Bob Sturm: Did The Cowboys Get The Wrong Receiver?

[Sarge]

if Roy Williams doesn't lead the league in receptions, yards and/or touchdowns this season, he'll be deemed a failure....

Simply not true...

 

[EPL0c0]

O.........M.........G! Thats why he gets paid! Why the **** do you feel sorry for him? He is getting paid to perform at a high level. If he doesnt do it hes going to cash his check and not give a damn who feels sorry for him. I guess this is what a good guy image does for you. Boldin is twice the reciever Roy Williams is/was/will be.

I feel bad, b/c I'm hoping he's not the under-achieving never-was that he's been up to now. I'm hoping that he'll take full advantage of this opportunity and finally live up to his potential.

It's unfair to criticize him when he hasn't really had a chance to prove himself here yet. It's a long-offseason and it's hard to fill a 24hr sports channel w/ anything new when few new things are developing. They should reserve judgement.

 

[Clove]

Boldin's success against mediocre corners worries me. I don't think he can be the man, especially considering he's had the best WR in the game drawing coverage away from him.

Roy's success or the lack their of, with a future hall of fame receiver, possibly a future hall of fame tight end, going against not only SINGLE coverage, but also a lot of mediocre corners worries me MORE.

 

[Clove]

You could always harp on the fact that Roy Williams has been at Valley Ranch with Tony Romo all off-season working with his quarterback and the other receivers to get ready for this season.

Terrell Owens couldn't be bothered to do that.

And we all see what Owens' aloof superstar traning on my own act got him in the end.

There are questions about Williams being "the receiver" in Big D, no one will deny that. But he is in his prime and appears to be doing everything we could hope for to finally fulfill his vast potential.

Williams doesn't just fly in to town for OTAs, mini-camps and press conferences.

Before you go comparing trash to jewels, try to actually think with your brain vs your emotions.

 

[burmafrd]

Before you call TO a jewel maybe you ought to engage your brain first.

 

[TheSkaven]

That deal would have landed Boldin now, but not in the middle of last season. People forget, part of the logic in acquiring Roy Williams was to put the Cowboys over the top in what was supposed to be a Superbowl run.

 

[Clove]

Before you call TO a jewel maybe you ought to engage your brain first.

TO=Jewel Roy=Trash burmafrd= clueless.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

How do they know that a 1 and a 3 would have got Boldin back when they got Roy? I believe people offered even more than that (As I recall the Commanders offered 2 #1's last summer) and were turned down.

They only say that a 1 and 3 would do it now because that's the market value set by Dallas getting Roy for that.

As I recall at this time last year, all the way through the trade deadline, the Cards were dead set that they would not trade him and like I said I'm almost certain I remember reading that the Skins offered 2 #1 picks for Boldin last summer and were turned down cold.

As i recall the Eagles offered a #1, Sheppard, and something else and were turned down. If I'm recalling those correctly then this is a massive failure by the person who said that unless they're saying that Dallas should have not got Roy when they did and waited till this summer and got Boldin for a 1 and a 3 in which case they're doing nothing more than speculating that it would only take a 1 and a 3 because had Roy not come to Dallas last October then a 1 and 3 wouldn't have set the market value yet.

 

[DallasEast]

How do they know that a 1 and a 3 would have got Boldin back when they got Roy? I believe people offered even more than that (As I recall the Commanders offered 2 #1's last summer) and were turned down.

They only say that a 1 and 3 would do it now because that's the market value set by Dallas getting Roy for that.

As I recall at this time last year, all the way through the trade deadline, the Cards were dead set that they would not trade him and like I said I'm almost certain I remember reading that the Skins offered 2 #1 picks for Boldin last summer and were turned down cold.

As i recall the Eagles offered a #1, Sheppard, and something else and were turned down. If I'm recalling those correctly then this is a massive failure by the person who said that unless they're saying that Dallas should have not got Roy when they did and waited till this summer and got Boldin for a 1 and a 3 in which case they're doing nothing more than speculating that it would only take a 1 and a 3 because had Roy not come to Dallas last October then a 1 and 3 wouldn't have set the market value yet.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/spor...ed_to_swap_Brown_for_Boldin_before_draft.html
Eagles tried to swap Brown for Boldin before draft

By Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer


The Eagles offered Sheldon Brown and a third-round draft pick for Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, according to the Arizona Republic.


The offer was made before the late April draft and just days after the Eagles cornerback publicly aired his unhappiness over his contract and asked to be traded. Arizona declined to make the swap, the report said.


The Eagles had no comment yesterday.


On Tuesday, Eagles coach Andy Reid said during an interview on WIP-AM (610) that the asking price for Boldin was too high. He said three draft picks - a first, third and fifth - and a likely $10 million contract would be too much to give up and take on for the disgruntled receiver.


