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Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: From the home office in Irving, Texas, DallasCowboys.com has this week's top 10 list, a ranking of the best free agent signings in team history as selected by the website writing staff: Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Josh Ellis. A new countdown will debut each Friday.)
The Cowboys have been relatively quiet in free agency the past three years, but still no other owner/GM in the league is known more for his wheelin', dealin' ways than Jerry Jones. Why else, to this day, is every big fish (See: Nnamdi Asomugha) somehow connected to the Cowboys before he even hits the market?
This year the NFL lockout has delayed the start of free agency/trades. Roster upgrades have come only through the draft, and the Cowboys believe they've gotten deeper and more athletic with their eight rookies, headlined by No. 9 overall pick Tyron Smith.
But make no mistake, the Cowboys (eventually) must explore veteran free agency to fill the rest of their needs and become more competitive following a 6-10 season. History shows when Jones and the club target a player, elite or not, the deal usually gets done.
Which brings this to mind: Who are the 10 best free agent signings in Dallas Cowboys history?
For continuity's sake, our DallasCowboys.com staff pared the list to free agents signed since 1993, the start of Plan A free agency and the salary cap era. Several players are worthy of honorable mention, including tight end Jay Novacek, who technically doesn't qualify because he was signed in 1990 under Plan B free agency that allowed teams to preserve the rights of 37 players on each roster. Other notable additions include James Washington (Plan B-1990), Herschel Walker in his second stint with Dallas (1996-97), Keith Brooking (2009), Gerald Sensabaugh (2009) and Anthony Henry (2005).
Preference was given to players who outperformed their initial contract, who gained notable individual accolades and/or who contributed heavily to the team's success.
Without further ado, let's unveil this week's Top 10:
No. 10 - Kyle Kosier (2006)
How many non-Arizona State alumni (and even some Sun Devil fans) had heard of Kyle Kosier before the Cowboys signed him to a modest five-year, $15 million deal and a $5 million bonus in 2006? Bill Parcells credited Brian Gaine, then the Cowboys' assistant director of pro scouting, for noticing Kosier on film with the 49ers. He was a high-value signing who instantly (and pretty adequately) replaced aging future Hall of Famer Larry Allen at left guard. Kosier has been the Cowboys' primary starter there for the past five seasons, starting 64 of 80 games since '06. Injuries have limited his availability in two of the past three seasons, but the Cowboys' offensive line has been noticeably more effective and cohesive when he's healthy.
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No. 9 - Leonard Davis (2007)
Fittingly, Davis received the largest signing bonus in club history at the time ($16 million) as part of a massive seven-year, $49.6 million deal for the 360-pound tackle-turned-guard. Mostly a tackle with the Cardinals, Davis quickly settled into his new spot at right guard and began living up to the lofty expectations that came with his No. 2 overall draft status in 2001. Although his production has declined to some degree in the past two seasons, Davis earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three years with the Cowboys (2007-09) that included two playoff berths, two division titles and a franchise-record tying 13 wins in '07.
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No. 8 - George Teague (1998)
He is perhaps remembered most for blasting T.O. at the midfield star in 2000, as well as gripping the American flag as he raced out of the Texas Stadium tunnel in the days after 9/11. But Teague was also a solid starting safety and a fierce hitter in two separate stints with the Cowboys, particularly his second term (1998-2001) alongside Darren Woodson. In five total seasons, Teague was credited with 208 tackles, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles and two sacks.
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No. 7 - Marc Colombo (2005)
The best story of grit and perseverance in this entire list. A first-round pick of the Bears in 2002, Colombo missed the entire 2003 season and the first part of 2004 because of a career-threatening knee injury. The Cowboys signed him during the 2005 season as a long-term, low-risk investment - Parcells saying that at some point in time, some team thought he was a starting-quality player. Displaying the determination that would grow to be his trademark on the Cowboys' offensive line, Colombo regained his leg strength in Joe Juraszek's weight-training program and under the supervision of the team's athletic trainers. He won the starting right tackle job outright in 2006 and has held it pretty consistently ever since, despite injuries in each of the past two seasons.
