Jerry on 2008 Draft--Grantland Article

[Miller]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-t...ncing-himself-from-reality?ex_cid=grantland33

Earlier today, David Moore, of the Dallas Morning News, posted a story on the paper’s website laying out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’s thoughts on the team’s 2008 draft class — for which, of course, he is responsible.

"We got starting time out of both of them,” Jones said. “That’s not enough, but those guys aren’t NFL busts.

“We were proud to have him (Felix Jones) with that No. 1 pick, and as late as last year I was proud to have that No. 1 in Jenkins. But it is five years down the road now.”

Typically, draft classes are evaluated four years after they happen, so obviously, we’re way past that. Even if we rewind a bit farther, though, I’m not sure he should be all that proud. As Josh Dubow of the AP tweeted earlier today, Pro Football Focus has Mike Jenkins allowing quarterbacks a passer rating of 108.4 in balls thrown his way during the past three seasons. I guess Felix Jones’s 5.9 yards per carry (for a total of 685 yards) in 2009 was pretty good, though. And in fairness to Jerry, Jones’s 2,728 career yards are, like, 700 more than Chris Johnson (taken two picks later) had in 2009.

 

[Nav22]

Jerry's right. Those guys aren't even close to bust-level considering they were LATE 1st rounders.

Hell, Jenkins went to a Pro Bowl.

 

[SWG9]

He's not wrong. It wasn't an home run class, but it was far from a failure.

 

[jjktkk]

Wow, another whiny Jerry sucks rant.. Now if that Author would of wrote about the 09 draft, then he would of been on to somthing.

 

[Doomsay]

Jerry's right. Those guys aren't even close to bust-level considering they were LATE 1st rounders.

Hell, Jenkins went to a Pro Bowl.

Yeah, they were just misses not busts.

 

[mmillman]

you guys are kidding right? That draft was a bust. Nobody was beating the door down to get them in free agency were they? Was it his worst draft? No but there should be two to four guys really contributing to the team to consider this a decent draft.

Scandrick is the only thing left.

2008122(22)CowboysFelix JonesRBArkansasPick NoteFrom Browns2008125(25)CowboysMike JenkinsCBSouth FloridaPick NoteFrom Seahawks2008230(61)CowboysMartellus BennettTETexas A&M2008423(122)CowboysTashard ChoiceRBGeorgia TechPick NoteFrom Browns200858(143)CowboysOrlando ScandrickCBBoise StatePick NoteFrom Bears through Bills and Jaguars200861(167)CowboysErik WaldenDEMiddle Tennessee State

 

[mmillman]

in fact these drafts should make up the core of the team and there are only about 3 guys who will probably contribute in 2013. Scandrick, Hatcher and Spencer

200935(69)CowboysJason WilliamsOLBWestern IllinoisPick Notefrom Cleveland2009311(75)CowboysRobert BrewsterOTBall StatePick Notefrom Buffalo200941(101)CowboysStephen McGeeQBTexas A&MPick Notefrom Detroit2009410(110)CowboysVictor ButlerOLBOregon StatePick Notefrom Buffalo2009420(120)CowboysBrandon WilliamsDETexas TechPick Notefrom Tampa Bay200957(143)CowboysDeAngelo SmithCBCincinnatiPick Notefrom Oakland through Atlanta2009530(166)CowboysMichael HamlinSClemsonPick Notefrom Tennessee2009536(172)CowboysDavid BuehlerPKUSCPick NoteCompensatory selection2009624(197)CowboysStephen HodgeOLBTCUPick Notefrom Miami2009635(208)CowboysJohn PhillipsTEVirginiaPick NoteCompensatory selection2009718(227)CowboysMike MickensCBCincinnati2009720(229)CowboysManuel JohnsonWROklahomaPick Notefrom Chicago through Tampa Bay2008122(22)CowboysFelix JonesRBArkansasPick NoteFrom Browns2008125(25)CowboysMike JenkinsCBSouth FloridaPick NoteFrom Seahawks2008230(61)CowboysMartellus BennettTETexas A&M2008423(122)CowboysTashard ChoiceRBGeorgia TechPick NoteFrom Browns200858(143)CowboysOrlando ScandrickCBBoise StatePick NoteFrom Bears through Bills and Jaguars200861(167)CowboysErik WaldenDEMiddle Tennessee StatePick NoteFrom Dolphins2007126(26)CowboysAnthony SpencerLBPurduePick Notefrom Philadelphia200733(67)CowboysJames MartenOTBoston CollegePick Notefrom Cleveland200744(103)CowboysIsaiah StanbackQBWashingtonPick Notefrom Cleveland2007423(122)CowboysDoug FreeOTNorthern Illinois200764(178)CowboysNick FolkPKArizonaPick Notefrom Cleveland2007621(195)CowboysDeon AndersonRBConnecticutPick NoteReacquired through Cleveland200772(212)CowboysCourtney BrownDBCal PolyPick Notefrom Detroit through N.Y. Jets2007727(237)CowboysAlan BallDBIllinoisPick Notefrom New Orleans2006118(18)CowboysBobby CarpenterLBOhio State2006221(53)CowboysAnthony FasanoTENotre DamePick Notefrom Washington through N.Y. Jets2006328(92)CowboysJason HatcherDEGrambling StatePick Notefrom Jacksonville2006428(125)CowboysSkyler GreenWRLSUPick Notefrom Jacksonville200655(138)CowboysPat WatkinsDBFlorida StatePick Notefrom N.Y. Jets2006613(182)CowboysMontavious StanleyDTLouisvillePick Notefrom Philadelphia200673(211)CowboysPat McQuistanOTWeber StatePick Notefrom N.Y. Jets2006716(224)CowboysE.J. WhitleyCTexas Tech

