WR Dwayne Harris Released

[Eskimo]

Does seem like we are churning the roster, Jimmy style.

Can't believe they have cut another draft pick, hopefully they know more than me. We gave Stanback more of a chance than Harris, guess my question is, who is our full time punt returner.

My guess is Dez.

[Randy White]

about this move and I don't understand it. Then again, I'm not in practice watching these guys every day either.

From an outsider's point of view, I would have tried to trade Ogletree just to open up a spot in the rotation for Harris. The top 3 are set: Dez, Miles, and Robinson. Holley stays because he's a special team ace and in very limited snaps, he's provided production. I'm guessing that Ogletree's experience, despite his inconsistencies, beat out whatever Harris was or was not doing in practice. I can't think of another logical reason.

[Idgit]

I guess there were very few of us who weren't not that impressed with Harris? Even in his big preseason games, he was running the routes poorly and looked to me like he didn't have a solid grasp of what was going on. Good open-field runner, though.

I'm surprised by this move, but since I never liked Harris more than, say, Manny Johnson, anyway, I'm not bothered by it.

[Stautner]

This is par for the course for this franchise. I wish Jerry Jones would just go away. He has made this team a joke.

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what Harris has done that would indicate this was a stupid move. Is it his return ability, which thus far has been well short of special? Is it a nice performance in one preseason game? What is it that makes some so sure that Harris had to be kept despite the evidence as a return man pointing to the opposite, and despite the fact that the Cowboys coaches, who see him in practice every day, decided he was expendible.

[TheCount]

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what Harris has done that would indicate this was a stupid move. Is it his return ability, which thus far has been well short of special? Is it a nice performance in one preseason game? What is it that makes some so sure that Harris had to be kept despite the evidence as a return man pointing to the opposite, and despite the fact that the Cowboys coaches, who see him in practice every day, decided he was expendible.

Why was he drafted? If showing something in preseason and finding a way to be active for all games your rookie year after a truncated off season, while being a late pick, isn't enough, what is?

[Idgit]

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what Harris has done that would indicate this was a stupid move. Is it his return ability, which thus far has been well short of special? Is it a nice performance in one preseason game? What is it that makes some so sure that Harris had to be kept despite the evidence as a return man pointing to the opposite, and despite the fact that the Cowboys coaches, who see him in practice every day, decided he was expendible.

jRM1HTxHon8

Even in the preseason game, his long touchdown was about as easy as a long touchdown gets...

If I remember correctly, he'd messed up the adjustment on a very similar play earlier in that same game, too, and this was a correction the coaches walked him through on the sidelines during the game.

He showed enough in the preseason to make the team. That's about all that big game earned him. Since then, he hasn't done anything of note, and he's the type of player you churn until you find a Laurent Robinson. We're finally doing enough churning of this roster to find some players. Personally, I like it and am willing to live with an occasional mistake as long as we hit more than we miss.

[Stautner]

Why was he drafted? If showing something in preseason and finding a way to be active for all games your rookie year after a truncated off season, while being a late pick, isn't enough, what is?

Are you under the impression that all teams keep all their draft picks, or that the draft is a perfect process where every player deserves a roster spot the entire season?

As for showing something in ONE preseason game, that got him an extended look, not a guaranteed roster spot for a year. As for finding his way to be active, that gave him a chance to distinguish himself as a return man and he failed to do that.

I don't quite get the assertion that being on the roster proves he had to be kept. Being on the roster doesn''t mean you don't have to keep earning your spot, and if you fail in the one area that you needed to shine in to keep that spot, then why wouldn't your spot be in jeopardy?

[csirl]

Maybe JJ is thinking that Beuhler is going to replace Felix Jones at RB for the next 3-4 weeks - he used to play FB in college, so can carry the ball.:lmao:

[TheCount]

A lot of 5th, 6th, 7th round guys get cut throughout the league.




You can look it up.