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No. 6 - Rocket Ismail (1999)
Gearing up for what he hoped would be one last Super Bowl run with the Triplets, Jones sprinkled some speed and playmaking ability into Troy Aikman's offense by signing Raghib "Rocket" Ismail to a seven-year, $21 million deal in '99. That Super Bowl trip never happened, but the Cowboys did get back to the playoffs in Ismail's first season, with the Rocket recording a team-high 80 catches for 1,097 yards (career high) and six touchdowns. He led the Cowboys in receiving in two of his three seasons, totaling 158 catches, 2,281 yards and eight touchdowns before retiring in 2002.
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No. 5 - Ray Donaldson (1995)
Yet another underrated signing, this time in the midst of the '90s dynasty. Needing a replacement for departed center Mark Stepnoski, the Cowboys signed Donaldson - a 37-year-old four-time Pro Bowler with the Colts - to a two-year deal. He made the Pro Bowl in both seasons in Dallas and was a centerpiece on the Super Bowl XXX championship offensive line.
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No. 4 - Mat McBriar (2003)
Too high for a punter, you say? Consider that the Cowboys initially signed McBriar, now a two-time Pro Bowler, to their practice squad late in the 2003 season after his brief stints in Denver and Seattle. McBriar had never punted in the regular season and was out of football entirely before that 2003 call-up. By 2006, he had become the Cowboys' first Pro Bowl punter since 1971, and he returned to the NFC squad in 2010. In 2007, he signed a five-year, $8.5 million deal that including a $2.5 million bonus. Money well spent for an underrated field position weapon.
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No. 3 - Terrell Owens (2006)
"Get Your Popcorn Ready." One of the most controversial signings in team history due to his reputation as a coach/quarterback antagonist and his 2000 stargaze at midfield of Texas Stadium, Owens instantly formed a nationally recognized tandem with burgeoning quarterback Tony Romo in 2006. The Cowboys signed him to a back-loaded three-year deal worth $25 million that included a $5 signing bonus and a $5 million base salary in 2006. In his three seasons in Dallas, he finished behind only Witten on the team with 235 catches for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns, including a franchise-record 15 touchdowns for the 13-win Cowboys in 2007. He'd easily be higher on the list had he played out the four-year, $34 million extension he signed after that '07 season. But ultimately locker room discord - reports of tension with Romo and tight end Jason Witten surfaced late in the 2008 season - likely contributed to Owens' release in March 2009. Always a polarizing figure, he still was a memorable - and productive - signing.
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No. 2 - La'Roi Glover (2002)
Four seasons, four Pro Bowls. The consummate professional on a mostly losing team from 2002-05, Glover consistently delivered on the five-year, $22 million deal he signed as a heralded free agent in 2002. Glover started all 64 games during that stretch, recording 21.5 sacks. He even made the Pro Bowl in 2005, his final season with the club, as an undersized nose tackle in Parcells' new 3-4 defense.
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No. 1 - Deion Sanders (1995)
"Primetime" indeed. No other Cowboys free agent, not even Owens, arrived with more acclaim and expectations than Sanders in 1995. Considered the missing link to the Cowboys' return to the Super Bowl, Jones pried Sanders away from the San Francisco 49ers - the team that beat them in that epic 1994 NFC Championship game - with a monster seven-year, $35 million contract. Sanders also provided a measure of insurance, too. The Cowboys had just re-signed Kevin Smith to an $11 million deal to continue playing alongside Larry Brown, but Smith tore his Achilles' tendon a day later in a season-opening 35-0 win over the Giants. Sanders only played nine games that year, but shut down his half of the field and even provided an occasional spark on offense. The Cowboys indeed won their third Super Bowl in four years, and Sanders played four more seasons in Dallas - earning Pro Bowls each time.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: From the home office in Irving, Texas, DallasCowboys.com has this week's top 10 list, a ranking of the best free agent signings in team history as selected by the website writing staff: Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Josh Ellis. A new countdown will debut each Friday.)
