Can you believe we got Dez Bryant at 24?

[Verdict]

The four players you mention:

• Dez Bryant: Top 3 WR talent in the NFL, however, as late as the middle of last season there was talk of the Cowboys moving on from Dez and that he was never going to get it. Add to that the team of full time mansitters that had to be assigned to Dez to make sure he didn't get in trouble and I think it's understandable why he slid to 24.
• Lee: Would have been a 1st round pick if not for concerns about his injury history. That injury history has been concern as a Cowboy.
• Carter: Would have been a 1st round pick if not for concerns about his injury history. That injury history has been concern as a Cowboy.
  
• Murray: Would have been drafted higher if not for concerns about durability. Durability has been concern with Murray as a Cowboy.

As a whole - this group of 4 players you highlighted all have the potential to be top 5-10 in their positions in the NFL. Dez is already there. The other three have to provide they can do it on the fiend and not on the trainer's table.

These guys were all good gambles for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones the gambler (and the scouting department) deserve credit for acquiring these players. Quite honestly, Dez was and is the biggest roll of the dice of the four players listed.

 

[Section446]

If he didn't have the attitude and reputation coming out, he would have gone a lot earlier. This is one that looks like it's starting to pay off.

 

[iceman117]

He had some character flaws, but I get what your saying....you can make an argument he was the best player drafted that year and we got him late in the round... I thank the Broncos everyday they passed on Dez and took Thomas who is a great player but for some reason I don't think we would have traded up to get Thomas if Dez was off the board

 

[KJJ]

What a huge steal that was. I hope we can resign him quickly, as every day that we haven't signed him, I'm sure his contract is getting more expensive.

Throw in Lee and Carter? and Murray? I would say we have been drafting pretty well, even if you want to say the jury is out on Smith. I think this years draft class might have been one of our best as well. Should be the most productive from the get go.

There were some concerns about Dez which is why he was taken at #24. Don't think the concerns have gone away. Randy Moss fell to #21 because of concerns about him. Dez is developing into a great player but even with the Cowboys he's been involved in a couple of incidences. Hopefully he'll never be involved in another off the field incident again but you can be lulled to sleep thinking it's no longer a concern.

 

[Cowboysfan1975]

Until the last six games of last season, Dez looked like a bust.

Seems like a light bulb has gone on for him. He could put it all together this year as one of the truly elite.

Yeah, not quite! He might have not looked like a top 2-3 WR, but in no way has Dez ever looked like a bust.

 

[perrykemp]

These guys were all good gambles for the Cowboys. Jerry Jones the gambler (and the scouting department) deserve credit for acquiring these players. Quite honestly, Dez was and is the biggest roll of the dice of the four players listed.

If Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, and Demarco Murray play the number of games they played in 2012 where they a good gamble? I'm not so sure.

All three of them have the potential to be great, however, I think all three of them have done nothing to dispel the concern folks had with them coming out of college.

 

[FiveRings]

Quality players go in the first three rounds pretty regularly these days. 24th overall is pretty low, as you also stated, the most amazing draft feats we've had recently are Lee,Carter and Murray in the 2nd/3rd

 

[5Stars]

As it happened, I consider the pick (for now) a great one.

But . . .
Had the mall incident turned into an assault case, had the domestic violence incident escalated to severe injuries, had the jewelry case turned into a fraud case, had the Irvin connection/association turned into a really bad one . . . .

I say we have dodged the bullet and maybe Dez has turned the corner for good.

But, really, it could half easily been a disastrous one.
Let's wait a year or two before we call this a great pick. The young man is still evolving and habits die hard.
But good luck Dez, keep on that current personal/athletic trajectory and you'll do well.

Don't you mean the Deion Sanders connection/association? I think Dez and Irvin have a good relationship.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Don't you mean the Deion Sanders connection/association? I think Dez and Irvin have a good relationship.

Yes, tank yous, the Deion Sanders connection/association. I knew it was some miscreant. Thanks, agin, 5Stars. I will send you a basket of fruits.

 

[5Stars]

Yes, tank yous, the Deion Sanders connection/association. I knew it was some miscreant. Thanks, agin, 5Stars. I will send you a basket of fruits.

Include seed less grapes! I loves me some seed less grapes!

 

[AsthmaField]

As it happened, I consider the pick (for now) a great one.

But . . .
Had the mall incident turned into an assault case, had the domestic violence incident escalated to severe injuries, had the jewelry case turned into a fraud case, had the Irvin connection/association turned into a really bad one . . . .

I say we have dodged the bullet and maybe Dez has turned the corner for good.

