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?
, Lafleur had over 30 catches his 3rd year and led the NFL in TD catches by TE's with 7. The guy was a great athlete, he just had terrible back problems.