The Cowboys have been relatively quiet in free agency the past three years, but still no other owner/GM in the league is known more for his wheelin', dealin' ways than Jerry Jones. Why else, to this day, is every big fish (See: Nnamdi Asomugha) somehow connected to the Cowboys before he even hits the market?
This year the NFL lockout has delayed the start of free agency/trades. Roster upgrades have come only through the draft, and the Cowboys believe they've gotten deeper and more athletic with their eight rookies, headlined by No. 9 overall pick Tyron Smith.
But make no mistake, the Cowboys (eventually) must explore veteran free agency to fill the rest of their needs and become more competitive following a 6-10 season. History shows when Jones and the club target a player, elite or not, the deal usually gets done.
Which brings this to mind: Who are the 10 best free agent signings in Dallas Cowboys history?
For continuity's sake, our DallasCowboys.com staff pared the list to free agents signed since 1993, the start of Plan A free agency and the salary cap era. Several players are worthy of honorable mention, including tight end Jay Novacek, who technically doesn't qualify because he was signed in 1990 under Plan B free agency that allowed teams to preserve the rights of 37 players on each roster. Other notable additions include James Washington (Plan B-1990), Herschel Walker in his second stint with Dallas (1996-97), Keith Brooking (2009), Gerald Sensabaugh (2009) and Anthony Henry (2005).
Preference was given to players who outperformed their initial contract, who gained notable individual accolades and/or who contributed heavily to the team's success.
Without further ado, let's unveil this week's Top 10:
No. 10 - Kyle Kosier (2006)
How many non-Arizona State alumni (and even some Sun Devil fans) had heard of Kyle Kosier before the Cowboys signed him to a modest five-year, $15 million deal and a $5 million bonus in 2006? Bill Parcells credited Brian Gaine, then the Cowboys' assistant director of pro scouting, for noticing Kosier on film with the 49ers. He was a high-value signing who instantly (and pretty adequately) replaced aging future Hall of Famer Larry Allen at left guard. Kosier has been the Cowboys' primary starter there for the past five seasons, starting 64 of 80 games since '06. Injuries have limited his availability in two of the past three seasons, but the Cowboys' offensive line has been noticeably more effective and cohesive when he's healthy.
-
No. 9 - Leonard Davis (2007)
Fittingly, Davis received the largest signing bonus in club history at the time ($16 million) as part of a massive seven-year, $49.6 million deal for the 360-pound tackle-turned-guard. Mostly a tackle with the Cardinals, Davis quickly settled into his new spot at right guard and began living up to the lofty expectations that came with his No. 2 overall draft status in 2001. Although his production has declined to some degree in the past two seasons, Davis earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three years with the Cowboys (2007-09) that included two playoff berths, two division titles and a franchise-record tying 13 wins in '07.
-
No. 8 - George Teague (1998)
He is perhaps remembered most for blasting T.O. at the midfield star in 2000, as well as gripping the American flag as he raced out of the Texas Stadium tunnel in the days after 9/11. But Teague was also a solid starting safety and a fierce hitter in two separate stints with the Cowboys, particularly his second term (1998-2001) alongside Darren Woodson. In five total seasons, Teague was credited with 208 tackles, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles and two sacks.
-
No. 7 - Marc Colombo (2005)
The best story of grit and perseverance in this entire list. A first-round pick of the Bears in 2002, Colombo missed the entire 2003 season and the first part of 2004 because of a career-threatening knee injury. The Cowboys signed him during the 2005 season as a long-term, low-risk investment - Parcells saying that at some point in time, some team thought he was a starting-quality player. Displaying the determination that would grow to be his trademark on the Cowboys' offensive line, Colombo regained his leg strength in Joe Juraszek's weight-training program and under the supervision of the team's athletic trainers. He won the starting right tackle job outright in 2006 and has held it pretty consistently ever since, despite injuries in each of the past two seasons.
