Who is the most irreplaceable player in Cowboy's history?

[BruceWayne]

I agree with most. Got to be #22

 

[UnoDallas]

How about Bullitt Bob Hayes

he changed the game forever

 

[lurkercowboy]

Emmitt Smith. See the first two games of the 1993 season for evidence.

 

[rcaldw]

Aikman for the reasons already mentioned. The 1993 Emmitt absent factor has been so overplayed it is not even funny. I don't want to go into it all again, but it has turned into pure myth. See the last two games from the 1990 season for evidence, and as I remember it, Emmitt was still on those teams from 2000 onward after Aikman was gone. Man, we sure did a lot of winning. Aikman was the leader of the 90's teams.

 

[bbgun]

No love for Manny Hendrix? Haters.

 

[rcaldw]

No love for Manny Hendrix? Haters.

You know what, in all seriousness, have we ever replaced a safety TANDEM like we had with Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris? Woodson was great, and one of my all time favorites, but he played with James Washington, and Horton and some others. When Waters and Harris were together, what a pair of safeties!

 

[Doomsday101]

Daryl Johnston, in my view the best blocking FB in Cowboys history

 

[rcaldw]

Daryl Johnston, in my view the best blocking FB in Cowboys history

I like that one too. What a force!

 

[TheSkaven]

Register another vote for Emmit Smith. 0-2 without him, a Superbowl team with him, in 1993. As much as I like Aikman, this team still won with Beuerlein and even Jason Garrett while he was out. Even Bernie Kosar filled in well.

Honorable mentions to Staubach, Charles Haley and Michael Irvin. The fortunes of the 90's team really ended when Irvin went down.

 

[juck]

Pacman

 

[rcaldw]

Register another vote for Emmit Smith. 0-2 without him, a Superbowl team with him, in 1993. As much as I like Aikman, this team still won with Beuerlein and even Jason Garrett while he was out. Even Bernie Kosar filled in well.

Honorable mentions to Staubach, Charles Haley and Michael Irvin. The fortunes of the 90's team really ended when Irvin went down.

When Aikman was out Beuerlein (a former and future starter for other teams) filled in. When Aikman was out a QB who led his team to two AFC Championship games (Bernie Kosar) filled in. We also had Rodney Peete who was a starter for the Lions. We had Wade Wilson, who led his team to the NFC Championship game (Vikings)

So when Emmitt was out in 1993, who filled in? A former or future NFL starter? A RB who led his own team somewhere either in the past or future?

No.

A rookie. A back who literally was playing in his first two NFL games. What was his name? That's right, the world famous Derrick Lassic. If you say Derrick who?, then you understand why this whole thing is so way overblown.

And who did we play and where?

We opened on the road against the team that had won the Super Bowl just the year before, the Washington Commanders.

Then we were at home against a team that had been to the Super Bowl in 1990, 1991 and 1992, the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills game was a heart breaker, as we trailed by 3, were in FG position and a tipped pass was picked off in the closing seconds.

The third game of that season THE COWBOYS WERE AHEAD WITH THE ROOKIE LASSIC PLAYING when Emmitt made his return. (17-0 and Lassic had 2 TD runs)

I repeat, and please pay attention, WE WERE AHEAD WITHOUT EMMITT, ON THE ROAD, AGAINST THE CARDINALS.

Now, in 1990, Aikman goes down, we had won 5 straight games, and needed 1 win to make the playoffs.

Who enters for Aikman? Babe Laufenberg. Aikman's backup equivalent to Derrick Lassic. We still had a healthy Emmitt Smith.

What happened? LOST BOTH.

When will people understand that football is not baseball? You make it sound so simple. Without Emmitt we lost. With Emmitt won the Super Bowl.

I say, it is more about:

1. Who is the backup?
2. Who are you playing and where?
3. AND DON'T FORGET A DIVIDED LOCKEROOM OVER THE WHOLE SALARY THING

It wasn't just about football as the 1993 season opened.

There, I just did it again.

 

[CosmicCowboy]

The singing cowboy, Dandy Don...:starspin

 

[landryscorner]

Emmitt Smith truly irreplaceable

 

[L-O-Jete]

If by player you mean "took a part in" it's a tie between Landry and Schramm.
If you mean player on the field Lily or Staubach.

 

[Hoofbite]

Lots of good answers.

But when I read the title, I couldn't help but think of Irvin. He just brought such a passion for the game that I don't think it can be replaced.

I remember seeing Mike on the sideline the year he got hurt for good. White towel in hand, he was on the ground trying to will the team on. He's sitting on the sidelines and I don't know if there was any other player in the stadium who wanted it as much as he did.

 

[Big Dakota]

Emmitt

 

[bbgun]

Some love for Ernie.

http://img524.*************/img524/649/stautner005.jpg

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Herschel Walker (Trade). No single player has done as much to turn our team into a dynasty. Dallas used Minny's picks for Emmitt and Darren Woodson.

Good post. I change my answer.

 

[UnoDallas]

You know what, in all seriousness, have we ever replaced a safety TANDEM like we had with Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris? When Waters and Harris were together, what a pair of safeties!

NO we have not they were great

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Daryl Johnston, in my view the best blocking FB in Cowboys history

OK, John Madden. :laugh1: