Question regarding Randy Moss and that Draft

[cobra]

Maybe my wise fellow fans can shed some light on the whole "passing on Randy Moss" thing.

Randy Moss was selected 21st in the 1998 NFL draft.

That means that 19 other teams saw the same things as the Cowboys and passed on him.

So let me ask you this: why does the discussion of Randy Moss' draft position always seem to be that the Cowboys specifically passed on him. There just seems to be some sort of focus on the Cowboys. As if they had a greater duty or made the important call on Moss or that somehow the Cowboys passing on him was more of a mistake than the other 19 teams that did so, too.

Why is that?

Why was it such a mistake for the Cowboys specifically?

Heck, the Cowboys went DE, an important position. The silly Titans went WR and passed on Moss.

So can someone give me an insight into that draft and why it was considered such a big deal for the Cowboys to pass on Moss as opposed to

• all the other players we passed on over the years that turned out great... even better than Moss, such as Montana, Walter Payton, and on and on. There are Hall of Fame Players that the Cowboys didn't draft, but for some reason everyone complains about Moss. In 1994 we passed on Issac Bruce for Shante Carver, which seems to be a bigger mishap based on what we got out of Carver. How come fans never whine about that?
• the 19 other teams that passed on Moss. Why isn't there the same "vendetta" against all of them?

Any insight would be appreciated. I can't figure out the fixation on Dallas' choice that year and why there is so much self-flagellation over it.


The 1998 NFL Draft:

Round 1
Sel#TeamPlayerPos.School
1 Indianapolis Peyton Manning QB Tennessee
2 San Diego Ryan Leaf QB Washington State
3 Arizona Andre Wadsworth DE Florida State
4 Oakland Charles Woodson CB Michigan
5 Chicago Curtis Enis RB Penn State
6 St. Louis Grant Wistrom DE Nebraska
7 New Orleans Kyle Turley T San Diego State
8 Dallas Greg Ellis DE North Carolina
9 Jacksonville Fred Taylor RB Florida
10 Baltimore Duane Starks CB Miami
11 Philadelphia Tra Thomas T Florida State
12 Atlanta Keith Brooking OLB Georgia Tech
13 Cincinnati Takeo Spikes OLB Auburn
14 Carolina Jason Peter DE Nebraska
15 Seattle Anthony Simmons OLB Clemson
16 Tennessee Kevin Dyson WR Utah
17 Cincinnati Brian Simmons OLB North Carolina
18 New England Robert Edwards RB Georgia
19 Green Bay Vonnie Holliday DT North Carolina
20 Detroit Terry Fair CB Tennessee
21 Minnesota Randy Moss WR Marshall

 

[Alexander]

So let me ask you this: why does the discussion of Randy Moss' draft position always seem to be that the Cowboys specifically passed on him. There just seems to be some sort of focus on the Cowboys. As if they had a greater duty or made the important call on Moss or that somehow the Cowboys passing on him was more of a mistake than the other 19 teams that did so, too.

Well, when all of the rumor leading up to the draft was that we were courting Moss, taking him to dinner, flying people out to meet him, yes.

To say that everyone made a mistake is misleading. Not all of the 19 other teams did what we did regarding Moss in the draft process.

 

[Bizwah]

Maybe my wise fellow fans can shed some light on the whole "passing on Randy Moss" thing.

Randy Moss was selected 21st in the 1998 NFL draft.

That means that 19 other teams saw the same things as the Cowboys and passed on him.

So let me ask you this: why does the discussion of Randy Moss' draft position always seem to be that the Cowboys specifically passed on him. There just seems to be some sort of focus on the Cowboys. As if they had a greater duty or made the important call on Moss or that somehow the Cowboys passing on him was more of a mistake than the other 19 teams that did so, too.

Why is that?

Why was it such a mistake for the Cowboys specifically?

Heck, the Cowboys went DE, an important position. The silly Titans went WR and passed on Moss.

So can someone give me an insight into that draft and why it was considered such a big deal for the Cowboys to pass on Moss as opposed to

• all the other players we passed on over the years that turned out great... even better than Moss, such as Montana, Walter Payton, and on and on. There are Hall of Fame Players that the Cowboys didn't draft, but for some reason everyone complains about Moss. In 1994 we passed on Issac Bruce for Shante Carver, which seems to be a bigger mishap based on what we got out of Carver. How come fans never whine about that?
• the 19 other teams that passed on Moss. Why isn't there the same "vendetta" against all of them?

Any insight would be appreciated. I can't figure out the fixation on Dallas' choice that year and why there is so much self-flagellation over it.


The 1998 NFL Draft:

Round 1
Sel#TeamPlayerPos.School
1IndianapolisPeyton ManningQBTennessee
2San DiegoRyan LeafQBWashington State
3ArizonaAndre WadsworthDEFlorida State
4OaklandCharles WoodsonCBMichigan
5ChicagoCurtis EnisRBPenn State
6St. LouisGrant WistromDENebraska
7New OrleansKyle TurleyTSan Diego State
8DallasGreg EllisDENorth Carolina
9JacksonvilleFred TaylorRBFlorida
10BaltimoreDuane StarksCBMiami
11PhiladelphiaTra ThomasTFlorida State
12AtlantaKeith BrookingOLBGeorgia Tech
13CincinnatiTakeo SpikesOLBAuburn
14CarolinaJason PeterDENebraska
15SeattleAnthony SimmonsOLBClemson
16TennesseeKevin DysonWRUtah
17CincinnatiBrian SimmonsOLBNorth Carolina
18New EnglandRobert EdwardsRBGeorgia
19Green BayVonnie HollidayDTNorth Carolina
20DetroitTerry FairCBTennessee
21MinnesotaRandy MossWRMarshall

I guess it's because we really needed a WR, and everyone knew it.

 

[burmafrd]

BUT they all passed on Moss just like we did. So it is legitimate to say that a lot of other teams supposedly blew it as well.

 

[cobra]

In 1996, we took Clay Shiver over Terrel Owens. In 1994, we took Shante Carver over Issac Bruce. In 2001, we took Tony Dixon over Steve Smith.

It can't just be that we needed a WR and didn't take one. You never hear fans complaining about passing on those guys.

 

[cobra]

By the way, I don't want to seem like I am arguing. I am genuinely curious because I have never understood it at all.

Some draft picks are better than others, and every team passes on players because the draft isn't a perfect science.

But I honestly have never been able to understand teh fixation with that draft pick.

 

[Alexander]

In 1996, we took Clay Shiver over Terrel Owens. In 1994, we took Shante Carver over Issac Bruce. In 2001, we took Tony Dixon over Steve Smith.

It can't just be that we needed a WR and didn't take one. You never hear fans complaining about passing on those guys.

You can do this sort of fruitless cherry-picking in practically every draft, with every team. It's done. Move on.

 

[THUMPER]

I am still upset that we missed out on Keith Brooking in that draft. He was the guy I wanted and couldn't believe he was still there when we were up. Then we passed on him and took Ellis instead, it was very upsetting to me.

Ellis has been a good player for us but he is not a difference maker and that was what we needed. Brooking fit that role much better than Ellis has.

I never wanted Moss just like I never wanted Deion or Owens. I don't like those type of players and don't want them on my team regardless of how talented they might be.

 

[cobra]

In 2001, the Skins needed a WR bad.

They passed on:
Santana Moss
Reggie Wayne
Chad Johnson
Chris Chambers (2x)
Steve Smith (2x)
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (6x)

Instead they got Rod Gardner to fill that need.

Is that considered as big of a blunder?

 

[cobra]

You can do this sort of fruitless cherry-picking in practically every draft, with every team. It's done. Move on.

That's exactly my point. I agree 100% with that statement. Which is why it doesn't make any sense that "Cowboys passing on Moss" is such an undying story.

 

[5Stars]

That's exactly my point. I agree 100% with that statement. Which is why it doesn't make any sense that "Cowboys passing on Moss" is such an undying story.

I think, first of all...it was JJ in charge, and we all know how that turns out!

Another story floating around is, Moss said the JJ called him on draft day and told him that he was going to be drafted by the Boyz. When that did not happen, Moss made a stink out of it to the media...and well, you know what happens when the media get a hold of that information...

 

[Yeagermeister]

Because some people can't get over it

 

[Alexander]

That's exactly my point. I agree 100% with that statement. Which is why it doesn't make any sense that "Cowboys passing on Moss" is such an undying story.

It's different when you state we made a miscue and missed on some talent.

But it was almost a bait and switch in that draft.

I was convinced we were drafting Moss the day I woke up to watch the draft.

Then I heard all about how we were panicking about Lett (and we even considered drafting Reggie McGrew) and the rest is history.

Edit: Nevermind that last paragraph was about our OTHER first round blunder in Ekuban.

 

[Angus]

My recollection is like that of Alexander's. Moss expected to be drafted by the Cowboys, and when he wasn't he was so upset that he vowed to take it out on the team whenever he got a chance -- and he did. Ellis was selected in the spot Moss thought was for him.

 

[lurkercowboy]

That's exactly my point. I agree 100% with that statement. Which is why it doesn't make any sense that "Cowboys passing on Moss" is such an undying story.

Excellent point Cobra.

 

[J-DOG]

That's exactly my point. I agree 100% with that statement. Which is why it doesn't make any sense that "Cowboys passing on Moss" is such an undying story.

I think everyone is looking at this from the Cowboys point of view.
If Moss did not care if the Cowboys picked him or not, then I don't think this story would have stayed around this long.
He obviously did care and throw in the facts that we did court him...The more success Moss had, the great games he had against us and the public comments from Moss about this, has kept this story going.
If Moss was an average wr the story would have died a long time ago.

