Sanders, Thomas top OSU's list of NFL stars
The best NFL players from Oklahoma State are fairly easy to pick. Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas.
The college-teammate tailbacks went on to Pro Football Hall of Fame careers, Sanders in 10 years with the Lions and Thomas in 13 seasons with the Bills. Sanders is considered among the top three or four greatest running backs in football history, with Thomas only a rung below that.
But beyond Sanders and Thomas, who are the greatest Cowboys in NFL history? Earlier this week, I ran a list of the greatest Sooners in the NFL, using profootballreference.com's career approximately value tool, which measures seasons in a variety of ways, then computes the career totals with 100 percent of his best season, 95 percent of his next-best season, 90 percent of his third-best season, etc.
And OSU has an impressive list. In fact, of the top players in NFL history at each Bedlam
school, OSU's 10 have a slightly higher career approximate value than do OU's — 805-770 in points, using the profootball-reference model.
Here are the top 10 Cowboys in NFL history:
1. Barry Sanders, 1989-98: The Lions tailback who retired in his prime, else he almost surely would be the NFL's all-time leading rusher. 2. Thurman Thomas, 198800:
The beloved Buffalo tailback ranks 16th in NFL rushing yards, 12,074, and also had 472 catches. 3. Kevin Williams, 200315:
The longtime Vikings defensive tackle who spent 13 years in the NFL and five times was first-team all-pro. 4. Leslie O'Neal, 1986-99: The longtime Chargers defensive end who ranks 13th in all-time NFL sacks (since 1982) with 132½, the same number as Lawrence Taylor. 5. Jason Gildon, 1994-04: The linebacker from Altus was a long-time Steelers pass rusher who had 80 career sacks. 6. Jamal Williams, 19982010:
Nose guard was a long-time run-stuffer on some good Charger teams. 7. Dexter Manley, 1981-91: Star-crossed defensive end was a tremendous player for the Redskins. 8. Jon Kolb, 1969-81: Stalwart offensive lineman from Owasso started on four Steeler Super Bowl champions.
9. Dez Bryant, 2010-17: Excellent receiver for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. 10. Antonio Smith, 2004-16: Defensive end from John Marshall was a long-time pro.
Not even making the list were the likes of Jerry Sherk, a really good defensive end for the Browns in the 1960s; Charlie Johnson, one of the linemen who protected Peyton Manning for the Colts; Russell Okung, who has had a long career as an offensive lineman; Walt Garrison, the epitome of Dallas Cowboy toughness as a Tom Landry fullback; and R.W. McQuarters, a Super Bowl hero for the New York Giants.