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There have only been 9. In 43 years of excellence only 9 players have trotted out as starting Quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys on opening day. Some of these names could fill a 'who's who among NFL quarterbacks. The fact that their have only been 9 explains the Cowboys immense success since its inception in 1960.
The envelope please:
 Eddie LeBaron: 'The Little General' started it all out in 1960. The Cowboys had to coax LeBaron out of retirement to guide the expansion team during its infancy. LeBaron started on opening day for the Cowboys from 1960 - 1963 leading the Cowboys in passing each season all the while grooming the Cowboys first legitamite super star QB. Don Meredith.
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 Don Meredith: 'Dandy Don' started each opening day from 1964 till 1968, leading the team in passing each of those seasons. Don was the NFL Player of the Year in 1966 leading the Cowboys to their first playoff appearance. Don had his best season in 1968 after which he retired and went on to act in hollywood and became apart of the cast of Monday Night Football.
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 Craig Morton: Morton got the nod on opening day 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972. He led the team in passing in 1969 and 1970 and led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl appearance (SBV). Once Roger Staubach took the reigns Morton moved on to the Giants and then the Broncos. He led the Broncos to Super Bowl XII where he lost to his old team, the Dallas Cowboys.
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 Roger Staubach: Captain Comeback, Captain America, what ever superlative you can come up with would fall short of describing Roger Staubach. Staubach was simply one of the greatest QBs of all time. Staubach was the Cowboys opening day starter from 1973 - 1979, leading the team in passing every year. He also led the NFL in passing 4 times and the NFC in passing 5 times. Staubach led the Cowboys to their 1st Super Bowl victory (SBVI) where he was named MVP of the game. He also led the Cowboys to a 2nd Super Bowl victory in SB XII. Staubach retired after the 1979 season and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
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 Danny White: Danny White took over the QB duties after Staubach retired starting on opening day from 1980 - 1983 and then again in 1985 - 1987. Danny White was one of the best QBs of his time but could never shake the stigma of not winning the big game. White led the Cowboys to 3 straight NFC Championship games only to loose each one, 1 step shy of the Super Bowl. When Danny White retired after the 1988 season, he was the Cowboys all time leading TD passer.
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 Gary Hogeboom: Hogeboom was the opening day starter in 1984. To date, Gary Hogeboom and Steve Pelleur are the only QBs to have just one opening day start. Hogeboom got the nod over Danny White because of pressure on the Cowboys to shake the NFC Championship game losses. Hogeboom had taken over for an injured Danny White during the 1983 NFC Championship game and played well enough to warrant more opportunities. He led the Cowboys to a victory on opening day in 1984 and had a very nice game. Hogeboom was injured before the 1984 season was over and Danny White once again took the reigns. Danny White played much better than Hogeboom during the 1984 season and won his starting job back. To avoid even more controversy, Hogeboom was traded to the Colts after the 1985 season.
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 Steve Pelluer: Pelluer started opening day for the Cowboys in 1988. He led the Cowboys in passing that year. Pelleur was injured most of 1987 but was very productive on the worst team in league in 1988. With the 1st pick in the 1989 NFL draft the Cowboys selected Troy Aikman and then in the Supplemental draft they chose Steve Walsh, that spelled the end of Steve Pelluers career in Dallas. He was traded to the Chiefs in 1989.
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 Troy Aikman: Troy Aikman was the Cowboys opening day starter more times than any player before him. Aikman started opening day from 1989 - 2000. Troy Aikman was the central point of the Cowboys offense for the decade of the 1990's. During that time, the Cowboys won an unprecedented 3 Super Bowls in 4 years and Aikman became the winningest QB of any decade in NFL history. Aikman was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII and was NFL All Pro nearly every season. When Troy retired at the end of the 2000 season, he led the Cowboys in every passing statistical category. Troy Aikman, like Roger Stabach, was one of the greatest QBs of all time.
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 Quincy Carter: Quincy Carter was as surprised as most fans when he was named opening day starter in 2001. Carter became only the 2nd rookie to start on opening day for the Cowboys, the other was Troy Aikman. Carter started opening day in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Carter was injuring during his rookie campaign in 2001, he was replaced mid way through the 2002 season because of inconsistant play, but had his most productive season in 2003, starting every game and leading the Cowboys to the playoffs for the 1st time in 5 seasons, becoming only the 6th QB in Cowboys history to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs. Carter was surprisingly released before the start of the 2004 season.
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For all intents and purposes it appears that Vinny Testaverde will become the 10th QB to start for the Dallas Cowboys on opening day but I have been wrong before, so we will wait and see.
August 2004. |
