Who here remembers this guy?... Tony Dorsett

[philo beddoe]

This guy was something special during the Landry era. Played in 2 of our SB's (Denver and Pittsburgh). Just another of the long list of great players that wore the Star.
Anyone got any TD memories/stories they would care to share?

NFL Career

In 1977, he was drafted by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys in the first round and played with them through 1987.
In Dorsett's rookie year, he rushed for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns and won the Rookie of the Year honors. Dorsett was announced starter for the 10th game of the Cowboys' season, and he would stay starter for many years. Dorsett was the first player to win the college football championship one year, then win the Super Bowl the next, when the Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos 27-10 to win Super Bowl XII. In his sophomore season, 1978, Dorsett recorded 1,325 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Cowboys once again traveled to the Super Bowl, but lost 35-31 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.
Dorsett's most productive season was in 1981, when he recorded 1,646 yards. Dorsett had a career total of 12,033 yards in Dallas before being traded to the Denver Broncos in 1988. Dorsett led the Broncos with 703 yards that year, but injuries led to his retirement.
Dorsett recorded 12,739 yards and 77 touchdowns in his 12-year career. Dorsett also had 13 receiving scores and even a fumble recovery for a touchdown. In January 3, 1983, Dorsett broke a 99-yard run against the Minnesota Vikings, which is the longest run from scrimmage in NFL history (even though the Cowboys had only 10 men on the field, not the required 11).
Dorsett made the Pro Bowl 4 times during his career (1978, 1981-1983) and rushed for over 1,000 yards in 8 of his first 9 seasons. The only season that he didn't reach the 1,000 rushing yards milestone was the strike shortened season of 1982(which had only 9 games), where he led the NFC in rushing with 745 yards.
Dorsett was elected to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994 and was enshrined in the Texas Stadium Ring of Honor the same year. In 1999, he was ranked number 53 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

My favorite Cowboy RB of all time. Great post, brother.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

You're wondering if we remember Tony Dorsett?? Yes, his name rings a bell.

I remember some key fumbles (Eagles playoff) game that still gives me nightmares.....yes, I remember him.

He was not Emmitt Smith--that is for sure!

 

[philo beddoe]

This team needs a premier RB. Platooning doesn't do it for me.

 

[dbair1967]

The Seahawks got their revenge on us with the Joey Galloway trade.

no they didnt

swiping Dorsett was a freaking felony

they got a bust WR and a good RB with the two picks we gave them

we got a hall of fame player

David

 

[mmillman]

Landry underused Dorsett in my opinion. I remember Landry always trying to fool the other defense and not just giving TD the ball. I thought a bigger dose of Dorsett would have beaten the Steelers in SB XIII.

 

[TheProphet]

I remember some key fumbles (Eagles playoff) game that still gives me nightmares.....yes, I remember him.

He was not Emmitt Smith--that is for sure!

Sorry my friend, I respectfully disagree. In his prime he was every bit as good as ES. His stats speak for themselves. He didn't get into the HOF and Ring of Honor by being a fumblin, bumblin RB.

 

[Hostile]

Sorry my friend, I respectfully disagree. In his prime he was every bit as good as ES. His stats speak for themselves. He didn't get into the HOF and Ring of Honor by being a fumblin, bumblin RB.

That isn't what he said though. He brought up one game in the playoffs that give him "nightmares." He didn't come close to saying that was regular for TD. He then said Emmitt was better. What is wrong with that?

 

[Concord]

Dorsett was just so exciting to watch.

His moves...change of direction...exceleration...and speed were so special.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

My favorite cowboy...

 

[TheProphet]

That isn't what he said though. He brought up one game in the playoffs that give him "nightmares." He didn't come close to saying that was regular for TD. He then said Emmitt was better. What is wrong with that?

Why are we arguing about this?? He said:

"I remember some key fumbles (Eagles playoff) game that still gives me nightmares.....yes, I remember him.

He was not Emmitt Smith--that is for sure"

I took it to mean CrazyCowboy thought he fumbled periodically and wasn't talking about one playoff game against the Eagles. He also said he was no ES, which I "respectfully" disagreed with.
Why the scrutiny? As far as I know CrazyCowboy and I are on excellent terms. I agree with him 99% of the time. I certainly didn't attack him on my response which some around here take great sport in doing.

 

[TheProphet]

Dorsett was just so exciting to watch.

His moves...change of direction...exceleration...and speed were so special.

Agreed. He was thrilling to watch, was he not?

 

[Hostile]

Why are we arguing about this?? He said:

"I remember some key fumbles (Eagles playoff) game that still gives me nightmares.....yes, I remember him.

