Cowboys see big improvement in ex-basketball player Rico Gathers

[Macnalty]

I doubt it. Had the Cowboys been able to retain Moore back in 2007 the odds of him still being with Dallas in 2015 would have been slim.

Maybe maybe not, he would of been better than Stephen McGee, Brandon Weeden, Kyle Orton(maybe), Jon Kitna(maybe), and Matt Kassel. Not a murder's row of competition during that timespan. Not saying he is a franchise guy just a great backup for a UDFA selection like Romo(he was an outlier like winning the lottery acquisition). Matt Moore would've saved this team much money not so much won that many more games, Kitna and Orton would of been stiff competition as I ponder and write this response. Those Weeden, Kassel games wore my butt out like no games before, scratch that when Vinny T, Drew B, Chad H, and Quincy it was a similar bitter pill to swallow and I started to age in dog years. It is a testament that I am able to remember all these guys names, that's how bad it was after Troy went down. Jerry never really had a competitive team with a real QB back then, he still sold the game like he does today and the seats were full of hope and pride because of the brand that was created in the nineties with the SB runs. OK I agree to disagree I think those dog years are catching up to me.

 

[Macnalty]

Seriously... he had nice upside. I still think he could/will make have a decent career in the nfl

Especially after dealing with the underwear shoplifter for a couple of years.

 

[bark]

Rayfield Wright was a basketball player. One of our better CBs from another era also was a basketball player I believe.

That was Cornell Green jobber.
I believe Preston Pearson also

 

[CCBoy]

Tony was in a very different situation than Gathers. Gonzalez was an all-american tight end in college. Gathers didn't play college football or even high school foootball.

Gonzalez began his career in the 1997 season. He finished his rookie season with 33 receptions, two touchdowns...he started out slowly and improved each season. He was a very poor blocker his first few seasons.

Point being, transferable skillsets...

 

[sideon]

There are more than a few teams who have tried the basketball player to TE thing. Both KC and Indianapolis have their own versions in Demetrius Harris and Tyrone Swoopes.

This is not a new thing we are attempting. Judging by the progress by the other two, that is what you can expect with Gathers.

Did you forget about

 

[adbutcher]

https://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/...mes-better-start-year-2-transition-basketball

"Honestly, I feel like I'm a thousand times better than what I was," Gathers said. "That was like a baby walking into a business office, trying to run a business."

Before retiring in the offseason, former tight ends coach Mike Pope told Gathers that his work ethic would lead to him one day becoming a Pro Bowl tight end.

Pope was one of many who saw what Gathers is capable of during practices last season, specifically when Tony Romo was working with the scout team.

"Having a guy like Tony Romo in your corner, believing in you, seeing your potential and maximizing it during that time we had, that was a surreal moment," Gathers said. "He'd keep me after practice and have me work on certain routes and stuff like that. I couldn't ask for a better situation than having him work with me and just taking the time out to really mold me [and] just getting the basics down for me."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"This dude here," Irvin said during the broadcast, "he looks like Zeus."

Gathers said that ever since Irvin made that comment, Zeus has been his weight room nickname among teammates.

"When you get people like Michael Irvin saying that, that's how you get things going," Gathers said. "Hopefully that's what people will be saying, whenever I make plays, 'Zeuuussssss!'

"It would be cool to hear that. Bring back that Zeus moment."

So big, smooth, and athletic. This kid is going to be a problem for the league. You cannot teach or coach the stuff he has naturally.

 

[MrMom]

 

[bark]

That was Cornell Great jobber.
I believe Preston Pearson also

Whoops meant Cornell green

 

[jobberone]

That was Cornell Great jobber.
I believe Preston Pearson also

Preston came via Pittsburg.

 

[bark]

Preston came via Pittsburg.

Yes. But was a basketball player first

 

[jobberone]

Yes. But was a basketball player first

Didn't know that. Thx.

 

[Alexander]

Did you forget about

No, I did not forget about him.

