High on the List

The official Dallas Cowboys website is posting a list of the Top 50 Cowboys, a nifty gimmick to keep up interest in the team during the doldrums between the recent NFL draft and the start of training camp.

Their first choice was one of my own favorite players, Mark Stepnoski.

From the website:


50. Mark Stepnoski
Position: Center
Cowboys Career: 1989-94; 1999-2001
Honors: Five-time Pro Bowl selection (1992-96); Second-Team All-Decade (1990s) pick by Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee.
Highest Ranking From Panel: 37



When you think of the 1989 NFL Draft, automatically Troy Aikman's name comes to mind. But not only did the Cowboys find a star quarterback to go under center, they found the center as well. In the third round (57th overall), the Cowboys picked Mark Stepnoski, who went on to anchor an offensive line that not only helped Emmitt Smith win three straight rushing titles from 1991-93, but helped lead the way for the Cowboys to win consecutive Super Bowls.

Stepnoski was one of the first big-name players to leave the Cowboys via unrestricted free agency, signing with the Houston Oilers in 1995. He returned to the Cowboys for three seasons from 1999-2001, although the team won just 18 games in that span.

The selection committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame placed Stepnoski on the Second-Team All-Decade squad for the 1990s behind Pittsburgh's Dermontti Dawson.

Stepnoski made five straight Pro Bowls - three with the Cowboys from '92-94 and then two with Houston in '95-96.

Most people don't realize "Step" is also featured on another website:



Since retiring from football in 2001, Mark has dedicated himself to reforming America's misguided marijuana policy. In addition to his role on NORML's advisory board, Mark recently served as President of Texas NORML.