DMN Blog: Mike Jenkins' big day

[WoodysGirl]

:30 AM Thu, May 01, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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New Cowboy CB Mike Jenkins' Saturday was exciting, yes. It had to be. Instantly, he was assured of becoming a millionaire.


But all that cash didn't come without stress. In this story from the Brandenton Herald, the South Florida star explains how the hang-wringing started when the Bucs -- who share a home stadium with USF -- went on the clock at 20. And he reveals, too, that he'd crossed the Cowboys, a team that didn't bring him in for a visit, off his list.

Tampa Bay did take a cornerback with the 20th overall pick - only it was Aqib Talib from Kansas. "(Allen) basically put it in my head that he was going to take me," Jenkins said. "I saw Talib's name come up, and it really hurt me. But I said, 'There's nothing I can do it about it right now. Let's just wait for the next pick.' "​

At 6 p.m., the waiting came to fruition, only Jenkins was a bit confused at first - the Seattle Seahawks, not the Cowboys, were on the clock with the 25th pick. Unbeknownst to Jenkins, Dallas traded up, giving Seattle its 28th pick in exchange for the Seahawks' 25th.​

"It confused me a little bit - Seattle was on the board, but Dallas called me," he said. "I was kind of scared of going in there and let everybody know if (the Cowboys) were playing games with me. I saw the trade came through, and I was like, 'Great.' "​

-------------------
Whole story from link

Dallas trades up, takes Southeast's Jenkins at No. 25

By JOHN LEMBO
jlembo@bradenton.com


BRADENTON --It was 6:30 a.m. Saturday when Mike Jenkins opened his eyes.

Normally, the Southeast High alum and South Florida product sleeps until about 8 a.m. But making history tends to wreak havoc with your body's clock.

One of the nation's most highly touted cornerbacks, Jenkins became the first Bull ever to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft when the Dallas Cowboys made him the 25th overall pick Saturday.

Lakewood Ranch's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was picked by the Arizona Cardinals with the 16th pick, making it the first time two Manatee County players were selected in the first round of the same draft.

"The (general manager) called me and said, 'Are you sitting down or standing up?' " Jenkins said. "I told him, 'I'm sitting down right now unless you've got some good news for me.' He said, 'Well, stand up, because you're a Dallas Cowboy.' "

Jenkins and a pack of roughly 40 friends and relatives celebrated at the Days Inn. His mother, Kathy Gray, was so overwhelmed by the news that she fainted.

"That's what they tell me," said Gray, who seemed fine more than an hour after Jenkins' name was called.

It was a long time coming. The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers had shown interest, Jenkins said, adding he had two dinner meetings with Bruce Allen, the Bucs' general manager.

Tampa Bay did take a cornerback with the 20th overall pick - only it was Aqib Talib from Kansas.

"(Allen) basically put it in my head that he was going to take me," Jenkins said. "I saw Talib's name come up, and it really hurt me. But I said, 'There's nothing I can do it about it right now. Let's just wait for the next pick.' "

At 6 p.m., the waiting came to fruition, only Jenkins was a bit confused at first - the Seattle Seahawks, not the Cowboys, were on the clock with the 25th pick. Unbeknownst to Jenkins, Dallas traded up, giving Seattle its 28th pick in exchange for the Seahawks' 25th.

"It confused me a little bit - Seattle was on the board, but Dallas called me," he said. "I was kind of scared of going in there and let everybody know if (the Cowboys) were playing games with me. I saw the trade came through, and I was like, 'Great.' "

Jenkins had crossed Dallas off the board once the Cowboys acquired controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Now that he's a member of the tradition-rich franchise, which won 13 games and the NFC East title last year, he couldn't be happier - especially since he'll be reunited with USF teammate Anthony Henry.

"My first thought was playoffs - I know we're going to the playoffs, and we're gonna have a Super Bowl run," Jenkins said. "Pacman Jones, I know he's got a lot of incidents off the field, but I know he's a good player, and I heard he's a great guy in practice.

"It's going to be good for me to go up there and learn from those guys. . . . I think I'm pretty much in a good place."

Not lost on Jenkins was the history of the moment - in 11 years, USF never had a first-round draft pick before Saturday. The Bulls' highest pick prior to Jenkins was Kawika Mitchell, taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft.

"I'm hoping someone can come in next year and just keep it going. We have a lot great talent on our team," he said. "We came up pretty fast, doing a lot of great things. There's a lot of great athletes still out there on our team."

Southeast coach Paul Maechtle, who has coached two first-round picks - Peter Warrick was the other - said Jenkins' ability to tackle as well as cover made him a rare commodity.

"It's his strikeability," Maechtle said. "I'm excited for him and his family."

Gray remembers when her son first put on a football uniform at the age of 6. There he was Saturday, readying himself for a career in the NFL.

"He advanced on to high school, he advanced on to college - and to get there is a big accomplishment," she said. "I have been looking forward to this day."

Gray was wearing her son's USF jersey Saturday. Now, she plans on switching her allegiance to the Dallas Cowboys.

"Oh, yeah," she said. "Believe it."

 

[tyke1doe]

Jenkins had crossed Dallas off the board once the Cowboys acquired controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Now that he's a member of the tradition-rich franchise, which won 13 games and the NFC East title last year, he couldn't be happier - especially since he'll be reunited[/b] with USF teammate Anthony Henry.

Henry was in college when Jenkins was?

 

[Eddie]

Henry was in college when Jenkins was?

No, but Henry used to go visit the school and made friends with Jenkins.

Henry's 31.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

This was our best pick imho.......this made our secondary outstanding.

 

[sago1]

I breathed a sigh of relief when we got Jenkins; made up for the 22nd pick of Felix Jones. Now we had 2 of our 3 high priority targets filled. Thought we draft a WR in eithe 2nd or 3rd. Well.......maybe Bennett who looks more like a WR then a TE can help out at both positions.

 

[starfrombirth]

Southeast coach Paul Maechtle, who has coached two first-round picks - Peter Warrick was the other - said Jenkins' ability to tackle as well as cover made him a rare commodity.

So which is it? He can tackle or he can't?

 

[CATCH17]

So which is it? He can tackle or he can't?

He can.

There is basically nothing he cant do on the football field.

Hes the most safe pick out of all these guys imo.

Hes also been tutored over the last 2 years by another NFL Corner other than Henry (cant remember the other one though)

 

[ctrous25]

This was our best pick imho.......this made our secondary outstanding.

I sure hope so bro

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Henry was in college when Jenkins was?

you simply wonder how some of this stuff makes it to print...I noticed the same thing when I read it...don't these columnist have editorial staff's?