Todd McShay: Cowboys will select CB Janoris Jenkins despite character issues

[JonJon]

http://www.dallasnews.com/incoming/20120126-senior08.jpg.ece/BINARY/w620x413/senior08.jpg

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: Jenkins is highly skilled but has had off-the-field issues. He was kicked off of Florida's team after his second drug-related arrest in three months. In 2009, he was arrested near a Gainesville, Fla., bar for fighting and resisting arrest. He transferred to North Alabama for his senior season.

.....

"Corner is a top need area, and Jenkins proved at the Senior Bowl that he's still an elite cover corner after spending a year at the Division II level," McShay wrote. "Dallas will need to get comfortable with his character issues, though, including legal issues that led to his dismissal from the Florida program."

[Read full article here] (http://www.fanfeedr.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys?id=2121a040-7046-510f-a311-638abfc2da0a)

[BraveHeartFan]

We'll see I suppose.

[Illini88228]

What are we? the Island of Misfit Toys? Why do the "experts" always have us drafting character risks?

[Hoofbite]

What are we? the Island of Misfit Toys? Why do the "experts" always have us drafting character risks?

Probably because the last few years has shown Dallas' willingness to do so.

[jterrell]

In this case we are badly in need of a guy with this level of talent at this position.

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but NFL players smoke a tremendous amount of Pot. There is a reason guys like Sam Hurd, Kurt Vollers, Nate Newton are trafficking it. NFL players are willing to pay quite well for it and in large supply.

Warren Sapp tested positive pre-draft. So did Randy Moss. You start refusing to hire guys for what they did at 20 that wasn't even a felony and you will end up with a short list of possible draftees.

You have to do homework on these guys to see if they have grown up at all. Jenkins says he did. Spending a year at a small school with 3k fans was humbling for him. I don't know if that is believable or not as I wasn't in the room but it does sound like what I'd want to hear.

I did far worse things than these kids when I was 19-22 and thankfully it never stopped me from becoming a productive white collar citizen.

[silverbear]

http://www.dallasnews.com/incoming/20120126-senior08.jpg.ece/BINARY/w620x413/senior08.jpg

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: Jenkins is highly skilled but has had off-the-field issues. He was kicked off of Florida's team after his second drug-related arrest in three months. In 2009, he was arrested near a Gainesville, Fla., bar for fighting and resisting arrest. He transferred to North Alabama for his senior season.

.....

"Corner is a top need area, and Jenkins proved at the Senior Bowl that he's still an elite cover corner after spending a year at the Division II level," McShay wrote. "Dallas will need to get comfortable with his character issues, though, including legal issues that led to his dismissal from the Florida program."

[Read full article here] (http://www.fanfeedr.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys?id=2121a040-7046-510f-a311-638abfc2da0a)

Why do I doubt that Todd McShay has any clue as to what the Dallas Cowboys are thinking when it comes to the draft??

For that matter, I seriously doubt that the Cowboys themselves have come to any decisions about who they're gonna draft in the first round...

[silverbear]

Probably because the last few years has shown Dallas' willingness to do so.

Uhhh, what character risk have the Boys drafted in the last few years??

[InmanRoshi]

In this case we are badly in need of a guy with this level of talent at this position.

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but NFL players smoke a tremendous amount of Pot. There is a reason guys like Sam Hurd, Kurt Vollers, Nate Newton are trafficking it. NFL players are willing to pay quite well for it and in large supply.

Warren Sapp tested positive pre-draft. So did Randy Moss. You start refusing to hire guys for what they did at 20 that wasn't even a felony and you will end up with a short list of possible draftees.

You have to do homework on these guys to see if they have grown up at all. Jenkins says he did. Spending a year at a small school with 3k fans was humbling for him. I don't know if that is believable or not as I wasn't in the room but it does sound like what I'd want to hear.

I did far worse things than these kids when I was 19-22 and thankfully it never stopped me from becoming a productive white collar citizen.

It will cease being a "big deal" as soon as the NFL takes it off it's banned substance list and quits testing for it. If everyone's doing it and not getting caught, then Jenkins must be pretty dumb to keep habitually getting caught. There's not much reason to believe he's not so dumb he won't get caught again in the pros.

[Hoofbite]

Uhhh, what character risk have the Boys drafted in the last few years??

Generally speaking, this team has not been shy about taking a risk on character issues.

Wasn't that long ago when Dallas had multiple of them on the team at the same time.