He was not Emmitt Smith--that is for sure"

I took it to mean CrazyCowboy thought he fumbled periodically and wasn't talking about one playoff game against the Eagles. He also said he was no ES, which I "respectfully" disagreed with.
Why the scrutiny? As far as I know CrazyCowboy and I are on excellent terms. I agree with him 99% of the time. I certainly didn't attack him on my response which some around here take great sport in doing.

First of all, where did I say you attacked him? I mean I know you get sensitive real fast, but this is ridiculous. I didn't get the least bit rude with you. I simply said you took what he said too far or added to it. He isn't saying TD stinks.

 

[Bizwah]

Tony Dorsett was my favorite player in the 80s. It sucks that his career ended with the Broncos. I was upset when we started playing Herschel Walker over him. But, it was probably the best move for the team.....it got us Emmitt.

A lot of people will mention Dorsett's 99 yard run as one of the best moments in Cowboy history.....I don't....We lost that game vs Minnesota. That's what I remember most about that game.

We've really been blessed with some great backs here in Dallas.

Can't wait for the next one. He's probably in HS somewhere.

 

[Champsheart]

Tony Dorsett is probably my favorite Cowboy of all time. It is hard to say just one because there are so many that are up there, but as a kid growing up I was always so excited when a Cowboy game came on to watch Dorsett run.

I remember many runs, but there are 2 key memories I have when Dorsett comes up.

1. Me running in my back yard with a football under my arm juking out countless invisible defenders scoring touchdown after touchdown pretending I was Tony Dorsett. One game I had over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. LOL!

2. Every Cowboy game that was showed THE STAT would come up.
That stat being the Cowboys record when TD rushed for 100 yards.
Basically we could not be beat if TD had 100.

 

[CowboyChris]

Dorsett just had a smooth way of running the ball, really unlike anyone else, as a Cowboy fan you always knew if he broke it into the secondary except for one freaking time (darrell green) he was gone. loved the guy

 

[TheProphet]

First of all, where did I say you attacked him? I mean I know you get sensitive real fast, but this is ridiculous. I didn't get the least bit rude with you. I simply said you took what he said too far or added to it. He isn't saying TD stinks.

Whatever...time to move on from. Not looking to take this post off on some tangent. It's like around here sometimes. :laugh2:

Make it a great day.

 

[TheProphet]

Dorsett just had a smooth way of running the ball, really unlike anyone else, as a Cowboy fan you always knew if he broke it into the secondary except for one freaking time (darrell green) he was gone. loved the guy

Gotta give Green credit for running him down, even though it sucked...that was pretty impressive. The first and only guy that ever ran down Dorsett that I recall.

 

[TheProphet]

Tony Dorsett is probably my favorite Cowboy of all time. It is hard to say just one because there are so many that are up there, but as a kid growing up I was always so excited when a Cowboy game came on to watch Dorsett run.

I remember many runs, but there are 2 key memories I have when Dorsett comes up.

1. Me running in my back yard with a football under my arm juking out countless invisible defenders scoring touchdown after touchdown pretending I was Tony Dorsett. One game I had over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. LOL!

2. Every Cowboy game that was showed THE STAT would come up.
That stat being the Cowboys record when TD rushed for 100 yards.
Basically we could not be beat if TD had 100.

TD was cool, that was for sure.

 

[Hostile]

Whatever...time to move on from. Not looking to take this post off on some tangent. It's like around here sometimes. :laugh2:

Make it a great day.

Whatever man.

 

[THUMPER]

Regarding Dorsett's fumbling: He is ranked 18th among the top-20 RBs (in career rushing yards) in terms of fumbles (not too good) ahead of only Franco Harris and Joe Perry.

Emmitt is 6th and Curtis Martin is 1st. Here are the rankings in case anyone is interested:

Player------------Touches-Fumbles-%
1. Curtis Martin-----4002-----29---0.72
2. Marshall Faulk----3603-----36---1.00
3. Jerome Bettis----3679-----41----1.11
4. Eddie George-----3133-----37---1.18
5. Barry Sanders----3414-----41---1.20
6. Emmitt Smith-----4924-----60---1.22
7. Ricky Watters----3089-----43---1.39
8. Thurman Thomas-3349-----50---1.49
9. Terry Allen-------2356-----41---1.74
10. Marcus Allen----3609-----65---1.80
11. John Riggins-----3166----58---1.83
12. Earl Campbell----2308----43---1.86
13. O.J. Anderson---2938----56---1.91
14. Walter Payton---4330----86---1.99
15. Jim Brown-------2621----57---2.17
16. Eric Dickerson---3277----76---2.32
17. OJ Simpson-----2396----56---2.34
18. Tony Dorsett---3334----90---2.70
19. Franco Harris---3256----90---2.76
20. Joe Perry-------2189----72---3.29