The 2003 draft class will forever go down as one of the most beneficial in Cowboys history, especially if you thrown in the rookie free agents.
For the longest time, it was the draft that produced guys like Terence Newman, Jason Witten and Bradie James. And of course, Tony Romo was that undrafted quarterback who the Cowboys thought might have a little something.
As it stands now, Witten is the only draft pick remaining from that class as both Terence Newman (Bengals) and Bradie James (Texans) have found other homes.
Witten is the longest tenured draft pick and his nine seasons with the team tie only Romo, who didn't even play his first game until 2006.
While Newman and James are gone, Witten said they won't be forgotten.
"It was a great run with those guys," Witten said. "It's unfortunate when it's over because it would've been nice to have had that ultimate goal of that shared commitment of going to a Super Bowl. Those guys were great teammates, who came to work every day and it's part of the business. Those guys you look at as friends for life, put a lot of work in together, but that's the way the game goes. We wish them the best, you keep in touch, but it's a business."
The Cowboys will have a chance to face Newman on Dec. 9 when they travel to Cincinnati. James reunites with former Cowboys coach Wade Phillips with the Texans, who not on the regular season or preseason schedule for 2012.