Bringing up Antonio Gates to justify a work with a project is about like expecting a small school Cinderella story UDFA QB to be just like Tony Romo.

Besides, Gates did not have a void playing football going back to junior high like Gathers. He was a first team All State performer in high school and wanted to do both until Nick Saban wanted him to commit to football only at Michigan State. He chose basketball only elsewhere.

 

[dallasdave]

The Cowboys took former Baylor basketball player Rico Gathers in the sixth round of last year’s draft even though he hadn’t played football in college, or even in high school. And even though Gathers never got on the field as a rookie, they think that gamble is going to pay off.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says a year on the practice squad did Gathers a world of good, and he now appears to be ready to play tight end in the NFL.

“You think about where he was, coming from last year,” Garrett said, via the Star-Telegram. “He hadn’t played football since junior high, and he had done a really good job working out, trying to understand and get better at the fundamentals of the game away from here, but once he got here, it’s a different story. He came to work every day, and you saw him get better. He’s a very different player in all ways. He’s grown up in a lot of different ways that will help him become a better player this year.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ovement-in-ex-basketball-player-rico-gathers/

I love what it says at the end. "If Smith and Gathers are able to live up to their promise, that Cowboys 2016 draft class could be legendary."

And that's not even mentioning Charles Tapper.

This sounds great, will help us win the Super Bowl this year.

 

[dallasdave]

Yeah I visited a Browns forum and they didn't seem so excited about him. Couldn't find any mention of him on the first 8 pages of threads

The Browns havea Forum

 

[Plankton]

Rayfield Wright was a basketball player. One of our better CBs from another era also was a basketball player I believe.

Cornell Green, Pete Gent and Preston Pearson were all basketball players. The Cowboys also drafted Pat Riley late in the 1967 draft, but he played basketball instead. Good move, as it turned out.

The Cowboys took a flier on Rodrick Monroe, a power forward turned tight end from Cincinnati in 1998, but he got cut in camp.

 

[Plankton]

Preston came via Pittsburg.

He was originally a Colt.

First player to play in a Super Bowl for three different organizations.

 

[speedkilz88]

 

[dallasdave]

I can buy that.

Think Rico will be good.

 

[joseephuss]

Maybe maybe not, he would of been better than Stephen McGee, Brandon Weeden, Kyle Orton(maybe), Jon Kitna(maybe), and Matt Kassel. Not a murder's row of competition during that timespan. Not saying he is a franchise guy just a great backup for a UDFA selection like Romo(he was an outlier like winning the lottery acquisition). Matt Moore would've saved this team much money not so much won that many more games, Kitna and Orton would of been stiff competition as I ponder and write this response. Those Weeden, Kassel games wore my butt out like no games before, scratch that when Vinny T, Drew B, Chad H, and Quincy it was a similar bitter pill to swallow and I started to age in dog years. It is a testament that I am able to remember all these guys names, that's how bad it was after Troy went down. Jerry never really had a competitive team with a real QB back then, he still sold the game like he does today and the seats were full of hope and pride because of the brand that was created in the nineties with the SB runs. OK I agree to disagree I think those dog years are catching up to me.

Sure he would have been better, but I doubt he would have stuck around more than 4 seasons in Dallas at most.

 

[joseephuss]

Gonzalez began his career in the 1997 season. He finished his rookie season with 33 receptions, two touchdowns...he started out slowly and improved each season. He was a very poor blocker his first few seasons.

Point being, transferable skillsets...

Gonzales had experience. It is that experience that matters when transferring skill sets to a different sport. Gathers hadn't played football since junior high. Gonzales played at high levels in both high school and college. Gonzales was 21 years old his rookie season and 23 the first year he was an all-pro. Gathers is 23 right now. Gathers is far behind Gonzales in terms of development that it is an insult to both players to compare the two.

I think Gathers may be able to do a few things to help Dallas this season. I think it will take him at least 2 to 3 seasons to reach a higher level. I'm not expecting a hall of fame career, but he may turn out to be a solid contributor.