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History lesson: Can D-Mac measure up?
8:22 PM Sun, Jan 27, 2008 | Permalink
Albert Breer
I’m on record, and I’ll say it again: I would not be on board with the Cowboys putting together a monster package to trade up and get Arkansas superstar Darren McFadden.
But there’s history that, in a roundabout way, backs that kind of deal. Most people frequenting Cowboys Blog, I figure, would consider Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith the two greatest tailbacks in club history. I’ll bet I can even get Cowboys historian Timmy Tabloid to agree with that.
So what do Dorsett and Smith have in common? They both came to Dallas as a result of draft-day trade-ups that, in hindsight, look about as lopsided as a 1980s Super Bowl.
The lesson here would be that if you believe a player is going to be that special, you do what it takes. I don’t think McFadden will wind up having a career like those Dallas legends. But I will say that if Jerry Jones and Co. are fairly certain that he’ll be that kind of back, then they should pull the trigger. Again, I would NOT be on board with the move.
Follow the jump to see proof positive that the deal could be worth making.
THE DORSETT TRADE
In the final analysis, after much wheeling-and-dealing, the smoke cleared to show that the Cowboys came away with Dorsett and QB Glenn Carano (54th overall), while the Seahawks reaped OT Steve August (14th overall), OG Tom Lynch (30th overall), LB Terry Beeson (41st overall) and Cowboys receiver Duke Ferguson. (Note: It was impossible to find the official rundown of the trade, so this is how I cobbled it together.)
On the Seattle side, August started at right tackle for six years (1978-83) and Lynch started at left guard for three years (1978-80). Beeson was the team’s starting middle linebacker for five years (1977-81), and led the team in tackles his first three years in the league. Ferguson, meanwhile, caught 23 passes in three years as a Seahawk.
Three of those players were traded later – Lynch to Buffalo in ’81, Beeson to Atlanta in ’82 and August to Pittsburgh in ’84. Only August lasted long enough to play in a playoff game for the Seahawks.
Meanwhile, Tony Dorsett made four Pro Bowls, posted eight 1,000-yard seasons and won a Super Bowl in his 11 years as a Cowboy. Carano spent seven seasons as a back-up to Roger Staubach and Danny White in Dallas.
THE SMITH TRADE
Of course, the Cowboys were able to do this in the first place because of a mammoth package put together for Herschel Walker. But there was a trade-up involved in order for Dallas to cop Smith.
When Smith dropped into the mid-teens, Jones and Jimmy Johnson worked a deal with the Steelers, sending first- and third-round picks, 21st and 81st overall, to get the 17th selection and draft him.
The Steelers used the first selection on Liberty TE Eric Green and the second one on Houston DT Craig Veasey. Green made the Pro Bowl in the final two of his five years as a Steeler, before leaving for Miami in 1995. Veasey made two starts in two years in Pittsburgh, and was waived before the 1992 season.
Smith, of course, posted 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, made eight Pro Bowls and broke the NFL’s all-time rushing record in his 13 seasons as a Cowboy.
CONCLUSION
As is stated above, dealing up, and giving up a lot, for a Hall of Famer will always look good in the rear-view mirror. But if you’re going to give up a haul like the Cowboys will have to in order to get McFadden, you better be sure you’re getting a really, really good player in return.
8:22 PM Sun, Jan 27, 2008 | Permalink
Albert Breer
I’m on record, and I’ll say it again: I would not be on board with the Cowboys putting together a monster package to trade up and get Arkansas superstar Darren McFadden.
But there’s history that, in a roundabout way, backs that kind of deal. Most people frequenting Cowboys Blog, I figure, would consider Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith the two greatest tailbacks in club history. I’ll bet I can even get Cowboys historian Timmy Tabloid to agree with that.
So what do Dorsett and Smith have in common? They both came to Dallas as a result of draft-day trade-ups that, in hindsight, look about as lopsided as a 1980s Super Bowl.
The lesson here would be that if you believe a player is going to be that special, you do what it takes. I don’t think McFadden will wind up having a career like those Dallas legends. But I will say that if Jerry Jones and Co. are fairly certain that he’ll be that kind of back, then they should pull the trigger. Again, I would NOT be on board with the move.
Follow the jump to see proof positive that the deal could be worth making.
THE DORSETT TRADE
In the final analysis, after much wheeling-and-dealing, the smoke cleared to show that the Cowboys came away with Dorsett and QB Glenn Carano (54th overall), while the Seahawks reaped OT Steve August (14th overall), OG Tom Lynch (30th overall), LB Terry Beeson (41st overall) and Cowboys receiver Duke Ferguson. (Note: It was impossible to find the official rundown of the trade, so this is how I cobbled it together.)
On the Seattle side, August started at right tackle for six years (1978-83) and Lynch started at left guard for three years (1978-80). Beeson was the team’s starting middle linebacker for five years (1977-81), and led the team in tackles his first three years in the league. Ferguson, meanwhile, caught 23 passes in three years as a Seahawk.
Three of those players were traded later – Lynch to Buffalo in ’81, Beeson to Atlanta in ’82 and August to Pittsburgh in ’84. Only August lasted long enough to play in a playoff game for the Seahawks.
Meanwhile, Tony Dorsett made four Pro Bowls, posted eight 1,000-yard seasons and won a Super Bowl in his 11 years as a Cowboy. Carano spent seven seasons as a back-up to Roger Staubach and Danny White in Dallas.
THE SMITH TRADE
Of course, the Cowboys were able to do this in the first place because of a mammoth package put together for Herschel Walker. But there was a trade-up involved in order for Dallas to cop Smith.
When Smith dropped into the mid-teens, Jones and Jimmy Johnson worked a deal with the Steelers, sending first- and third-round picks, 21st and 81st overall, to get the 17th selection and draft him.
The Steelers used the first selection on Liberty TE Eric Green and the second one on Houston DT Craig Veasey. Green made the Pro Bowl in the final two of his five years as a Steeler, before leaving for Miami in 1995. Veasey made two starts in two years in Pittsburgh, and was waived before the 1992 season.
Smith, of course, posted 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, made eight Pro Bowls and broke the NFL’s all-time rushing record in his 13 seasons as a Cowboy.
CONCLUSION
As is stated above, dealing up, and giving up a lot, for a Hall of Famer will always look good in the rear-view mirror. But if you’re going to give up a haul like the Cowboys will have to in order to get McFadden, you better be sure you’re getting a really, really good player in return.
Boy's ended up trading down, then back up for Emmitt, after they couldn't trade up for Francis.
