Mamas, Do Let Your Sons Grow Up To Be Cowboys

Here is ESPN's list of the top ten Cowboys of all time:

1. Tom Landry
2. Roger Staubach
3. Michael Irvin
4. Bob Lily
5. Emmitt Smith
6. Troy Aikman
7. Tony Dorsett
8. Randy White
9. Don Meredith
10. Drew Pearson

Well, well, well. Tom Landry will, rightly, be associated with the Cowboys forever and he was great. I can't even begin to name all of the innovations that he brought to the game. Nonetheless, when I think of the top ten Cowboys, I think of players. So, for me, Landry isn't on that list. I mean, if Landry is on the list, Tex Schramm should be on the list as well, and maybe even Clint Murchison, who knew enough to hire Landry and Schramm and then leave them alone. So, back to the players. I am glad that Meredith made the list. I remember him in the 60's, when Dallas had both the Cowboys and the Dallas Texans, which ultimately lost the popularity contest, moved to Kansas City and became the Kansas City Chiefs. Anyway, Meredith was the QB of this miserable, untalented expansion team. Much like Archie Manning in New Orleans, Meredith took an absolute beating, game after game. He was incredibly tough and grossly underappreciated. But I think also of Don Perkins, Jethro Pugh, Harvey Martin, Lee Roy Jordan, Chuck Howley, Bob Hayes, Jay Novacek, Charlie Waters, Cliff Harris, Danny White (also underappreciated), Bob Newhouse, Walt Garrison...the list goes on and on. I guess mine would be as follows:

1. Bob Lily
2. Roger Staubach
3. Emmitt Smith
4. Troy Aikman
5. Randy White
6. Drew Pearson
7. Darren Woodson
8. Mel Renfro
9. Don Meredith
10. Michael Irvin

Tomorrow's list could be different. I do love me some Cowboys.