Norv Turner has been absent from the Cowboys sideline for a quarter of a century.
But in some ways, he's never left.
Why acknowledge Turner's influence on the Cowboys' offense as the team prepares to open the regular season against Carolina? His decision to come out of retirement to call plays for the Panthers has a lot to do with it.
So does the fact that analyst Troy Aikman will work the nationally televised game for Fox. Aikman credits Turner for getting his Hall of Fame career off the ground. Once he did get to Canton, the quarterback asked Turner to present him.