What Cowboy's career was most affected by injury?

[BourbonBalz]

For me, this one is easy. Erik Williams. Had he not been involved in the car accident, I firmly believe he would've gone down as the best tackle in NFL history. Big E was mean, nasty, and just plain dominant. I loved that guy. Can you imagine a completely healthy Williams and LA playing together their entire careers? I'm sure the rest of the NFL is glad it didn't happen.

 

[Beats_By_Zeke]

Matt Johnson.
Oh what could of been.

 

[BourbonBalz]

By the way, I'm talking about impact players. I know we've had players whose careers were ended by injuries (David Lefleur comes to mind), but I mean really good players that were impacted.

 

[Alexander]

Justin.

Beriault.

Think if Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott somehow had a little white baby.

{sigh}

 

[slick325]

Big E without question. He could have been a Hall of Famer.

Honorable mention would go to my guy Kevin "Pup" Smith. He was a heckuva CB before the Achilles tear.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Big E without question. He could have been a Hall of Famer.

Honorable mention would go to my guy Kevin "Pup" Smith. He was a heckuva CB before the Achilles tear.

Very true, but I don't think his drop off was as steep as Williams after their respective injuries. Smith was very good. Williams was the most dominant tackle in the league and I don't think second place was very close. He was that good.

 

[Bobhaze]

Erik Williams is an excellent example. He was so great before that car wreck. Here are some others that come to mind.

The Cowboys’ first “star” QB, Don Meredith, had to retire early in part because of multiple injuries including a broken nose twice, multiple concussions, broken ribs and a knee injury. Meredith was only 31 when he retired. He comes to mind first.

The great Harvey Martin, a co-MVP with Randy White in SB XII, had his excellent career shortened by injuries as well as off-field issues.

The two biggest wastes of their talent had to be the great Duane Thomas and “Hollywood” Henderson.

Thomas had a ton of talent but He was also a “head case”. He was so good, he was compared to the great Jim Brown. But his bad attitude led to him being traded after only 2 full seasons with Dallas. He was out of the league after only 4 years in the NFL.

Henderson was an absolute stud of an athlete at LB. Big, fast and versitile, Tom Landry said he was the most gifted athlete he had coached. But a cocaine habit led to him being released after 4 seasons. Like Thomas, he was an absolute beast but blew with off the field problems.

Tony Romo and the injuries that weighed him down at the end of his career have to be on this list. He was at the height of his mental command of the game, but sadly his body failed him in the end.

 

[KJJ]

Most won’t remember Otto Stowe but he reminded me of Pail Warfield until an injury ended his Cowboys career after only 7 games in 1973. During the first seven games of the 1973 season he had 23 catches for 389 yards and 6 TD’s. He looked like he was going to be a tremendous player for the Cowboys. Do a Google and research his career.

 

[Setackin]

Shocked no one has said Romo lol

 

[Bobhaze]

Most won’t remember Otto Stowe but he reminded me of Pail Warfield until an injury ended his Cowboys career after only 7 games in 1973. During the first seven games of the 1973 season he had 23 catches for 389 yards and 6 TD’s. He looked like he was going to be a tremendous player for the Cowboys. Do a Google and research his career.

I had Stowe’s rookie card!

 

[kskboys]

Mike Sherrard.
Jimmy Smith.

 

[Bobhaze]

Shocked no one has said Romo lol

I did mention earlier.

 

[KJJ]

I had Stowe’s rookie card!

Boy did he look special during the first seven games of the 1973 season. We picked him up from Miami. You could tell he modeled his game after Paul Warfield. It was unfortunate that an injury derailed his career. His injury opened the door for Drew Pearson.

 

[marchetta]

Mike Sherrard.
Jimmy Smith.

Was going to say Sherrard, but you beat me to it. ;-)

 

[KJJ]

Mike Sherrard.
Jimmy Smith.

Injuries definitely affected both their Cowboy careers. I believe the last pass Jimmy Smith caught for the Cowboys was a 40+ yard TD pass in preseason. I had a gut feeling he was going to turn out real good once we released him. Sherrard looked as if he would be terrific too. His injury was one of the blows that helped foil Landry in his final couple of years as HC. Sherrards Injury may have been a blessing because had it not happened we likely would’ve never drafted Michael Irvin.

 

[Hardline]

Kevin Smith.
That Achilles injury pretty much ruined his career.

 

[kskboys]

Far as that goes, Sean Lee would be a first ballot HOFer if not for injury issues.

 

[mmohican29]

Mike Sherrard and Jimmy Smith come to mind.

Erik Williams.

Michael Irvin had a few good years left as well before he went down and his congenital defect was discovered.

Sean Lee is probably a HOF player without his series of misfortunes.

 

[JBS]

Justin.

Beriault.

Think if Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott somehow had a little white baby.

{sigh}

And he never grew out of the infant stage?

 

[dcstar]

Randy Hughes Safety.

He was a hitter and excellent in coverage.

Go Cowboys!