SN: Former Cowboys weigh in on current roster
Posted: May 28, 2009
by Jeff D'Alessio
After the spring cleaning in Dallas -- see ya, T.O. -- Sporting News surveyed 19 ex-Cowboys for answers to those questions and others.
SN's panel of former Cowboys: Eric Bjornson, TE, 1995-99; Larry Cole, DL, 1968-80; Tony Dorsett, RB, 1977-87; Michael Downs, S, 1981-88; John Dutton, DL, 1979-87; Lee Folkins, TE/DE, 1962-64; Walt Garrison, RB, 1966-74; Dale Hellestrae, OL, 1990-2000; John Jett, P, 1993-96; Daryl Johnston, FB, 1989-99; Lee Roy Jordan, LB, 1963-76; Crawford Ker, G, 1985-90; Brock Marion, S, 1993-97; Ralph Neely, OL, 1965-77; Tom Rafferty, OL, 1976-89; Otto Stowe, WR, 1973; Ron Widby, P, 1968-71; Dave Widell, OL, 1988-89; Darren Woodson, S, 1992-2003.
Do you think Tony Romo is the answer at quarterback?
THEY SAID IT
"I think he can be the man. Tony was made a star before he did anything to justify it. You have to earn your stripes in this league. People expected too much from him. Let's keep it real, people."-- Tony Dorsett
"Yes -- if you put limitations on the amount of times he has to throw the ball. More short passes and run the ball more often."-- Darren Woodson
Answer Votes
Yes 14
We'll See 3
No 2
"I would like to see him be more serious at times, but one of the things I admire most about Tony is how much fun he has playing the game."-- Daryl Johnston
"I would draft and develop (a quarterback). Like Bill Parcells says, 'too comfortable.' "-- Crawford Ker
Breer: Will Romo be better or worse in 2009
What current Cowboy would you most want as your teammate?
Answer Votes
DeMarcus Ware 6
Jason Witten 5 1/2
Marion Barber 4
THEY SAID IT
"Jason Witten reminds me of the type of players who were my teammates in the '90s. Tough, high-character guys like Jay Novacek, Darren Woodson and Tony Tolbert." -- Daryl Johnston
"DeMarcus Ware is a great player and a quiet leader." -- Darren Woodson
"Marion Barber -- tough and a team player." -- Ron Widby
"None of 'em." -- John Dutton
Do you think Jerry Jones is making the right moves to bring a title back to Dallas soon?
Answer Votes
Yes 7
No 7
Jury's out 5
THEY SAID IT
"He needs to hire a football guy as G.M., (someone) who has some authority and can disagree with Jerry on decisions without the fear of being fired." -- Dale Hellestrae
"I would have loved to have played for an owner like him. However, I think he stretches himself too thin at times because he wears too many hats." -- Tony Dorsett
"I think the changes this offseason have been the right moves. Dallas was a mentally tired team down the stretch. A soap opera atmosphere can do that to a team. Trust me. Been there, done that." -- Daryl Johnston
"He has tried to buy a title. Now, step back and be an owner." -- Ron Widby
Ever catch yourself checking out the cheerleaders during a game?
Answers Votes
Yes 13
No 4
Who, me? 1
Never 1
THEY SAID IT
"I am a man." -- Darren Woodson
"You bet." -- Lee Roy Jordan
"Always."-- Larry Cole
"Cheerleaders? What cheerleaders? I thought those girls in short shorts, short blue blouses and go-go boots were auditioning for an Austin Powers movie sequel." -- Dave Widell
Are the Cowboys better or worse without Terrell Owens?
Answers Votes
Better 17
Worse 1
Too soon to tell 1
THEY SAID IT
"No teammate is better than the team or the league." -- Brock Marion
"The time has come. It's time to move on." -- Otto Stowe
"I don't see any other Hall of Famers on the depth chart." -- Dave Widell
What's the one thing the Cowboys need to become contenders again?
Answers Votes
A new coach 4
Leadership 3
Discipline 2 1/2
Attitude adjustments 2
THEY SAID IT
"A foot up their butts." -- Tony Dorsett
"A heart." -- Tom Rafferty
"Lose the attitude and just play football. We won because we played football. And then our attitude came." -- Brock Marion
"A playmaking receiver without baggage."-- Eric Bjornson
"It seems like the players are running the team."-- Walt Garrison
Jeff D'Alessio is editor-in-chief of Sporting News. E-mail him at jdalessio@sportingnews.com.
by Jeff D'Alessio
After the spring cleaning in Dallas -- see ya, T.O. -- Sporting News surveyed 19 ex-Cowboys for answers to those questions and others.
