Felix Jones has Darren Woodson’s number, so to speak
By RAY BUCK
rbuck@star-telegram.com
Rookie Felix Jones inherits a jersey number that has been involved in 1,350 tackles for the Dallas Cowboys.
Is that really a good thing for a running back?
Take it from the man who wore No. 28 and made it famous for the Cowboys (1992-2004): It’s not the right thing.
Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson saw his old jersey number scoffed up by free-agent running back Tyson Thompson in 2005. Now Felix Jones has it.
“Are you serious? Already? Again?” Woodson said when informed that the Cowboys’ top draft pick now has No. 28, which hasn’t been out of circulation since Woody retired.
“That’s my number, that’s just how I feel.” Woodson explained. “It’s hard to swallow.”
The five-time Pro Bowler became the team’s all-time leading tackler during the ‘02 season. (Woodson didn’t play in ‘04 but remained on the team with a herniated disk before announcing his retirement that December; Thompson inherited and wore the number through ’07.)
Said Woodson: “I think it’s just natural for anyone who played his entire career with the same team, and did a lot for that team, to feel the way I do.”
And, apparently, he isn’t alone.
“Family and friends called me when they saw Tyson wearing my number that first year,” Woodson added. “They said, ‘What the heck?’ [Equipment manager] Mike McCord said he couldn’t do anything about it.”
The history of No. 28
Since the Cowboys don’t officially “retire” jersey numbers, equipment man McCord sets “aside” a select few. (I understand to get one of these out of lockdown, you need either a 17-digit passcode or a small keg of dynamite.)
No. 74 is such a number. Bob Lilly is the only Cowboy to ever wear it.
No. 8 and No. 12 are on the extinct list as well. They belonged to a couple of recent NASCAR team owners: Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.
Conversely, No. 17 is not protected. Dandy Don Meredith’s jersey was worn by Quincy Carter (’01-03) ... followed by Sam Hurd (’06-present). Even Meredith can recognize that as an improvement.
Of course, not every jersey number can be held back or else there wouldn’t be enough to go around, especially in training camp when McCord’s grab bag runs close to empty.
Top-pick Felix Jones becomes only the sixth Cowboys player to wear No. 28.
“That’s what I thought,” Woodson said, “that the number wasn’t that popular.”
When Woodson arrived as a second-round pick in the ’92 draft, No. 28 had been worn by only a trio of running backs with short-lived Cowboys careers: Norm Granger (’84), Alvin Blount (’87) and Curtis Stewart (’89).
Now the number is passed around like a Gatorade bottle after practice — plenty of takers.
“Exactly,” Woodson said.
During his career at Arkansas, Felix Jones wore No. 25 — which belongs to third-year safety Pat Watkins — and not No. 28.
That makes it even worse.
“Exactly,” Woodson said.
How tough was Woody?
Darren Woodson, now an NFL studio analyst for ESPN, was one of the fiercest players ever to wear a Cowboys uniform — any position, any era, any jersey number.
He arrived at St. Edward’s in Austin during the summer of ’92 as a converted linebacker (Arizona State) who required no time to learn the ropes. He became a “Jimmy Johnson guy” from the get-go.
Woodson became a safety with cornerback speed. His footwork allowed him to take the slot receiver in nickel coverage, and he led the Cowboys in special-team tackles.
“Two weeks after that [’92] season,” said Woodson, “Jimmy called me in and said, ‘Listen, you should’ve been starting this past season. It’s your job to lose now.’ He knew I was [mad] about not getting to start as a rookie. Hell, yes, I was [mad].”
From the first minicamp, Darren Woodson was the starting strong safety on the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys. Even a broken right forearm in the ’93 preseason opener (vs. Vikings at Texas Stadium) couldn’t stop him.
Johnson to Woodson: “Get your forearm healed. It’s still your job.”
James Washington again was a starter for the remaining preseason games and regular-season opener at Washington. But Washington (the player) injured his knee early in that game. And Woody — less than five weeks after surgery — was back on the field.
“I wasn’t even supposed to suit up that day,” Woodson recalled. “But I was in there in the first or second quarter ... and played pretty well, too.”
He never missed a beat through Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta, despite playing with a surgical plate in his right forearm (which remains there today) and a cumbersome wrap that restricted any hand movement.
He basically played one-handed. His 155 tackles were a team record for a defensive back — but he had no interceptions.
“I dropped about seven,” he said. “I couldn’t open my hand.”
On Oct. 27, 2002, Woodson surpassed Lee Roy Jordan (1,236) as the Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler. Woodson retired with 1,350.
However, his heroics that day — vs. Seattle at Texas Stadium — were overshadowed by Emmitt Smith’s much-anticipated passing of Walter Payton as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.
