Felix Jones has Darren Woodson's number, so to speak

By RAY BUCK

rbuck@star-telegram.com

Rookie Felix Jones inherits a jersey number that has been involved in 1,350 tackles for the Dallas Cowboys.

Is that really a good thing for a running back?

Take it from the man who wore No. 28 and made it famous for the Cowboys (1992-2004): It’s not the right thing.

Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson saw his old jersey number scoffed up by free-agent running back Tyson Thompson in 2005. Now Felix Jones has it.

“Are you serious? Already? Again?” Woodson said when informed that the Cowboys’ top draft pick now has No. 28, which hasn’t been out of circulation since Woody retired.

“That’s my number, that’s just how I feel.” Woodson explained. “It’s hard to swallow.”

The five-time Pro Bowler became the team’s all-time leading tackler during the ‘02 season. (Woodson didn’t play in ‘04 but remained on the team with a herniated disk before announcing his retirement that December; Thompson inherited and wore the number through ’07.)

Said Woodson: “I think it’s just natural for anyone who played his entire career with the same team, and did a lot for that team, to feel the way I do.”

And, apparently, he isn’t alone.

“Family and friends called me when they saw Tyson wearing my number that first year,” Woodson added. “They said, ‘What the heck?’ [Equipment manager] Mike McCord said he couldn’t do anything about it.”

The history of No. 28

Since the Cowboys don’t officially “retire” jersey numbers, equipment man McCord sets “aside” a select few. (I understand to get one of these out of lockdown, you need either a 17-digit passcode or a small keg of dynamite.)

No. 74 is such a number. Bob Lilly is the only Cowboy to ever wear it.

No. 8 and No. 12 are on the extinct list as well. They belonged to a couple of recent NASCAR team owners: Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.

Conversely, No. 17 is not protected. Dandy Don Meredith’s jersey was worn by Quincy Carter (’01-03) ... followed by Sam Hurd (’06-present). Even Meredith can recognize that as an improvement.

Of course, not every jersey number can be held back or else there wouldn’t be enough to go around, especially in training camp when McCord’s grab bag runs close to empty.

Top-pick Felix Jones becomes only the sixth Cowboys player to wear No. 28.

“That’s what I thought,” Woodson said, “that the number wasn’t that popular.”

When Woodson arrived as a second-round pick in the ’92 draft, No. 28 had been worn by only a trio of running backs with short-lived Cowboys careers: Norm Granger (’84), Alvin Blount (’87) and Curtis Stewart (’89).

Now the number is passed around like a Gatorade bottle after practice — plenty of takers.

“Exactly,” Woodson said.

During his career at Arkansas, Felix Jones wore No. 25 — which belongs to third-year safety Pat Watkins — and not No. 28.

That makes it even worse.

“Exactly,” Woodson said.

How tough was Woody?

Darren Woodson, now an NFL studio analyst for ESPN, was one of the fiercest players ever to wear a Cowboys uniform — any position, any era, any jersey number.

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