 

[CyberB0b]

2008 was a weak draft class all around, but it is still pretty sad that we only have Scandrick left.

 

[TheFinisher]

From 2006-2009 we had some pretty underwhelming drafts, and that's why we've missed the playoffs 4 of the past 5 seasons. This is why they say if you don't hit on picks in the draft it can set your team back, we had a 4 year stretch where we really whiffed and the result is we lack depth and the talent drops off significantly after the top of our roster.

And Jerry is fooling himself if he thinks 2008 was a success. You had 2 1st Round picks and the only player who saw a 2nd contract was a 5th Round Nickelback. That's a bad class.

 

[TheSport78]

All this does is confirm how much of an idiot Jerry Jones is.

 

[Nav22]

Yeah, they were just misses not busts.

Wrong again.

 

[speedkilz88]

19 of 31 of those 1st rounders are not with their original team.


11Miami Dolphins Jake Long† FA St. Louis Rams
12St. Louis Rams Chris Long†
13Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan†
14Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden
15Kansas City Chiefs Glenn Dorsey FA San Francisco 49ers
16New York Jets Vernon Gholston OUT OF NFL
17New Orleans Saints Sedrick Ellis FA Still unsigned
18Jacksonville Jaguars Derrick Harvey OUT OF NFL
19Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers TRADED TO NYG 5TH ROUND PICK
110New England Patriots Jerod Mayo†
111Buffalo Bills Leodis McKelvin
112Denver Broncos Ryan Clady† FRANCHISE TAG
113Carolina Panthers Jonathan Stewart
114Chicago Bears Chris Williams CUT - SIGNED BY ST LOUIS RAMS
115Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert FRANCHISE TAG
116Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie†TRADED TO EAGLES-FA-DENVER BRONCOS
117Detroit Lions Gosder Cherilus FA INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
118Baltimore RavensJoe Flacco
119Carolina Panthers Jeff Otah CUT OUT OF NFL
120Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aqib Talib TRADED NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
121Atlanta Falcons Sam Baker
122Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones FA STILL UNSIGNED
123Pittsburgh Steelers Rashard Mendenhall FA ARIZONA CARDINALS
124Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson†
125Dallas Cowboys Mike Jenkins† FA OAKLAND RAIDERS
126Houston Texans Duane Brown†
127San Diego Chargers Antoine Cason FA ARIZONA CARDINALS
128Seattle Seahawks Lawrence Jackson TRADED TO DETROIT LIONS - 6TH ROUND PICK
129San Francisco 49ers Kentwan Balmer TRADED - OUT OF NFL
130New York Jets Dustin Keller FA MIAMI DOLPHINS
131New York Giants Kenny Phillips FA PHILADEPHIA EAGLES

 

[Nav22]

19 of 31 of those 1st rounders are not with their original team.


11Miami Dolphins Jake Long† FA St. Louis Rams
12St. Louis Rams Chris Long†
13Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan†
14Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden
15Kansas City Chiefs Glenn Dorsey FA San Francisco 49ers
16New York Jets Vernon Gholston OUT OF NFL
17New Orleans Saints Sedrick Ellis FA Still unsigned
18Jacksonville Jaguars Derrick Harvey OUT OF NFL
19Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers TRADED TO NYG 5TH ROUND PICK
110New England Patriots Jerod Mayo†
111Buffalo Bills Leodis McKelvin
112Denver Broncos Ryan Clady† FRANCHISE TAG
113Carolina Panthers Jonathan Stewart
114Chicago Bears Chris Williams CUT - SIGNED BY ST LOUIS RAMS
115Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert FRANCHISE TAG
116Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie†TRADED TO EAGLES-FA-DENVER BRONCOS
117Detroit Lions Gosder Cherilus FA INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
118Baltimore RavensJoe Flacco
119Carolina Panthers Jeff Otah CUT OUT OF NFL
120Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aqib Talib TRADED NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
121Atlanta Falcons Sam Baker
122Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones FA STILL UNSIGNED
123Pittsburgh Steelers Rashard Mendenhall FA ARIZONA CARDINALS
124Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson†
125Dallas Cowboys Mike Jenkins† FA OAKLAND RAIDERS
126Houston Texans Duane Brown†
127San Diego Chargers Antoine Cason FA ARIZONA CARDINALS
128Seattle Seahawks Lawrence Jackson TRADED TO DETROIT LIONS - 6TH ROUND PICK
129San Francisco 49ers Kentwan Balmer TRADED - OUT OF NFL
130New York Jets Dustin Keller FA MIAMI DOLPHINS
131New York Giants Kenny Phillips FA PHILADEPHIA EAGLES

Shhhhhh!!!