I suppose we could say they don't draft them because of the investment involved but that doesn't change the fact that they have taken on certain players because their pros outweighed the assumed cons.

If that's what the staff thinks of this kid, why wouldn't they take him?

If they think he's so good that the risk is worth it, you don't think they will take him?

[BraveHeartFan]

Uhhh, what character risk have the Boys drafted in the last few years??


They're going to say Dez Bryant for one.

[jterrell]

It will cease being a "big deal" as soon as the NFL takes it off it's banned substance list and quits testing for it. If everyone's doing it and not getting caught, then Jenkins must be pretty dumb to keep habitually getting caught. There's not much reason to believe he's not so dumb he won't get caught again in the pros.

Getting caught in college is much different than in the pros when every guy around you knows how to pass tests and you can afford the best masking agents.

How many NFL players get caught for weed? How many guys like Stepnoski openly admitted he was an avid fan and user but never got caught? Yet every year a few draftees get caught. Its about education and access.

If Jenkins doesn't get in trouble and stays at Florida another year he is a top 5 pick. He shut down Julio Jones and AJ Green in college. He has far and away the best resume of this CB class.

[Doomsday101]

Why do I doubt that Todd McShay has any clue as to what the Dallas Cowboys are thinking when it comes to the draft??

For that matter, I seriously doubt that the Cowboys themselves have come to any decisions about who they're gonna draft in the first round...

Because they have heard Rob Ryan and Jerry talk about the needs in the secondary. Of course I don't think anyone has told McShay who Dallas will pick I think they are looking at the top prospects at CB in the draft and tying them to the Cowboys.

No doubt Janoris Jenkins is a quality player he also is a risk player because of his off the field problems.

[Zimmy Lives]

We'll see I suppose.

This is what it comes down to I guess. Yes he has talent the Cowboys need but can he be trusted? Can they live with his inability to make good decisions at this stage in his life. We'll find out.

[arglebargle]

The talent and potential are there, otherwise no team would even be considering him at the top of the draft.

Question is, are the love of football, smarts, dedication, team player, etc there as well?

For every Sapp and Moss skipped, there are several self induced failures taken high in the draft.

[Doomsday101]

Getting caught in college is much different than in the pros when every guy around you knows how to pass tests and you can afford the best masking agents.

How many NFL players get caught for weed? How many guys like Stepnoski openly admitted he was an avid fan and user but never got caught? Yet every year a few draftees get caught. Its about education and access.

If Jenkins doesn't get in trouble and stays at Florida another year he is a top 5 pick. He shut down Julio Jones and AJ Green in college. He has far and away the best resume of this CB class.

Difference is he comes in with a reputation and the league will monitor him much closer

[Hoofbite]

Difference is he comes in with a reputation and the league will monitor him much closer

That wouldn't be random would it?

I think the difference is, he's been caught. How many players are caught at the college level?

How many are caught as many times as him? How many get kicked off their team and have to play for B.F.E. State for a season?

It's not the ability to circumvent the system that catches kids at the college level. It's the stupidity of assuming they can and that they have some free pass because of it.

The only thing this kid might have going for him is that he may have learned his lesson. Although, any lesson learned will likely soon be forgotten when that first NFL paycheck comes in.

[jterrell]

Difference is he comes in with a reputation and the league will monitor him much closer

Based on information obtained from NFL team executives, agents, scouts and trainers, just under one-third of the 327 players who attended this year's NFL pre-draft scouting camp, or combine, had some incident involving marijuana turn up in interviews or background checks—which NFL teams collect and share before and during the event. This number represents a 30% increase from the season before. The NFL and its players union declined to comment on these totals.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703876404575199962001994890.html

[Doomsday101]

That wouldn't be random would it?

I think the difference is, he's been caught. How many players are caught at the college level?

How many are caught as many times as him? How many get kicked off their team and have to play for B.F.E. State for a season?

It's not the ability to circumvent the system that catches kids at the college level. It's the stupidity of assuming they can and that they have some free pass because of it.

The only thing this kid might have going for him is that he may have learned his lesson. Although, any lesson learned will likely soon be forgotten when that first NFL paycheck comes in.

He may have learned his lesson hard to say. On the other hand the temptations are greater in the NFL, as a college kid he was not getting paid millions he now will and along with that money comes hanger ons and thugs looking to for a free ride and people who will take you down. You think keeping clean as a young broke kid is hard, it becomes much harder

[Hoofbite]

Based on information obtained from NFL team executives, agents, scouts and trainers, just under one-third of the 327 players who attended this year's NFL pre-draft scouting camp, or combine, had some incident involving marijuana turn up in interviews or background checks—which NFL teams collect and share before and during the event. This number represents a 30% increase from the season before. The NFL and its players union declined to comment on these totals.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703876404575199962001994890.html

How many tested positive?

