Cowboys Legendary 'Rebel' RB Passes Away

DALLAS - Former Dallas Cowboys running back Duane Thomas  - proud of his iconoclastic and even rebellious time with his hometown team - passed away this past weekend at the age of 77.

The Cowboys selected Thomas with the 23rd pick in the 1970 NFL Draft. ... and he was a spectacular success. After spending two tumultuous seasons in Dallas, however, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers.

However, his time there was short-lived, and his path saw him eventually landing for two seasons with Washington before making his return to Dallas in 1976, and then spending one more stint in Green Bay.

During one period with the Cowboys, Thomas declined to speak. At all.

Sometimes when he did speak, he spoke loudly, though, famously calling iconic coach Tom Landry “a plastic man, not a man at all.''

The late Gil Brandt once told us that Thomas was, in terms of talent, comparable to all-time great Jim Brown.

Later, Thomas would say of Cowboys brass, "I'm no longer a threat to them,' he said. 'I was their best dream and worst nightmare.''

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Thomas grew up in Dallas and starred at Lincoln High School, with the days of segregation pushing him to West Texas State, where he gained 2,418 yards (on 6.0 yards per carry) and scored 20 touchdowns for the Buffaloes between 1966 and 1969.

Thomas, at 6-1 and 215 bigger and faster and smoother than most, won an NFL rushing touchdowns crown and was a Super Bowl champion who finished his relatively short NFL career with 2,038 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns.