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Monday, June 6, 2011
The Cowboys have longed been known as "America's Team." In 2010 they had super expectations to host the big game in Jerry's World. Instead of going to Super Bowl XLV, the Cowboys fell flat on their face going 6-10. Head coach Wade Phillips was fired and has been replaced by former QB Jason Garrett. In his first draft, the Cowboys got Tyron Smith to make sure Tony Romo doesn't get injured again. If Dallas can stay healthy in 2011, they will be back in the playoffs. Now for an in-depth look at the most storied franchise in NFL history.
Not one head coach is associated more with their franchise then Tom Landry is with the Cowboys. Landry took over the Cowboys in their first year of existence in 1960 and would help coach them to two Super Bowls. Landry is also considered as a great innovator of the game, he most famously designed the 4-3 defense while with the New York Giants and he perfected the system during his time with Dallas. In Landry's 28 years of coaching, he went 270-178-6 which is no doubt the best record a coach has had in Cowboys history. While most NFL fans know that Landry helped make Dallas the team they are today, it did not start out well for the 'Boys. In Landry's first year as coach the team record an 0-11-1 record and the following four seasons brought five or fewer wins. What became known as a wise decision, general manager Clint Murchison Jr. signed Landry to a ten year extension. The team would slowly start to improve and in 1966 they made it to their first NFL Championship Game where they lost to the Packers for a chance to appear in Super Bowl I. The 1970's were probably the most successful decade for Landry and the Cowboys as they won five NFC Championship Games and won Super Bowl's VI and XII. Landry is one of the greatest coaches in sports history and his career is the bar that is set for every head coach. Nobody will ever accomplish what Landry has or even come close, he is on his own mountain top as a head coach in this league.
A wise man once said, "Size matters not." Emmit Smith helped prove that quote correct throughout his career with the Cowboys. Even though he had great success in college, Smith fell to #17 because many thought he was to small and slow for the NFL. In the 1990 draft where Dallas traded up to get the future hall of famer. In his 12 year career with the Cowboys, Smith was elected to the Pro Bowl eight times, was a first team all pro four times, and is apart of the 1990's all decade team. Smith quickly proved his critics wrong by winning offensive rookie of the year. In one of Smith's best seasons as a Cowboy, he ran for 1,713 yards and 18 touchdowns on his way to an MVP award. By the way, that season Smith also helped the Cowboys win their third Super Bowl Championship over the Buffalo Bills 52-17. Both Smith and the Cowboys went on to have a great 1990's. The Cowboys would establish themselves as the team of the decade while Smith would establish himself as the greatest running back of all time. Smith helped the Cowboys win two more Super Bowls along side Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. In 2002, after Smith dedicated so much to the Cowboys, it was time for his name to go down in the history books. Smith became the all-time NFL rushing leader with 18,335, breaking Walter Payton's record. Smith also became the first running back with 1,400 yards in his first five seasons. Probably the most impressive record Smith holds is having 175 career touchdowns, which is only second to Jerry Rice. All of these records don't explain how durable Smith was in the field and how hard working he was on the practice. What the records do prove though is that he is the greatest Cowboy of all time. Click here to look at Smith's stats.
Known as "Captain America," Roger Staubach helped to higher the expectations of what it meant to be a QB for the Cowboys. The Cowboys selected Staubach in the 10th round 1964 draft, but would not be until 1969 because he served in the Navy. In ten years with the Cowboys, Staubach was a six time Pro Bowl selection, a five time All-NFC selection, and is apart of the 1970's All-Decade team. Staubach would not assume the starting role until week eight of the 1971 season. That season, Staubach would help the Cowboys win ten consecutive games, which included Dallas' first championship in Super Bowl VI over the Miami Dolphins. After an injury in 1972, Staubach would win back his starting role in a divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, a team the Cowboys would have a historical rivalry with. The original Cap would help the Cowboys win another Super Bowl in 1977 over the Denver Broncos 27-10. Staubach proved that father time would not factor into his performance as 1979 would be his last season and Staubach would throw for 3,586 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Staubach also proved why he is the best draft steal in Cowboys history. He helped protect America and would also help create "America's Team." Click here to look at Staubach's stats.
The one and only tight end bust in our series unfortunately played for the Cowboys. Dallas selected David LaFleur 22nd overall in the 1997 draft out of LSU. Most of the busts we have seen so far on the History of the Franchise actually went on to play with other teams. Not LaFleur though, he was on a whole different level then other draft busts in NFL history. In his four seasons with the Cowboys, LaFleur averaged just four touchdowns a season. The fact the Cowboys drafted LaFleur is kind of surprising considering he really didn't do that much at LSU either. Even though a bust at tight end doesn't set a franchise as far back as a bust at QB, the Cowboys had some better options at the #22 spot in 1997. There wasn't that much depth at tight end in the 1997 draft after Tony Gonzalez, but the Cowboys had a chance to draft Tiki Barber who played his career with the rival New York Giants. The Cowboys also missed out on a trio of very promising defensive players, Darren Sharper, Ronde Barber, and Jason Taylor who were all on the board when the Cowboys were on the clock. Well you lose a lot and win a lot in the NFL. Dallas has won a lot in it's history, but lost here when selecting LaFleur. Click here to look at LaFleur's stats.
From the very beginning of their history, the Cowboys made smart decisions. It started with the hiring of Tom Landry and that decision ended with five Super Bowl titles. I know Landry wasn't there for all of those but he helped set the standard for coaches in Dallas as well in the NFL. He helped produce players like Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, among others. Landry is one of the greatest coaches ever in NFL history and his career actually started with a losing record. He wouldn't have that many as Landry would go on to coach the Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances and if it weren't for the Steelers, Dallas could have seven championships. Just another reason to hate the Steelers, but seriously Landry defines the Cowboys as a franchise and will be immortalized forever in Texas and in the Hall of Fame.
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