-
No. 6 - Rocket Ismail (1999)
Gearing up for what he hoped would be one last Super Bowl run with the Triplets, Jones sprinkled some speed and playmaking ability into Troy Aikman's offense by signing Raghib "Rocket" Ismail to a seven-year, $21 million deal in '99. That Super Bowl trip never happened, but the Cowboys did get back to the playoffs in Ismail's first season, with the Rocket recording a team-high 80 catches for 1,097 yards (career high) and six touchdowns. He led the Cowboys in receiving in two of his three seasons, totaling 158 catches, 2,281 yards and eight touchdowns before retiring in 2002.
-
No. 5 - Ray Donaldson (1995)
Yet another underrated signing, this time in the midst of the '90s dynasty. Needing a replacement for departed center Mark Stepnoski, the Cowboys signed Donaldson - a 37-year-old four-time Pro Bowler with the Colts - to a two-year deal. He made the Pro Bowl in both seasons in Dallas and was a centerpiece on the Super Bowl XXX championship offensive line.
-
No. 4 - Mat McBriar (2003)
Too high for a punter, you say? Consider that the Cowboys initially signed McBriar, now a two-time Pro Bowler, to their practice squad late in the 2003 season after his brief stints in Denver and Seattle. McBriar had never punted in the regular season and was out of football entirely before that 2003 call-up. By 2006, he had become the Cowboys' first Pro Bowl punter since 1971, and he returned to the NFC squad in 2010. In 2007, he signed a five-year, $8.5 million deal that including a $2.5 million bonus. Money well spent for an underrated field position weapon.
-
No. 3 - Terrell Owens (2006)
"Get Your Popcorn Ready." One of the most controversial signings in team history due to his reputation as a coach/quarterback antagonist and his 2000 stargaze at midfield of Texas Stadium, Owens instantly formed a nationally recognized tandem with burgeoning quarterback Tony Romo in 2006. The Cowboys signed him to a back-loaded three-year deal worth $25 million that included a $5 signing bonus and a $5 million base salary in 2006. In his three seasons in Dallas, he finished behind only Witten on the team with 235 catches for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns, including a franchise-record 15 touchdowns for the 13-win Cowboys in 2007. He'd easily be higher on the list had he played out the four-year, $34 million extension he signed after that '07 season. But ultimately locker room discord - reports of tension with Romo and tight end Jason Witten surfaced late in the 2008 season - likely contributed to Owens' release in March 2009. Always a polarizing figure, he still was a memorable - and productive - signing.
-
No. 2 - La'Roi Glover (2002)
Four seasons, four Pro Bowls. The consummate professional on a mostly losing team from 2002-05, Glover consistently delivered on the five-year, $22 million deal he signed as a heralded free agent in 2002. Glover started all 64 games during that stretch, recording 21.5 sacks. He even made the Pro Bowl in 2005, his final season with the club, as an undersized nose tackle in Parcells' new 3-4 defense.
-
No. 1 - Deion Sanders (1995)
"Primetime" indeed. No other Cowboys free agent, not even Owens, arrived with more acclaim and expectations than Sanders in 1995. Considered the missing link to the Cowboys' return to the Super Bowl, Jones pried Sanders away from the San Francisco 49ers - the team that beat them in that epic 1994 NFC Championship game - with a monster seven-year, $35 million contract. Sanders also provided a measure of insurance, too. The Cowboys had just re-signed Kevin Smith to an $11 million deal to continue playing alongside Larry Brown, but Smith tore his Achilles' tendon a day later in a season-opening 35-0 win over the Giants. Sanders only played nine games that year, but shut down his half of the field and even provided an occasional spark on offense. The Cowboys indeed won their third Super Bowl in four years, and Sanders played four more seasons in Dallas - earning Pro Bowls each time.
