Easy route to Hall of Fame? Just follow the Dallas star

With apologies to the New England Patriots, the last true NFL dynasty will begin its final step into the sport's lore when the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s take a corner spot in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin: The 'Triplets' were at the center of Dallas' success. (Getty Images)

With quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin on the list of 15 finalists for induction in 2006, it's time for the coronation to begin for a team that won three Super Bowls in a four-year span.

Offensive tackle Rayfield Wright, who played for the Cowboys from 1967-79, gives Dallas a total of three Hall finalists.

"This is an important day for our organization and an impressive milestone," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "These are three candidates who are more than worthy of induction, and I look forward to their selection in February."

Aikman appears to be a lock as a three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.

"If I were to be selected for induction, it would be the most meaningful individual achievement of my athletic career," Aikman said.

"I came into the NFL wanting nothing more than to win a championship. My career unfolded in a way that exceeded all expectations and I am grateful to those who helped me along the way and shared in that success."

A slot will probably also go to Wright, a seniors committee recommendation from the great Cowboys teams of the 1970s.

And while there is no question that Irvin is deserving -- despite his renewed relationship with drug paraphernalia and off-field controversy -- the voting committee and its alleged Cowboys bias will not enshrine three members of America's Team in one year.

Poll When the Class of '06 is announced Feb. 4, which '90s Cowboys will be among the new Hall of Famers?   3%  Neither     55%  Troy Aikman     1%  Michael Irvin     41%  Aikman and Irvin     Total Votes: 4203

But even if Irvin waits another year, the march of Cowboys to the Hall of Fame is just beginning.

Consider Emmitt Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, and Deion Sanders, the best shutdown corner in the history of the game, locks to make the hallowed halls of Canton in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Sanders, who has not officially announced his retirement, would have gone in this year had he not come out of retirement and played the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

Another sure thing is guard Larry Allen, whenever he decides to retire. He was named to the Pro Bowl this season for the 10th time.

Add in Jones, coach Jimmy Johnson, defensive end Charles Haley, guard Nate Newton, safety Darren Woodson, tight end Jay Novacek and center Mark Stepnoski and the surge of Cowboys into the Hall could continue for some time.

Not all of them will make it, but they are all worthy of consideration, putting the '90s Cowboys in position to rival or possibly pass the Steelers of the '70s, who won four Super Bowls in a six-year span and placed nine players and their head coach in the Hall of Fame.

This brings us back to the Patriots.

There is no arguing that what they've done, winning three Super Bowls in four years, is tougher than what the Steelers and Cowboys achieved because New England has done it in the age of free agency, the salary cap and "parity."

But what's also true is the quality of the Patriots' title teams don't come close to that of the Cowboys and Steelers in terms of high-caliber individual ability.

This is most evident by the low number of Patriots who will one day be deemed Hall of Fame worthy.

Outside of quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick, there aren't any Patriots who can be considered virtual locks for Canton.

After that it's a bunch of maybes such as kicker Adam Vinatieri, safety Rodney Harrison, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, cornerback Ty Law, defensive tackle Richard Seymour and defensive end Willie McGinist.

But let's get back to the Cowboys.

Here's a breakdown of the candidates and chances for enshrinement:

Troy Aikman

Aikman

What needs to be said? He won three Super Bowls and was the game's MVP in 1993. He set an NFL record for quarterbacks by winning 90 games in a single decade.

"Troy Aikman's contributions to this organization -- and to the NFL -- are obvious," Jones said. "He was the winningest quarterback in the decade of the 1990s, and it doesn't take long to list the men who have played that position for three Super Bowl winners."

Hall call: Resounding "yes."

Michael Irvin

Irvin

Considering his off-field troubles during his career, Irvin didn't do himself any favors with his recent legal entanglement. But Lawrence Taylor got past it and so should Irvin. He is the Cowboys' all-time leading receiver with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. But most important, he was the heart and soul of the three title teams as the Cowboys' emotional leader.

