The Boyz Top 50

 

Top 50 Dallas Cowboys of all TIME

  
1.     ROGER STAUBACH, QB (1969-79). Sure, Troy Aikman has better numbers and more Super Bowls. But no Cowboy is beloved more than Roger the Dodger. A choir boy with an attitude, Staubach performed miracles. His competitive nature remains legendary; the Cowboys won 73 percent of the games Staubach started, including two Super Bowls. Walt Garrison once said Staubach was "the epitome of what (Tom) Landry thought a quarterback should be."
2.     TROY AIKMAN, QB (1989-present). One of just three quarterbacks to lead their teams to at least three Super Bowl victories. Aikman persevered after a 1-15 rookie season and now holds virtually every club passing record. Staubach says Aikman is "mentally driven to be the best. And he is the best."
3.     EMMITT SMITH, RB (1990-present). The career numbers and honors are awesome. But the epitome of Emmitt is his ability to strap the Cowboys on his back and carry them to victory. No running back in NFL history owns a better combination of winning success and yardage productivity.
4.     TONY DORSETT, RB (1977-87). On the day Dorsett was drafted (and before making him the club's first million-dollar player), Tex Schramm said the Cowboys were getting the best running back since O.J. Simpson. Actually, T.D. was even better, finishing his career with 12,739 yards, second-best in the NFL when he retired.
5.     BOB LILLY, DT (1961-74). The Cowboys' first-ever draft choice, the first name in the Ring of Honor and the first Cowboy Hall of Famer. Add a club-record 11 Pro Bowl selections and it's no wonder why he's known as "Mr. Cowboy."
6.     RANDY WHITE, DT (1975-88). Hmmm, wonder what made the Cowboys ever think White could be a linebacker? After a two-year tryout at the position, White moved back to his college spot at defensive tackle and eventually became known as the Manster. The best of the Dirty Dozen draft in 1975, White eventually earned eight consecutive All-Pro selections, a club record.
7.     MICHAEL IRVIN, WR (1988-present). Yeah, we know what you're thinking. Why is he ranked so high considering all his off-field troubles? Easy answer: Just look at his contributions. We're not just talking pure numbers. We're talking his emotional leadership, his confidence. "It's a nightmare having to cover me," Irvin once said.
8.     DEION SANDERS, CB (1995-present). No one in a Cowboys uniform has possessed more raw athletic talent. Say what you will about his eccentricities, but Deion delivers, both on defense and special teams.
9.     MEL RENFRO, DB (1964-77). A star halfback in college, Renfro was switched to defense upon reaching Dallas. For four seasons, he played safety, then moved over to cornerback. It didn't matter - he was a Pro Bowler at either spot for 10 seasons. He finally secured his overdue HOF spot in 1996.
10.     LEE ROY JORDAN, LB (1963-76). As middle linebacker, Jordan was the most important player in Tom Landry's Flex defense. It fit him perfectly. Jordan went to five Pro Bowls and started 154 consecutive games for the Cowboys. 11.     BOB HAYES, WR (1965-74). Few players revolutionized the game like "Bullet Bob." Hayes' speed brought zone coverage into vogue. He finished with 71 TD catches.
12.     DREW PEARSON, WR (1973-83). Pearson's flair for making the clutch catch will always be his calling card, but he also had deceptive speed, great hands, and a knack for getting open.
13.     HARVEY MARTIN, DE (1973-83). Remember when the Cowboys had guys who could get to the QB? Martin's speed and quickness produced 114 sacks. Co-MVP of Super Bowl XII with Randy White.
14.     CHUCK HOWLEY, LB (1961-73). Howley was pumping gas when the Cowboys picked him up in '61, having retired from the Bears in '59 due to a knee injury. Fortunately, he still had 13 good seasons left. The only Super Bowl MVP from a losing team.
15.     LARRY ALLEN, G/T (1994-present). The highest-ranked offensive lineman - and he's just entering his sixth season. Could be first Cowboys OL in the Hall of Fame.
16.     CHARLES HALEY, DE (1992-96). The final piece to the Super Bowl puzzle in '92. Haley won five Super Bowls and is the all-time Super Bowl sack leader.
17.     ED "TOO TALL" JONES, DE (1974-78, 80-89). The year off to pursue boxing actually seemed to rejuvenate Jones' career. His 15 seasons played set a club record.
18.     DARREN WOODSON, S (1992-present). Plays the run great. Plays the pass great. Hmmm, that's about all you can ask from a Pro Bowl safety.
19.     NATE NEWTON, G/T (1986-1998). Need an opinion on any subject? Big Nate could help. He could also play. Newton moved to left guard in '92 and made five straight Pro Bowl appearances. 20.     HERSCHEL WALKER, RB (1986-89, 96-97). Dare we say it? Walker helped this team in so many ways, even when he departed for Minnesota. Few players, though, can match what Walker did in '88 (1,514 rushing yards and 515 receiving yards).
21.     EVERSON WALLS, CB (1981-89). Cubby was the Cowboys' ultimate thief and the only player to lead the NFL in interceptions three times.
22.     RAYFIELD WRIGHT, OT (1967-79). Drew Pearson called Wright "a pillar, a rock of strength." He was talking about Wright's character, but it could just as easily been about the six-time Pro Bowler's blocking ability.
23.     DANNY WHITE, QB (1976-88). Where might White rank had the Cowboys won any of the three NFC Championship games in the early '80s? Staubach calls his successor "tremendously underrated." White's 29 TD passes in '83 is a team record.
24.     TONY HILL, WR (1977-88). Had more 1,000-yard seasons than Pearson or Hayes. Had 26 100-yard games, most before Irvin. Talk about tremendously underrated.
25.     JOHN NILAND, G (1966-74). Once ran naked through a Dallas neighborhood. Luckily for the Cowboys, he opted to wear his uniform enough times to earn six Pro Bowls.

