also :laugh2:

 

[Thomas82]

I wouldn't exactly compare him to Witten, but yeah, had it not been for the injuries, I think he could've been a real good TE for us.

He didn't have the speed to be a downfield threat like Witten is, but I think he could have been a devastating blocker and a real endzone threat w/ his 6'7" frame of his.

He had pretty soft hands for a big guy, also.

I've had discussions/ arguments on this board about him. Some think that he was a JAG. Production-wise, they may have been correct. From the standpoint of potential, I think he could have had a very long and productive career had it not been for the debilitating back injury.

Just my $.02.

What is a JAG?

 

[Yeagermeister]

What is a JAG?

Just another guy

A Parcells'ism