DMN: The five best Dallas Cowboys LBs of all time

[Cotton]

The five best Dallas Cowboys LBs of all time

By SportsDayDFW.com

Editor's note: SportsDay is beginning a series that attempts to figure out the best Dallas Cowboys players at each position. Today we examine linebackers.

The Dallas Cowboys organization is one of great success and has an illustrious history. There have been some big names that have worn jerseys for America's Team.

Out of all of the linebackers in franchise history, who was the best? That's what our panel of writers and columnists tried to determine.

Each voter named their top five linebackers. A first-place vote counted for five points, second place gets four points, third place gets three points and so on.

Those who listed their top five players include Brandon George, Kate Hairopoulos, David Moore, Jon Machota, Tim Cowlishaw, Rick Gosselin and Kevin Sherrington.

Here's how they broke it down:

1. Chuck Howley (4 first-place votes), 31 points

2. DeMarcus Ware (3 first-place votes), 27 points

3. Lee Roy Jordan, 26 points

4. Ken Norton Jr., 12 points

5. Bob Breunig, 8 points

Also receiving votes: Dexter Coakley (1 point)

The rundown

George: Ware, the Cowboys' all-time sacks leader, had to leave Dallas to fulfill his Super Bowl dreams.

Hairopoulos: Howley won Super Bowl MVP honors...while playing for the losing team.

Moore: When Howley retired, Tom Landry didn't know if he had seen anyone better at the position.

Machota: The most valuable defender in today's game is the pass rusher. I can't think of many who have done it better than Ware.

Cowlishaw: Hall of Fame left a couple of greats from the '60s behind.

Gosselin: Ware was a HOF-caliber pass rusher, but Howley and Jordan were better "pure linebackers."

Sherrington: Ware is really a defensive end. Howley was the best in Landry's estimation. Good enough for me.

 

[Rev]

Dexter Coakley should get more vote just based on trade value.

 

[Cotton]

I'd almost be willing to put Lee Roy at number 1. There isn't much difference in those top 3.

 

[Texas Ace]

Dexter Coakley should get more vote just based on trade value.

I always wondered why we never did get that 2nd round pick for him.

I guess the rest of the NFL just didn't understand his true value.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Ware should be grouped with pass rushers / DEs, but he's clear #1 of this group.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Howley
Jordan
Breunig
Norton
Lockhart

 

[Simpleton]

Ware should be grouped with pass rushers / DEs, but he's clear #1 of this group.

Agreed, you can't group Ware with pure 4-3 LB's.

It's like arguing who's the better LB, Von Miller or Luke Kuechly? Two completely different positions that should not be compared.

 

[Cotton]

Howley
Jordan
Breunig
Norton
Lockhart

Yeah, I'm not real sure how they left Lockhart off the list. I can agree with him being in the top 5.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I guess if Hollywood Henderson played longer he'd be a consideration.

Also, Dat > Dexter.

 

[Cotton]

I guess if Hollywood Henderson played longer he'd be a consideration.

Too much blow.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Too much blow.

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

 

[Cotton]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

I wouldn't know.

 

[Genghis Khan]

So I've heard.

 

[Cotton]

So I've heard.