Over the years, it always seems that the Dallas Cowboys are Super Bowl Favorites. Unfortunately, this isn't the case as the last time the Cowboys saw the Super Bowl was in 1996.
Good teams who don't find playoff success are often forgotten about. Many fans forget the teams that went 15-1 or 13-3 because they didn't bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Since their last Super Bowl appearance, the Cowboys have had great players play for the organization. So here is a trip down memory lane.
#1: Greg Ellis —
Drafted with the 8th pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by way of the University of North Carolina. Dallas Cowboys fans were devastated to see the Cowboys draft Ellis.
Many were expecting them to draft Wide Receiver Randy Moss.
During his tenure in Dallas, Ellis totaled 77 quarterback sacks, 377 tackles, 20 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and four interceptions.
He also scored two touchdowns, both in 1999.
He had one Pro Bowl season, being selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl.
#2: Terence Newman —
Terence Newman was selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys drafted their future franchise cornerback with the 5th pick in the draft.
Newman had a good career while in Dallas.
Newman had 32 interceptions, three of which he returned for a touchdown. He also had seven forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries.
Newman was a two-time Pro Bowler, being selected in 2007 and 2009.
#3: Tashard Choice —
Tashard Choice was a player who I enjoyed watching. The speedy back was a highlight reel when inserted into the game.
Choice was drafted in the 4th round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Cowboys.
He would score eight touchdowns as a member of the Dallas Cowboys while also rushing for over 1000 yards during his career at Dallas.
#4: Jon Kitna —
Star Quarterback Tony Romo suffered a Clavicle Fracture in week 7 of the 2010 season. Former Lions Quarterback Jon Kitna replaced Romo as the Cowboys starter.
The Cowboys finished with a 6-10 record. Halfway through the season, Wade Phillips was relieved as head coach after a 1-7 start.
Replacing Phillips was Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett. Thus beginning the Garrett Era.
Kitna finished the season with four wins and five losses. He threw for 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
#5: Jeremiah Ratliff —
Jeremiah Ratliff, who many of us Cowboys fans know as Jay Ratliff was a key member of the Dallas Defense under Head Coach Wade Phillips.
Ratliff was drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys with the 224th pick of the draft.
Many analysts believed Ratliff fell that low due to being “undersized.” It was a match for the Cowboys, however, as they were looking to play Ratliff at defensive end in their new 3-4 defense.
Ratliff had a good career with the Cowboys. He started in 85 games and played in 104 games total as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
In those 104 games, Ratliff had 13 fumble recoveries and 27 quarterback sacks.
Stay tuned for the second part of this two-part series, as I will bring remembrance to more former Cowboys players.
