BTB Vela: And the Mutts Shall Lead Them

[Cherry]

by Rafael Vela

Something to chew on while I finish my piece on the assistant coaches:
The '90s Cowboys had pedigrees. They were led by the Triplets, three show dogs with all the proper papers. Consider:

• Troy Aikman, 1st pick in '89;
• Michael Irvin, 11th overall pick in '88;
• Emmitt Smith, 17th overall pick in '90.

Jay Novacek was a no-name, plan-B, UFA originally with the Arizona Cardinals. He was the exception. The other supporting skill position guys also were high picks. Alvin Harper was 12th overall pick in '91, and Daryl Johnston was a high 2nd rounder in '89.
Now, look at the current offensive triad. They're the All-Pound All Stars:

• Tony Romo, undrafted free agent in '03;
• Miles Austin, undrafted free agent in '06;
• Marion Barber, 4th round pick in '05.

Felix Jones' increased workload the last two weeks may be the start of a trend, and could blow up my low-rent, high-skilled position meme, but a continued push by Kevin Ogletree would give the Cowboys the surreal, yet real chance of starting playoff drive games with a quarterback and two receivers who nobody drafted.
Wooooof!
(Can anybody think of another team that is or has turned so many UFAs and late draftees into producers? Patrick Crayton is a 7th, while Deon Anderson and John Phillips are 6th rounders. Tashard Choice is, like Barber, a 4th rounder.)

 

[Vintage]

Amazing how little resources (in terms of draft picks) are invested on the defensive side... and yet, they produce at a high level.

How is that possible when Garrett sucks balls?

 

[RCowboyFan]

Amazing how little resources (in terms of draft picks) are invested on the defensive side... and yet, they produce at a high level.

How is that possible when Garrett sucks balls?

YOu mean Offensive side?

 

[Rampage]

Amazing how little resources (in terms of draft picks) are invested on the defensive side... and yet, they produce at a high level.

How is that possible when Garrett sucks balls?

all of them except Austin were producing before Garrett was in Dallas.

 

[Bill Wooten]

Witten was not a high pick either. Drafted 69th overall in the 3rd round.

 

[Vertigo_17]

left out Ratliff too if they want to move to defense.

 

[burmafrd]

you have to admit we have drafted big time on D for years. Yet its the O that usually outperforms it. Ware is the only high draft choice currently fulling earning it- though Spencer is now getting close and TNew for years did. Spears did not; Barbie- enough said. Jenkins is now getting close - but we certainly have missed more then we should have.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I don't consider 4th rounders as low rounders. That is the spot where conventional wisdom points out GMs take chances on boom or bust type players.

What Barber, Choice and Free show by playing like this is that our scouting department kicks some serious butt.

 

[risco]

by Rafael Vela

(Can anybody think of another team that is or has turned so many UFAs and late draftees into producers? Patrick Crayton is a 7th, while Deon Anderson and John Phillips are 6th rounders. Tashard Choice is, like Barber, a 4th rounder.)

I can't. Just a few more names to throw at you- Steve Bowen, Hacker, Free, I'm really glad to see these guys step up and make plays.

 

[dmq]

This is all pretty amazing, but doesn't get you far when you trade a 1st, 3rd and 6 for 7th to get a dud. BTW, the brains that found these players aren't part of the team anymore.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

This is all pretty amazing, but doesn't get you far when you trade a 1st, 3rd and 6 for 7th to get a dud. BTW, the brains that found these players aren't part of the team anymore.

Jerry and Ciscowski certainly are and its not like Ireland has set the world on fire in Miami.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Here's the list of pound puppy reclaims, UDFA unwanteds, and late round picks I came up with. I might have missed a few going through the list. Impressive to say the least.

• Tony Romo -UDFA
• Miles Austin -UDFA
• Kevin Ogletree - UDFA
• Stephen Bowen - UDFA
• Sam Hurd - UDFA
• Marcus Dixon - UDFA after being wrongfully imprisoned
• Jessie Holley - UD Realty Show Reject
• Marc Columbo - Waived by Chicago
• L.P. Ladouceur - released outright by New Orleans
• Keith Brooking, let walk by Atlanta
• Gerald Sensabaugh, let walk by Jacksonville
• Igor Olshansky, let walk by San Diego
• Ken Hamlin, let walk by Seattle
• Leonard Davis, let walk by Arizona
• Kyle Kosier, let walk by Detriot
• Junior Siavii - out of football for 3 seasons before signed by Dallas
• Duke Preston - released by Green Bay
• Cory Proctor - signed off of Detroit's practice squad, UDFA with Detriot
• Shaun Suisham - let walk by Washington
• Alan Ball - 7th round pick
• Jay Ratliff - 7th round pick
• Patrick Crayton - 7th round pick
• Pat McQuistan - 7th round pick

By my count, that's 21 players of our 53 man roster.

 

[dmq]

Jerry and Ciscowski certainly are and its not like Ireland has set the world on fire in Miami.

