3 former Cowboys ready to fight for immortality in Super Bowl LI – Cowboys Wire

A team never knows ifthey are giving up on a player too soon. Whether because of injury, logjam at the position or just not enough performance, teams walk away from players without knowing what more they are capable of. For the Cowboys, three such players have survived and thrived without them, poised to try and win a Super Bowl on Sunday in Houston.

In 2008, Dallas continued itstradition of drafting complements to future Hall of Famer Jason Witten at the tight end position. This time it was Texas A&Ms Martellus Bennett. Bennett was an athletic marvel but never gave full effort into development. He would later admit a great deal of frustration with his role and figuring out he would never get the chance to be the lead dog with Witten in Dallas. He played out his rookie deal, went to New York and then Chicago and proved he was an upper tier talent at the position.

Talent was never his problem, and at each of the last two stops he proved to those teams his attitude rendered his talent notworth the trouble. Of course, at Reclamation University, Bill Belichick had a perfect plan for him. Bennett was brought in as Rob Gronkowskis complement to replace Aaron Hernandez, but in an offense that knows how to feature two tight ends. When Gronkowski was lost for the year, Bennett slid right into the No. 1 role seamlessly. Hes no Gronk, but he should be featured Sunday evening.

That same year Bennett was drafted, the Cowboyssigned a diminutive and shifty wideout from Texas Tech by the name of Danny Amendola.

That year, the Cowboys were featured on Hard Knocks and the football viewing public fell in love with the 5-foot-8, 183 pound receiver with just 4.68 speed. Amendola made it to final cuts but was released.

He signed with the Cowboys practice squad but took an opportunity to go to camp with the Philadelphia Eagles the next season. Amendola was placed on their practice squad originally as well.

St. Louisneeded wideout help midseason and Amendola got his chance. He played 14 games and caught 43 passes. A few years later, New England was scooping him up as a understudy to Wes Welker. Amendola has become a major contributor for the Patriots, sliding in and out of the starting lineup but always making his presence known with Tom Brady.

Atlanta isnt without former Cowboys as well. Last year, the Dallas secondary was inept at best. They didnt record an interception on the season until late in the season. A practice squad call up by the name of Deji Olatoye did the honors. Still, it wasnt enough to keep him in Dallas, and he spent most of 2016 on the Falcons practice squad.

Hes not a key part of their defense, but he played in five games down the stretch and has gotten action in each of their playoff games.

It happens to every team in the NFL. They think someone can no longer help their team and once in a different role for a different coach, the player finds a niche. Its not a sign of a bad front office, stuff like that just happens. Still, it means plenty of current Cowboys players are going to be sitting at home watching former teammates get their opportunity at immortality.

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3 former Cowboys ready to fight for immortality in Super Bowl LI - Cowboys Wire