Dallas Cowboy Ring of Honor for Darren Woodson

Right off the bat let me say there will be NO objectivity in this report.. I am a dyed in the wool Dallas Cowboy fan dating back to 1960..and Darren Woodson was always one of my favorite players.
    In 1991 he was playing college football for the Arizona State University Sun Devils as a linebacker and stand-up defensive end. Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Dave Campo came to Tempe to scout several other players, BUT his well trained eye kept coming back to the speedy linebacker wearing number 6..

      Woodson was rather small for a linebacker, but could hit with the ferocity of a freight train. In 2005 he was named to the Arizona State University Hall of Fame, and in 2009 the State of Arizona named him to their Sports Hall of Fame. Woody came to ASU as sort of a problem player but his position coach at the time was Lovie Smith, and the coach took a special interest in Woody and guided him down the straight and narrow.
     At the insistence of  Coach Campo, the Cowboys selected Woodson in the second round (37th overall) of the 1991 college draft. Campo is adamant about seeing Woodie as a safety from the first day he saw him...thus he was transformed from a small linebacker to a large safety. Woodie has always been blessed with the speed of Bambi, and this has made it possible for him to recover from mistakes in the blink of an eye. 

          In the early years Woodie was used as a 'nickel back'..meaning he came in to cover slot receivers and double tight end formations. With his speed he was able to run with the receivers but also was close to the line of scrimmage to be a part of stopping any running plays. To say that Woodie excelled in his job would be a gross understatement. The tale of the tape says it all! Woodson was named to five Pro Bowls... Elected to three All-Pro teams.. and was a key member of three Super Bowl Championships by the Cowboys. Woodie has championship rings for the XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX Super Bowls. (Thats 27th, 28th, and 30th Super Bowls for those of you that don't read Roman numerals.)

        Woodson played his entire twelve year career with the Dallas Cowboys and remains their 'all-time leading tackler' with 1,350 stops to his credit. Sports Illustrated Magazine called Woodie one of the hardest hitters in the entire NFL. He broke the team tackling record of LeeRoy Jordan in a 2002 game with the Seattle Seahawks. It would have been a bigger headline, except it came in the same game where Emmitt Smith broke the all-time rushing record of Walter Payton.
        After retiring from the game, Woodie remains close to the action as a commentator for ESPN.

         He talks football with a simple conversational manner and, unlike some in the same position, Woodie is articulate and easily understandable. Naturally, he is always the voice the network turns to for the latest information on the Dallas Cowboys.... America's Team!
         While covering the Cowboys at training camp in August, a member of the Dallas Public Relations Department told Woodie that team owner Jerry Jones would like to see him in the tower overlooking the practice field. Woodie said he had the same feeling as a young player being cut from the team at the time.... BUT Jones wanted to inform Woodson he would be named to the Ring of Honor surrounding the Cowboys home field. 

           The news broke back in August but the date was set for November 1st, 2015 for the actual induction, and now that date has rolled around. This Sunday when Dallas plays host to Seattle, Darren Woodson will become the 21st member of the Ring of Honor at A.T.& T. stadium. It's been a long time coming but nobody whoever suited up in the silver and blue has been more worthy of the honor..  Thanks for the great memories Woodie..and welcome to the Ring!