A year ago, I wrote a piece about the anti-Cowboys bias that exists in Hall of Fame voting (in my opinion), especially with regard to Cowboys who played in the 1970s. This bias has affected, of course, Bob Hayes and Chuck Howley, but my more specific concern focuses on those Cowboys who were on the all-decade team of the 1970s yet who are not in the Hall of Fame. This includes free safety Cliff Harris, receiver Drew Pearson, and defensive end Harvey Martin.

Of this year’s class, I have no problem at all with Darrell Green, Art Monk, Gary Zimmerman, or Andre Tippett. At least all of them made an all-decade team. As for Fred Dean and Emmitt Thomas, I don’t have a problem generally that they are in, except that I don’t think that either are as qualified as Cowboys who are not in the Hall. Here’s a glance.

Fred Dean vs. Harvey Martin

Here is the bio of Fred Dean from the Hall of Fame site:

Dean’s quickness, speed, and strength made him one of the league’s most feared pass rushers during his 141-game career. Although the sack did not become an official NFL statistic until 1982, if numbers tallied by the teams were included with his official sack count, Dean’s career sack total would stand near 100.

His role as an impact player became apparent very early in his career. As a rookie for the Chargers in 1975, Dean recorded seven sacks, 93 tackles (63 solo, 30 assists), and four fumble recoveries. With Dean doing his part on defense and combined with the Chargers’ high-flying offense, the team became a strong playoff contender. In 1978, he recorded 15.5 sacks as the Chargers posted a winning record. He followed that season by adding nine sacks in 1979 and 10.5 in 1980 as San Diego claimed two straight AFC Western Division championships.

Early in the 1981 season, Dean was shipped to the San Francisco 49ers were he continued to demonstrate his extraordinary talent. Dean contributed 12 sacks in 11 games for the 49ers en route to the team’s first Super Bowl victory.

Dean’s finest year came two seasons later when he led the NFC with a career-high 17.5 sacks. Included in that total was a then NFL record six sacks in one game. He set the mark during the 49ers’ 27-0 shutout of the New Orleans Saints on November 13, 1983.

In all, Dean played on five division winners. He played in three NFC championship games and in two of San Francisco’s Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls XVI and XIX). Dean earned all-conference honors four times – twice with the Chargers and twice with the 49ers.

He was also named to four Pro Bowls (1980-1982, 1984) and selected All-Pro twice (1980-1981).

Martin began his career in 1973, so he had two seasons more than Dean where Martin’s sack totals were not recorded officially. Martin’s unofficial totals were 114, including 20 in 1977. Martin made four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 1977, the same year he won co-MVP honors in Super Bowl XII. Martin was a member of the All-Decade team of the 1970s.

Thus, Martin had statistics that were either similar to or exceeded those of Dean, and unlike Dean, Martin was selected as one of the best in a single decade. How Martin has not been recognized for a spot in either the Hall of Fame or the team’s own Ring of Honor is beyond me.

Emmitt Thomas vs. Cliff Harris

Thomas’ most impressive statistic is his career interception total of 58, which ranked fifth all-time when he retired. He earned five trips to the Pro Bowl and was a first- or second-team all-NFL player three times. He was also an important player in Chiefs’ only Super Bowl win in 1969. However, he made neither the All-AFL team nor the All-Decade team for the 1970s.

Harris could not match Thomas’ interceptions, but Harris has better credentials in nearly every other category. Like Thomas, Harris was originally an undrafted free agent. Harris made six Pro Bowls in ten years. He was a first-team All-Pro selection three times. He was on the All-Decade team for the 1970s, but like Dick Anderson and Louis Wright, Harris still isn’t in the Hall.

A Note About Drew Pearson

I do not believe that Pearson will ever be seriously considered for the Hall of Fame due to his statistics. He surpassed 1,000 yards only twice in his career and had more than 60 receptions only once. He currently ranks 107th all-time in reception (489) and 78th in receiving yards (7,822). A great deal of this has to do with the era as well as the Cowboys’ multiple offense of the 1970s, but the bottom line is that it is too easy to make an argument against him based on his stats. Maybe someday voters can get beyond those numbers to understand his impact.