The Nick Foles thread suggested he might come back if some team lost the QB room to injury. I wondered how many here know the story of Tony Liscio and the Dallas Cowboys first Super Bowl win.
So in 1971, the Cowboys had a great team. Lost to Baltimore the year before in Super Bowl V and hoped to avenge that loss. Defensive stalwarts like Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley, Herb Adderley, Cliff Harris and Mel Renfro were future NFL Hall of Fame players. yes, five Hall of Famers on one defense. Others like Lee Roy Jordan, Cornell Greene and George Andrie were multiple pro bowlers and/or all-pro. So a great defense that earned the Doomsday Defense name.
Offense was equally effective with Bob Hayes, Mike Ditka and young RBs Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas. The o-line was also full of pro bowlers and Rayfield Wright a future NFL HOFer.
Unfortunately, four time All Pro Ralph Neely broke his leg off season in a motorcycle accident. Don Talbert, the Longhorn, took over and soon sprained his ankle badly so was out. Forest Gregg (who Vince Lombardi called the best player he ever coached) was acquired, although at the end of his career, and he got hurt. So mid-season, a home game with the Redskins coming up and Dallas didn't have a left tackle.
Tony Liscio had run his travel agency for eight months, having retired from the NFL. He had played for Dallas, was sent to the San Diego Chargers in the Lance Alworth trade and later traded to Miami where he retired.
He was with a client, when he heard his secretary pick up a call for him. He told her to take a message. She said "It is Tom Landry". This was on a Wednesday, so despite being out of shape, not knowing the current playbook, Landry asked him to start against the Redskins four days later. He did and started every remaining game of the NFL season including the win in Super Bowl VI.
So in 1971, the Cowboys had a great team. Lost to Baltimore the year before in Super Bowl V and hoped to avenge that loss. Defensive stalwarts like Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley, Herb Adderley, Cliff Harris and Mel Renfro were future NFL Hall of Fame players. yes, five Hall of Famers on one defense. Others like Lee Roy Jordan, Cornell Greene and George Andrie were multiple pro bowlers and/or all-pro. So a great defense that earned the Doomsday Defense name.
Offense was equally effective with Bob Hayes, Mike Ditka and young RBs Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas. The o-line was also full of pro bowlers and Rayfield Wright a future NFL HOFer.
Unfortunately, four time All Pro Ralph Neely broke his leg off season in a motorcycle accident. Don Talbert, the Longhorn, took over and soon sprained his ankle badly so was out. Forest Gregg (who Vince Lombardi called the best player he ever coached) was acquired, although at the end of his career, and he got hurt. So mid-season, a home game with the Redskins coming up and Dallas didn't have a left tackle.
Tony Liscio had run his travel agency for eight months, having retired from the NFL. He had played for Dallas, was sent to the San Diego Chargers in the Lance Alworth trade and later traded to Miami where he retired.
He was with a client, when he heard his secretary pick up a call for him. He told her to take a message. She said "It is Tom Landry". This was on a Wednesday, so despite being out of shape, not knowing the current playbook, Landry asked him to start against the Redskins four days later. He did and started every remaining game of the NFL season including the win in Super Bowl VI.