On some teams, Darren Woodson had legendary status enough to get his jersey retired. But not on a team that doesn’t retire jerseys — or hold back quite enough.
rbuck@star-telegram.com
Rookie Felix Jones inherits a jersey number that has been involved in 1,350 tackles for the Dallas Cowboys.
Is that really a good thing for a running back?
Take it from the man who wore No. 28 and made it famous for the Cowboys (1992-2004): It’s not the right thing.
Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson saw his old jersey number scoffed up by free-agent running back Tyson Thompson in 2005. Now Felix Jones has it.
“Are you serious? Already? Again?” Woodson said when informed that the Cowboys’ top draft pick now has No. 28, which hasn’t been out of circulation since Woody retired.
“That’s my number, that’s just how I feel.” Woodson explained. “It’s hard to swallow.”
The five-time Pro Bowler became the team’s all-time leading tackler during the ‘02 season. (Woodson didn’t play in ‘04 but remained on the team with a herniated disk before announcing his retirement that December; Thompson inherited and wore the number through ’07.)
Said Woodson: “I think it’s just natural for anyone who played his entire career with the same team, and did a lot for that team, to feel the way I do.”
And, apparently, he isn’t alone.
“Family and friends called me when they saw Tyson wearing my number that first year,” Woodson added. “They said, ‘What the heck?’ [Equipment manager] Mike McCord said he couldn’t do anything about it.”
The history of No. 28
Since the Cowboys don’t officially “retire” jersey numbers, equipment man McCord sets “aside” a select few. (I understand to get one of these out of lockdown, you need either a 17-digit passcode or a small keg of dynamite.)
No. 74 is such a number. Bob Lilly is the only Cowboy to ever wear it.
No. 8 and No. 12 are on the extinct list as well. They belonged to a couple of recent NASCAR team owners: Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.
Conversely, No. 17 is not protected. Dandy Don Meredith’s jersey was worn by Quincy Carter (’01-03) ... followed by Sam Hurd (’06-present). Even Meredith can recognize that as an improvement.
Of course, not every jersey number can be held back or else there wouldn’t be enough to go around, especially in training camp when McCord’s grab bag runs close to empty.
Top-pick Felix Jones becomes only the sixth Cowboys player to wear No. 28.
“That’s what I thought,” Woodson said, “that the number wasn’t that popular.”
When Woodson arrived as a second-round pick in the ’92 draft, No. 28 had been worn by only a trio of running backs with short-lived Cowboys careers: Norm Granger (’84), Alvin Blount (’87) and Curtis Stewart (’89).
Now the number is passed around like a Gatorade bottle after practice — plenty of takers.
“Exactly,” Woodson said.
During his career at Arkansas, Felix Jones wore No. 25 — which belongs to third-year safety Pat Watkins — and not No. 28.
That makes it even worse.
“Exactly,” Woodson said.
How tough was Woody?
Darren Woodson, now an NFL studio analyst for ESPN, was one of the fiercest players ever to wear a Cowboys uniform — any position, any era, any jersey number.
He arrived at St. Edward’s in Austin during the summer of ’92 as a converted linebacker (Arizona State) who required no time to learn the ropes. He became a “Jimmy Johnson guy” from the get-go.
Woodson became a safety with cornerback speed. His footwork allowed him to take the slot receiver in nickel coverage, and he led the Cowboys in special-team tackles.
“Two weeks after that [’92] season,” said Woodson, “Jimmy called me in and said, ‘Listen, you should’ve been starting this past season. It’s your job to lose now.’ He knew I was [mad] about not getting to start as a rookie. Hell, yes, I was [mad].”
From the first minicamp, Darren Woodson was the starting strong safety on the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys. Even a broken right forearm in the ’93 preseason opener (vs. Vikings at Texas Stadium) couldn’t stop him.
Johnson to Woodson: “Get your forearm healed. It’s still your job.”
James Washington again was a starter for the remaining preseason games and regular-season opener at Washington. But Washington (the player) injured his knee early in that game. And Woody — less than five weeks after surgery — was back on the field.
“I wasn’t even supposed to suit up that day,” Woodson recalled. “But I was in there in the first or second quarter ... and played pretty well, too.”
He never missed a beat through Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta, despite playing with a surgical plate in his right forearm (which remains there today) and a cumbersome wrap that restricted any hand movement.
He basically played one-handed. His 155 tackles were a team record for a defensive back — but he had no interceptions.
“I dropped about seven,” he said. “I couldn’t open my hand.”
On Oct. 27, 2002, Woodson surpassed Lee Roy Jordan (1,236) as the Cowboys’ all-time leading tackler. Woodson retired with 1,350.
However, his heroics that day — vs. Seattle at Texas Stadium — were overshadowed by Emmitt Smith’s much-anticipated passing of Walter Payton as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.
On some teams, Darren Woodson had legendary status enough to get his jersey retired. But not on a team that doesn’t retire jerseys — or hold back quite enough.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:25 AM
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