Having sagging pants is a far cry from assaulting someone. There was never a concern that he was going to attack the mall cop.

The disagreement with his mom was the worst thing he's had and severe injuries are a stretch from him hitting her with his cap. It's not like he hit her with a balled up fist and she just didn't really get hurt.

And not paying a bill is light year's away from committing fraud. That is ludicrous to even say.

Finally, I couldn't care any less about what D Sanders thinks about Dez. He only got upset with him because Dez didn't want to continue with the Under Armour commitment and it cost Prime Time some money. Like a coward, Deion decided to attack Dez through the media instead of agreeing to disagree.

All of those are giant leaps from the small incidents that actually happened in this universe. Maybe Dez was a bad pick in the parallel universe you're talking about though.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Include seed less grapes! I loves me some seed less grapes!

No! Seedless fruits and vegitables are known to be grown with dangerous infractercides so i do not recommend them. I am doing it for your owns good. Just stick to the seeded varieties and that good beef jerky for healthy growth and a manly bearing.

 

[5Stars]

No! Seedless fruits and vegitables are known to be grown with dangerous infractercides so i do not recommend them. I am doing it for your owns good. Just stick to the seeded varieties and that good beef jerky for healthy growth and a manly bearing.

lmao

(stupid cowboy fans)

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Having sagging pants is a far cry from assaulting someone. There was never a concern that he was going to attack the mall cop.

The disagreement with his mom was the worst thing he's had and severe injuries are a stretch from him hitting her with his cap. It's not like he hit her with a balled up fist and she just didn't really get hurt.

And not paying a bill is light year's away from committing fraud. That is ludicrous to even say.

Finally, I couldn't care any less about what D Sanders thinks about Dez. He only got upset with him because Dez didn't want to continue with the Under Armour commitment and it cost Prime Time some money. Like a coward, Deion decided to attack Dez through the media instead of agreeing to disagree.

All of those are giant leaps from the small incidents that actually happened in this universe. Maybe Dez was a bad pick in the parallel universe you're talking about though.

There is a lot in what you say.
Still, there is little distance from a friendly discussion of fisticuffs or not paying a jewelry bill to fraud and stuff. Or hitting your mom with a cap to hitting your mom with a thrown head of cabbage.

As for the saggy pants that could have turned into an international incident.
I admire your loyalty to Dez. if we all pull for him I am sure he will do well.

 

[AsthmaField]

Hmmmm... I hadn't thought of the cabbage. Good point.

 

[JBS]

Not sure what y'all are talking about...even w all his issues, nobody here thought we'd have a shot at getting dez..after his pro day, just about all of us put up the white flag

 

[TwoDeep3]

In a way, the football God's have forgiven the Cowboys for passing on Randy Moss who was taken at 21.

Now if they would forget the prayer Jerry uttered just before the 1995 Super Bowl that if they could win he would never ask for another Super Bowl again.

Jerry, when rubbing the magic lamp, you don't ask for things in groups of one. Geez, I thought everyone knew that.

 

[5Stars]

When I was watching his interview, about a few minutes a grasshopper landed on his right shoulder pad while he was talking. lol

It was very distracting to me! Then it jumped off of his shoulder pads.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Absolute steal. He's top 5 at his position among a really talented crop of WRs across the league.

Sky is the limit for him now that he knows the playbook and the nuances of his position - understanding audibles, sight adjustments, etc. Being on the same page as Romo is vital, Dez is playing with a talented QB that really understands how to dissect defenses. If he can raise the bar in the mental side of the game, there is no doubt about his physical and natural receiving abilities, kid was born to catch a football. These two can really thrive if the line is servicable and there is a semblance of a run game. Romo has made much less talented receivers than Bryant look good and get rich, can't wait to see these two are their full capabilities this year.

 

[tyke1doe]

I wouldn't say Dez was a bust six games into the season. I think many people wondered whether he had the discipline to stay in the game (remember, he used to tire in the second half and disappear) or to stay out of trouble.

But his play-making skills were unquestionably there from the moment he started a game.

I'm hoping he continues to mature, but we shouldn't take this friendly environment and his dedication among colleagues as a sign he has arrived just yet. There's still the season. There's still him remaining calm when someone tries to get into his head. There's still the matter of him not thinking he's Jim Brown trying to truck defenders when, maybe, he needs to preserve his body for the long haul. I like his fight and determination, don't get me wrong. I think he fights unnecessarily sometimes when he should just get out of bounds or go down. But maybe that's what makes Dez, Dez.

P.S. I think he's going to have a monster year this year.