26.     DON MEREDITH, QB (1960-68). Dandy Don signed a personal service contract with Cowboys owner Clint Murchison prior to the NFL granting Dallas an expansion team. The fun-loving Meredith played hard and partied hard, much to the chagrin of Tom Landry. But more important, he helped transition the Cowboys from losers to winners.
27.     DON PERKINS, RB (1961-68). Like Meredith, he signed before
the
        Cowboys' franchise was officially approved. And like Meredith, he is
a member of the Cowboys' Ring of Honor. Perkins was a six-time Pro Bowler and was the first Cowboy to rush for 6,000 career yards.
28.     CALVIN HILL, RB (1969-74). Yes, his career in a Cowboys uniform was short-lived. And yes, he was plagued by injuries. But when healthy, Hill was productive. In just his second start, he broke the Cowboys' single-game rushing record with 138 yards. He's now back with the club in a front-office role.
29.     CLIFF HARRIS, S (1970-79). The undrafted Harris, out of tiny         Ouachita Baptist, won a starting job his rookie season until leaving
to fulfill a military obligation. "Captain Crash" returned and eventually finished with six Pro Bowl selections.
30.     CHARLIE WATERS, DB (1970-78, 1980-81). You knew if we mentioned
        Harris, his running buddy Waters wouldn't be far behind. Waters,
unlike Harris, actually was drafted, taken with a third-round pick. He filled in when Harris left for the military and eventually became a full-time starter at cornerback in 1972, moving to safety three years later. His 41 career interceptions is third-highest in Cowboys history.
31.     DAN REEVES, RB (1965-72). Although now known mostly for his coaching ability, which he credits to working with Tom Landry, Reeves went from college quarterback to multi-purpose NFL back; in 1966, he produced 757 rushing yards, 557 receiving yards and an NFL-high 16 touchdowns.
32.     LEON LETT, DT (1991-present). Probably would have ranked higher were it not for his off-field troubles, which currently have him suspended indefinitely. But when the Big Cat plays, few defensive tackles have been as dominating.
33.     JETHRO PUGH, DT (1965-78). Led the Cowboys in sacks each season from 1968-72, but never went to the Pro Bowl, as he was overshadowed by bigger Doomsday names such as Bob Lilly and Mel Renfro.
34.     JAY NOVACEK, TE (1990-96). A Plan B signing by the Cowboys, who were coming off a 1-15 season. It was among Jimmy Johnson's shrewdest moves. Novacek was a perfect fit for Troy Aikman, eventually making five Pro Bowls.
35.     CORNELL GREEN, DB (1962-74). Who would have thought this former college basketball player would become an NFL star? Green made 145 consecutive starts, switching from corner to safety in the middle of his career, and made four Pro Bowls.
36.     BILL BATES, DB (1983-97). Others had more talent, but no Cowboy had more heart than Bates, who made his niche with reckless special teams play.
37.     DAVE EDWARDS, LB (1963-75). Overshadowed by Chuck Howley, but don't underestimate his importance. Once he was switched from the weak side to the strong side, Edwards thrived against opposing tight ends. Bob Lilly says Edwards never made a mistake.
38.     MARK STEPNOSKI, C (1989-94, present). Anchored a line that won back-to-back Super Bowls before leaving via free agency. Few would argue he's the best center in Cowboys history.
39.     DARYL JOHNSTON, FB (1989-present). The Moose earned his keep as the lead blocker for Emmitt Smith, earning two Pro Bowl appearances. Despite nagging injuries, he played in 149 straight games.
40.     MARK TUINEI, OL (1983-97). His recent drug-related death shouldn't detract from his career, which consisted of two Pro Bowls and a team-tying record 15 seasons.
41.     RUSSELL MARYLAND, DT (1991-95). A short, but very productive         Cowboy career, with a Pro Bowl appearance, prior to his leaving via
free agency.
42.     WALT GARRISON, RB (1966-74). A true-to-life Cowboy who got his chance when Don Perkins retired. Garrison stands No. 6 on the team's all-time rushing list (3,886 yards).
43.     BUTCH JOHNSON, WR (1976-83). His six-shooter TD celebration fit the Cowboy style, but Johnson should be known for more. He was a home-run threat who made a spectacular catch in Dallas' Super Bowl XII win.
44.     ERIK WILLIAMS, OT (1991-present). Like Lett, would probably rank higher if not for his off-field activities. His 1994 auto accident slowed the momentum of what still is a stellar career.
45.     RALPH NEELY, OL (1965-77). The first great Cowboys offensive lineman, Neely made two Pro Bowls in his first five seasons.
46.     TONY TOLBERT, DE (1989-97). Drafted as an outside linebacker, but moved to defensive end by the middle of his rookie season, eventually becoming a key cog in the Cowboys' success in the 1990s.
47.     HERB SCOTT, G (1975-84). Three Pro Bowls and quiet consistency.
        Plus, he caught Roger Staubach's last NFL pass.
48.     BILLY JOE DUPREE, TE (1973-83). Tough and consistent, never missing a game in his 11 years with the Cowboys. Three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
49.     GEORGE ANDRIE, DE (1962-72). Underappreciated Cowboy (in Bob         Lilly's shadow) who went to five Pro Bowls in his first eight NFL
seasons.
50.     ROBERT NEWHOUSE, RB (1972-83). A versatile back who led the         Cowboys in rushing in 1975, then become a blocking back for Tony
Dorsett two years later.


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