What does it take to be considered A DALLAS COWBOY?

[Champsheart]

I think there could be some wide range of opinions here.
What is your standards for a player to be considered a DALLAS COWBOY, and what I mean is in your heart this player should always be considered a DALLAS COWBOY. Now obviously great players who played only for the Cowboys (Staubach) will always be considered great DALLAS COWBOY's.

BUT what about other players who where only here short periods of time, but made an impact, or players who split their careers with other teams, players who where not drafted by DALLAS, or players who where drafted by Dallas, but left and had success with other teams etc...

Examples:
Ken Norton Jr, Charles Haley, Deion Sanders, Terry Glenn, Hershel Walker, Randall Godfrey, Laroi Glover, T.O., amongst many others.

I think if you ask several people they would have different opinions, so I want to hear yours.

Is all it takes is to put the Star on once, is their a time period, do you have to play almost your whole career with Dallas, do you just have to have a moment in a clutch situation to help win a championship, do you have to not have off field issues?

???????????????

 

[burmafrd]

majority of your career here. But there can be exceptions.

 

[5Stars]

The way players come and go nowdays...if you are on the roster at the beginning of the season, then you are a Dallas Cowboy for me. If you are cut or leave the franchise, you are not a Cowboy for me. It's that simple for me in todays NFL.

Now, the past was much different because players got drafted and finished their careers as Cowboys, so when they leave, they are always Cowboys.

Someone like #22 that went to AZ for a year or two is always going to be a Cowboy although he left, and that's only because he helped win Superbowls. There might be a few other players that fit this category...however, when T.O leaves or any other player...he is no longer a Cowboy.

That's my take...

 

[lspain1]

Here are some ideas on "becoming a Dallas Cowboy:"

1. Does the player like Dallas. For example...Deion Sanders lives in the Dallas area.
2. Did they have their greatest success with the Cowboys?
3. How does the player feel? Does he want to be identified as a Dallas Cowboy or something else?

T.O. is an interesting example. If he wins a championship as a Cowboy how will he feel about it? Mike Golic on ESPN states that players see the game from an individual perspective and only identify with the "team" when they achieve individual success. As a fan, I can say that I think Greg Ellis is a Dallas Cowboy whether he whines or not. T.O. will have to do more, with less fanfare, before he fits the title. He simply hasn't done enough to earn it. I'm not saying I don't support him being on the team because I do, but he still strikes me as a mercenary who would leave in a minute if conditions weren't right for him personally.

 

[J-DOG]

I consider Haley,Walker,Norton and Glenn Cowboys.
I think those guys played a significant and long enough period of time to be considered Cowboys.
I know Herschel and Norton did not play an extremely long time for us but those two guys were very significant in us winning Super Bowls.
Haley was on all 3 of our Super Bowl teams and was a vital missing piece to put us over the edge.
Walker the trade...nuff said.
Norton played with detached bicep on one of the Super Bowl winning teams and was a leader on our defense.
Glenn was the last guy I chose and there really is no stat or team that stands out while he has been here but he has been a good soldier on our rise up. I think he has played his most consistent and productive football with us out of the 3 teams he has played for. I know he had bigger seasons in New England but he was not as consistent.
Deion did not play long enough for us to be considered a Cowboy....similar to when Herb Adderly played for us for a short period of time.

 

[theogt]

Be on the roster.

 

[Twyst]

What team will deion go into the hall of fame with? He won superbowls in 2 places.

 

[DallasEast]

1. Play a minimum of two or three years (preferably three seasons)
2. Enjoy a solid career in Dallas (doesn't have to be a great career, just solid)
3. Do not purposely make statements or belittle the franchise during one's active career (both in or out of a Cowboys uniform) for personal interests or gain.

 

[CowboyMike]

I've said it many times.

If you wear the STAR, you're a Dallas Cowboy. And you have my support until you wear the STAR no longer.

:starspin

 

[big dog cowboy]

What team will deion go into the hall of fame with? He won superbowls in 2 places.

It doesn't work that way any more. You go in simply as a former player.

 

[WoodysGirl]

1. Play a minimum of two or three years (preferably three seasons)
2. Enjoy a solid career in Dallas (doesn't have to be a great career, just solid)
3. Do not purposely make statements or belittle the franchise during one's active career (both in or out of a Cowboys uniform) for personal interests or gain.

Does belittling the franchise including ending up in a police blotter?

If so, then I agree with that.

 

[DallasEast]

Does belittling the franchise including ending up in a police blotter?

If so, then I agree with that.

No, I'm referring to what a player intentionally does in the capacity of an NFL player towards a franchise, not as an individual who has committed a crime which inadvertently smears the franchise.

