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• Tim Truemper

  Dan Reeves led Dallas in rushing in 1966, one of the few times between 1961 and 1968 that Don Perkins did not. Another accolade was that he made the Sporting News first team all-pro and was 2nd team all pro for AP, both in 1966.

  His knee injury in early 1968 did him in. He played some 3rd down back in 1969 and 1970 and later migrated over to b/u QB and kickholder for 1971 and 1972. I believe that occurred while he was a player coach. I remember in 1971 him stepping in as a QB-his former position in college–in mop up action against the Eagles.

• Tim Truemper

  This is a second post on Dan Reeves. Another “accolade” was that Reeves led the NFL in touchdowns scored–16–with 8 rushing and 8 receiving.

• http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com kickholder

  Great points, Tim. For the first time in this series, I am second-guessing my pick.

• Fred Goodwin

  I also went with Reeves — he was a great weapon on the HB-option and Landry used it to perfection in the Ice Bowl game (Reeves to Rentzel for the go-ahead TD).

  I believe Reeves was a QB at South Carolina, which made him a “brainy” type of runner, not the slasher that Perkins was or the “glider” that Duane Thomas was.

  Reeves also mentioned that he was scratched in the eye late in the ’66 NFL Championship game, which led to him bobbling a pass near the end-zone that might’ve changed the game against the Packers. He said later that he should’ve taken himself out of the game, but didn’t.

  There were so many screw-ups on that final drive (Boeke jumping offsides, having Hayes in at TE instead of Clarke, etc.) that its hard for me to lay the blame on Reeves for the Cowboys failing to win that game.

  I can’t recall Newsome ever being in a similar critical situation but I could be mistaken.

• http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com kickholder

  Quite fair to say that I blew it on this one. Reeves always seemed to be better recognized thanks to his position as player-coach and obviously for his head coaching career. But I should have thought this one through a little bit better.

  To be fair, Newsome is a player who gave many years to the Cowboys but who is largely forgotten. Nonetheless, this pick should have gone to Reeves.

• Tim Truemper

  Thanks for the responses and feedback. In kickholder’s defense, Timmy Newsome had some wonderful moments (like your video showed)and was intermittently valuable. I kept waiting for him to break loose and be a force, but it did not happen.

  Fred is right in his posts on Reeves with the ex college QB thing plus the 1966 championship game. And Landry treated Reeves with the HB option like what he did with Gifford with the NY Giants. What a turn of events on the championship game with all the errors. It was that very game and all its drama that made me a real Cowboy fan. If anybody knows of any video replay…?

• Fred Goodwin

  kickholder: I wasn’t trying to criticize your pick, just explaining my own.

  All of these are subjective after all, and its sometimes hard to remember what the older Cowboys did, especially with the media attention given to even the slightest news by the newer Cowboys.

  Newsome was good while he was here, certainly good enough to eventually replace Ron Springs as the third-down back.

• Tim Truemper

  Sorry for any misunderstanding. I didn’t feel criticized. I was trying to show how Newsome made sense as a pick. I actually was leaning toward him as well.

  It is hard to remember much about the players from the 60′s. It was what I was raised on as a young fan. They were heady days for sure.

  I really enjoy the website. I learn something knew on a regular basis. And the links to other sites including those with video are great.

  I am having trouble loading the Silver and Blue site that has vintage video. If anyone knows if there is a problem…?

• Fred Goodwin

  Something tells me his ISP probably told him to take down any copyrighted material — I haven’t been able to access it, either.

• Tim Truemper

  Thanks for the info Fred–that’s too bad. Probably NFL Films caught on to him.