Add their making the 53 and being active the first 5 games to your criteria, let me know what you find. ;)

[lane]

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what Harris has done that would indicate this was a stupid move. Is it his return ability, which thus far has been well short of special? Is it a nice performance in one preseason game? What is it that makes some so sure that Harris had to be kept despite the evidence as a return man pointing to the opposite, and despite the fact that the Cowboys coaches, who see him in practice every day, decided he was expendible.

he has shown nothing...

i cringed everytime he returned a kick.

[Stautner]

Add their making the 53 and being active the first 5 games to your criteria, let me know what you find. ;)

Sure that's not the everyday standard to be cut after making the initial roster adn being active for a few games, but it's ridiculous to suggest that guarantees a roster spot for a year regardless of how much or how little the player proves to the coaches.

Harris likely made the team largely based on the hope that he could contribute in the return game, so why wouldn't his job be in jeopardy when he has proven to be nothing special in the area that got him onto the team to begin with? In addition, we have added a WR that bumped him even further back in the position pecking order, so that's just another nail in the coffin.

[Stautner]

he has shown nothing...

i cringed everytime he returned a kick.

It seemed to me he always had to fight the urge to run backward on a punt return.

[lane]

It seemed to me he always had to fight the urge to run backward on a punt return.

he was awful..

skyler green part deux

[lane]

but we keep Choice and Bennet who add no value to this team and will be gone after this year no matter what.

so true..

:bang2:

[DanteEXT]

He'd probably still be on the team if he could have pulled one of these off:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmnAu5pUg8A

(For some reason embedding the clip isnt working)

[TheCount]

Are you under the impression that all teams keep all their draft picks, or that the draft is a perfect process where every player deserves a roster spot the entire season?

As for showing something in ONE preseason game, that got him an extended look, not a guaranteed roster spot for a year. As for finding his way to be active, that gave him a chance to distinguish himself as a return man and he failed to do that.

I don't quite get the assertion that being on the roster proves he had to be kept. Being on the roster doesn''t mean you don't have to keep earning your spot, and if you fail in the one area that you needed to shine in to keep that spot, then why wouldn't your spot be in jeopardy?

Before I answer your question, let me ask you a question: Are you under the impression that you're the only one capable of evaluating this situation objectively and that every suggestion that runs contrary to yours must therefore be completely incorrect?

Now to answer your question. I never said anything about his job being guaranteed. The question being posed is whether he had done anything to EARN his spot, I suggest that he had.

Had he done much to keep it since he earned it? That's certainly up for debate, but he certainly earned it at the start and I personally feel his collegiate resume coupled with the meager offseason, his performance in the off season and the fact that he wasn't necessarily failing at what was asked of him should have been enough to buy him more time.

Sure that's not the everyday standard to be cut after making the initial roster adn being active for a few games, but it's ridiculous to suggest that guarantees a roster spot for a year regardless of how much or how little the player proves to the coaches.

Harris likely made the team largely based on the hope that he could contribute in the return game, so why wouldn't his job be in jeopardy when he has proven to be nothing special in the area that got him onto the team to begin with? In addition, we have added a WR that bumped him even further back in the position pecking order, so that's just another nail in the coffin.

Again, no one has mentioned the word "guarantee" other than yourself. In the long run, will it affect the team? Probably not. That doesn't mean there's no reason or justification in discussing the other side of the move.

[DFWJC]

he was awful..

skyler green part deux
I suspect he'll have a much better (at longer) career than ol Skyler had....which is easy to do.

[Stautner]

Before I answer your question, let me ask you a question: Are you under the impression that you're the only one capable of evaluating this situation objectively and that every suggestion that runs contrary to yours must therefore be completely incorrect?

In fact quite the opposite. I'm saying that I cannot evaluate Harris as a WR at all because all I have seen him do over the last 3 months is have one good preseason game. I'm saying the coaches can only judge that, not me or you. Those on your side of the fence are the ones saying they can judge something they are not in a position to judge.

The one thing we can judge is his return ability, and even those who are upset about him being cut have admitted he has shown nothing special in that role.


