Last week produced an interesting exercise as ESPN’s Bill Barnwell took a look at all the active NFL players and tried to figure out which of them could end their career as the greatest player of all time in their specific position. Two Dallas Cowboys, Zack Martin and Micah Parsons, are included.
During my Friday morning radio hit with my friends on Star Sports San Antonio, host Rob Thompson asked this question and called it a “classic” sports radio segment. Rob is absolutely right that this is the exact kind of thing that floods call lines because it’s the kind of topic that everyone view on. Keep in mind, one of the times I saw SA call lines fuller was when we were debating what the name of San Antonio’s AAF team should be (they ended up being the leaders before the league folded).
So Rob and his co-host Rudy Gay were all debating this, but Rob actually misinterpreted the question in a really cool way. He believed the premise was that specifically the Dallas Cowboys players could finish their careers as the greatest ever in team history. Obviously, this expands the field of discussion a bit.
Like Barnwell did original exerciseIt is important to exclude a few situations because they are not worth arguing about. For the purposes of this discussion, we’ll rule out points where a legitimate argument can’t be made for players on the current roster and also avoid reinserting Zack Martin and Micah Parsons because their cases have already been made and we don’t need to be redundant.
There are four names I came up with that I am sure will be met with universal praise and agreement!
Tyrone Smith
Current Goat OT: Rayfield Wright
It’s not fair to look exclusively at left tackles since the Cowboys have had some amazing right tackles over the course of their franchise history. However, the bench he should outsmart at the tackle position for this drill is Rayfield Wright, although there are plenty of other strong cases.
In terms of individual accomplishments, Tyron Smith is one step closer to Wright. The problem is that Smith has missed several games on recent memory and that will likely continue. The workload is currently smaller and dwindling. Eventually, Smith landed on the back nine and ran out of the holes to catch the big shot.
power Victories aren’t a metric among tackles in NFL history, but it’s worth noting that Wright was part of two totals that made it (although there wasn’t much action for Wright in the 1977 season) while Smith didn’t even go to NFC Championship Game. This exact thing would be the hold on discussion of some of the most recent players in Cowboys history when their nomination to things like the Pro Football Hall of Fame comes up. While Smith will one day have a bronze bust and a gold vest, unless he’s experiencing a late career resurgence, it kind of looks like Wright could beat him up.
Obviously, such things depend on how you want to look at it. There is an argument to be made that in his prime Smith was a more dominant player than Wright. This is by no means strange.
But Wright has put in a larger body of work with nearly the same individual honors and has a team to work with. He’s one of the underrated legends in franchise history, and a second-place finish to him can’t be scoffed at.
Sir Lamb
Current WR GOAT: Michael Irvin
When it comes to the four names here, it’s generally the least likely ranking. So if Tyron Smith is the most likely (again, outside of Martin and Parsons), CeeDee Lamb is the second possibility.
In fact, it’s pretty ridiculous that Lamb would get into any conversation like that. he have long The way to go if he wants to surpass the three other recognized members of Club 88: Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin and Des Bryant.
But Lamb is fortunate to play in an era where passing is the name of the game. If he’s averaged about 1,200 yards a season and 8-10 touchdowns per campaign for half a decade, then that conversation becomes a very real and legitimate talking point. But the hardware has to be there, too.
Pearson and Irvin both tasted the ultimate football glory, but Bryant never did. Lamb has to be part of a group that climbs the game’s ultimate mountain if he wants to be the future Cowboys GOAT.
Trevon Diggs
CURRENT CB GOAT: Mel Renfrew and/or Deion Sanders
Deon Sanders played five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, and while he’s the greatest cornerback of all time and ever played for the team, you could argue that Mel Renfro was the best in terms of his overall career with the team. You get my point, but everyone has their own.
However, did you know that Sanders had 14 interceptions in 63 career games with the Cowboys? Now what if I told you that Trayvon Diggs has 17 draft picks through 45 career games.
Measuring the total back angle value of interceptions is a silly way to do things. They’re important, but they’re not an end-of-all, be-all kind of thing. Diggs had a lot to do to surpass Sanders or Renfrew in terms of the greatest cornerback ever to wear a star unless he kept taking the ball away at an insane rate. Objections alone are ridiculous, unless you have a million of them!
Part of the reason why Diggs is so difficult to assess here is that a lot of his digital contributions and statistics are out of his control due to the nature of the position he plays. He has a chance and deserves to be included in this conversation, but he has a long way to go.
Duck Prescott
Current Goats QB: Roger Staubach and/or Troy Aikman
Two things here to get you started:
- You can choose the goats you want here. Staubach or Eikman.
- As absurd as it is to measure things out by winnings and wins alone (especially those related to playoffs), they are admittedly essential to the future of this discussion.
Let’s be clear, so am I no declaring that Dak Prescott is the best quarterback the Dallas Cowboys have ever had. But if we’re opening up the conversation regarding what’s possible, how can you argue that this isn’t?
Prescott clearly doesn’t have the career accomplishments that would be required for that gold medal, but just like Lamb (who he’s obviously related to) he’s playing in an era that lends statistical success to his position. When all is said and done, he probably owns every passing record in franchise history and may hold most of the rushing records as it pertains to the quarterback position. Lots of ifs and ands and buts here, admittedly.
But for Dak it has to be seen as better The quarterback in the history of this franchise will have to do more than that as his predecessor Tony Romo knew all too well. Equipment must be won. Banners must be posted. Parades must be held. If Duck (who is only about to turn 30) can hit the promised land and be the quarterback who finally does it for this team, the magnitude of the breakthrough (especially if done multiple times) may weigh differently when we look at back in this era.
As noted, Prescott is the least likely to end his career as the franchise GOAT in his position, but he has the most control and influence of any player we’ve mentioned. Cowboys go as they go, and given that is a true statement, if they go to some great places, the credit will be important to his legacy.