IRVING, Texas – While the focus remains heavily on the draft and free agency, it won't be too long before the Cowboys report to training camp in Oxnard, Calif.
While schedules are always subject to change, the Cowboys are tentatively scheduled to report to California on July 19 with a first practice set for July 21.
It'll be a longer camp and preseason this year with the Cowboys playing five exhibition games, including the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. That pushes up the start date to camp, meaning the pads will be coming on before too long.
So as we count down the days to camp, let's take a light-hearted look at the significance of each number as we stroll through the years of Cowboys football.
Let's start the countdown, taking a closer look at the number 87:
- 16 different players have donned the No. 87 jersey, beginning in 1960 with defensive end Nate Borden.
- The longest one player has worn No. 87 occurred in a seven-year span from 1976-82 when tight end John Saldi wore the number.
- While several players have worn No. 87 over the last 20 years, Jason Tucker had the most memorable day and one of the best single-game performances in franchise history. Against the Saints in 1999, wide receiver Jason Tucker produced 331 total yards, which still stands as a franchise record. Wearing, No. 87 Tucker hurt the Saints as a receiver, punt returner and kick returner and even had a kickoff return for a touchdown negated by penalty.
- The 1987 draft saw a few more players than usual make the team, but mainly because of the NFL strike that season which saw replacement players play for three games. Headlining that year's draft was first-round pick Danny Noonan, second-round corner Ron Francis and fourth-round receiver Kelvin Martin. But the best pick of the draft was probably eighth-round tackle Kevin Gogan, who eventually made a Pro Bowl with the 49ers.
- Defensive end Greg Ellis has the seventh-longest interception return in franchise history with an 87-yard return against Atlanta in 1999. Ellis actually scored on a 98-yard fumble return the next week against the Cardinals.
- Michael Irvin's longest play from scrimmage in his career occurred in 1992 against the Cardinals. Irvin scored on an 87-yard touchdown, one of the three scores that day in a 31-20 win.