Reid also said that because Boldin is still a Cardinal that he didn't believe Arizona was ever serious about dealing its No. 2 receiver. The Eagles, rather than add the 28-year-old veteran, drafted Missouri wideout Jeremy Maclin in the first round.


Brown, meanwhile, recently met with Eagles president Joe Banner to iron out their dispute, according to Comcast SportsNet.


When Brown first voiced his displeasure with the extension he signed in 2004 he said it was because Banner, in a radio interview, said he wasn't aware of Brown's discontent. Brown maintained that Banner was, indeed, cognizant.


The Eagles, though, responded with a statement criticizing their starting left cornerback for going public with his dissatisfaction over a contract he signed. The team then traded for Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs during draft weekend.


Brown reported for post-draft minicamp and reiterated his stance, but said he would welcome Hobbs into the fold and continue to perform at his regular level. He did not, however, commit to attending a coming voluntary minicamp.

 

[fan62]

As far as Dallas is concerned Boldin=T.O. It would be the same situation again this year. No difference. Boldin would be in fights with all the coaches on offense. I feel he would be a cancer in the locker room and with the media. Boldin would be mad if we used our RB tandems more the 10-15 times a game. He would be one of the first to go public with his gripes.

No Thank You!

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Roy has more natural ability and talent than Anquan.

But he doesnt have his heart and drive.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Simply not true...

There are at least two in this thread, right now, who will disagree with that. If Roy doesn't produce 1300 yards and 12+ TDs then there are two in this thread, at least, who are going to say he was a failure and we made a mistake. Even if we win a playoff game, or two, they'll talk about how it would have been more had we kept TO and not relied on Roy.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

So Boldin was available at the deadline? News to me and Arizona who were in the thick of a Division title.
The point was to make the deal and go for the SB.



And as a Nets fan..... Break a leg next year Dirk

 

[jimmy40]

There are at least two in this thread, right now, who will disagree with that. If Roy doesn't produce 1300 yards and 12+ TDs then there are two in this thread, at least, who are going to say he was a failure and we made a mistake. Even if we win a playoff game, or two, they'll talk about how it would have been more had we kept TO and not relied on Roy.

Post a link to Buffalo Bills forums and maybe those two will go away.

 

[SMCowboy]

That deal would have landed Boldin now, but not in the middle of last season. People forget, part of the logic in acquiring Roy Williams was to put the Cowboys over the top in what was supposed to be a Superbowl run.

Considering that Boldin was never traded during the draft, there is no guarantee that a 1, 3, and 5 would have landed Boldin even right before the draft. All we have to go on is speculation by ESPN that that is what the Cardinals wanted.

 

[Verdict]

I'm not sure if the RW#11 trade was a good trade, or not, but time will definitely tell us at some point. I think the talking heads (media) are analyzing this the wrong way. The better and more relevant question is can the team, as a whole, get the job done with Roy Williams #11 on the roster? I think it can for a couple of reasons which are:

1. This team has a stable of very good running backs .... in fact probably the most talented trio overall in the league. We don't have the best overall back, but the depth is very very good. I see this team running more effectively, and in a dominant fashion, when the need or the matchup warrants it.

2. RW#11 doesn't have to carry this team on his back. The load can be evenly distributed. There were not enough balls to go around last year with T.O. on the team, so the weight of the offensive production should be much more evenly distributed this year. Hopefully, that will also mean a fresher team down the stretch, and less injuries due to overuse/fatigue.

3. Miles Austin. I'm not sure that RW#11 has to be a true #1 receiver. I'm not saying that Miles Austin will become the team's #1 receiver, but would anyone that really follows the team be that surprised if it did happen? I think Austin has the speed and the tools to get it done. We will see if he really was a pivotal factor in the Cowboys' decision to release T.O. Much like when everyone was calling for Drew Henson to play and Parcells said "Don't count out this Romo kid" we all thought it was just coach speak, but he was playing it straight down the middle of the fairway ... we just didn't want to hear it.

4. Jason Witten. Since he is such a great receiving tight end, it takes an enormous amount of pressure off of the other recievers. We are very lucky to have him on this team.

5. Roy Williams' hands. If Roy Williams can be 80% of what T.O. was, it should be a wash, as T.O. OFTEN dropped routine catches when he was wide open. In fact, if memory serves me, T.O. had more drops than any other receiver in the league last year.

 

[Bluefin]

Considering that Boldin was never traded during the draft, there is no guarantee that a 1, 3, and 5 would have landed Boldin even right before the draft. All we have to go on is speculation by ESPN that that is what the Cardinals wanted.