 

[ZeroClub]

If we are talking active players, for me they only have to be on the roster.
T. Owens is on the roster, so he's a Cowboy right now.

But if we are talking after the fact, after they retire, it gets more complicated.

Jackie Smith is a Cardinal who played in Dallas for a little while. Same for Lance Alworth (Chargers), Herb Adderley (Packers), and several others.

Given his time as a player and coach in Dallas (close to 10 years, I'd guess), I consider Mike Ditka to be a Chicago Bear and a Dallas Cowboy.

Deion Sanders isn't a Dallas Cowboy, but he's "mostly a Cowboy." He belongs in the Ring of Honor.

Ken Norton, Jr. is a 49er who started his career in Dallas. Larry Allen is a Cowboy who ended his career in San Fran.

Charles Haley is a 49er-Cowboys tweener, which means that he isn't a Dallas Cowboy. But I'd put him in the Ring of Honor.

Glover isn't a Dallas Cowboy. He's a fine ex-Saint who played in Dallas for a while.

Herschel Walker qualifies as one of the greatest assets the Dallas Cowboys ever had, but only partially qualifies as a Dallas Cowboy.

James Washington is a Cowboy, as is Alvin Harper.

Terry Glenn is a current Dallas Cowboy. Depending on when he retires (say a couple of years) and what transpires betwen now and then (benig an important contributor to a Cowboys Super Bowl team), I could see him as a Dallas Cowboy.

--

Off the field issues or otherwise rocking the boat isn't so much a part of it for me. Hollywood Henderson is a Cowboy. Nate Newton, Erik Williams, Duane Thomas, Lance Rentzel, and Clint Longley are Cowboys.

 

[CowboyMike]

You bring up a good point when it comes to when they retire. Still, I think if they wore the star we should consider them Dallas Cowboys.

I kind of grew up watching Ken Norton Jr. as a Dallas Cowboy so I will always think of him as that. I didn't pay attention to much outside of the Cowboys back then so all I knew of Deion was him as a Cowboy.

I can't really think of Ditka as a Cowboy and I can't place why.

Laroi Glover embodied what a Dallas Cowboy is, and therefore he is in my heart a Cowboy.

Hershel had his best years here and I consider him a Cowboy.

"Hired guns" like Kosier, Davis, TO, Akin Ayodele, Fergie... I think of them as Cowboys because they give it their all day in and out for our team and they wear the silver and blue.

Terry Glenn, in my book, has already become a Dallas Cowboy for eternity. He clearly loves this franchise and this team and has given his all for us. More that he's given any other team in his past. He will forever be a Dallas Cowboy to me.

 

[Rackat]

George Teague. Always a Cowboy.

 

[THUMPER]

A player is a Dallas Cowboy only if I say they are.

Deion Sanders and Terrell Owens are not and never were Cowboys. In fact, I would say that they don't belong to any team. They are mercenaries who went wherever the buck was the biggest.

Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith were always Cowboys even though both ended their careers in other uniforms.

Since there really is no criteria other than each individual's opinion, I stand by my opening statement.

 

[theogt]

A player is a Dallas Cowboy only if I say they are.

Deion Sanders and Terrell Owens are not and never were Cowboys. In fact, I would say that they don't belong to any team. They are mercenaries who went wherever the buck was the biggest.

Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith were always Cowboys even though both ended their careers in other uniforms.

Since there really is no criteria other than each individual's opinion, I stand by my opening statement.

So a free agent cannot be a Cowboy?

 

[ZeroClub]

A player is a Dallas Cowboy only if I say they are.

Deion Sanders and Terrell Owens are not and never were Cowboys. In fact, I would say that they don't belong to any team. They are mercenaries who went wherever the buck was the biggest.

Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith were always Cowboys even though both ended their careers in other uniforms.

Since there really is no criteria other than each individual's opinion, I stand by my opening statement.

I think you are exactly right. It really is a matter of opinion, particularly (IMO) when we are talking about retired players.

 

[TRUTH87]

I think that sumtimes we as fans can tell when a player 'loves' or finds a strong identity with the franchise. for example, I believe Newman or maybe Roy Williams are two players that we can tell in sum way are identified with beeing a Cowboy', and are thankfull with the franchise.

Now theres other players currently that i believe are just coming in to do their job, for example A. Henry. He wont be rememberd as a cowboy' i believe as of now. sucess is a big part of beeing considered a cowboy'.

 

[Champsheart]

I think you are exactly right. It really is a matter of opinion, particularly (IMO) when we are talking about retired players.

From the original post

What is your standards for a player to be considered a DALLAS COWBOY, and what I mean is in your heart this player should always be considered a DALLAS COWBOY.