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3 Former Dallas Cowboys fans would love to see play one more time

By Randy Gurzi

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: DeMarcus Ware #94 and Morris Claiborne #24 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a fumble recovery in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium on December 29, 2013 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: DeMarcus Ware #94 and Morris Claiborne #24 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a fumble recovery in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium on December 29, 2013 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS – DECEMBER 19: Linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on December 19, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS – DECEMBER 19: Linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on December 19, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

1. DeMarcus Ware, EDGE

In 2005, former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells was looking to rebuild his defense. Coming off a 6-10 campaign the year before, he wanted to get himself a big defensive end for his three-man line and a pass-rushing outside linebacker. And thanks to trades made prior to the draft, he had two selections in the first round to work with.

At No. 11 overall, he originally wanted to take LSU’s Marcus Spears but went a different route as he took DeMarcus Ware out of Troy. Parcells lucked out and still landed Spears with his second pick, No. 20 overall, and no one ever doubted if he made a mistake in taking the small-school product first.

Ware, who played defensive end for the Trojans, had to learn the linebacker spot in Parcells’ 3-4 defense and seemed to do so effortlessly. As a rookie, he registered 58 tackles and eight sacks, showing off his pass-rushing skills. He followed that up with 11.5 sacks as a sophomore and was named to the first of seven-straight Pro Bowls for Dallas.

He was released ahead of the 2014 season in a salary cap move but the relationship was never strained. Ware still shows love for the Cowboys and the fan base never got over seeing him leave. A sure-fire Hall of Famer, Ware had 138.5 career sacks and 117 of those came in his nine seasons with Dallas which is the most in team history.

After finishing his third season with the Denver Broncos, there were rumors Dallas would have wanted him back in 2017 but that never came to fruition as he wound up retiring.

Next. 3 Head coach options to do what Garrett couldn’t. dark

At 37 years of age, Ware could still play the game even if it were only on a limited-snap basis. And with the way this team is currently constructed, it would be hard to think of anyone else who would be as welcomed and impactful.

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