The entire NFC East is one big war zone where everyone hates everybody. Rivalries dominate the division and players spew bile at the just thought of playing for the other side. Still, it does happen, especially in this era of free agency and salary cap. Below are the top five men who have played for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brian Baldinger (Cowboys 1982-1987/ Eagles 1992-1993)
It's understandable if you don't remember him. He was an undrafted offensive lineman out of Duke. However, he saw alot while playing for both franchises. As a regular starter for Dallas from 1983-1986, Brian Baldinger saw the last breath of one of the NFL's great organizations. He bore witness as legendary coach Tom Landry went from "innovator" to "past his prime".
With the Eagles, he was charged with protecting dynamic quarterback Randall Cunningham. He even played in the historic game when Don Shula broke George Halas's all-time wins record. In short, Baldinger was like Forest Gump, a man who personally saw a whole lot of history.
Mike Ditka (Eagles 1967-1968/ Cowboys 1969-1972)
"Iron Mike" Ditka had spent the past six years in Chicago redefining his position. In five years, the lumbering tight end proved to everyone just how lethal he and his colleagues could be in the passing game.
But that all changed when he was sent off to a terrible Eagles team. After averaging well over 500 yards a season with the Bears, Ditka didn't even reach that total in two years with the Eagles. He turned to alcohol and spent his days depressed and lethargic. He had lost his way in life and needed a fresh start.
He was all set to retire when Tom Landry coaxed him out of that idea, offering him a roster spot on a team with direction. Having recorded a career low 111 yards the year before, Mike Ditka gained 268 yards in 1969, doubling his average from 8.5 to 15.8 yards per catch. He may have aged a bit, but Iron Mike was back.
Two years later, he caught the final touchdown pass of Super Bowl VI, earning him his first Super Bowl ring. After retiring two years later, he jumped into coaching and spent the rest of the decade coaching tight ends and special teams in Dallas.
3. Roger Ruzek (Cowboys 1987-1989/ Eagles 1989-1993)
While often an afterthought, kickers are as important as ever when they are needed most. With a career extra point percentage of 94.1 and a field goal percentage of 72.3%, Roger Ruzek was more than dependable for both the Eagles and Cowboys. He even made a number of 50 yard field goals for both franchises, one for Dallas and three more for Philadelphia.
There's a nice little twist in his story. In the middle of the 1989 season, Ruzek was released by the Cowboys after making two of three field goals in a rare 13-3 win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins. Two weeks later, he signed with the Eagles and faced off against his old teammates at Texas Stadium. Ruzek was perfect in the Eagle's 27-0 demolition, making all three extra points and both field goals to cap off the perfect revenge game.
2. Herschel Walker (Cowboys 1986-1989; 1996-1997/ Eagles 1992-1993)
Herschel Walker burst onto the NFL landscape with a game winning run right into the team of a great New York Giants defense on opening night of his rookie year. But while the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that year, Walker struggled to win in Dallas. Still his star shined bright on bad team, twice going to the Pro Bowl and twice being named second team All-Pro.
But by 1989, a new regime had taken over Dallas and they were instantly desperate to make a big splash. With no other player on the roster that was anywhere near Walker's caliber, the Cowboys traded him to the Minnesota Vikings for a slew of players and draft picks that would eventually be the foundation of a dynasty. It didn't matter to them that Herschel had gained over 2,000 yards from scrimmage just two years earlier. All that mattered was the bottom line and in the NFL, the "bottom line" is winning.
After two and a half years playing in Minnesota, Herschel Walker signed with the Eagles in 1992. While he wasn't as spry at age 30 that he was when he was traded three years earlier, Walker provided the Eagles valuable yards on the ground (1,070) and total touchdowns (10) that first season. He was more well-rounded the following year, rushing for 746 yards and receiving 610 more and was slightly above 500 in both categories the following year, his last in the City of Brotherly Love. He returned to Dallas in 1996 but struggled to get carries behind starter Emmitt Smith. In his final two years, Herschel Walker gained just 103 yards on the ground and 238 yards through the air before retiring.
1. Terrell Owens (Eagles 2004-2005/ Cowboys 2006-2008)
Terrell Owens is probably one of the most divisive characters in NFL history, but love him or hate him, he earned that gold jacket in multiple cities. That includes both Philadelphia and Dallas. From the moment that he arrived from San Francisco, Owens was absolutely sensational, instantly connecting with quarterback Donovan McNabb and blending in beautifully with coach Andy Reid's West Coast Offense. That first year, Owens gained 1,200 yards and scored 14 touchdowns while earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
Incredibly, he broke his leg late in the season but returned to play really well (nine catches for 122 yards) in the Super Bowl. But as soon as the Eagles lost, his relationship with his coach, his quarterback, his team and his city soured. 2005 was marred by a mid-season suspension and he was soon signing with Dallas.
Despite the turmoil under center early on, Owens once again demonstrated why he was one of the game's best in Dallas. He recorded 1,000 yard seasons in each of his three seasons with the Cowboys and scored 38 touchdowns while leading the league with 13 in 2006 and being named first-team All-Pro in 2007.
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