Quick, name the greatest catch in Cowboys’ history.
Um, yeah, me too.
Though they’ve sported receivers like Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin and Jason Witten and Terrell Owens and Dez Bryant, nothing jumps out. I mean, Bryant’s acrobatic, juggling catch against the Texans in overtime this season was special. But he’s had a handful of similar grabs. One of the best catches in franchise history was Alvin Harper's 70-yarder that sealed the NFC Championship and a trip to Super Bowl XXVII, but the actual catch was relatively mundane. Pearson's "Hail Mary" grab between two Vikings in 1975 was epic more for the circumstances rather than the catch.
Dallas’ best catch on the biggest stage probably wasn’t even a catch, as Butch Johnson’s diving touchdown grab against the Broncos in Super Bowl XII would be overturned into an incompletion in today’s NFL. You could even argue that the most memorable catch in Cowboys’ history was a drop – by Jackie Smith in Super Bowl XIII.
Why then is it so dang easy to rattle off the best catch against America’s Team?
When listing the Top five catches in NFL history, I’m willing to bet that three of them have now come at the Cowboys’ expense.
Lynn Swann’s juggling, falling catch in Super Bowl X. Dwight Clark’s leaping grab in the end zone in the 1982 NFC Championship Game. And, of course, make room for Odell Beckham’s three-finger snatch last night in New Jersey. No doubt about it, Cowboys' cornerbacks Mark Washington, Everson Walls and Brandon Carr have been posterized into NFL immortality.
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At least we have Tony Dorsett’s 99-yard run. Right?
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