SN's panel of former Cowboys: Eric Bjornson, TE, 1995-99; Larry Cole, DL, 1968-80; Tony Dorsett, RB, 1977-87; Michael Downs, S, 1981-88; John Dutton, DL, 1979-87; Lee Folkins, TE/DE, 1962-64; Walt Garrison, RB, 1966-74; Dale Hellestrae, OL, 1990-2000; John Jett, P, 1993-96; Daryl Johnston, FB, 1989-99; Lee Roy Jordan, LB, 1963-76; Crawford Ker, G, 1985-90; Brock Marion, S, 1993-97; Ralph Neely, OL, 1965-77; Tom Rafferty, OL, 1976-89; Otto Stowe, WR, 1973; Ron Widby, P, 1968-71; Dave Widell, OL, 1988-89; Darren Woodson, S, 1992-2003.
Do you think Tony Romo is the answer at quarterback?
THEY SAID IT
"I think he can be the man. Tony was made a star before he did anything to justify it. You have to earn your stripes in this league. People expected too much from him. Let's keep it real, people."-- Tony Dorsett
"Yes -- if you put limitations on the amount of times he has to throw the ball. More short passes and run the ball more often."-- Darren Woodson
Answer Votes
Yes 14
We'll See 3
No 2
"I would like to see him be more serious at times, but one of the things I admire most about Tony is how much fun he has playing the game."-- Daryl Johnston
"I would draft and develop (a quarterback). Like Bill Parcells says, 'too comfortable.' "-- Crawford Ker
Breer: Will Romo be better or worse in 2009
What current Cowboy would you most want as your teammate?
Answer Votes
DeMarcus Ware 6
Jason Witten 5 1/2
Marion Barber 4
THEY SAID IT
"Jason Witten reminds me of the type of players who were my teammates in the '90s. Tough, high-character guys like Jay Novacek, Darren Woodson and Tony Tolbert." -- Daryl Johnston
"DeMarcus Ware is a great player and a quiet leader." -- Darren Woodson
"Marion Barber -- tough and a team player." -- Ron Widby
"None of 'em." -- John Dutton
Do you think Jerry Jones is making the right moves to bring a title back to Dallas soon?
Answer Votes
Yes 7
No 7
Jury's out 5
THEY SAID IT
"He needs to hire a football guy as G.M., (someone) who has some authority and can disagree with Jerry on decisions without the fear of being fired." -- Dale Hellestrae
"I would have loved to have played for an owner like him. However, I think he stretches himself too thin at times because he wears too many hats." -- Tony Dorsett
"I think the changes this offseason have been the right moves. Dallas was a mentally tired team down the stretch. A soap opera atmosphere can do that to a team. Trust me. Been there, done that." -- Daryl Johnston
"He has tried to buy a title. Now, step back and be an owner." -- Ron Widby
Ever catch yourself checking out the cheerleaders during a game?
Answers Votes
Yes 13
No 4
Who, me? 1
Never 1
THEY SAID IT
"I am a man." -- Darren Woodson
"You bet." -- Lee Roy Jordan
"Always."-- Larry Cole
"Cheerleaders? What cheerleaders? I thought those girls in short shorts, short blue blouses and go-go boots were auditioning for an Austin Powers movie sequel." -- Dave Widell
Are the Cowboys better or worse without Terrell Owens?
Answers Votes
Better 17
Worse 1
Too soon to tell 1
THEY SAID IT
"No teammate is better than the team or the league." -- Brock Marion
"The time has come. It's time to move on." -- Otto Stowe
"I don't see any other Hall of Famers on the depth chart." -- Dave Widell
What's the one thing the Cowboys need to become contenders again?
Answers Votes
A new coach 4
Leadership 3
Discipline 2 1/2
Attitude adjustments 2
THEY SAID IT
"A foot up their butts." -- Tony Dorsett
"A heart." -- Tom Rafferty
"Lose the attitude and just play football. We won because we played football. And then our attitude came." -- Brock Marion
"A playmaking receiver without baggage."-- Eric Bjornson
"It seems like the players are running the team."-- Walt Garrison
Jeff D'Alessio is editor-in-chief of Sporting News. E-mail him at jdalessio@sportingnews.com.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:22 PM
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