Associated Press
Mark Tuinei, shown here in a game last season,
will begin his 15th season with Dallas. Only Ed "Too Tall"
Jones played with the Cowboys that long.

---

Who would believe
that Hawaii's Mark Tuinei
would be in the NFLfor 15 years

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

FIFTEENyears in the National Football League is a lifetime. Just ask Mark Tuinei of the Dallas Cowboys.

When the Cowboys start training camp this weekend at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, it will be Tuinei's 15th year wearing the familiar Dallas star, tying Ed "Too Tall" Jones for the franchise's longevity record.

The former University of Hawaii and Punahou star can only shake his head at how far he has come over the years.

In 1983, as a free-agent rookie in his first training camp, Tuinei never thought he'd last 15 days, let alone 15 years.

"That was like a whole different lifetime ago," said Tuinei from his home in Plano, Texas.

"I was nervous, of course. Every day was an anxiety. I was one of 120 free agents -- 15 rookie defensive linemen -- back then. The Cowboys were notorious for bringing in a lot of free agents. There was no limit in the number at that time.

"They called us the camp 'meat.' We were there 10 days before the veterans came in. We just went one-on-one, beating up on each other, until whoever was left standing."

Tuinei took his chances. He had been a 22nd-round pick of the Boston Breakers of the USFL.

"Doug Kay, who was a coach at UCLA when I was there and then at UH, just left for Boston," Tuinei recalled. "He told me to go there because I was only going to be 'meat' at Dallas."

And for a while, Tuinei wondered if he had made the right decision.

Tom Landry was the Cowboys coach then, it was that long ago.

"If he knew your name, you knew you had a chance to make the team," Tuinei said.

"He didn't say it right, but he called my name. As long as he made an attempt at least he knew who I was and I was happy."

Despite being a long shot -- how many free agents play in the NFL for 15 years? -- Tuinei made the team. And he has been a fixture as the starting left tackle for the past 12 years, playing more games (205) on offense than any other Cowboy in Dallas history.

At 6-foot-5, 314 pounds, Tuinei joined a massive offensive line that has become a trademark of the Dallas Cowboys and now of the entire NFL.

This year's camp is sure a lot different, admits Tuinei.

There's still a lot of head-banging involved. Dallas training camps have always been like that. But at least now Tuinei knows what's exactly expected of him. No worries about who's still around and who got cut like that first camp 15 years ago.

But at age 37, he knows that his playing days are nearly over.

Yesterday he joined the other Cowboys in a retirement party thrown by owner Jerry Jones for Charley Haley and Jay Novacek.

"I thought I was going to be involved in the retirement party, too," Tuinei said with a deep throaty laugh.

"Basically, I'll play it year by year," said Tuinei, who has another year left on his contract. "But I want to play this game as long as they let me play.

"Let's be honest. You can't make this kind of money any place else."

His big body, though, has absorbed a lot of beatings. The NFL might be glamorous, but it's not fun and games, especially in the trenches.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

"Last year I played injured and I'm not really recovered yet," said Tuinei, who suffered a detached medial collateral in his right knee when teammate Nate Newton and the man he was blocking both fell on it during a preseason game.

"I'd like to bring my game up a little more this year," said Tuinei, who made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 1994 and again the following year. He wants to tie Jones' team record of 15 years in style, possibly getting his fourth Super Bowl ring.

"I think we got a good shot, although we're supposed to have the toughest schedule in the league," Tuinei said.

The Cowboys, though, have got to remain healthy throughout the season.

In particular, quarterback Troy Aikman. And Tuinei knows that protecting Aikman's blind side is his main responsibility as the Cowboys' left tackle.

Tuinei wasn't sure about the status of Michael Irvin, who has asked to be traded. "I don't think even Michael knows what he wants. He hasn't been talking to any of his friends, including Emmitt (Smith)."

Another plus in the Cowboys' favor this season, according to Tuinei is that they will only play four preseason games this year. And none outside of the country for a change.

"Playing those international games (Mexico twice, London and Japan) took its toll," he said.

And Tuinei is looking forward to a more Hawaiian atmosphere in the Dallas camp this season.

Joining Tuinei and Mike Ulufale, a third-round draft choice out of BYU last year, is former Farrington and University of Washington tackle Pat Kesi, who was picked up by the Cowboys after failing a physical with the Oakland Raiders.

"Slowly, but surely, us local guys are taking over," Tuinei said.