09/09/99

By Tony Fabrizio / The Dallas Morning News

"One thing I've learned is that I have a lot of hate in my body, and sometimes it just builds up to where it has to be released." - Charles Haley in his 1997 autobiography, All the Rage, The Life of an NFL Renegade.

Charles Haley

But the defense wasn't there yet. In fact, it had been porous in a 38-6 division-round playoff loss to the Run-and-Shoot Detroit Lions in January. A pass rush that ranked 26th in the 28-team league was considered the culprit.

Suddenly, the Cowboys were being offered outside linebacker Charles Haley by the rival San Francisco 49ers. Charles Haley, the 1990 Defensive Player of the Year. A two-time Super Bowl winner. A premier pass rusher who could play end in Cowboys' 4-3 scheme and allow Johnson to play the up-field pressure game he favored.

How could the Cowboys refuse when the price was a second- and a third-round draft pick?

Haley had his warts, though. He had clashed with management, coaches and teammates in San Francisco. He had taken a swing at coach George Seifert. In one highly publicized incident, he had reportedly urinated on a teammate's car.

The Cowboys' brass discussed the risks vs. the rewards and concluded Haley could be the missing piece. They made the trade, assuming Haley's $1 million salary at a time when Irvin, Jay Novacek and Mark Stepnoski were unsigned.

Over the next four seasons, Haley helped the Cowboys win three NFL championships. Along the way, he wore out his welcome with one coach, walked out on another, ripped his assistant coaches while at the 1995 Pro Bowl and fought with a trainer. But Haley's contributions can't be denied.

"We obviously knew there were some issues with Charles in San Francisco," said Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, reflecting on the trade. "Really, as long as we were having success, we never really had any major issues with Charles. He was such a fiery competitor, the only time we ever had any type of issues with him was when he got frustrated because we weren't having success."

Haley, who retired in 1997 only to rejoin the 49ers late last season, left his mark as a winner. During his prime, he played on 10 division-winning teams in 11 seasons and reached the NFC Championship Game seven times in eight years. A recurring back injury kept him from putting up All-Pro numbers in several seasons, but Haley is the only player to earn five Super Bowl rings.

Although he rarely talks to the media, Haley has said plenty about his time in Dallas. Johnson, who left Dallas in 1994 and is now the Miami Dolphins coach, avoids the subject of Haley.

Haley's arrival in Dallas coincided with the acquisition of safety Thomas Everett from Pittsburgh and defensive tackle Tony Casillas from Atlanta, and the drafting of defensive backs Darren Woodson and Kevin Smith. Defensive tackle Russell Maryland was drafted first overall the previous season.

With the influx of talent, the Cowboys improved from a No. 12 defensive ranking in 1991 to No. 1 in 1992. Haley recorded only six sacks, but he disrupted offenses and enabled the defense to take fewer risks. And he was instrumental in the Cowboys' 52-17 victory over Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVII, sacking Jim Kelly to force a fumble that Jimmie Jones recovered for the go-ahead touchdown.

Haley has often referred to his first season with Johnson as "the honeymoon period," but even in '92 there were incidents that hinted at discord.

Most notable among them was a confrontation during halftime of a game at Denver. Johnson, believing that Haley had loafed through the first two quarters, pulled Haley aside and told him he would be released on Monday. The coach then reached over and flushed a commode, saying, "Your career is going down the toilet."

Haley responded with a strong second half, but he would rebel against Johnson after that. In fact, he would speak his mind whenever he disagreed with coaches or thought a teammate wasn't doing the job.

Smith returned, and the Cowboys got back on track. They went 12-4 and won their second consecutive Super Bowl under Johnson, beating Buffalo.

But, by most accounts, Haley and Johnson were headed for a blowup. When the announcement came that Johnson was leaving the following March, Haley practically rejoiced.

As evidence of how much the relationship had deteriorated, former Cowboys trainer Kevin O'Neill recalled Haley's gloating after the Cowboys beat Johnson's Dolphins during the 1997 regular season.

After Dallas' 29-10 win, Haley was quoted as saying he had "a lot of hate" in his heart, and Johnson "was at the top of the list."

Haley played three seasons for Johnson's predecessor, Barry Switzer. Highlights include a Pro Bowl, 12 1/2-sack season in 1994 and another Super Bowl title to end the 1995 season. Among the low points: a locker room fight with O'Neill in 1994 and a walkout on Switzer early in the '95 season, after Switzer had criticized the defensive line for its performance in a loss to Washington.

Switzer once characterized his time with Haley by saying, "I couldn't coach two Charles Haleys. The coach at San Francisco, George Seifert, couldn't coach one."