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The Greatest Dallas Cowboys Running Backs
By Randy Inman
The Dallas Cowboys have a rich tradition of having premier running backs. From Walt Garrison and Don Perkins to Marion Barber they always seem to have a good one. So I have decided to rank the best running backs in Dallas Cowboy's history. All the stats come from.pro-football-reference.com. Also keep in mind some of the earlier backs were screwed over by the passing rules. That's right before they changed pass defense rules, runners were ganged up on due to much more running of the ball. Also the earlier backs played a shorter NFL schedule than today's players do.
1- Emmitt Smith is naturally the best Dallas Cowboys running back in NFL history, since he is the leading career runner in the NFL itself. Now I actually like Tony Dorsett better but Emmitt was the best. He led the Cowboys by solid numbers on almost every play and was seldom thrown for a loss. Dorsett did have a .1 better yards per average at 4.3 compared to Emmitt's 4.2. But Emmitt was king of the touchdowns and first downs. In addition with the possible exception of Walter Payton, Emmitt was the best pass blocking running back in NFL History, Emmitt played in 226 games with the Cowboys and Cardinals. He rushed for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns. He added 515 catches for 3,224 yards and 11 scores.
2- Tony Dorsett was the biggest addition that allowed Dallas to win their Super Bowl against the Broncos during his rookie season. He added some pop to their running game and was a great runner for years to come. I will never forget him breaking a 99 yard running play against the Vikings on Monday Night Football. The amazing thing was that fullback Ron Springs mixed up his assignment and wasn't on the field, leaving the Cowboys with 10 men on the play. Dorsett may have been the fastest back of his time. In 173 games for Dallas and Denver he rushed 12,739 yards and 77 touchdowns. He added 398 catches for 3,554 yards and 13 touchdowns, including a 91 yard play.
3- Herschel Walker didn't play as many years in Dallas as the other two but he sure made his mark. He was a great back on some really bad Cowboys teams. This alone earned his place on the list of greatest Dallas Cowboy running backs of all time. He was big 6ft1 225 pounds and had world class speed, he was unselfish enough to even return kicks and was good at that. Plus when the Cowboys traded him to the Vikings the players and picks they got for him, helped build a Cowboys Dynasty. In 187 games Herschel Walker gained 8,225 yards rushing and scored 61 touchdowns. He added 512 receptions for 4,859 yards and 21 scores. He also had 5,084 yards and 2 touchdowns on kick returns. His states do not include his career in the USFL.
4- Don Perkins owned the Cowboys rushing records before Dorsett arrived. He was a solid workman like back who did a great job on some early Dallas teams. He was so early he was signed before Dallas even had a team! In 107 games he ran for 6,217 yards and 59 scores. He added 146 receptions for 1,310 yards and 3 touchdowns at a time when backs were not thrown to as much.
5- Robert Newhouse is the only fullback on the list. All due respect to the "Moose" but in opinion Newhouse was better. Number 44 for the Cowboys was a good blocker and a decent receiver. But what he did much better than Daryl Johnston was run the ball. He also threw a touchdown pass in the regular season and one in a Super Bowl. In 168 games Robert Newhouse had 4,784 yards rushing with 31 touchdowns. He added 120 catches for 950 yards and 5 touchdowns.
By Randy Inman
The Dallas Cowboys have a rich tradition of having premier running backs. From Walt Garrison and Don Perkins to Marion Barber they always seem to have a good one. So I have decided to rank the best running backs in Dallas Cowboy's history. All the stats come from.pro-football-reference.com. Also keep in mind some of the earlier backs were screwed over by the passing rules. That's right before they changed pass defense rules, runners were ganged up on due to much more running of the ball. Also the earlier backs played a shorter NFL schedule than today's players do.
1- Emmitt Smith is naturally the best Dallas Cowboys running back in NFL history, since he is the leading career runner in the NFL itself. Now I actually like Tony Dorsett better but Emmitt was the best. He led the Cowboys by solid numbers on almost every play and was seldom thrown for a loss. Dorsett did have a .1 better yards per average at 4.3 compared to Emmitt's 4.2. But Emmitt was king of the touchdowns and first downs. In addition with the possible exception of Walter Payton, Emmitt was the best pass blocking running back in NFL History, Emmitt played in 226 games with the Cowboys and Cardinals. He rushed for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns. He added 515 catches for 3,224 yards and 11 scores.
2- Tony Dorsett was the biggest addition that allowed Dallas to win their Super Bowl against the Broncos during his rookie season. He added some pop to their running game and was a great runner for years to come. I will never forget him breaking a 99 yard running play against the Vikings on Monday Night Football. The amazing thing was that fullback Ron Springs mixed up his assignment and wasn't on the field, leaving the Cowboys with 10 men on the play. Dorsett may have been the fastest back of his time. In 173 games for Dallas and Denver he rushed 12,739 yards and 77 touchdowns. He added 398 catches for 3,554 yards and 13 touchdowns, including a 91 yard play.
3- Herschel Walker didn't play as many years in Dallas as the other two but he sure made his mark. He was a great back on some really bad Cowboys teams. This alone earned his place on the list of greatest Dallas Cowboy running backs of all time. He was big 6ft1 225 pounds and had world class speed, he was unselfish enough to even return kicks and was good at that. Plus when the Cowboys traded him to the Vikings the players and picks they got for him, helped build a Cowboys Dynasty. In 187 games Herschel Walker gained 8,225 yards rushing and scored 61 touchdowns. He added 512 receptions for 4,859 yards and 21 scores. He also had 5,084 yards and 2 touchdowns on kick returns. His states do not include his career in the USFL.
4- Don Perkins owned the Cowboys rushing records before Dorsett arrived. He was a solid workman like back who did a great job on some early Dallas teams. He was so early he was signed before Dallas even had a team! In 107 games he ran for 6,217 yards and 59 scores. He added 146 receptions for 1,310 yards and 3 touchdowns at a time when backs were not thrown to as much.
5- Robert Newhouse is the only fullback on the list. All due respect to the "Moose" but in opinion Newhouse was better. Number 44 for the Cowboys was a good blocker and a decent receiver. But what he did much better than Daryl Johnston was run the ball. He also threw a touchdown pass in the regular season and one in a Super Bowl. In 168 games Robert Newhouse had 4,784 yards rushing with 31 touchdowns. He added 120 catches for 950 yards and 5 touchdowns.
