The End of the "Landry" Cowboys...

[DBoys]

1989 draft, after Landry was fired, but Brandt and his scouts still employed until after this draft was over
1 1 Troy Aikman QB UCLA
2 29 Steve Wisniewski G Penn State
2 39 Daryl Johnston RB Syracuse
3 57 Mark Stepnoski C Pittsburgh
3 68 Rhondy Weston DE Florida
4 85 Tony Tolbert DE Texas-El Paso
5 113 Keith Jennings TE Clemson
5 119 Willis Crockett LB Georgia Tech
5 125 Jeff Roth -- Florida
7 168 Kevin Peterson -- Northwestern
8 196 Charvez Foger -- Nevada-Reno
9 224 Tim Jackson DB Nebraska
10 252 Rob Carter -- Miami (Fla.)
11 280 Randy Shannon LB Miami (Fla.)
12 308 Scott Ankrom WR Texas Christian
Mike Lowman -- Coffeyville CC KS
Steve Walsh QB Miami (Fla.)

[Otis Driftwood]

Good catch. I had forgotten about that. Wonder how much input he had on this draft with Jimmy in the room... Aikman was a clear no-brainer and we always hear how Jimmy loved both Step and Moose. He may have loved those other Florida (and Southeastern in general) players a little too much.

[gomavs]

The NFL is a Quarterback-driven league...
- Rick Gosselin

And yet - Danny White held most of the Cowboys passing records until Aikman and Romo cleaned them out... and there is that little matter of three consecutive NFC Championship games, the great comeback against the Falcons, some classic matchups against some of the top teams in the league... and for those who say Roger would have won those games, go back and watch the 1976 and 1979 games against the Rams. He didn't win them all, kids.
13-49

I totally agree. Danny White deserves a lot of respect. He was surrounded by very little talent, and yet for a while he kept the Cowboys competitive. And, how many quarterbacks have also been their team's punter? He was a great talent. Someone should write a book to show him some love.

[bluejerseyjinx]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

[Mr B]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

I took a tour of the Cowboys practice facility The Star this weekend and took a picture of this photo on the wall.

[Otis Driftwood]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

I took a tour of the Cowboys practice facility The Star this weekend and took a picture of this photo on the wall.

I was in England on that day (USAF). Armed Forces Radio carried that presser live. It was a bummer day.

[Otis Driftwood]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

I've kept select Dallas Morning News editions over the years. Still have the February 13, 2000 edition in mint condition.

[Mr B]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

I've kept select Dallas Morning News editions over the years. Still have the February 13, 2000 edition in mint condition.

[bluejerseyjinx]

The good ole days !!! Things were always stable with the man who built the Cowboys. I miss him dearly still to this day.

[The Sparest]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

I've kept select Dallas Morning News editions over the years. Still have the February 13, 2000 edition in mint condition.

I was driving when I heard the news on the radio. I had to pull over and cry for a while. My father died when I was 7, and my strongest memories of him are of us sitting on the couch watching the Cowboys.

[Otis Driftwood]

To me the three most depressing days I ever had as a Cowboy fan was when Roger Staubach retired, the day Clint Murchinson sold the team and when they let Landry go. When Landry was let go it felt like my whole young and growing up era came to an end. For 29 years and the whole time I was a Cowboy fan growing up, etc., he was always there. The man who made the Cowboys into America's Team. I miss that man so much.

I've kept select Dallas Morning News editions over the years. Still have the February 13, 2000 edition in mint condition.

I was driving when I heard the news on the radio. I had to pull over and cry for a while. My father died when I was 7, and my strongest memories of him are of us sitting on the couch watching the Cowboys.

My last son/father sports moment was January 31, 1993. My dad and I enjoyed the hell out of that Super Bowl win. Less than 2 months later he was gone. It's why I'm quietly rooting for the Astros even though my normal reaction would be to root against them. My wife's dad is a 50 year Astros fan who is dealing with the advanced stages of COPD. I can look the other way if they happen to win.

[Otis Driftwood]

As far as Brandt... he can pay for a ticket and go to the Hall of Fame. That's the only way he's getting in.

Welp... tough to miss that one.

Still - screw him.

[bluejerseyjinx]

The only two players that automatically come to mind that Brandt drafted that I remember that were good where, Nate Newton and Bill Bates.

[Otis Driftwood]

Neither Nate nor Bates were drafted by the NFL. Both were drafted by the USFL. Bates signed with Dallas as an undrafted FA. Nate signed with the Deadskins and was cut. Played 2 seasons in the USFL before coming to Dallas.

[bluejerseyjinx]

Neither Nate nor Bates were drafted by the NFL. Both were drafted by the USFL. Bates signed with Dallas as an undrafted FA. Nate signed with the Deadskins and was cut. Played 2 seasons in the USFL before coming to Dallas.