"Michael's narrow finish last year has him knocking on the door again, and deservedly so," Jones said. "As the inspirational leader of the first NFL team to win three Super Bowls in four years, he is due."

Hall call: Yes. The only question is how long he has to wait.

Emmitt Smith

Smith

Again, there is nothing to debate here. As the league's all-time leading rusher, former league and Super Bowl MVP, he should have gone from retirement right to the Hall of Fame. Rules state that a player must wait five years, so Smith will be enshrined in 2010.

Hall call: Yes.

Deion Sanders

Sanders

Love him or hate him. And while there are people on both sides of that fence, no one ever questioned Sanders' ability or flair for the spectacular. Quarterbacks feared throwing to his side of the field. When they did, he often took it back for a touchdown. He was also a game-breaking punt returner who played for one of the Cowboys' Super Bowl champions during his five seasons in Dallas.

Hall call: Yes.

Larry Allen

Allen

Whenever Allen decides to quit, the Hall of Fame is his destiny. With 10 Pro Bowls -- more than any offensive player in club history -- the question is where Allen fits among the greatest linemen in NFL history. What is certain is that he will have the shortest acceptance speech.

Hall call: Yes.

Jimmy Johnson

Johnson

He didn't coach long. He didn't do anything with the Dolphins. But what he did in Dallas could be enough. He put the luster back on America's Team with Super Bowl titles in 1993 and 1994. You might as well say he built three, as the Cowboys won under Barry Switzer with the same players in 1996. Tom Landry is in the Hall of Fame and Bill Parcells is a supposed lock. Johnson has won as many Super Bowls as both men.

Hall call: Yes.

Charles Haley

Haley

Despite all the offensive stars and genius of Johnson, the Cowboys weren't championship caliber until bringing Haley and his pass-rush skills aboard. Winner of two titles with the 49ers, Haley won three more with the Cowboys to have Super Bowl rings for five fingers. He also has 100 sacks.

Hall call: Eventually.

Jerry Jones

Jones

Jones was not liked when he first bought the Cowboys. And he is not universally liked now for his maverick and cocky ways. But he gets results. He made the Cowboys into winners again. Now, while there were owners who did not like him, there are owners who are trying to be just like him and his hands-on style. They are also copying his marketing and promotional ideas, putting more money in their pockets in the process.

Hall call: Maybe.

Nate Newton

Newton

Newton will be the real test to see if the Lawrence Taylor vote was a precedent, or just a vote for Lawrence Taylor. With six Pro Bowls and his status as the offensive lineman with the most personality, Newton should be a strong Hall of Fame candidate. And the Cowboys deserve more than one lineman going in from a group that blocked for the NFL's all-time leading rusher. But spending 2½ years in prison for drug trafficking after his playing days were over will be hard to overlook. Drug use didn't doom Taylor, but Newton is not the lock that Taylor was.

Hall call: Maybe.

Darren Woodson

Woodson

Bob Lilly has the name, but Woodson should be Mr. Cowboy II. This class act was named to five Pro Bowls and finished as the team's all-time leading tackler. A fierce hitter, Woodson had the athletic ability to cover receivers like Jerry Rice in the slot. Underrated during his career, Woodson could get the last word with a trip to the Hall.

Hall call: Maybe.

Jay Novacek

Novacek

He was a huge part of the title teams, certainly the second most-important pass receiver behind Irvin. But Novacek played in the shadow of the Big Three. He also played a position that doesn't get much respect in the Hall of Fame.

Hall call: No.

Mark Stepnoski

Stepnoski

He led the talent-laden unit that opened holes for Smith and protected Aikman. The center made five Pro Bowls, three with the Cowboys. He was good, but probably not Hall worthy. His post-career status as a proponent for legalizing marijuana raises eyebrows, but it won't be a deciding factor.

Hall call: No.

Howard Balzer covers the NFL for The Sports Xchange.