The league is not naive to the real world. They know that players use. They just don't care so long as the player is not getting caught.

That's the long and short.

Getting caught is where the real concern comes in because getting caught takes players out of games and costs teams a butt-load of negative publicity.

[Doomsday101]

Based on information obtained from NFL team executives, agents, scouts and trainers, just under one-third of the 327 players who attended this year's NFL pre-draft scouting camp, or combine, had some incident involving marijuana turn up in interviews or background checks—which NFL teams collect and share before and during the event. This number represents a 30% increase from the season before. The NFL and its players union declined to comment on these totals.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703876404575199962001994890.html

And that has what to do with anything? He has had more than 1 run in with the law, he was kicked off his team at Florida his judgement has stunk and now he will be entering the NFL where you are a man free to do and see who you want take money from who you want and get paid big money with every gangster wanna be there to take you down. Now if your judgement stinks as a broke kid I doubt the judgement gets better as a highly paid kid

[burmafrd]

Better question for the Jenkins homers:

When was the last time Jerruh drafted a guy with a drug background?

[Hoofbite]

Better question for the Jenkins homers:

When was the last time Jerruh drafted a guy with a drug background?

How many are actually known in each draft?

A couple?

How many play positions of obvious desperate need?

I don't want Dallas to draft the guy because I want DeCastro and am hoping like hell the OL gets fixed in a big way.

I wouldn't rule this kid out though.

[Doomsday101]

Better question for the Jenkins homers:

When was the last time Jerruh drafted a guy with a drug background?

Draft I don't know FA pick up Pac Man Jones and even having a baby sitter around did not stop him from getting into trouble. Last I heard he is back in trouble again.

As for Jenkins I don't know if his views have changed and if his behavior has changed I do know that 14 is a pretty big risk for a guy with his past. 2nd rd I would be more likely to pull the trigger if he is still there.

[burmafrd]

How many are actually known in each draft?

A couple?

How many play positions of obvious desperate need?

I don't want Dallas to draft the guy because I want DeCastro and am hoping like hell the OL gets fixed in a big way.

I wouldn't rule this kid out though.


you still did not answer the question. When was the last time that Jerruh did that knowingly?

(and this time EVERYONE knows)

[Muhast]

Generally speaking, this team has not been shy about taking a risk on character issues.

Wasn't that long ago when Dallas had multiple of them on the team at the same time.

I suppose we could say they don't draft them because of the investment involved but that doesn't change the fact that they have taken on certain players because their pros outweighed the assumed cons.

If that's what the staff thinks of this kid, why wouldn't they take him?

If they think he's so good that the risk is worth it, you don't think they will take him?


I'm guessing your talking about 4 years ago when we got Pacman and Tank both in the same off-season.

We havn't really drafted guys with character issues in years though. Garrett seems to not tolerate that

[silverbear]

Generally speaking, this team has not been shy about taking a risk on character issues.

Then why did you say "in the last few years"??

That's my point, that the Boys lately have seemed to shy away from potential problem children... they have been very vocal about wanting players of good character "the last few years"...


If they think he's so good that the risk is worth it, you don't think they will take him?

No, I don't... I think they're serious about staying away from players with character issues... I also think that there will be very good players available at pick 14 who do not come with character concerns...

[silverbear]

Because they have heard Rob Ryan and Jerry talk about the needs in the secondary. Of course I don't think anyone has told McShay who Dallas will pick I think they are looking at the top prospects at CB in the draft and tying them to the Cowboys.

No doubt Janoris Jenkins is a quality player he also is a risk player because of his off the field problems.

Dooms, my point is that McShay seems to be flatly saying the Boys will draft Jenkins, and I'm skeptical that they've made any such decision... had Todd expressed that as his opinion, I would have been more comfortable with what he said...

[Doomsday101]

Dooms, my point is that McShay seems to be flatly saying the Boys will draft Jenkins, and I'm skeptical that they've made any such decision... had Todd expressed that as his opinion, I would have been more comfortable with what he said...

