Internet Poll Suggests Switzer’s Star Never Rose
If online polls carry any merit - and they usually don’t - Cowboys coach Barry Switzer isn’t getting any support on the Internet.
In NFL.Com’s seasonlong fans poll for all-time greatest Cowboys by position, Switzer finished third, which isn’t a good place to finish considering the franchise has had only three head coaches.
NFL.Com ran the fans poll at each of its teams’ sites. Fans were able to cast votes Wednesday through Sunday during the regular season.
Tom Landry was selected all-time greatest Cowboys coach. Landry received 4,489 votes out of 7,296 respondents. Jimmy Johnson, Landry’s successor, was second with 2,429 votes. Switzer, Johnson’s successor, picked up 378.
“We were a little bit surprised by the overall interest in Landry,” said John Marvel, editor of NFL.Com. “We figured Jimmy would get a few more votes, but Landry did very well. Switzer, well …”
Four current Cowboys players were selected to the team in earlier votes. Running back Emmitt Smith, wide receiver Michael Irvin, offensive lineman Nate Newton and defensive back Darren Woodson made the team.
Roger Staubach beat out Troy Aikman and Danny White as all-time quarterback, getting 54.8 percent of the vote. Jay Novacek was the overwhelming choice at tight end, receiving 76.9 percent of the vote. The closest vote was at linebacker where Lee Roy Jordan received 30.9 percent.
On other ballots, kicker Chris Boniol (47.5 percent), defensive lineman (Randy White) and punter Danny White (32.8) made the elite team.
The poll was interesting for those who like to compare players from the Landry vs. Johnson-Switzer era.
But don’t get too excited. Remember the disclaimer about online polls: someone, somewhere may be wearing out their clicker finger stuffing the ballot box.
On the subject of surveys, polls and bad showings by Cowboys:
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t on “The Sporting News” (www.sportingnews.com) top 100 list of the most powerful figures in sports. Jones, in fact, was beaten out by two fictional characters - Arliss Michaels (the HBO super agent) and Lil Penny.
Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders was the least-deserving player to be selected to the Pro Bowl, according to a CBS SportsLine poll. Sanders drew 60.6 percent of the 3,199 votes cast, far surpassing Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell, second with 18.1 percent.