Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Rayfield Wright

In part one of our conversation, we talk about Rayfield\'s college career, his early days with the Cowboys, and his stellar teammates.

Sports and Torts: Rayfield Wright Part Two

In part two, we discuss the Cowboys Ring of Honor, his induction into the Hall of Fame, and some of his favorite memories as a Cowboy.

Rayfield Wright

Wirght was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in round seven of the 1967 NFL Draft as a tight end. During his first three years with Dallas, the six-foot-seven, 225-pound \"Big Cat\" was used as a tight end, defensive lineman, and offensive tackle.
In 1969, Wright got his first chance as a starter after Ralph Neely was sidelined by injury. The man he would face all afternoon was the Los Angeles Rams future Hall of Fame defensive end David Deacon Jones, who was in his prime. Wright\'s performance was so strong that he won a starting role as right tackle before the first day of the 1970 training camp.
For thirteen seasons, Wright played 200+ games, started at right tackle in six NFC Championship games, and played in five Super Bowls, winning two of them: (Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII). He earned his first of four All-Pro honors in 1971 and was voted that same year to the first of six straight Pro Bowls.
Wright was named first- or second-team All-Pro each season from 1971 through 1976, earned three All-NFC honors, and the Cowboys led the league for total offense five times (ranked 6th all-time at retirement in 1979). His blocking (and leadership as the team\'s co-captain for 7 years) helped the Cowboys win 10 division titles and six conference crowns.
He anchored the line for an offense that finished in the top 10 in scoring all 10 seasons in the 1970s, while helping pave the way for the first five 1,000-yard rushers in Dallas Cowboys history.
Wright played at a time when the right tackle was the most important spot on the offensive line, and was usually paired against the opponent\'s best pass rusher. He broke every time-honored mold previously held for men of his size. He was light on his feet and possessed an athleticism that had him miscast as a tight end and defensive end for the first three years of his NFL career.
\"Rayfield could do it all,\" said former Cowboys running back Calvin Hill after Wright\'s election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. \"He could pull. He could run in the open field. He could finesse-block and power-block in the run game. And there was no one better in pass-blocking. He was dominant.\"
\"He was absolutely the best,\" said Roger Staubach. \"Rayfield was a big, strong guy that was able to transfer his size and strength from tight end to tackle. He also had such quick feet that he was able to deal with some of the faster defensive ends and even the linebacker blitzes. If he got beat, I don\'t remember it.\"
Was voted the NFLPA NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1972.
Wright was also presented with a number of individual awards following the conclusion of his career, including the NFL All-Super Bowl Team (1990), the Dallas Cowboys 1st Anniversary Team (1985), the Cowboys\' own Ring of Honor (2004), the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2005) and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Rayfield\'s Website