What former Cowboy do you wish was on the team now?

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 2:43 PM CDT

First, I have to say that I think this has been done before, so full credit if I borrowed your idea. Second, I love the Cowboys, and have been a fan since around 78, so that's as far back as my personal knowledge goes, but I have read everything I can find about the team before then.

There's no denying that this team of Cowboys is great, and they're loaded at almost every position. But sometimes it's fun to imagine bringing back a former Cowboy in their prime to help them out. Like say you're polishing your Cowboys lamp one day, and a little genie in a suit and fedora pops out. He says he will grant you one specific wish - the ability to add one former Dallas Cowboy in their prime to the current team, for just this year. You would still have the same coaching staff and all of the other players, but this guy would now be on the roster.

Who would it be? At first, I thought, that's easy, Michael Irvin. But I don't know that there are enough footballs to go around with him and T.O., and they're not that much different style-wise. Maybe Bullet Boy Hayes? Or Jay Novacek and terrorize teams with a 2 TE set?

Emmitt or TD probably wouldn't improve the current team too much, as great as they were, but Larry Allen or Nate Newton might. Old time linemen are probably too small. Hmm, what about Moose? Some DBs and linebackers would be shaking in their cleats at the thought of him and MB3 both coming at them.

Prime Time would be nice, but I don't know that he would be as big a factor given the current scheme. Same with Charles Haley, although adding him into the rotation as a pass rusher would be pretty scary.

I think I would end up having to go with Darren Woodson. Add that guy in at SS right now, and this defense would be truly fearsome. Remember in 95 when he knocked out Rodney Peete in the Divisional playoff game, then hit a Packers guy so hard that he bounced off a coach and nearly killed him in the championship game? And he was as good as Newman in the slot.

What do you guys think? Who's the guy you would bring back for this year only?

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

Tweet Comment 33 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I second Woodson

Our offense is going to be Super Bowl worthy. Woodson improves our biggest defensive weakness: covering tight ends and running backs. He’s also a leader and a 3 down player who plays 16 games.

Second would be Irvin, more for his leadership than for his production. But his production was sick.

by TimSchultz36 on Oct 2, 2008 3:00 PM CDT reply actions

That's why I thought Irvin, too.

We get a lot of production out of TO, Witten, and whoever, but Irvin was the heart of the team in the ‘90s. I don’t think T.O. and Irvin together would have as big of numbers as either did on their own, but the offense would be unstoppable. Who do you cover and how do you stop the run and pass?

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I am going to show my age

and pick Cliff Harris over Woodson, though Woodson would be great

Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey

by Seanrude on Oct 2, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

+1000

I saw the title of the post and his name IMMEDIATELY popped into my head.

The greatest two yard run ever!

by WB3forMB3 on Oct 4, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Troy Aikman or Irvin

No questions regarding whether he can win a play off game, and he’s a real game manager. In regards to Irvin, can you imagine him and T.O lining up on the outside?

by bryangene on Oct 2, 2008 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

I don't know about Troy.

I’m a huge Aikman fan, and think he’s one of the greatest of all time, but I don’t know if he would fit in with this team and coaching staff. Getting along with Irvin and getting along with T.O. are 2 different animals, and Troy always favored the disciplinarian type coaches.

Oddly, a receiver like Irvin opposite T.O. would probably have Barber averaging 5 a carry and make Felix Jones unstoppable. Those guys would be in the secondary almost every single run.

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Woodson, a no brainer to me

I think he would make the secondary much, much better and my second choice would be Deion Sanders.

To me, it would have to be a defensive player because our current offense just might be the best in team history.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 2, 2008 3:26 PM CDT reply actions

Do you think Deion would help this team?

I know he’s the greatest cover corner in history, but I don’t know that even that would back Stewart out of calling zone most plays. I think they should be using Newman now the way they did Deion then – put him on the 2nd best guy and completely remove that guy from the game, and double the other guy.

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions

absolutely

how can the greatest cover CB of all time not be able to help this team? Stewart would put Deion on an island with the opposing team’s best receiver and slide coverage over using Pacman, Newman and Henry.

Last week we would have won because no way Moss has that kind of day against Deion.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Oct 2, 2008 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't question his ability.

I don’t trust Brian Stewart to make the right calls, even with Deion. I don’t think they’re taking advantage of the talent that they have now. Maybe I’m being too hard on Stewart.

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Newman showed last weekend he couldn't hold Deion Sanders' jock....when it comes to stickin' receivers...

Sanders would have held Randel El or Moss to NO or very FEW receptions and absolutely NO TD’s…….BUT, great secondaries usually are predicated on a stellar pash rush….there were none better than Charles Haley…….Haley is my man, and would put this D over the top….much like he did 15 years ago.

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Oct 2, 2008 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Nickel D

Ware, Ellis, Ratliff, and Haley as the 4 man line in the nickel? That would be awesome. I guess Haley would have to learn LB like Ellis, and then they would have a solid 4 man rotation at OLB where you never know who’s coming.

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

i believe haley

played OLB in SF’s 3-4.

by Scoobay on Oct 3, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

Look up... get up...Don't ever, ever give up!!

by Boyzfan94 on Oct 3, 2008 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions

David LaFleur

Just Kidding.

The older I get, the better I was.

by Far Rider on Oct 2, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

now THAT is funny

by stephena on Oct 2, 2008 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Haha. You mean him over Erick Bjornsen?

It's never just a game when you're winning. - George Carlin

by DennardC on Oct 2, 2008 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

RANDY WHITE

hands down, no question, not even close…

by stephena on Oct 2, 2008 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

DT or LB?

I know he was much better at DT than LB, but he’s way to small in today’s NFL. 6’4, 260 would be ideal for ILB in 3-4, though. The Manster was one of my favorites, but I don’t know how he’d do in today’s game with 350 pound offensive linemen.

by Baked Potato Soup on Oct 2, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Bob freaking Lily...

by AikmanNailedMySis on Oct 3, 2008 7:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Prime Time

"I'll give anybody a loan here if you bet against the Cowboys." - Jerry Jones, with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]

by silverblue5 on Oct 2, 2008 3:34 PM CDT reply actions

Larry Allen

Best guard in NFL history. Put him in Koiser’s spot, and we hands down have the greatest line in NFL history.

by mhuff13 on Oct 2, 2008 3:56 PM CDT reply actions

+1

Larry Allen in his prime, I didn’t even have to think twice about it.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Oct 2, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Charles Haley

Previously, on Hard Knocks….
just dont ever touch Charles Haley’s desk…

But seriously the first guy that came to my mind.

by gaz0425 on Oct 2, 2008 9:48 PM CDT reply actions

+1

Or the Manster as was mentioned above. Or even Woodson. I think the team would benefit most from a defensive player.

"So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?"- Marion "Barbarian" Barber

by DC_fan on Oct 2, 2008 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

This team needs a serious pass rush upgrade so it can stop other teams on 3rd down and get off of the field.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Oct 3, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions

tough choice

Darren Woodson
Deion Sanders-my choice best cb of all time and instant upgrade in ST
Ken Norton

I think our O is fine, we get shut down D and we win out..

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Oct 2, 2008 11:18 PM CDT reply actions

harvey mother-effin martin

by JohnnyRender on Oct 3, 2008 12:04 AM CDT reply actions

Bob Hayes

Who do you double with TO and Hayes? The other guy will kill you. It would also open things up even more for Witten underneath to say nothing about what it would do for the running game.

The Red Ball Express will be rolling this year!

by BulletBob on Oct 3, 2008 12:24 PM CDT reply actions