Now to answer your question. I never said anything about his job being guaranteed. The question being posed is whether he had done anything to EARN his spot, I suggest that he had.

Had he done much to keep it since he earned it? That's certainly up for debate, but he certainly earned it at the start and I personally feel his collegiate resume coupled with the meager offseason, his performance in the off season and the fact that he wasn't necessarily failing at what was asked of him should have been enough to buy him more time.

Okay, I will accept your semantics. Yes, he did "earn" his job to begin with. I didn't mean to suggest he didn't, and in fact you shouldn't have had any trouble understanding that wasn't my point since I specifically said that his preseason work earned him an extended opportunity with the team. My point was clearly that he hadn't earned anything beyond that.

Again, no one has mentioned the word "guarantee" other than yourself. In the long run, will it affect the team? Probably not. That doesn't mean there's no reason or justification in discussing the other side of the move.

Well, if there is no guarantee, then how can anyone suggest that 3 months of having him in practice every day, and coaching evaluation based on that, has no bearing? How can anyone suggest that a single nice preseason game and a totally unremarkable ability to return punts makes the team's decision to release him a bad one? Haven't the coaches seen much more of him than the single preseason game so many are hanging their hats on as proof positive of Harris potential?

I understood the inititial enthusiasm, but what actual evidence do we have of his potential? He had the one nice preseason game, but lots of players do that and never pan out, and many don't even end up on the team. The collegiate resume you refer to isn't in any way evidence that he has proven worthy of maintaining his roster spot, and in fact wasn't impressive enough to scouts to merit anything other than a low draft pick.

[DFWJC]

FWIW

As a kick returner, he averaged about 24.5 yards in his very limited role. That would put him in the top 1/2 of the league. But the sample size is way too small to tell.
Have to say that I prefer someone with a little more speed returning kickoffs, though he his not slow by any means.

As a punt returner, I go the impression he had "safety first" orders. If not, he was very tentative. He ranked 20th in the league after 11 returns....not so good.

[Stautner]

FWIW

As a kick returner, he averaged about 24.5 yards in his very limited role. That wouldput him in th etop 1/2 of the league. But the sample size is way too small to tell.

As a punt returner, I go the impression he had "safety first" orders. If not, he was very tentative. He ranked 20th in the league after 11 returns....not so good.

I'm sure that when his back is close to the goalline he has "safety first" orders, as any punt returner should. Otherwise he is expected to try and make something happen.

24.5 isn't horrible on kickoffs. I don't think anyone said it was. It's just that he didn't distinguish himself on kickoffs either, and if that was a big part of why the team kept him, then it's natural that he wouldn't have done anything to solidify his standing with the team.

Realistically, if the team feels someone else can handle returns without any significant dropoff, then what is the point of keeping a 6th WR? The only reason would be if the team felt there was significant potential to be a very productive receiver, and only the team can judge that because they are the only one's in a position to.

[DFWJC]

I'm sure that when his back is close to the goalline he has "safety first" orders, as any punt returner should. Otherwise he is expected to try and make something happen.

24.5 isn't horrible on kickoffs. I don't think anyone said it was. It's just that he didn't distinguish himself on kickoffs, and if that was a big part of why the team kept him, then it's natural that he wouldn't have done anything to solidify his standing with the team.
I agree.
He did not stand out at all in that area.

[Stautner]

I agree.
He did not stand out at all in that area.

I'm just thinking that was the opportunity he had to stand out, and he didn't, so all that's left for those who are upset to hang their hat on is a presumed potential that they have no way to judge, but that the Cowboys coaches do.

[TheCount]

In fact quite the opposite. I'm saying that I cannot evaluate Harris as a WR at all because all I have seen him do over the last 3 months is have one good preseason game. I'm saying the coaches can only judge that, not me or you. Those on your side of the fence are the ones saying they can judge something they are not in a position to judge.


Well technically the opposite of what I said would be that you think other people can be objective, even if their conclusions don't quite mesh with yours, but I get it.

