Dallas Cowboys: 6 Cowboys to Be Snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame

This August the Pro Football Hall of Fame will induct seven players into their hallowed halls, one of them being former Dallas Cowboys great Deion Sanders.

Yeah, I know Deion only played with the Cowboys for a hot minute, but he still had the star draped across his shoulders and his helmet. He is one of the greatest players to ever grace an NFL stadium, and his larger-than-life persona fit right in with Jerry’s team of misfits in the mid-1990’s.

Deion was selected as a first ballot Hall of Famer and deservedly so. But for every guy like Deion, there is a player like Michael Irvin or Shannon Sharpe: players who retired Hall of Fame-worthy, but were snubbed by the selection committee either due to off-the-field issues or other reasons.

The Cowboys have, and still have, their fair share of players who have been snubbed or are currently being shut out of Canton.

Here are six Cowboys players who were snubbed—or are currently being snubbed—by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bob Hayes, WR

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bob Hayes Jr. poses with the bust of his late father Bob Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty

"Bullet" Bob Hayes was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 after years of being shut out and shut down. Hayes is credited for changing the way teams play defense due to his speed and athleticism.

Back in 2004, Hayes was close to being inducted, but rumors abounded that the Hall of Fame Senior Selection Committee had a prejudice against the Cowboys and refused to allow Hayes in.

"Snub" is not the word for what the selection committee did to Hayes, but talent always shines through in the end.

Michael Irvin, WR

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 04: Michael Irvin poses with his bust during the Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony August 4, 2007 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Irvin, like Hayes, had a history of the off-the-field problems. Irvin’s problems outside of the playing field always seemed to overshadow his play on the field, but in the end he was still rewarded.

Irvin was inducted into the HOF in 2007 after being snubbed in 2005 and 2006.

He ended his career as one of the toughest to every play and aided the Cowboys in winning three Super Bowls in the 1990’s.

Ken Norton Jr., LB

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31 Jan 1993: Linebacker Ken Norton #51 of the Dallas Cowboys tackles Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly #12 during Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys won the game, 52-17.

The Cowboys drafted one of the greatest winners in NFL history; let's not front, players are judged by Super Bowl wins, and Norton has three of them.

In fact, Ken became the first player in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. Plus, he had one of the scariest-looking facemasks in the NFL, and the mouthpiece that covered his entire face made it worse.

He has a career total of 1,130 tackles, with a career high coming in 1993 when he had 159.

Without Norton there is no guarantee the ‘Boys and Niners would have their four collective Super Bowl victories in the 1990’s. I think he deserves the nod.

Daryl Johnston, FB

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4 Oct 1998: Fullback Daryl Johnston #48 of the Dallas Cowboys in action during a game against the Washington Redskins at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Raljon, Maryland. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 31-10.

Not many fullbacks are in the Hall of Fame, and not many deserve to be.

But Moose opened up holes for arguably the greatest running back of all time in Emmitt Smith—the same guy who holds the record for most rushing yards in the history of the league.

Granted Moose doesn’t have a leg to stand on in terms of statistics, but he played on three Super Bowl-winning teams and led the way for Smith.

Shouldn’t that count for something?

Ed "Too Tall" Jones, DE

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4 Jan 1986: Defensive lineman Ed Too Tall Jones of the Dallas Cowboys (right) works against Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jackie Slater during a playoff game at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Rams won the game, 20-0.

Jones is third on the Cowboys’ all-time sack list with 106 and has played more games than any player in team history with 224.

At 6'9", Jones loved to play volleyball with opposing quarterbacks when they attempted to, you know, pass the ball.

Jones made three straight Pro Bowls in the 1980’s and became one of the most feared defenders in the league during his time.

Judging by fan votes, he deserves to be in the HOF—the selection committee shouldn’t be too far behind.

Rayfield Wright, T

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 05: Rayfield Wright of the Dallas Cowboys poses with his bust after his induction during the Class of 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 5, 2006 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Doug Benc/Gett

Wright’s career post-NFL may have been more fruitful for him than his playing days; he has worked with at-risk youth and co-founded a group called "Kids 4 Tomorrow."

Rayfield—have I mentioned that Rayfield is a cool name—went into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in ’88 and the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Wright retired from the league after the 1979 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

These few sentences don’t do justice for Rayfield’s career, and the HOF selection committee didn’t either.