Maybe Ciscowski, but I am sure Jerry had little to do with the pick ups besides giving the thumbs up. Hey, if a guy like Ogletree pans out, I will reap the praise on the guys that are here.
Romo was all about Payton and Miles could have been Ireland or Ciscowski or some other scout. Barber was probably Parcells.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Maybe Ciscowski, but I am sure Jerry had little to do with the pick ups besides giving the thumbs up. Hey, if a guy like Ogletree pans out, I will reap the praise on the guys that are here.
Romo was all about Payton and Miles could have been Ireland or Ciscowski or some other scout. Barber was probably Parcells.

Ray Sherman also wanted Miles in Tennessee, so by proxy he's a Sherman guy. :

 

[dmq]

Tony Romo -Parcells and staff
Miles Austin -Parcells and staff
Kevin Ogletree - current staff
Stephen Bowen - UDFA
Sam Hurd -Parcells
Marcus Dixon - UDFA after being wrongfully imprisoned
Jessie Holley - UD Realty Show Reject
Marc Columbo - Parcells
L.P. Ladouceur - released outright by New Orleans
Keith Brooking, Wade
Gerald Sensabaugh, Wade, Jerry, staff...
Igor Olshansky, Wade
Ken Hamlin,Jerry or staff
Leonard Davis, Jerry or staff
Kyle Kosier, Parcells
Junior Siavii - out of football for 3 seasons before signed by Dallas
Duke Preston - released by Green Bay
Cory Proctor - Parcells
Shaun Suisham - let walk by Washington
Alan Ball - 7th round pick
Jay Ratliff - Parcells
Patrick Crayton - Parcells
Pat McQuistan - Parcells

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Tony Romo -Parcells and staff
Miles Austin -Parcells and staff
Kevin Ogletree - current staff
Stephen Bowen - UDFA
Sam Hurd -Parcells
Marcus Dixon - UDFA after being wrongfully imprisoned
Jessie Holley - UD Realty Show Reject
Marc Columbo - Parcells
L.P. Ladouceur - released outright by New Orleans
Keith Brooking, Wade
Gerald Sensabaugh, Wade, Jerry, staff...
Igor Olshansky, Wade
Ken Hamlin,Jerry or staff
Leonard Davis, Jerry or staff
Kyle Kosier, Parcells
Junior Siavii - out of football for 3 seasons before signed by Dallas
Duke Preston - released by Green Bay
Cory Proctor - Parcells
Shaun Suisham - let walk by Washington
Alan Ball - 7th round pick
Jay Ratliff - Parcells
Patrick Crayton - Parcells
Pat McQuistan - Parcells

If you are crediting Parcells for Romo, you're grossly incorrect.

Romo has stated in the past he considered two teams, and two teams only. Both had Eastern Illinois alums as coaches. Parcells didn't go to EI. Sean Payton is the reason Romo is here, plain and simple.

If it wasn't for QC getting high during training camp, Parcells was going to cut Romo.

 

[Eskimo]

Here's the list of pound puppy reclaims, UDFA unwanteds, and late round picks I came up with. I might have missed a few going through the list. Impressive to say the least.

• Tony Romo -UDFA
• Miles Austin -UDFA
• Kevin Ogletree - UDFA
• Stephen Bowen - UDFA
• Sam Hurd - UDFA
• Marcus Dixon - UDFA after being wrongfully imprisoned
• Jessie Holley - UD Realty Show Reject
• Marc Columbo - Waived by Chicago
• L.P. Ladouceur - released outright by New Orleans
• Keith Brooking, let walk by Atlanta
• Gerald Sensabaugh, let walk by Jacksonville
• Igor Olshansky, let walk by San Diego
• Ken Hamlin, let walk by Seattle
• Leonard Davis, let walk by Arizona
• Kyle Kosier, let walk by Detriot
• Junior Siavii - out of football for 3 seasons before signed by Dallas
• Duke Preston - released by Green Bay
• Cory Proctor - signed off of Detroit's practice squad, UDFA with Detriot
• Shaun Suisham - let walk by Washington
• Alan Ball - 7th round pick
• Jay Ratliff - 7th round pick
• Patrick Crayton - 7th round pick
• Pat McQuistan - 7th round pick

By my count, that's 21 players of our 53 man roster.

I wouldn't count Davis on this list as he was pretty highly sought after and we gave him a $49M contract when he hit FA.

I would say about the same thing with Kosier but 5 years $15M isn't all that expensive for a veteran OL starter with his versatility. You could make a similar argument for Olshansky who get decent scratch to come here.

 

[BAT]

If you are crediting Parcells for Romo, you're grossly incorrect.

Romo has stated in the past he considered two teams, and two teams only. Both had Eastern Illinois alums as coaches. Parcells didn't go to EI. Sean Payton is the reason Romo is here, plain and simple.

If it wasn't for QC getting high during training camp, Parcells was going to cut Romo.

Same w/Miles Austin. It was Jim Garrett who found Miles Austin and pushed Jerry and the Cowboys' scouts to take a look at him.

I also notice that neither Ogletree or Phillips are credited to anyone when in fact it was John Garrett's familiarity w/both that brought them to the Cowboys (via draft & UDFA). And it is well known that Jason Garrett coveted Marcellus Bennett.

One thing you can say about the Garretts', they know receivers.