Thanks for helping me out there. I was just going off on memory without looking anything up. So if that's the case, the only one that does come to mind now is probably Hershall Walkers. I mean nothing really sticks out to me at all till the end of the decade when we starting drafting the likes of Aikman, Smith and Irvin. Every time I go back and explore the Gil Brandt performance, it seems to be worse than I thought before. He really did a number with the demise of Landry and the Cowboys. Looking back now, it was the beginning of the end in so many ways.

[Otis Driftwood]

Neither Nate nor Bates were drafted by the NFL. Both were drafted by the USFL. Bates signed with Dallas as an undrafted FA. Nate signed with the Deadskins and was cut. Played 2 seasons in the USFL before coming to Dallas.

Thanks for helping me out there. I was just going off on memory without looking anything up. So if that's the case, the only one that does come to mind now is probably Hershall Walkers. I mean nothing really sticks out to me at all till the end of the decade when we starting drafting the likes of Aikman, Smith and Irvin. Every time I go back and explore the Gil Brandt performance, it seems to be worse than I thought before. He really did a number with the demise of Landry and the Cowboys. Looking back now, it was the beginning of the end in so many ways.

Randy Galloway wrote an article in 1987 titled “What’s wrong with the Cowboys? He listed the drafts from 1981 through 1986. That was the column.

Sometime, go look at those drafts. Those drafts were why Tom Landry lost his job. They were pathetic.


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[bluejerseyjinx]

Neither Nate nor Bates were drafted by the NFL. Both were drafted by the USFL. Bates signed with Dallas as an undrafted FA. Nate signed with the Deadskins and was cut. Played 2 seasons in the USFL before coming to Dallas.

Thanks for helping me out there. I was just going off on memory without looking anything up. So if that's the case, the only one that does come to mind now is probably Hershall Walkers. I mean nothing really sticks out to me at all till the end of the decade when we starting drafting the likes of Aikman, Smith and Irvin. Every time I go back and explore the Gil Brandt performance, it seems to be worse than I thought before. He really did a number with the demise of Landry and the Cowboys. Looking back now, it was the beginning of the end in so many ways.

Randy Galloway wrote an article in 1987 titled “What’s wrong with the Cowboys? He listed the drafts from 1981 through 1986. That was the column.

Sometime, go look at those drafts. Those drafts were why Tom Landry lost his job. They were pathetic.


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I finally went back and looked at all those drafts. It's even worse than I thought. How was Landry suppose to work and develop all that slow, untalented garbage Brandt drafted for him? Even going back and looking at those drafts again, I barely remember about 3 of them and they aren't worth mentioning. Damn he was bad. Kinda sickens me when I look at that list now.

[bluejerseyjinx]

Neither Nate nor Bates were drafted by the NFL. Both were drafted by the USFL. Bates signed with Dallas as an undrafted FA. Nate signed with the Deadskins and was cut. Played 2 seasons in the USFL before coming to Dallas.

Thanks for helping me out there. I was just going off on memory without looking anything up. So if that's the case, the only one that does come to mind now is probably Hershall Walkers. I mean nothing really sticks out to me at all till the end of the decade when we starting drafting the likes of Aikman, Smith and Irvin. Every time I go back and explore the Gil Brandt performance, it seems to be worse than I thought before. He really did a number with the demise of Landry and the Cowboys. Looking back now, it was the beginning of the end in so many ways.

Randy Galloway wrote an article in 1987 titled “What’s wrong with the Cowboys? He listed the drafts from 1981 through 1986. That was the column.

Sometime, go look at those drafts. Those drafts were why Tom Landry lost his job. They were pathetic.


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So answer me this if you can. Who's idea was it to put Brandt in charge of the draft and scouting? Was it Schramm or did it come from somewhere else? Landry was so great drafting and always had a great eye for what he was looking for. Kinda hard to believe he would give that up willingly. What Landry did in so many drafts, but especially in 1964 & 1975 was so masterful. Imho he was one of the greatest drafters with the most unique eye for talent. Close to best ever.

[Otis Driftwood]

And - finally. Gil Brandt.

Every time I hear someone refer to Gil Brandt as "legendary Scout" I want to puke. I've held him responsible for the demise of the 80's Cowboys for a long, long time. Once the rest of the league caught up with him and started scouting small colleges, he ended up exposed for his lack of deep scouting ability. I never forgave him for Rod Hill.

The best part of when Jerry took over was how Brandt was let go. They just locked him out of his office. He showed up to Valley Ranch and couldn't get into his office. Then Security escorted him off of the property. Even Schramm didn't talk to him.

He's made a nice living off of his 60's and 70's success with the Cowboys on NFL.com and various fantasy football enterprises. But - my $0.02 is this...

He's a fraud. Those 80's drafts confirm it as far as I'm concerned.

RIP…

And - opinion hasn’t changed about him.

[Micah Prescott]

RIP Gil, can't say I have a strong opinion of him one way or another.

Pretty good read this thread.