CFZ Please remind me, why did we cut Mike White?

[kskboys]

Our former 2018 fifth round pick started today for the New York Jets and his numbers were 22-28-315-3TD-0INT.

In 2018 the Cowboys kept two quarterbacks as Dak Prescott started and played every down that season.

The quarterback they decided to keep was Cooper Rush, no argument there. However, they found nothing in Mike White that made them decide to keep both White and Rush.

The Cowboys cut Cooper rush before the season and nobody wanted him, which allowed him to be on the practice squad, available to activate if needed.

White ended up on the Jets practice squad and, due to injuries to the other QB's he actually started a game in 2021 against the Bengals, the eventual conference champion.

White threw for over 400 yards in his first start and the Jets upset the Bengals.

I think this is a classic example of excellent evaluation by the scouts and poor evaluation by the coaches.

It's not the first time in Cowboys history, I'm thinking of posting a list of players that the Cowboys cut only to have really good careers.

It would include guys like 1983 second round pick LB Mike Walter, 1978 second round pick RB Todd Christiensen, 1992 second round draft pick Jimmy Smith, 1977 tenth round pick, QB Steve Deberg, and 1970 third round pick LB Steve Kiner. There are a lot of interesting stories there.

Because we're stupid.

Great arm, raw QB. Cutting him was just dumb.

Brian Waters.

 

[CWR]

Our former 2018 fifth round pick started today for the New York Jets and his numbers were 22-28-315-3TD-0INT.

In 2018 the Cowboys kept two quarterbacks as Dak Prescott started and played every down that season.

The quarterback they decided to keep was Cooper Rush, no argument there. However, they found nothing in Mike White that made them decide to keep both White and Rush.

The Cowboys cut Cooper rush before the season and nobody wanted him, which allowed him to be on the practice squad, available to activate if needed.

White ended up on the Jets practice squad and, due to injuries to the other QB's he actually started a game in 2021 against the Bengals, the eventual conference champion.

White threw for over 400 yards in his first start and the Jets upset the Bengals.

I think this is a classic example of excellent evaluation by the scouts and poor evaluation by the coaches.

It's not the first time in Cowboys history, I'm thinking of posting a list of players that the Cowboys cut only to have really good careers.

It would include guys like 1983 second round pick LB Mike Walter, 1978 second round pick RB Todd Christiensen, 1992 second round draft pick Jimmy Smith, 1977 tenth round pick, QB Steve Deberg, and 1970 third round pick LB Steve Kiner. There are a lot of interesting stories there.

The Jimmy Smith one stung me for awhile too.

 

[Section446]

They didn't want to make Dak look bad.

 

[OmerV]

Our former 2018 fifth round pick started today for the New York Jets and his numbers were 22-28-315-3TD-0INT.

In 2018 the Cowboys kept two quarterbacks as Dak Prescott started and played every down that season.

The quarterback they decided to keep was Cooper Rush, no argument there. However, they found nothing in Mike White that made them decide to keep both White and Rush.

The Cowboys cut Cooper rush before the season and nobody wanted him, which allowed him to be on the practice squad, available to activate if needed.

White ended up on the Jets practice squad and, due to injuries to the other QB's he actually started a game in 2021 against the Bengals, the eventual conference champion.

White threw for over 400 yards in his first start and the Jets upset the Bengals.

I think this is a classic example of excellent evaluation by the scouts and poor evaluation by the coaches.

It's not the first time in Cowboys history, I'm thinking of posting a list of players that the Cowboys cut only to have really good careers.

It would include guys like 1983 second round pick LB Mike Walter, 1978 second round pick RB Todd Christiensen, 1992 second round draft pick Jimmy Smith, 1977 tenth round pick, QB Steve Deberg, and 1970 third round pick LB Steve Kiner. There are a lot of interesting stories there.

He actually started 3 games in 2021, and played the majority of a 4th game. The one you mentioned was the only good one. Even in that one he threw 2 picks, but it was overall a strong game.

But realistically, it's not as if the Jets saw in him what he did last weekend. He's been a practice squad guy in the NFL for most of 4+ years. The Jets have had one of the most fluid QB situations for decades - probably only the Browns have been through more QB's. But even with that, until last week White wasn't actually considered a candidate for the active roster, much less a starters role, except when injuries dictated it. Even then it was just taking a shot on someone knew because Zach Wilson sucked so bad. If not for the changed rules regarding the practice squad as a result of Covid he may not even have lasted this long

That said, he did have a damn impressive game this last weekend. But one game is hardly a pattern. Let's see over time how it plays out. If he continues to be outstanding we will have to accept the Cowboys missed on him.

 

[jterrell]

I have thought about the situation with Jimmy Smith a bit. I pulled this from Wikipedia. Granted that site could have a bias. Yet this story seems to ring true.

This had nothing to do with talent. It had to do with egos and a player demanding to be treated fairly, one would assume. With the wealth of talent the team possessed at the time, and the fact the player was pushing back - even though his reasons were justified - to me, this is another incident where success made decision makers think they were bullet proof.

One might make the case the Cowboys are still suffering from that hubris from all the way back to 1995.


Dallas Cowboys[edit]
Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (36th overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft. He missed the first four games after he broke his right fibula during the Dallas Blue-White Scrimmage on July 19. After missing ample time during the season, he was listed as the fourth wide receiver on the Dallas Cowboys' depth chart, behind Michael Irvin, Alvin Harper, and Kelvin Martin. On October 11, he made his professional regular season debut during a 27–0 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. In a Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Smith had the highlight of his rookie year, tackling Deion Sanders during a punt return in a 41–17 victory. He played in just seven games as a special-teamer, without registering a reception. The Cowboys finished first in the NFC East, with a 13–3 record. On January 10, 1993, he appeared in his first career playoff game during the Cowboys' 34–10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, playing on special teams. Smith earned the first ring of his career as a rookie, after the Cowboys went on to Super Bowl XXVII and defeated the Buffalo Bills 52–17.

In 1993, he was leading the team in pre-season (13) and receiving yards (197), while competing for the role as the third wide receiver that was left open with the departure in free agency of Kelvin Martin, behind Irvin and Harper. On August 21, Smith began feeling a pain in his abdominal area and brought it to the attention of two trainers and the team doctor, J.D. Zamarano, and was given Pepto Bismol, Maalox, and Tagamet. He played in the next preseason game and caught a touchdown reception, and was waved back in by a coach after taking himself out from taking a hit to the abdominal area that worsened the pain. Over the next few days, he repeatedly brought the pain to the attention of the trainers and wasn't given adequate care or the correct diagnosis. He asked to be directed to a doctor and was told to see the team doctor who gave him a checkup and took him to see the team surgeon, who finally diagnosed him with appendicitis. On August 24, 1993, he underwent an emergency appendectomy. The following day, the surgeon released him from the hospital, notwithstanding a 102.5 °F (39.2 °C) fever. On August 27, Smith was readmitted to the hospital after waking up in severe pain, vomiting and with a bloated stomach, because of a severe post-surgical infection that was nearly fatal. He went into emergency surgery for an ileostomy, in which a portion of his intestine was dissected and removed, with an external bag then fitted to collect his fecal matter, forcing Smith to miss the entire season, including Super Bowl XXVIII.[4] On October 2, the Cowboys placed him on the non-football illness list and opted not to pay his entire $350,000 salary for the 1993 season, as well as his insurance, pension, and free agent credits, instead making Smith an offer of $100,000 and no credits, which he declined.[5] The NFL Players Association filed a grievance with the Cowboys on Smith's behalf, alleging that he was due his full salary, which he won after going through arbitration.[6]

On July 11, 1994, he was waived after refusing to take a pay cut.

Jimmy Smith was severely injured during his abbreviated Dallas stay .
He has said himself since that he would have cut himself too.

Mike White wasn't long for this team when he was played in pre-season.
The team didn't want to carry three active QBs and felt Cooper Rush had mightily outplayed Mike.

://sportdfw.com/2019/08/22/dallas-cowboys-backup-quarterback-mike-white-is-done-in-dallas/

 

[plasticman]

He actually started 3 games in 2021, and played the majority of a 4th game. The one you mentioned was the only good one. Even in that one he threw 2 picks, but it was overall a strong game.

But realistically, it's not as if the Jets saw in him what he did last weekend. He's been a practice squad guy in the NFL for most of 4+ years. The Jets have had one of the most fluid QB situations for decades - probably only the Browns have been through more QB's. But even with that, until last week White wasn't actually considered a candidate for the active roster, much less a starters role, except when injuries dictated it. Even then it was just taking a shot on someone knew because Zach Wilson sucked so bad. If not for the changed rules regarding the practice squad as a result of Covid he may not even have lasted this long

That said, he did have a damn impressive game this last weekend. But one game is hardly a pattern. Let's see over time how it plays out. If he continues to be outstanding we will have to accept the Cowboys missed on him.

