I have spent countless hours in front of the television throughout the years. Watching the Cowboys go to battle, I have enjoyed many players over my lifetime and what they brought to the team every week.
Every day I wish I had the luxury of growing up watching guys like Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders, and Michael Irvin.
I have watched some great players throughout my era, but those three guys are some of the all-time greats. With the off-season in full swing, I wanted to run down a few of my favorite players I have watched in my lifetime.
Miles Austin
Miles Austin was on the Cowboys roster for eight years. He had a splash in 2009. I will never forget watching him set the franchise-record 250 yards receiving against the Chiefs that year, a record he still holds. Austin was such a great route runner and just found a way to get himself open.
Austin finished that year with 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns.
DeMarcus Ware
It is hard to talk about the Cowboys’ history and not mention DeMarcus Ware at some point. I was lucky enough to watch him for nine seasons with Dallas. Ware was a player who you wanted and needed inside a locker room. He stuck through it with the Cowboys, both good and bad.
Ware ended his tenure with the Cowboys as the career leader in sacks with 117. In April of 2017, he signed a one-day contract and retired as a Dallas Cowboy.
Tony Romo
Outside of Dak Prescott, Tony Romo was the only guy I grew up watching play the quarterback position. He was a true warrior for the franchise, everyone has their thoughts, and I have mine. He will forever be one of my all-time favorite players, and I will defend him for the rest of my life.
One game stands out when I think about Romo. It was when he suffered both a fractured rib and a punctured lung against the 49ers. He made his way back into the football game during the fourth quarter and overtime and played tremendously to finish that game and pull out the win, 27-24.
Jason Witten
Jason Witten is one of the greatest to play the game. Witten made the Pro-Bowl 11 times, second-most of any at his position in the history of the NFL. Witten’s 12,448 receiving yards are the most of any tight end in Cowboys’ history and the second-most of any tight end in NFL history.
Who could forget the helmet game? The 53-yard reception set up a touchdown as the Cowboys cruised past the Eagles, 38-17. He was a true pro. Witten was the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the year award winner.
I could add so many more to this list, but these are just a few guys who come to mind. So many moments I remember from them over the years. The big plays, game-changing moments, the jerseys I bought, and so many others.