Nov 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys ring of honoree former tackle Rayfield Wright during a halftime ceremony against the Seattle Seahawks at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Wright played his entire career with the Cowboys starting in 1967 as he was originally drafted as a tight end.  During the first three seasons, he was used as a tight end, a defensive lineman, and offensive lineman primarily at the tackle position.  Then in 1969, he had gotten a chance at a starting spot as the Cowboy’s right tackle due to an injury Ralph Neely.  Wright remained at his spot for the next ten seasons ending his career in 1980.

During his thirteen seasons, Wright was a six time Pro Bowl selection, named to the All-Pro team four times, won 2 Super Bowls while playing in 5, and named NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1972.  Along with his many accolades, Wright was named to the All-Super Bowl team in 1990, the Dallas Cowboys 1^st Anniversary Team in 1985, inducted in to the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2004, and was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 as well as being named the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1970’s. Wright coached in 1992 as an assistant coach for former Dallas Cowboy quarterback, Danny White.

And all of this after Wright couldn’t even make his high school football team at Griffin High School in Georgia where he lettered in basketball.  Wright attended Fort Valley State College so he could play basketball, but former football coach Stan Lomax saw something in Wright to make him quit his job so he could prepare for football.  Wright played various positions including punter, defensive end, and tight end.  He did still basketball but only after he finished his football season at the college.

The “Big Cat” was literally big at 6 foot 7 inches weighing in at 255 pounds.  As big as he was, there was nothing bigger than his heart as he served as president of “Caring For Kids”.  Then in the 1990’s along many other NFL players including a former teammate, Cliff Harris co-founded “Kids 4 Tomorrow”.  Then of course, there is the Rayfield Wright Foundation that guides children whose lives mirror that of Wrights’ past.

Rayfield Wright was and is the epitome of a fine athlete but also a good person.  Wright continues to work with his foundation and to help the needs of children who need it.

*Cowboy Flashback will be a series of articles on the history of the Dallas Cowboys.  I will find some history of the team and share it in one of my weekly articles on a monthly basis.  If you have any suggestions or questions, email me.  My email information is in bio on this page.

At the time I was an employee at Banana Republic folding shirts at the beautiful hotel and casino, Venetian. I knew immediately who he was when he walked in. He made all the shirts look small.

Really small.

Larry Allen is a big guy. You probably already know that. Or maybe you don’t. Offensive linemen tend to look normal on television when they stand next to other giants.

Feb 2, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL former player Larry Allen reacts after being selected to the pro football hall of fame during a NFL Network presentation at the New Orleans Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

When a guy like Larry Allen (6ft 3in and 325 pounds) stands in the real world, next to normal size people, the dude is going to stick out.

Within seconds, I had a pen in my hand. I touched a blue button on the cash register to print out a small — blank — piece of paper.

But my feet couldn’t move towards Larry Allen.

I was nervous. I mean, it was Larry Allen, the starting left guard for the Dallas Cowboys!

He was known to be one of the strongest men in the NFL who once benched pressed 705 pounds. On top of that, former head coach and game announcer John Madden regarded him as the greatest to play that position, and maybe the greatest to ever play as an offensive linemen.

Wow.

Larry Allen was a hero, who protected my other favorite heroes such as Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin.

My co-workers made fun of me. They told me to hurry up; he could be leaving soon, they said. That much was true considering how obvious it was that none of the clothes there could fit him.

As I made my way to Larry Allen, the people he walked in with (I think they were trainers) stopped and noticed. They looked surprised that somebody might know who Larry Allen was. After all, offensive linemen aren’t glorified. It’s only when they make mistakes do we hear their numbers or names announced. Right?

When I asked Larry Allen to sign my receipt paper with blue ink, I wanted to ask him a hundred questions. I wanted to know if he had a chance to talk to newly hired head coach Bill Parcells. I wanted to know what it was like to play football in the National Football League. I wanted to know what he ate. I wanted to know how he felt about his chances of winning another Super Bowl.

Larry Allen signed my paper and handed it to me with a smile. I thanked him, and immediately turned away without saying another word.

What an idiot!

What struck me most about my encounter with Larry Allen was his presence. He didn’t walk in the store with guns blazing. He didn’t have a larger than life persona. He was normal. He was one of us: The cool guy people want to hang out with. Larry Allen had this ease about him that made you feel comfortable.

And that’s how Larry Allen played the game. He didn’t have to be a flashy, in your face kind of player. To me, Larry Allen eptiomized the meaning of classy. That’s what I remember of number 73 when I met him — that he was classy and humble.

These days it’s hard to think about what The Dallas Cowboys are doing right. But when you see Larry Allen, when you think about his legacy, you got to feel good about what the combination of him and this organization did together.

The Cowboys did him right. He did us right. And now that he is going into the Hall of Fame, the NFL did him right.

Well deserved.

If I ever meet Larry Allen again I would probably thank him. I would thank him for all the dedicated years he gave us fans, all of his hard work and hard shots he took as a left guard.

I’d remind him that even though the spotlight followed the likes of Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin, us fans knew how great he was; and that the team’s success had to start with his success at the line.

Finally, I’d ask him to sign me another autograph because I lost his first signature. I’d probably say, “Ok, thanks, bye!” And then dart in the opposite direction feeling pretty cool that I just met up with a Cowboy hero.

Aug 4, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; A general view of the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the 2012 enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

What better way to open the season than having the newly enshrined players to cut the red tape for the official start of the 2012 National Football League season. This month all 32 teams records are equal, but now we can see what our teams may have to offer for our enjoyment through out the year. Every fan and every team have the same goal and at this point any team is capable of being a champion caliber team. The NFL is made up of the best football players in the world and they are all capable of on any day to have one of the greatest performances. Tom Brady can very well pull out a Jamarcus Russell type year, and Sam Bradford could be the next Troy Aikman. These ideas may not be very reasonable but in the NFL anything is possible. That’s what is so great about the NFL. Every year is a new year and no team is the same as they were the year before.

Aug.1, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) makes a throw during training camp drills. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

I myself cant wait to see what the Dallas Cowboys have to offer us. I can’t wait to see if Brandon Carr is worth the money Jerry gave him. I can’t wait to decide for myself if Mo’ Claiborne can truly be the next Deion Sanders. I can’t wait to see if Tony Romo can keep the streak of getting better every year alive. I can’t wait to see if DeMarcus Ware can be the single season sack leader that we all know he is capable of. And most importantly, I can’t wait to see if this is finally the year for the Cowboys to get back to the familiar, yet recently unfamiliar, category of world champion. Unfortunately I, as everyone else, will have to wait. But at least we can say good bye to the 2011 highlights, and welcome in 2012 with open arms (unless you are a N.Y. Giants fan, then you might want to hold on to 2011 for many, many years to come).

With all that said, congratulations to the new members of the HOF. The testimonies they release unto the world could be life changing for many young fans. I especially appreciate Curtis Martin for his honesty, he let the world know that anyone can be great regardless of the background they grow up in.  And although I may not care much for the Saints or the Cardinals, I hope they give us a show that is worthy of being HOF honoring. Welcome back football, we missed you and we are ready.