A well balanced perspective.....noted.

 

[dogunwo]

He has been very bad this season

This board guaranteed that Wilson was going to have a great career and be the best QB in that class. Oops.

 

[mattjames2010]

I thought White had great footwork and mechanics in his game against the Bears. But it was just the Bears and some of those WRs were wide open and he had very little pressure.

Hopefully the Jets have found a QB - it's embarrassing how long they've gone without a quality one.

 

[DeaconMoss]

He took too many strip sacks in preseason and looked extremely green and sloppy with ball control. Ergo, he was cut in favor of Rush.

Our former 2018 fifth round pick started today for the New York Jets and his numbers were 22-28-315-3TD-0INT.

In 2018 the Cowboys kept two quarterbacks as Dak Prescott started and played every down that season.

The quarterback they decided to keep was Cooper Rush, no argument there. However, they found nothing in Mike White that made them decide to keep both White and Rush.

The Cowboys cut Cooper rush before the season and nobody wanted him, which allowed him to be on the practice squad, available to activate if needed.

White ended up on the Jets practice squad and, due to injuries to the other QB's he actually started a game in 2021 against the Bengals, the eventual conference champion.

White threw for over 400 yards in his first start and the Jets upset the Bengals.

I think this is a classic example of excellent evaluation by the scouts and poor evaluation by the coaches.

It's not the first time in Cowboys history, I'm thinking of posting a list of players that the Cowboys cut only to have really good careers.

It would include guys like 1983 second round pick LB Mike Walter, 1978 second round pick RB Todd Christiensen, 1992 second round draft pick Jimmy Smith, 1977 tenth round pick, QB Steve Deberg, and 1970 third round pick LB Steve Kiner. There are a lot of interesting stories there.

Imagine being Mike White and looking yourself in the Mirror and saying those dumb 888 coaches cut me over Dak and Rush.

 

[Captain-Crash]

he would not let dak win in throwing contests after practice.

 

[Doomsday101]

White never showed much, not a lot of people here felt he was worth anything but like many players they continue to work and develop. I'm happy for White and happy with the job Rush has done in Dallas.

 

[AbeBeta]

Yes, I know what happened. Problem is, he was atrociously good today.

Romo didn't throw his first official NFL pass until his fourth season. I wonder what it was that made them feel White wasn't worth the same development.

Because, obviously whatever it was, they were wrong.

Romo got those years of development because he had a huge fan in offensive coordinator Sean Payton and also had good preseason performances.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Check out this throw break down by Mike White...

https://youtube.com/shorts/gF6lGWew9J4?feature=share

 

[Risen Star]

They didn't want to make Dak look bad.

Winner.

 

[Risen Star]

I thought White had great footwork and mechanics in his game against the Bears. But it was just the Bears and some of those WRs were wide open and he had very little pressure.

Hopefully the Jets have found a QB - it's embarrassing how long they've gone without a quality one.

Fingers crossed for your Jets.

 

[America's Cowboy]

This board guaranteed that Wilson was going to have a great career and be the best QB in that class. Oops.

Just proves how dumb this board is. So when they keep on castigating Dak and begging for a 1st round QB draft pick, one only has to remind oneself of incidents like this of how wrong this board gets it.

 

[Captain-Crash]

dang, let's make fun of Mike White to try to make dak appear better. wow, just wow

 

[OmerV]

dang, let's make fun of Mike White to try to make dak appear better. wow, just wow

Who's making fun of Mike White? Seems like you're making that up to try and make Dak appear worse.

The reality is Mike White & Dak have next to nothing to do with each other. Even if White does well now, he wasn't ready back then.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Because we're stupid.

Great arm, raw QB. Cutting him was just dumb.

Brian Waters.

Wait until he plays a real team again. He looked awful last year when he played an adequate defense

 

[OmerV]

Jimmy Smith was severely injured during his abbreviated Dallas stay .
He has said himself since that he would have cut himself too.

Mike White wasn't long for this team when he was played in pre-season.
The team didn't want to carry three active QBs and felt Cooper Rush had mightily outplayed Mike.

://sportdfw.com/2019/08/22/dallas-cowboys-backup-quarterback-mike-white-is-done-in-dallas/

Another thing to remember is that Smith as signed, then later cut by the Eagles after he was cut by the Cowboys. He just needed to get healthy and in the right situation.