By Ryan Mercer/sports editor
Pro Football Hall of Fame voters better turn out votes for some Cowboys or they will get an earful from Dallas fans and media alike.
Since 1960, the Dallas Cowboys have been the staple of the NFL. No team has accomplished the same kind of success the Cowboys have: eight Super Bowl appearances (five victories), 14 Conference championship games (eight victories) and 27 playoff appearances. Despite all this success, only five players are in the Hall of Fame to show for it.
This oversight shows the obvious bias against former Cowboy players being elected into the Hall of Fame. Last year the slighted Cowboy was Michael Irvin, the year before it was Cliff Harris, Rayfield Wright and Bob Hayes. These four deserve the honor of being enshrined with the greatest players and coaches ever to play the game, and this year is no different.
The Cowboys once again have numerous players up for enshrinement—Troy Aikman, Irvin and Wright. Aikman is a shoe-in; no quarterback won more games in the ’90s, had a higher completion percentage in Super Bowls (70 percent) and a better playoff record.
Irvin is a wild-card; he wasn’t enshrined last year after making it to the final six, and with his recent troubles, he might not get in this year as well. Irvin is deserving of the honor; the only other receiver as successful if not more is Jerry Rice, and he will be in once he is eligible.
Wright was one of the most dominating offensive linemen in the ’70s. Wright played in six straight Pro Bowls and was named to the all-decade team of the ’70s.
However, Wright is the only member of that squad not in the Hall of Fame. Wright was selected to the final voting for the second straight year.
If Wright doesn’t get in, it will be obvious there is a bias against the Dallas Cowboys. During the ’70s, the Cowboys went to five Super Bowls, the most of any team in the NFL, yet the Steelers (four appearances) and Dolphins (three appearances) have more players in the Hall of Fame. The Steelers have the most of the three teams with nine, and the Dolphins have seven. Dallas has only five players for those teams in the ’70s.
The Cowboys should have more players in the Hall of Fame. Even with the success the Cowboys have had, they deserve better. Aikman, Irvin and Wright deserve to be voted in this year.
The Hall of Fame voters would get some dignity back by putting these guys in and have a Cowboys-filled enshrinement.
