Our memories become fuzzy, but after further review the Cowboys’ 1990s’ dynasty wasn’t solely orchestrated by Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.
Sure they were the leaders, the best players and future Hall of Famers. But to win three Super Bowls in four years it took more. It took role players making star-studded plays.
An Alvin Harper catch here. A Daryl Johnston block there. Kevin Williams on a punt return. Issiac Holt with a blocked punt. Darren Smith with a fourth-down tackle. The players and their plays might be forgotten, but sum of their actions live forever.
Got a whiff of that last Sunday against the Giants. Tony Romo was brilliant, DeMarco Murray ran for 100 yards and Dez Bryant caught two touchdowns. But the Cowboys wouldn’t have won that game without their supporting actors. Without Cole Beasley’s catch-and-run touchdown. Without Lance Dunbar’s long gain on a screen pass. Without a sack from Jeremy Mincey. Or a rare catch by James Hannah.
More and more we’re starting to trust the Cowboys’ “other” players. And that’s a good thing.
Because, after all, sometimes Michael Jordan passed to John Paxson for the game-winning shot.
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.
