Good Ol' (Deion) Day Syndrome: Top 5 Cowboys All-Time Free-Agency Signings

Grading Dallas Cowboys' (almost) non-existent free agency, Dallas Mavericks (almost) topple Wilt Chamberlain, Texas Rangers' (almost) rivalry with Houston Astros, and (almost) understanding foodies, all in this week's DFW sports notebook.

WHITT'S END 3.15.24:

Whether you’re at the end of your coffee, your day, your week or even your rope, welcome to Whitt’s End …

*Doesn’t seem fair to give the Dallas Cowboys an “F” grade in free agency, because they didn’t even show up to class. Gotta be a reluctant “I” for impotence, er, incomplete.

There was only one team that made zero moves on the frenzied first day of the NFL’s annual shopping spree. You guessed it.

If this was Jerry Jones’ idea of “All In!” I cringe at the thought of “All Out.”

“Super Bowl championships aren’t won during the first three days of free agency,” Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said Thursday  “At least not from our viewpoint.”

Does former stud linebacker Eric Kendricks even count as a ripple? Maybe, but once upon a time the Cowboys made huge free-agency splashes.

My Top 5 all-time veteran free agent signings:

5. Leonard Davis, 2007 – Right guard started all 16 games, made the Pro Bowl, second-team All-Pro and helped a record-setting offense lead Dallas to a 13-3 record before making two more Pro Bowls.

4. Terrell Owens, 2006 – Despite an icy relationship with Bill Parcells, his production on the field was undeniable to the tune of three 1,000-yard receiving seasons and double-digit touchdowns.

3. Jay Novacek, 1990 – A converted H-back from the Cardinals, the "Plan B free agent'' made five Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls as Troy Aikman’s security blanket.

2. Nate Newton, 1986 – Signed after his time as a Tampa Bay Bandit when the USFL folded, he battled his weight and finally arrived to help anchor one of the best offensive lines in NFL history while making six Pro Bowls, winning three Super Bowl rings and annually paving the way for all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith.

1. Deion Sanders, 1995 – If you can’t beat ’em, steal ’em. After losing to him and the 49ers in the ’94 NFC Championship, the Cowboys signed him and won the ensuing Super Bowl as he blanketed receivers, returned punts and even caught passes on offense. In five years in Dallas he lived up to the hype, making four Pro Bowls, recording 14 interceptions and scoring eight touchdowns on his way to the Hall of Fame.

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*March Badness. I’ll fill out a March Madness bracket. So will you.

And the guy in the cubicle next to you? Yep, him too. Golf buddies. The guy who should be doing your taxes. Even the woman that prefers “survive and advance” on The Bachelor rather than in basketball.

Basically everyone we know, all over the Metroplex, will be consumed by the NCAA tournament over the next three weeks. Just imagine our frenzy if DFW was actually invited to the “big dance.”

For all our hoops hysteria, we haven’t enjoyed a Final Four with a local flavor since essentially the days of peach baskets, canvas high-tops and running hook shots.

There have been 84 Final Fours. Metroplex teams – SMU, TCU, North Texas and UT-Arlington – have made exactly one appearance. One, in 1956.

SMU’s deepest dive is DFW’s only Final Four cameo. In ’56, the Mustangs beat Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma City to make the 25-team field’s last four. That Final Four was played at Northwestern’s gym in front of crowds estimated at 3,500. The Mustangs, 25-4 and Southwest Conference champs, were led by star and Sports Illustrated cover boy Jim Krebs. SMU, however, lost in the semifinal to a San Francisco team powered by a senior known as Bill Russell.

Expand your scope a smidge and this year because Houston has a legit chance to make it to Phoenix April 6.

Moral to the story: Don’t be a homer when filling out your bracket.

*For all of Luka Doncic’s individual accomplishments, not sure Daniel Gafford didn’t dunk on them. The Dallas Mavericks’ center this week became the first player in NBA history to make at least five shots without a miss in five consecutive games. His overall run of 33 straight made baskets ended Thursday night when he missed a short put-back against the Thunder. Only Wilt Chamberlain (35) has a longer streak in NBA history.