The one thing we can judge is his return ability, and even those who are upset about him being cut have admitted he has shown nothing special in that role.

How can we possibly judge his return ability? Based on his average? We aren't on the field, right? We don't see the holes. We don't see the blocking. We don't know how he's been coached. If you think only the coaches can judge him as a receiver, how can we possibly judge him as a returner?



My point was clearly that he hadn't earned anything beyond that.

I don't disagree with that.


Well, if there is no guarantee, then how can anyone suggest that 3 months of having him in practice every day, and coaching evaluation based on that, has no bearing? How can anyone suggest that a single nice preseason game and a totally unremarkable ability to return punts makes the team's decision to release him a bad one? Haven't the coaches seen much more of him than the single preseason game so many are hanging their hats on as proof positive of Harris potential?

I understood the inititial enthusiasm, but what actual evidence do we have of his potential? He had the one nice preseason game, but lots of players do that and never pan out, and many don't even end up on the team. The collegiate resume you refer to isn't in any way evidence that he has proven worthy of maintaining his roster spot, and in fact wasn't impressive enough to scouts to merit anything other than a low draft pick.

My take on his release being a poor decision is weighted heavily on his college production, the raves he got from those that drafted him and those that call themselves draft evaluators, his lack of extensive coaching and what we both admit was a roster spot he earned. We preach patience all the time around here, afterall we took Arkin in the 4th and the 3rd to last pick of the entire draft started over him. HE goes down and we still can't get Arkin on the field, should Arkin be cut? He's done less than Harris.

[2233boys]

24.5 isn't horrible on kickoffs. I don't think anyone said it was. It's just that he didn't distinguish himself on kickoffs either, and if that was a big part of why the team kept him, then it's natural that he wouldn't have done anything to solidify his standing with the team.

What has Teh Beehler done? My issue is what it was when Dallas cut Thomas. We are still keeping two kickers, one who hasn't done crap all year.

Cut the kicker!

Jerry protecting his pet cat.

[Stautner]

Well technically the opposite of what I said would be that you think other people can be objective, even if their conclusions don't quite mesh with yours, but I get it.

How can we possibly judge his return ability? Based on his average? We aren't on the field, right? We don't see the holes. We don't see the blocking. We don't know how he's been coached. If you think only the coaches can judge him as a receiver, how can we possibly judge him as a returner?

I don't disagree with that.

My take on his release being a poor decision is weighted heavily on his college production, the raves he got from those that drafted him and those that call themselves draft evaluators, his lack of extensive coaching and what we both admit was a roster spot he earned. We preach patience all the time around here, afterall we took Arkin in the 4th and the 3rd to last pick started over him.

I'm just saying all we can judge from is what we have an opportunity to see, and the rest is up to the coaches, who know way more about Harris than we do. What we can see is that he hasn't distinguished himself in what opportunities he has had. I never said that their aren't a number of factors that come into play with returns, I said Harris hasn't distinguished himself as a return man in a way that would put him on solid ground. You can always say maybe this or maybe that - there will always be maybes and differing factors - but eventually a bottom of the roster player has to find a way to make the most of his opportunities because there is no certainty he will continue to get those opportunities.

As for judging his potential based on his college production, once again, if that production wasn't enough to get him drafted higher than the 6th round, how can we say it was enough to prove he deserved to be kept on the team all season? 6th rounders are generally pretty lucky to make a team, much less be considered such a quality prospect based on college production that they would be considered solid roster members all season.

As for Arkin, that's an entirely different story. A teams needs are different when the other players at your position are rookies or slow fat guys like Holland. Harris was the No. 6 WR on the team with some pretty good players ahead of him. Teams usually don't keep 6 WR's at all.

What has Teh Beehler done? My issue is what it was when Dallas cut Thomas. We are still keeping two kickers, one who hasn't done crap all year.

Cut the kicker!

Jerry protecting his pet cat.

I have no argument with this. I've said all along that Buehler should have been the first to go.