<P> For the 1983 season the Cowboys went 12--4 and made it once again to the playoffs but were defeated at home in the Wild Card by the Rams 24--17 . Prior to the 1984 season, H.R. "Bum" Bright purchased the Dallas Cowboys from Clint Murchison Jr . Dallas posted a 9--7 record that season but missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons . After going 10--6 in 1985 and winning a division title, the Cowboys were blown out in the Divisional round at home to the Rams 20--0 . </P> <P> Hard times came for the organization as they went 7--9 in 1986, 7--8 in 1987, and 3--13 in 1988 . During this time period Bright became disenchanted with the team . During the Savings and Loan crisis, the team and Mr. Bright's Savings and Loan were taken over by the FSLIC . During an embarrassing home loss to Atlanta in 1987, Bright told the media that he was "horrified" at coach Tom Landry's play calling . The FSLIC forced Mr. Bright to sell the Cowboys to Jerry Jones on February 25, 1989 . </P> <P> Jones immediately fired Tom Landry, the only head coach in franchise history, replacing him with University of Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson, who was also Jerry Jones' teammate in University of Arkansas as a fellow defensive lineman and Michael Irvin was under his tutelage in college . With the first pick in the draft, the Cowboys selected UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman . Later that same year, they would trade veteran running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for five veteran players and eight draft choices . Although the Cowboys finished the 1989 season with a 1--15 record, their worst in almost 30 years, "The Trade" later allowed Dallas to draft a number of impact players to rebuild the team . </P> <P> Johnson quickly returned the Cowboys to the NFL's elite . Skillful drafts added fullback Daryl Johnston and center Mark Stepnoski in 1989, running back Emmitt Smith in 1990, defensive tackle Russell Maryland and offensive tackle Erik Williams in 1991, and safety Darren Woodson in 1992 . The young talent joined holdovers from the Landry era such as wide receiver Michael Irvin, guard Nate Newton, linebacker Ken Norton Jr., and offensive lineman Mark Tuinei, defensive lineman Jim Jeffcoat, and veteran pickups such as tight end Jay Novacek and defensive end Charles Haley . </P>

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