I agree. As I said I think this has more to do with McShay seeing needs, the Cowboys saying they are looking for DB's and McShay trying to put 2 and 2 together. I don't think Dallas or any other team is going to tell McShay who they plan on draft and even better yet I'm sure most teams are not exactly sure who they will draft. We have the combine and personal workout and all of that is going to help teams put their boards together. Anyone claiming who Dallas would pick is talking out their backside

[JonJon]

I support Jenkins and I think he will make a positive impact for the team. But it all comes down to what the staff thinks of him.

If they interview him and feel that he has moved pass the issue and feel that his maturity level is enough to take on the risk, then I am for it.

If they interview him and determine that his maturity level is not where it needs to be and that there is a strong chance that he will be a detriment to the team, then I have no problem with them passing and getting someone else.

[Doomsday101]

I support Jenkins and I think he will make a positive impact for the team. But it all comes down to what the staff thinks of him.

If they interview him and feel that he has moved pass the issue and feel that his maturity level is enough to take on the risk, then I am for it.

If they interview him and determine that his maturity level is not where it needs to be and that there is a strong chance that he will be a detriment to the team, then I have no problem with them passing and getting someone else.

I agree I think that will be a big part I also think there will be interviews with people other than Jenkins himself. Jenkins created a situation that would give pause for many people including some GM in the NFL. If you take him you had better done your homework on him and not just his play

[CowboysFirst]

I don't believe the Cowboys will pick Jenkins. They'll take a shot on a troubled player, but it's generally in free agency or via trade. Beyond Dez, they really haven't drafted a known clown recently.

[JonJon]

I don't believe the Cowboys will pick Jenkins. They'll take a shot on a troubled player, but it's generally in free agency or via trade. Beyond Dez, they really haven't drafted a known clown recently.

:rolleyes:

[casmith07]

Well now that McShay has said it, you can go ahead and stamp it that it won't be our pick, lol.

[Oh_Canada]

I am opposed to drafting any little guys in the first round, weed head or no weed head.

Dline, Oline or LB for me.

[Idgit]

Derick Ross, I mean, Janoris Jenkins, come on down!

[jcollins28]

First round talent but no way he goes in the 1st round. To much baggage, just look at Eric Wright a few years back.

[Gaede]

I have no idea what the guy is like...The talent is clearly there...But the whole resisting arrest thing. That's pretty hard to overlook.

[Chocolate Lab]

McShay proves how awful he is yet again.

[JonJon]

First round talent but no way he goes in the 1st round. To much baggage, just look at Eric Wright a few years back.

I bet he does.

[BraveHeartFan]

I bet he does.


I don't see how it could possibly shocking if he does.

With the NFL being a passing league now, and as we saw this year 3 or 4 QBs throwing for 5,000 yards, a guy with his kind of talent is going to be very hard to let slip by cause of concern.


I don't know if he will go in the 1st or not but I'm definately not going to be shocked if he does.

[JerryFan]

I really hope we trade back a little bit and get Decastro/Glenn and Jenkins, but I wouldn't select him with the 14th pick. Way too much off field trouble.

[Frozen700]

I pray we get this guy.. him and Mike Jenkins..wow

[jterrell]

How many tested positive?

The league is not naive to the real world. They know that players use. They just don't care so long as the player is not getting caught.

That's the long and short.

Getting caught is where the real concern comes in because getting caught takes players out of games and costs teams a butt-load of negative publicity.

They don't release all the positive tests so we do not know.
How many NFL players have tested positive?
That is exactly the point.

We've seen more NFL players arrested for being high than testing positive for weed. This (testing positive for weed) is not a big concern of NFL teams.

That's why Kirkpatrick and Jenkins are both 1st rounders.

Furthermore as the wall street journal article acknowledges the number is far higher than we know.

All that said any red flag has to be thoroughly checked. Jenkins was Randy Moss like cocky and surly. But hey at least we didn't draft Randy Moss.

I wouldn't take Jenkins at 14. But I would after a short trade down if the pass rushers I prefer are gone. I'd prefer Kirkpatrick's size but I am not sure he can actually cover in the NFL.

[CATCH17]

Im sure 90% of players have done it at some point.

Probably even Romo did it at some point in his life.


The question is do you think he'll do it again. Dallas desperately needs a superstar somewhere in the secondary and he could potentially be that guy.

[realtick]

I'm sure someone else has already mentioned it, but Broaduss said his sources with the Cowboys have essentially said there isn't any interest in Jenkins due to his off the field stuff.

[DOUBLE WING]

Too many off the field concerns for me.

If we draft him over DeCastro, I'm going to thrown something at someone.