 

[peplaw06]

The 1998 NFL Draft:

Round 1
Sel#TeamPlayerPos.School
1 Indianapolis Peyton Manning QB Tennessee
2 San Diego Ryan Leaf QB Washington State
3 Arizona Andre Wadsworth DE Florida State
4 Oakland Charles Woodson CB Michigan
5 Chicago Curtis Enis RB Penn State
6 St. Louis Grant Wistrom DE Nebraska
7 New Orleans Kyle Turley T San Diego State
8 Dallas Greg Ellis DE North Carolina
9 Jacksonville Fred Taylor RB Florida
10 Baltimore Duane Starks CB Miami
11 Philadelphia Tra Thomas T Florida State
12 Atlanta Keith Brooking OLB Georgia Tech
13 Cincinnati Takeo Spikes OLB Auburn
14 Carolina Jason Peter DE Nebraska
15 Seattle Anthony Simmons OLB Clemson
16 Tennessee Kevin Dyson WR Utah
17 Cincinnati Brian Simmons OLB North Carolina
18 New England Robert Edwards RB Georgia
19 Green Bay Vonnie Holliday DT North Carolina
20 Detroit Terry Fair CB Tennessee
21 Minnesota Randy Moss WR Marshall

Judging by what the teams in the first 21 drafted and how many of them still have that player on their roster... I say we did just fine. Plus 3 guys taken before Ellis aren't even in the league anymore.

By my count, Manning, Ellis, Taylor, and Brooking are the only ones still with the team that drafted them. Had we drafted Moss I doubt he would still be here. We made some draft mistakes no doubt, but it's hard to complain about this one. I think the whole "Cowboys Passing on Moss" thing is mostly Moss's making... he felt shafted.

 

[Hiero]

not only did we have a huge need at WR, there had been rumors that Jerry really wanted moss.

 

[locked&loaded]

Maybe my wise fellow fans can shed some light on the whole "passing on Randy Moss" thing.

Randy Moss was selected 21st in the 1998 NFL draft.

That means that 19 other teams saw the same things as the Cowboys and passed on him.

So let me ask you this: why does the discussion of Randy Moss' draft position always seem to be that the Cowboys specifically passed on him. There just seems to be some sort of focus on the Cowboys. As if they had a greater duty or made the important call on Moss or that somehow the Cowboys passing on him was more of a mistake than the other 19 teams that did so, too.

Why is that?

Why was it such a mistake for the Cowboys specifically?

Heck, the Cowboys went DE, an important position. The silly Titans went WR and passed on Moss.

So can someone give me an insight into that draft and why it was considered such a big deal for the Cowboys to pass on Moss as opposed to

• all the other players we passed on over the years that turned out great... even better than Moss, such as Montana, Walter Payton, and on and on. There are Hall of Fame Players that the Cowboys didn't draft, but for some reason everyone complains about Moss. In 1994 we passed on Issac Bruce for Shante Carver, which seems to be a bigger mishap based on what we got out of Carver. How come fans never whine about that?
• the 19 other teams that passed on Moss. Why isn't there the same "vendetta" against all of them?

Any insight would be appreciated. I can't figure out the fixation on Dallas' choice that year and why there is so much self-flagellation over it.


The 1998 NFL Draft:

Round 1
Sel#TeamPlayerPos.School
1 Indianapolis Peyton Manning QB Tennessee
2 San Diego Ryan Leaf QB Washington State
3 Arizona Andre Wadsworth DE Florida State
4 Oakland Charles Woodson CB Michigan
5 Chicago Curtis Enis RB Penn State
6 St. Louis Grant Wistrom DE Nebraska
7 New Orleans Kyle Turley T San Diego State
8 Dallas Greg Ellis DE North Carolina
9 Jacksonville Fred Taylor RB Florida
10 Baltimore Duane Starks CB Miami
11 Philadelphia Tra Thomas T Florida State
12 Atlanta Keith Brooking OLB Georgia Tech
13 Cincinnati Takeo Spikes OLB Auburn
14 Carolina Jason Peter DE Nebraska
15 Seattle Anthony Simmons OLB Clemson
16 Tennessee Kevin Dyson WR Utah
17 Cincinnati Brian Simmons OLB North Carolina
18 New England Robert Edwards RB Georgia
19 Green Bay Vonnie Holliday DT North Carolina
20 Detroit Terry Fair CB Tennessee
21 Minnesota Randy Moss WR Marshall

maybe its that moss rips the dallas d apart almost all the time we play him..

 

[SupermanXx]

I am still upset that we missed out on Keith Brooking in that draft. He was the guy I wanted and couldn't believe he was still there when we were up. Then we passed on him and took Ellis instead, it was very upsetting to me.

Ellis has been a good player for us but he is not a difference maker and that was what we needed. Brooking fit that role much better than Ellis has.

I never wanted Moss just like I never wanted Deion or Owens. I don't like those type of players and don't want them on my team regardless of how talented they might be.

well first of all, "thumper", it's not YOUR team

second, what did Deion ever do wrong to "your" team? I clearly recall him being an essential part of the team that won the Super Bowl in 1995

and the jury is still out on Terrell Owens over here, and I doubt he gives a **** whether or not "Thumper" cares for him, and guess what?

We don't either