Don't interrupt a good ol' Jerry-bashing with dem dere facts!

 

[mmillman]

Shhhhhh!!!

Don't interrupt a good ol' Jerry-bashing with dem dere facts!

Carpenter
Jones
Jenkins

=zero with the Cowboys. Them dere is the facts.

 

[Hoofbite]

Jenkins was okay. Up and down pretty much all the time.

Felix was basically always a guy in "waiting" and never really did anything with it. Couple games here or there and maybe a decent stretch but that's about it.

Not busts but any time a team doesn't have a lot of interest in re-signing a guy there's a little to be desired.

 

[Nav22]

Carpenter
Jones
Jenkins

=zero with the Cowboys. Them dere is the facts.

Carpenter? Sorry, I thought we were talking about 2008. Because we were.

I'm also sorry if your expectation-level for late 1st rounders is unreasonably high. Because it is.

Jones and Jenkins were typical of late 1st rounders. Not big-time "hits" but also not even close to being busts. Decent/solid players who saw time as starters and lasted their entire rookie contracts with the team that drafted them.

And it's not like their careers are over... they'll both be entering their 6th NFL season with their 2nd team, assuming someone picks Jones up.

If you expected much more than that from late 1st rounders, you haven't paid much attention to the rest of the league. Simple as that.

 

[gimmesix]

19 of 31 of those 1st rounders are not with their original team.

Such is the nature of the draft.

There are more misses than hits.

Doesn't mean Dallas shouldn't do a better job, but it's not as easy as most want to make it out to be.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

19 of 31 of those 1st rounders are not with their original team.


11Miami Dolphins Jake Long† FA St. Louis Rams
12St. Louis Rams Chris Long†
13Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan†
14Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden
15Kansas City Chiefs Glenn Dorsey FA San Francisco 49ers
16New York Jets Vernon Gholston OUT OF NFL
17New Orleans Saints Sedrick Ellis FA Still unsigned
18Jacksonville Jaguars Derrick Harvey OUT OF NFL
19Cincinnati Bengals Keith Rivers TRADED TO NYG 5TH ROUND PICK
110New England Patriots Jerod Mayo†
111Buffalo Bills Leodis McKelvin
112Denver Broncos Ryan Clady† FRANCHISE TAG
113Carolina Panthers Jonathan Stewart
114Chicago Bears Chris Williams CUT - SIGNED BY ST LOUIS RAMS
115Kansas City Chiefs Branden Albert FRANCHISE TAG
116Arizona Cardinals Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie†TRADED TO EAGLES-FA-DENVER BRONCOS
117Detroit Lions Gosder Cherilus FA INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
118Baltimore RavensJoe Flacco
119Carolina Panthers Jeff Otah CUT OUT OF NFL
120Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aqib Talib TRADED NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
121Atlanta Falcons Sam Baker
122Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones FA STILL UNSIGNED
123Pittsburgh Steelers Rashard Mendenhall FA ARIZONA CARDINALS
124Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson†
125Dallas Cowboys Mike Jenkins† FA OAKLAND RAIDERS
126Houston Texans Duane Brown†
127San Diego Chargers Antoine Cason FA ARIZONA CARDINALS
128Seattle Seahawks Lawrence Jackson TRADED TO DETROIT LIONS - 6TH ROUND PICK
129San Francisco 49ers Kentwan Balmer TRADED - OUT OF NFL
130New York Jets Dustin Keller FA MIAMI DOLPHINS
131New York Giants Kenny Phillips FA PHILADEPHIA EAGLES

Fantastic post. This is why I crack up when people say that we need to draft a specific position in a specific round. Positions come and go, and only talent remains.

 

[SMCowboy]

Carpenter
Jones
Jenkins

=zero with the Cowboys. Them dere is the facts.

Welcome to the world of Free Agency.

You get a player that plays out his entire rookie contract with a team, you did a good job. No, we didn't land a superstar in the draft, but after 5 years, you are no longer going to be getting the "rookie discount" so unless you did an exceptional job of drafting and landed a superstar that you can build your franchise around, it really doesn't matter if you resign your draft picks, or pickup an equal or better replacement in FA.

Here are some more FACTS for you, there are only 23 teams that still have a player currently on the team from the 2008 NFL draft, and the Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams. And of the 23 teams that have atleast one player still on the roster from the 2008 NFL draft only only 12 teams have more than 1 player.

 

[Future]

Carpenter
Jones
Jenkins

=zero with the Cowboys. Them dere is the facts.

In what way is 0 a fact?