FRISCO, Texas -- From his Colorado home, Justin Bates will watch Thursday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings and be reminded of his past.

He will see Jason Witten and Tony Romo still suited up for the Cowboys. He will see Terence Newman playing for the Vikings.

Fourteen years ago, they all were rookies under Bill Parcells. Newman was the Cowboys’ first-round pick, No. 5 overall. Witten was a third-rounder, No. 69 overall. Bates, an offensive lineman out of Colorado, was picked in the seventh round, No. 219 overall. Romo wasn’t drafted, but became the Cowboys’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Bates’ sons, Josh and Ben, don’t always believe their dad played at such a high level. “You know how kids are when you tell them you were a good football player at one point in time,” Bates said.

Bates never played in a regular-season game for the Cowboys. He was released two days after his only preseason game, against the Houston Texans. He had a chance to hook on with the New York Giants but opted to move on from football.

Bates became a sheriff in Jefferson County, Colorado. For the last three years, he has worked at Swan Global Investments as its director of internal operations.

Fourteen years later, Newman, Witten and Romo are still playing. Bates can still hear Newman’s high-pitched voice saying in their rookie camp, "Another hard dollar, dog," or barricading a suite inside the Alamodome with Witten to get some rest between practices.

“It keeps you plugged in because they’re the last of the few even left from our draft class,” Bates said. “It’s a blast. Terence I didn’t know so well, but Jason and I, we got to be good friends in camp. It’s fun to watch him be successful and just do amazing stuff. I couldn’t imagine trying to play at this age. It’s amazing what these guys can do and for how long they’ve done it.”

Newman and Witten are two of the six draft picks from 2003 still playing in the NFL, joining Carson Palmer, Terrell Suggs, Anquan Boldin and Robert Mathis. Romo is one of just three undrafted players from 2003 remaining, with Antonio Gates and Jon Dorenbos.

The class of 2003 was Parcells’ first as Cowboys coach.

“I hope there’s a mentality there,” Witten said. “There was some toughness ingrained in us early. There’s some luck. That’s a part of it. I know a heckuva lot of hard work has gone into being able to be durable and available. I think that’s part of that mentality coming in there.”

Truth be told, Parcells was more interested in defensive linemen Dewayne Robertson, who went No. 3 to the New York Jets, and Kevin Williams, who went No. 7 to the Vikings, than he was in Newman at No. 5. The Cowboys had concerns about Newman’s age. He turned 25 before his first game and was one of the oldest players in the draft.

“We all know that magic age of 30 is everything,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “When your rookie contract is out, you’re right there bumping 30 and you say, ‘Well, how much am I going to get out of him?’ Obviously, you’ve got to credit Terence. He’s survived time.”

Witten was the youngest player in the draft. He turned 21 not long after the Cowboys picked him. That he was available then was fortunate. The Cowboys had a first-round grade on Witten, but chose Wisconsin center Al Johnson in the second round because of a need on the offensive line.

Witten has become the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions. He is closing in on Michael Irvin’s record for most receiving yards. He has played in more consecutive games and started more consecutive games than any player in team history. He has played in 10 Pro Bowls.

“Bill was standing on the table for him and was trying to figure out any way he could to get him,” Jones said. “He loved him.”

Johnson missed his rookie season with a knee injury, started 31 of 32 games in 2004 and ’05 and was a backup in 2006 before signing with the Arizona Cardinals in 2007. He played one season with the Miami Dolphins. He is in his first year as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Wisconsin, after serving as offensive coordinator at St. Norbert College in Green Bay.

Bradie James, the fourth-round pick, played 10 years in the NFL, including nine for the Cowboys. He started all but three games he played from 2005-11. He led the Cowboys in tackles every year from 2005-10.

The Cowboys had two picks in the sixth round. Cornerback B.J. Tucker did not make the 53-man roster out of camp, but wide receiver Zuriel Smith made a big play in Parcells’ first win as Cowboys coach, against the Giants. Their final pick was Bates.

Newman, whom the Cowboys released after the 2011 season, and Witten remained the centerpieces, along with Romo. They developed a bond from their rookie year on.

Sometime before kickoff tonight, Newman wants to meet up with his former -- not old -- teammates and remember the good times.

Romo, 36, is signed through 2019, but the ascension of Dak Prescott has Romo's future in Dallas in question. Witten, 34, is signed through 2017 and has not shown any signs of slowing down. Newman, 38, is working on a year-to-year basis.

They first met in the spring of 2003. Fourteen years later, they are still in the chase.

“I never really set a time period. I just wanted to win a Super Bowl. That was kind of my biggest goal,” Newman said. “This being [year] 14, the one thing I did want to do was to win a Super Bowl. I’m sure Jason and Tony would be in the same boat. That’s the main goal for everybody. As far as to play this long, it’s something that’s cool. Obviously, we get probably a lot of recognition from that. People want to know how we do it so long. But I don’t think it’s really totally in our hands. We’ve been gifted with these abilities, and we’ve just been using them.”