Cameron Davis in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, se

In 1964, the Dallas Cowboys changed their helmet shell from white to the silver that they still wear today. The helmet logo, a five-pointed star, stayed essentially the same -- but they were considering going in a very different direction.An old wire service photo taken on Feb. 5, 1965, shows team owner Clint Murchison, coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm examining two helmets, both of which appear to be silver. One has the familiar star logo, but the other shows a cowboy boot:Obviously, the Cowboys chose to stick with the star. The boot logo was never used, but it has been the subject of considerable What if? speculation by Cowboys scholars and NFL uniform researchers. The folks behind excellent helmet-centric website Helmet Hut have gone so far as to create a reproduction of it, giving us a better sense of what might have been (further info here):Prototypes like these are more common than you might think. Teams usually experiment with several different uniform options before settling on one design. Most of those options never make it onto the field, but some of them end up living on in the photographic record. Heres a look back at some NFL prototypes that, like the Cowboys 1965 boot logo, ended up getting the boot. Some, like the Dallas example, are from several decades ago, and others are from more recent history.1. Probably the most famous prototype in NFL history is the San Francisco 49ers notorious redesigned helmet from 1991, which provoked such universal fan backlash that the team abandoned the whole idea and basically said never mind six days later -- but not before the new design was enshrined in the official NFL Style Guide. (The full story of this logos creation and eventual retraction can be found here.)2. The Cincinnati Bengals wore a plain helmet design for the first 13 years of their existence before switching to their current tiger-striped shell in 1981. But they almost went with stripes right from the get-go, as seen in this photo of team founder Paul Brown considering various prototype designs prior to the teams first season:3. The Cleveland Browns have stubbornly and famously remained the only NFL team without a helmet logo. But in 1965 they were considering a CB logo. Despite rumors of the logo having been worn in preseason games, it was never worn on the field in any capacity. It lives on, however, in vintage NFL program covers, department store ads, and promotional merchandise (additional info here):4. In 1993, the New England Patriots replaced their Pat Patriot mascot with the Minuteman character who has become known as Flying Elvis. But 14 years earlier, in 1979, they had been tinkering with another Minuteman mascot, and they were so serious about it that they even announced that Pat Patriot was being retired. But owner Billy Cunningham got cold feet and decided to let fans choose between the old and new logos during a halftime vote. Pat Patriot won in a landslide and the initial Minuteman logo was mothballed. (For more details on this story, look here.)5. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers switched from their original Bucco Bruce helmet design to their pewter helmet with the pirate flag logo, they considered a variety of other concepts. The team has displayed those rejected helmets at One Buc Place (further info here):6. When the Houston Texans franchise name and logo were unveiled in 2000, team and league officials posed with a white helmet. That was changed to the current blue shell by the time the team began play in 2002, but not before the white design had already been configured into the Madden video game.7. When the Seattle Seahawks updated their logo to look more ferocious in 2002, fans were offered a choice: The team could put the new logo on its longstanding silver helmet shell, or it could switch to a new dark-blue shell. Of the 64,513 fans who voted, more than 76 percent chose blue, relegating the silver option to the realm of unused prototypes.8. When the Jacksonville Jaguars were named as the NFLs 30th franchise in 1993, the team was originally slated to wear an innovative uniform design featuring a leaping jaguar on the helmet and jersey shoulders. But the Ford Motor Company, which owned the Jaguar car brand at the time, felt that the leaping cat was a potential trademark violation. Although no lawsuit was ever filed, the team ultimately changed its uniforms before hitting the field for the 1995 season.9. The Jags werent the only 1995 expansion team with a prototype that was eventually discarded. The Carolina Panthers had initially planned for their home jerseys to be blue, not black. When the Panthers took the field in 95 wearing black jerseys [instead of the blue ones that had previously been shown], I called the team office to find out what happened to the blue unis, said Uni Watch reader Kevin Mericle. Their PR guy told me that when they did some photo shoots of the blue jerseys in sunlight, it caused the dye to turn a brownish color. (Of course, that didnt prevent the Panthers from later adding a blue alternate jersey.)10. In 2003, Reebok prepared a series of new uniform designs for the Minnesota Vikings, with an eye toward bringing them onto the field in 2005. As it turned out, the Vikes rejected all of these concepts, but they offer an intriguing look into the road not taken. (For additional images and information, look here.)There are still more prototypes floating around out there (and, almost certainly, dozens more that well never find out about), but you get the idea.The general feeling about prototypes has always been to treat them as historical footnotes or oddball curiosities. But given how freewheeling the uniform scene has gotten in recent years, why not bring some of these designs onto the field for a day, as a What Might Have Been promotion? Some of them, like the Cowboys, 49ers, Browns and Bengals examples could be brought into the real world without even violating the NFLs current rules regarding helmet shells. And hey, just about all of them would be better than the recent Color Rush designs.Would you like to nominate a uniform or uni element to be showcased in a future Friday Flashback installment? Send your suggestions here.Paul Lukas thinks a What Might Have Been promotion featuring old prototype designs would be a big, big hit. If you liked this column, youll probably like his Uni Watch Blog, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. To learn about his Uni Watch membership program, be added to his mailing list so youll always know when a new column has been posted or just ask him a question, contact him here. Nike React Shoes Online . