Rayfield Wright remains an intimidating figure, but apparently not intimidating enough to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. Wright, who was an Offensive Tackle for the Cowboys from 1967-79, was moved to the seniors list this year, to increase his chances of being selected. The list is designed to catch players, who were overlooked. Still, he has no guarantees.
“I don't think there is any assurance with these guys,” says Wright. “I really don't. I wish we could predict but you can't. I'm happy that I have the opportunity to come back again so early.”
Wright's credentials are indisputable. He played in five super bowls, helping Dallas win two. Known as the “Big Cat”, Wright earned first or second team All-NFL honors six consecutive years from 1971-76.
Cowboys running back Preston Pearson, who played for the Cowboys from 1975-80, things a bias against Dallas is still there. “Rayfields’ chances, believe it or not, after twenty years of trying to get in there, are probably as good as anybody's,” he says. “They know they've missed him, for at least the last ten years, and there is no earthly reason why Rayfield Wright should not be in the hall of fame, come on.”
Jim Myers, Wright's offensive line coach who watched him block for a Cowboys offense that won two super bowls, shares the same sentiments and feels Wright should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago.
Says Myers, “He had the talent, had skills, and he knew how to used them. You know his first game was against Deacon Jones and he shut Deacon out. He came to Dallas as a Split End and a Weak Safety, and they tried to make a Tight End out of him, tried to make a defensive guy out of him, but he came over to the offensive line and made a coach out of me,” he says laughing.
Mel Renfro, a Cowboys Cornerback from 1964-77, feels Wright’s induction is longer overdue. “I'd love it. I think there are few more Cowboys that should be in the hall of fame. You know, we lost Bob Hayes, but Bob Hayes should be there. Ed Jones, Harvey martin, we just had tremendous players that should be there, but aren't,” he says.
“You know they say, there is any bias against the cowboys, well yes, there would have to be,” Renfro continues. “I don't know it is, but it is. We've got five players in the Hall of Fame, and Tex Schramm and Cach Landry, that's it. It took me 14-years to get in, there is a bias. If someone did an investigation and found out what that was or why it came about, that would be a great story.”
Says Wright, “You look at all the great players we've had from Bob Hayes, and Jetrho Pughs, and the Leroy Jordans, Chuck Howleys, you know and all these guys, and none of these guys are there, you know, so you kind of wonder whether there is a bias or not.”
So what happens next? Wright is keeping his fingers crossed.
II don't really know what to say,” he says. “I remember last year, or two years ago, and I was really, really excited, you know. I'm still excited a little bit, but you know, I just don't want to get crushed like I was two years ago.
Wright is not a shoe in for the hall of fame, apparently no one ever is, but he should be. We know he's close and next weekend, we'll see if he's close enough to get in.
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