The Dallas Cowboys All-Decade Team
Posted by David Quinn under Dallas Cowboys
ESPN did an NFL “All-Decade” team earlier in the week and the Dallas Cowboys’ home page is doing a Top 50 All-Time Cowboys List, much as was done here a couple of years ago. Since ESPN failed to include any Cowboys players on its team, which is a huge oversight in my opinion, and to differ from the home page, I am now naming my own Cowboys “All-Decade” team. This list, just as any list, is purely subjective, open to criticism and suggestion and based upon the last ten years’ amalgam of players who have worn the silver and blue uniform. So here goes:
OFFENSE
RT: No doubt about this one, Erik Williams. Possibly the meanest, strongest man to ever play the position.
LT: More of a closer battle between Mark Tuinei and Flozell Adams. I have to give the nod to Adams, who earned five Pro Bowl appearances and only an injury kept him out of his sixth. He was also named to the All-Pro team in ‘07.
OG: I’ll just name two right here as they could be interchangeable at either the right or left sides, Leonard Davis and Larry Allen, who alternated between guard and tackle making 10 Pro Bowls. Davis has made the Pro Bowl the last two years since he came to the Cowboys.
C: Andre Gurode goes here, since Mark Stepnoski was the all-decade choice for the 90’s. Gurode has made the last three Pro Bowls and is continuing to anchor a very good offensive line.
RB’s: I’ll just name two here as there are many who might argue the number of RB’s due to starting roles and today’s dual purpose backs. Marion Barber III and Julius Jones, although Felix Jones is close to making this list, he has only been on the team two years and was injured most of last year.
WR: Say what you will, I have to go with Terrell Owens since no one since Michael Irvin in the 90’s comes close statistically speaking. Also, since there should be two here, I’ll say Patrick Crayton for lack of any other memorable ones.
TE: Ahh, very easy, Jason Witten hands down. Novacek in the ’90’s, but Witten for this and possibly next decade.
QB: No doubt here either, Tony Romo is and will be the quarterback of this and the next decade for the Cowboys.
DEFENSE
DL: I’ll just throw out a few names here depending on whether you consider the new 3-4 defense or the prior 4-3 of earlier this decade. Jay Ratliff, having made the Pro Bowl last year at NT; Jason Ferguson and La’Roi Glover, who just retired and made four Pro Bowls each of his four years here in Dallas.
LB: DeMarcus Ware, obviously, along with Greg Ellis, Dexter Coakley and Bradie James, who really made an impact the last several years.
DB: Roy Williams, although his last years were not a good match for him, he carried the team defensively for many years. Of course, Terrence Newman, Ken Hamlin and last but not least, Anthony Henry who I felt played a big role in the secondary the last several years.
We could include Special Teams, but other than Nick Folk I can’t think of anyone worthy of any praise except for longtime standout and back-up S Keith Davis. So there it is,
ST: Nick Folk and Keith Davis.
That concludes my “All-Decade” Cowboys List, again, it is purely subjective and open to debate so let me know what or who you think should have been/not been included.
ESPN did an NFL “All-Decade” team earlier in the week and the Dallas Cowboys’ home page is doing a Top 50 All-Time Cowboys List, much as was done here a couple of years ago. Since ESPN failed to include any Cowboys players on its team, which is a huge oversight in my opinion, and to differ from the home page, I am now naming my own Cowboys “All-Decade” team. This list, just as any list, is purely subjective, open to criticism and suggestion and based upon the last ten years’ amalgam of players who have worn the silver and blue uniform. So here goes:
OFFENSE
RT: No doubt about this one, Erik Williams. Possibly the meanest, strongest man to ever play the position.
LT: More of a closer battle between Mark Tuinei and Flozell Adams. I have to give the nod to Adams, who earned five Pro Bowl appearances and only an injury kept him out of his sixth. He was also named to the All-Pro team in ‘07.
OG: I’ll just name two right here as they could be interchangeable at either the right or left sides, Leonard Davis and Larry Allen, who alternated between guard and tackle making 10 Pro Bowls. Davis has made the Pro Bowl the last two years since he came to the Cowboys.
C: Andre Gurode goes here, since Mark Stepnoski was the all-decade choice for the 90’s. Gurode has made the last three Pro Bowls and is continuing to anchor a very good offensive line.
RB’s: I’ll just name two here as there are many who might argue the number of RB’s due to starting roles and today’s dual purpose backs. Marion Barber III and Julius Jones, although Felix Jones is close to making this list, he has only been on the team two years and was injured most of last year.
WR: Say what you will, I have to go with Terrell Owens since no one since Michael Irvin in the 90’s comes close statistically speaking. Also, since there should be two here, I’ll say Patrick Crayton for lack of any other memorable ones.
TE: Ahh, very easy, Jason Witten hands down. Novacek in the ’90’s, but Witten for this and possibly next decade.
QB: No doubt here either, Tony Romo is and will be the quarterback of this and the next decade for the Cowboys.
DEFENSE
DL: I’ll just throw out a few names here depending on whether you consider the new 3-4 defense or the prior 4-3 of earlier this decade. Jay Ratliff, having made the Pro Bowl last year at NT; Jason Ferguson and La’Roi Glover, who just retired and made four Pro Bowls each of his four years here in Dallas.
LB: DeMarcus Ware, obviously, along with Greg Ellis, Dexter Coakley and Bradie James, who really made an impact the last several years.
DB: Roy Williams, although his last years were not a good match for him, he carried the team defensively for many years. Of course, Terrence Newman, Ken Hamlin and last but not least, Anthony Henry who I felt played a big role in the secondary the last several years.
We could include Special Teams, but other than Nick Folk I can’t think of anyone worthy of any praise except for longtime standout and back-up S Keith Davis. So there it is,
ST: Nick Folk and Keith Davis.
That concludes my “All-Decade” Cowboys List, again, it is purely subjective and open to debate so let me know what or who you think should have been/not been included.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:37 AM
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