*The Texas Rangers literally fought the Houston Astros in last year’s ALCS, then blew out the home team in Games 6 and 7 in route to the World Series. But now ask the Astros who their main rival is and they say … the Yankees? What’s it take to pick a fight these days?

*No, I will not engage in a debate about the best barbecue in Texas (because I don’t care.) And, no, I will not stand in line for one hour to pay for food (because I have a life.)

Insane. These folks are standing outside in line for 1 hour just to eat BBQ in Frisco. Would have to be free and served by Margot Robbie to get me to commit that much time to food. pic.twitter.com/5wDgDcVa1o

— Richie Whitt (@richiewhitt) March 9, 2024

*You know how you know you’re broke (if not broken)? When $4 million for pedestrian running back Zack Moss isn’t “within our means.” Yikes, Cowboys. I mean, just yikes.

*Hot.

*Not.

*The Eagles lost six of their last seven games last season and have been hit by the retirements of Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox this offseason. Nonetheless, they have leap-frogged the Cowboys in the NFC East by acquiring pass-rusher Bryce Hall and running back Saquon Barkley in free agency. Oh, and don’t overlook the crucial position of defensive coordinator: Philly added Vic Fangio; Dallas lost Dan Quinn.

*Told a friend about a Summer trip I have planned to Mexico. “Oh my gosh, that’s so dangerous,” she said. “Have you heard about the Cartels?!” To which I retorted, “You want dangerous? Turn on our local news.” Just on Thursday here in good ol’ “safe” DFW: Serial rapist with HIV in Carrollton … Armed robbery at Fort Worth smoke shop … Man steals car with woman inside, drives 260 mph and has wreck, killing woman … Dallas police officer shot during chase … Triple shooting over video games … Nursing home director arrested for neglect, abuse …

Home, sweet home … huh?

*If the regular season ended today, the NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament would feature Luka (Mavs), Steph Curry (Warriors), Kevin Durant (Suns) and LeBron James (Lakers). Delicious. Kinda wished it did end today.

*Once a week I take a cycling class. Different kind of cardio. Great sweat. Easy on the knees. It’s usually high-energy with driving-beat music to set an up-tempo vibe. Except … last week when the regular instructor was on Spring Break and the substitute played this horribly slow and strained song that wouldn’t cut it at your family reunion. I wouldn’t listen to this song while taking out the trash, much less attempting to exercise. Thinking of filing charges for cruelty to cyclists.

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*Cheapest ticket for the Rangers’ March 28 season opener against the Cubs at Globe Life Field is $250. For the second game, you can go for as little as $30. This, then, is the sports equivalent of getting hypnotized by the hype and waiting in line for two hours at the new hamburger joint when a week later you can just pull right up the window.

*Can it be a dozen years ago all the sudden that former radio buddy Mark Elfenbein and I were the Grand Marshals of the St. Patrick’s Day Greenville Ave. Parade? The most fun, raucous day on Dallas’ calendar happens again Saturday.

*A pretty decent 26 years, followed by a horribly inept 28 years. NFC Championship appearances for the Cowboys: 1970-95, 14; 1996-2023, 0.

*Mark your calendars. Coming to DFW this Spring: Invited Celebrity Golf Classic featuring Romo, Tim Brown, Pudge Rodriguez and DeMarcus Ware April 15 in Las Colinas. Kid Rock and Professional Bull Riding May 17 in Arlington.

*Happy Birthday, Dad. 84 and counting ...

Happy 84th birthday to a Dad who beat cancer twice and shoots his age on the golf course regularly. ⁦@RogerRabbit08⁩ pic.twitter.com/ReeUVywG03

— Richie Whitt (@richiewhitt) March 10, 2024

*This Weekend? Let’s head south for a fitness event. Hyrox, Houston anyone? As always, don’t be a stranger.

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