If a team wanted a wide receiver for next season, why wouldn't they have jumped all over Anquan Boldin for a first, third and fifth before the draft?

If the Cardinals were willing to take that for Boldin, I don't think he'd still be in the desert.

Danny Snyder hates draft picks and had been chasing various veteran wideouts for the past couple of years. Would he have not been all over this after not getting Jay Cutler and being unable to trade up for Mark Sanchez?

 

[DallasEast]

I'm not sure if the RW#11 trade was a good trade, or not, but time will definitely tell us at some point. I think the talking heads (media) are analyzing this the wrong way. The better and more relevant question is can the team, as a whole, get the job done with Roy Williams #11 on the roster? I think it can for a couple of reasons which are:

1. This team has a stable of very good running backs .... in fact probably the most talented trio overall in the league. We don't have the best overall back, but the depth is very very good. I see this team running more effectively, and in a dominant fashion, when the need or the matchup warrants it.

2. RW#11 doesn't have to carry this team on his back. The load can be evenly distributed. There were not enough balls to go around last year with T.O. on the team, so the weight of the offensive production should be much more evenly distributed this year. Hopefully, that will also mean a fresher team down the stretch, and less injuries due to overuse/fatigue.

3. Miles Austin. I'm not sure that RW#11 has to be a true #1 receiver. I'm not saying that Miles Austin will become the team's #1 receiver, but would anyone that really follows the team be that surprised if it did happen? I think Austin has the speed and the tools to get it done. We will see if he really was a pivotal factor in the Cowboys' decision to release T.O. Much like when everyone was calling for Drew Henson to play and Parcells said "Don't count out this Romo kid" we all thought it was just coach speak, but he was playing it straight down the middle of the fairway ... we just didn't want to hear it.

4. Jason Witten. Since he is such a great receiving tight end, it takes an enormous amount of pressure off of the other recievers. We are very lucky to have him on this team.

5. Roy Williams' hands. If Roy Williams can be 80% of what T.O. was, it should be a wash, as T.O. OFTEN dropped routine catches when he was wide open. In fact, if memory serves me, T.O. had more drops than any other receiver in the league last year.

Good post. I believe that your expectations more closely matches those of Dallas' front office and coaching staff than those who believe that Roy Williams must catch x amount of passes for x amount of yards for x amount of touchdowns which meets or exceeds Terrell Owens preceived productivity. That's neither a necessity nor a required projection for Dallas' offense to be highly successful in 2009. That's football.

 

[Bluefin]

I'm not sure if the RW#11 trade was a good trade, or not, but time will definitely tell us at some point. I think the talking heads (media) are analyzing this the wrong way. The better and more relevant question is can the team, as a whole, get the job done with Roy Williams #11 on the roster? I think it can for a couple of reasons which are:

1. This team has a stable of very good running backs .... in fact probably the most talented trio overall in the league. We don't have the best overall back, but the depth is very very good. I see this team running more effectively, and in a dominant fashion, when the need or the matchup warrants it.

2. RW#11 doesn't have to carry this team on his back. The load can be evenly distributed. There were not enough balls to go around last year with T.O. on the team, so the weight of the offensive production should be much more evenly distributed this year. Hopefully, that will also mean a fresher team down the stretch, and less injuries due to overuse/fatigue.

3. Miles Austin. I'm not sure that RW#11 has to be a true #1 receiver. I'm not saying that Miles Austin will become the team's #1 receiver, but would anyone that really follows the team be that surprised if it did happen? I think Austin has the speed and the tools to get it done. We will see if he really was a pivotal factor in the Cowboys' decision to release T.O. Much like when everyone was calling for Drew Henson to play and Parcells said "Don't count out this Romo kid" we all thought it was just coach speak, but he was playing it straight down the middle of the fairway ... we just didn't want to hear it.

4. Jason Witten. Since he is such a great receiving tight end, it takes an enormous amount of pressure off of the other recievers. We are very lucky to have him on this team.

5. Roy Williams' hands. If Roy Williams can be 80% of what T.O. was, it should be a wash, as T.O. OFTEN dropped routine catches when he was wide open. In fact, if memory serves me, T.O. had more drops than any other receiver in the league last year.

Well said.

And the most important thing in my mind is this season should be all about getting Tony Romo to just run the offense like he's supposed to again.

The Terrell Owens cloud and its need for offensive touches is no longer present.

Read the defense and throw the ball to the best match-up, Romo.

There will be games where defenses concentrate on taking Jason Witten away, or they will deploy lots of cover two on the wideouts or go with eight man fronts to contain the ground game.

Romo just needs to make the proper decisions and avoid getting impatient.