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Nike React On Sale . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.nikereactcheap.com/ . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Clearance Nike React Shoes . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Nike React Clearance . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Jay Haas shot an 8-under 63 on Saturday to take a five-stroke lead in the Toshiba Classic, putting him position to become the second-oldest winner in PGA Tour Champions history.At 62 years, 10 months, 7 days Sunday, Haas would fall short of only Mike Fetchick, the 1985 Hilton Head Seniors Invitational winner at 63 years to the day. Gary Player is No. 2 on the list at 62 years, 9 months, 22 days in the 1998 Northville Long Island Classic.The 2007 winner at Newport Beach Country Club, Haas has played 36 holes without a bogey. He shot a 64 on Friday for a share of the first-round lead with Billy Mayfair.Haas won the last of his 17 senior titles in 2014. He won nine times on the PGA Tour and captained the United States winning Presidents Cup team last year in South Korea.Haas had a 15-under 127 total. He birdied three of the final four holes, starting the run on the par-5 15th and adding two more on the par-3 17th and par-5 18th.Fred Funk, at age 60, was second after a 65. He eagled the 15th and birdied 18.John Daly shot a 66 to top the group at 9 under. After birdieing the final five holes Friday in a 67, Daly opened birdie-birdie-eagle. He bogeyed the par-3 eighth and birdied the two late par 5s. Grant Waite (65), Ian Woosnam (66), Doug Garwood (66), Billy Andrade (6) and Bart Bryant (6) also were 9 under.ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIPST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Englands Tyrrell Hatton matched the course record at St. Andrews with a 10-under 62 to take a three-stroke lead in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.Hatton had a 17-under 199 total. He opened with a 67 at Carnoustie on Thursday and shot a 70 at Kingsbarns on Friday. The final round will be played on the Old Course at St. Andrews.The 24-year-old Hatton is winless on the European Tour.Englands Ross Fisher was second after a 69 at Carnoustie.Swedens Joakim Lagergren and South Africas Richard Sterne were 13 under. They played at St. Andrews, with Lagergren shooting 69, and Sterne 65.LPGA TAIWAN CHAMPIONSHIPTAIPEI, Taiwan -- Ha Na Jang shot a 10-under 62 in calmer conditions at rainy Miramar to take a six-stroke lead in the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship.Chasing her third victory of the year, the 24-year-old South Korean player hit a 30-yard flop shot to a foot in steady rain on the par-5 18th for her 10th birdie of the day.After shooting a 69 in high wind and early rain Friday for a share of the lead with fellow South Korean player Hee Young Park, Jang had her lowest score in her two-year LPGA Tour career and matched the best round in the three years the event has been played at Miramar. South Koreas Inbee Park set the Miramar mark in 2014 and Englands Jodi Ewart Shadoff tied it earlier Saturday.Jang birdied three of the last foour holes to reach 16-under 200.dddddddddddd She hit a wedge to 4 feet on 15, made a 30-foot putt on 16 and closed the bogey-free round with the tap-in on 18 after the flop that landed on a ridge and trickled down.Chinas Shanshan Feng was second after a 67, and Hee Young Park was another shot back after a 69. Canadas Brooke Henderson and South Africas Lee-Anne Pace each shot 69 to get to 8 under. Shadoff was tied for eighth at 6 under. After opening with rounds of 78 and 70, she birdied 10 of the first 15 holes and closed with three pars.FIJI INTERNATIONALNATADOLA, Fiji -- Brandt Snedeker took a three-stroke lead in the windswept Fiji International, shooting a 2-under 70 in difficult conditions at Natadola Bay.Coming off the United States Ryder Cup victory in Minnesota, Snedeker had three birdies and a bogey to reach 12-under 204 on the Vijay Singh-designed layout. He opened with a 69 and shot a 64 on Friday.Australias Anthony Houston was second after a 73, and countryman Matthew Giles, the second-round leader, was 8 under after a 75. New Zealands Gareth Paddison followed his course-record 64 with a 69 to join Australias Michael Hendry (68) at 7 under.Snedeker parred the first eight holes, birdied the par-4 ninth and added another on the par-4 14th. He dropped a stroke on the par-4 16th -- ending his bogey-free streak at 49 holes -- and rebounded with an up-and-down birdie on the short par-5 17th.Snedeker won at Torrey Pines in February for his eighth PGA Tour title. Hes trying to win his first international title in the event sanctioned by European, Australasian and Asian tours.ASIA-PACIFIC AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPINCHEON, South Korea -- Brett Coletta shot a 4-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead over Cameron Davis in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, setting up an Australian duel for the spot in the Masters that goes to the winner Sunday.The 20-year-old Coletta birdied the last two holes to reach 14-under 202 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, the site of the Presidents Cup matches last year. He opened with two 67s.Davis had a 69. He was second last year in Hong Kong. Two weeks ago in Mexico, the 21-year-old Davis led Australia to victory in the World Amateur Team Championship and won the individual title.Japans Junya Kameshiro was third at 8 under after a 71. Curtis Luck, the Australian who wrapped up a Masters invitation in August with his U.S. Amateur victory, shot a 70 to reach 7 under.The event is conducted by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the Masters and The R&A. The winner also will get a spot in the British Amateur and a place in the final stage of British Open qualifying. ' ' '