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Today's first round face-off features players from two distinct eras: fourth-seeded middle linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, who made hay in an era during which middle 'backers were tough, run-stuffing hombres, and Flozell Adams, who came into and succeeded in a league that prized rare athleticism in its left tackles. Which era-specific prototype will prevail? Read the bios and cast yer ballots, BTBers!
Wanna keep tabs on the state of the bracket or look ahead to future contests? All the Midsummer Madness info you could ever want can be found right here.
Player: Lee Roy Jordan
Position: middle linebacker
Seed: 4
Essentials:
| Name | Years | Career AV | Pro Bowls | All-Pro | RoH | HoF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Roy Jordan | 1963-76 |
123 |
5 |
1 |
yes |
no |
Bio: Jordan was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 1963 Draft and was quickly named the team's weakside linebacker, becoming the first rookie linebacker to start a season-opener in team history. The following season, he moved to the middle 'backer spot, teaming up with Chuck Howley and Dave Edwards (both previous Midsummer Madness candidates), to form arguably the finest linebacking corps of that era. He served as team captain for the rest of his career.
At 6'1" and 215 pounds, Jordan was never physically dominant interior thumper; however, his competitiveness and indomitable will more than made up for his lack of size. He prepared meticulously, watching hours of game film (he had a projector at his house that was always on, and ran Tom Landry's "Flex" defense on the field with unparalleled command. Jordan was equally devastating against the run and pass, and was always around the ball; he remains tied for second in club history with 16 career fumble recoveries and intercepted 32 passes over the course of his career.
Jordan accumulated many honors over the course of his stories career. He was a two-time All-Pro (once for second-team) and a five-time Pro Bowler who helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowls and five NFC Championship games. Jordan was the 1973 NFC Defensive Player of the Year, and retired as the franchise's all-time leader in solo tackles - and remains second all-time, trailing only Darren Woodson. Perhaps more impressive is Jordan's still-standing record for most consecutive starts by a middle linebacker, with 154. In 1985, he was selected to Cowboys Silver Season All-Time Team; in 1989, he became the seventh inductee to the Ring of Honor.
Player: Flozell Adams
Position: offensive guard, tackle
Seed: 13
Essentials:
| Name | Years | Career AV | Pro Bowls | All-Pro | RoH | HoF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flozell Jootin Adams |
1998-2009 |
93* |
5 |
1 |
no |
no |
Bio: Adams was drafted in the second round of the 1998 Draft and was immediately installed as the team's left guard, starting ten games as a rookie. The following campaign, he was moved to left tackle, where he operated for three solid if undistinguished years. Bill Parcells's arrival at Valley Ranch in 2003 served as a turning point for Adams's career, however; in five of the next six years, "Flozell the Hotel" was a Pro Bowler (the exception being 2005, when he suffered a knee injury and missed the season's final ten games).
Adams's two seasons after his return from the knee injury were particularly fine; he was excellent in 2006 and earned his sole All-Pro nod in 2007. In total, he logged 194 starts as a Cowboy, missing only 14 games in his twelve years in Dallas (ten in 2005). Perhaps because the team didn't have tremendous success during Adams's tenure, his career impact is often overlooked, but only Larry Allen, Rayfield Wright, and John Niland have more Pro Bowl selections among O-linemen in Cowboys history.
Adams's AV with Dallas was 93; his career AV, with two teams, was 101.
Alright, BTBers, which man advances to the next round?