As the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith helped lead the team to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s.
However, none of that could've been done without his big guys up front, who have been dubbed 'The Great Wall of Dallas.' Players like Nate Newton, Mark Stepnoski, Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, Kevin Gogan, Larry Allen and Daryl 'Moose' Johnston helped pave the way for Smith to become an NFL great.
It takes a toll on any offensive lineman to play every week, and after the announcement of the tush push staying alive, the Eagles' offensive line knows the amount of sacrifice they sign up for every week.
For the NFL's new 'Protector of the Year Award,' which was revealed this week, this recognition speaks directly to Cowboys football and the gifted offensive linemen that we've seen over the team's decorated history.
New 'Protector of the Year Award' speaks directly to glorified Cowboys history
It's no doubt that Jerry Jones has had an emphasis on offensive lines during his tenure that goes back to 1989. Years after Smith retired from the NFL, in came DeMarco Murray who led the NFL in rushing yards in 2014, and the core group of Zack Martin, Travis Frederick and Tyron Smith helped Ezekiel Elliott lead the league in rushing on two occasions.
In one article on A to Z Sports, they went back in time to name the past 10 offensive linemen that would've won the award. Martin is the only one on their list to win it twice. Martin got to be a part of the end of Tony Romo's career, and for most of Dak Prescott's career. His accolades will no doubt earn him a spot in Canton one day.
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Other Cowboys that could've easily won the award include Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Frederick, Tyron Smith and any starting player from the 1990s.
A player from today's era that could win the award someday is Tyler Smith. As a two-time Pro Bowl player already, Smith has the tangibles as well as the resume to be an instant candidate.
It's about time that the NFL started recognizing offensive linemen doing the dirty work. Late coaching and broadcasting legend John Madden used to create his own group of players back in his broadcasting days, and would always boast about Newton's abilities back in the 1990s.
It would be the ultimate nod to recent Cowboys greats like Tyron Smith and Zack Martin, who never got to compete for the award, if Tyler Smith was able to take home the hardware this year.