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REASON FOR HOPE
Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Junior Aumavae? Scott Sicko? Undrafted rookies can be encouraged by the Cowboys' recent success.
by Ken Sins
Prized draft picks Dez Bryant and Sean Lee were microphone magnets during the recent rookie minicamp. Can Bryant make an immediate impact on the Cowboys' passing game? Will Lee contribute as a nickel linebacker, on special teams, and perhaps even push for a starting job?
Simultaneously, the Cowboys got long looks at several intriguing rookie free-agent prospects. Each believes he should have been drafted, so all of them have an underdog tale to tell.
There's a chance at least a few secure roster spots. The Cowboys have a rich history of undrafted rookies going on to become NFL contributors. Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Stephen Bowen, Kevin Ogletree and Mat McBriar are examples on the contemporary Cowboys. They followed in the footsteps of Drew Pearson, Bill Bates, Mark Tuinei, Everson Walls, Michael Downs, Dan Reeves, Pettis Norman and many others.
"They have a good history, and I did my own research before I picked this team," former Colorado State wide receiver Rashaun Greer says. "Those players had good careers, so there's hope for me."
That's always been part of the Cowboys' sales pitch to talented college players who've fallen through the cracks of the draft.
"We have a great track record here with this organization of free-agent players making our team and having success," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett says. "We tell them right from the start that it doesn't matter where you came from, it doesn't matter how you got in this room. We're going to evaluate and we're going to try our best to play the right guys and keep the right guys. It's all merit-based."
No one among the current class of 18 undrafted rookies has more incentive than nose tackle Junior Aumavae, the pride of Palmer, Alaska. His goal is to help make a better life for his extended family back home.
Aumavae was born in American Samoa, and the ever-growing clan relocated to Washington state. Their house burned to the ground, however, and he recalls, "We were pretty much homeless, 15 of us. But we got help from some people who'd moved up to Alaska."
Life wasn't a whole lot easier in Palmer, 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, but it was better than being homeless.
"We lived in a three-bedroom apartment, all 15 of us," Aumavae says. "When I was in high school I slept in the living room and on the kitchen floor. The little kids were in the bedrooms."
Aumavae didn't even play football until his sophomore year of high school. He proved to be a quick study and by his senior year he was named Alaska's large-school lineman of the year as an offensive guard and defensive end. He was recruited by some Division I powers, but his academic record wasn't good enough to qualify and he ended up at Western Washington, where he starred until the football program was dropped after the 2008 season. Aumavae transferred to Minnesota State- Mankato, earning Northern Sun All-Conference honors and being named Newcomer of the Year in his final college season as the Mavericks compiled a 10-2 record, hosting the first playoff game in school history.
Despite the early academic struggles, he's earned his degree from Minnesota State, and now is trying to continue his success story by becoming the first Palmer High School Moose to make an NFL roster. Aumavae considered free-agent offers from the Colts, Patriots and Browns before opting for a shot at backing up Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff. He'll battle fellow American Samoa native Junior Siavii, who held the job with the Cowboys last season.
The history of success with undrafted rookies made the Cowboys' offer hard to pass up.
"They made it clear that nobody has a spot guaranteed, and that's good for everybody," Aumavae says. "It was the best fit for me, nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. I'm pretty heavy with light feet, so I feel like I can do a good job here."
New Hampshire tight end Scott Sicko nearly passed on the opportunity to try out for the Cowboys. Upset that he wasn't drafted, Sicko initially turned down a deal with Dallas that his agent negotiated a few hours after the draft ended. He'd had 50 or more catches in each of his final three seasons at New Hampshire and was rather put off that nobody was willing to invest even a seventh-round pick on him. So Sicko told his representative that he'd rather go back to school. He'll earn his bachelor's in history from New Hampshire later this month, but he also wanted a B.A. in political science and a master's in history, aiming toward either a job in law enforcement or a professorship.
But he reconsidered his position. After all, plenty of talented players who've gone undrafted have advanced to the next level, proving personnel experts wrong. On second thought, Sicko decided to give the NFL a whirl, becoming the last rookie free agent to agree to terms with the Cowboys.
"I was real nervous because I'd never seen anyone go through the whole process of going to the NFL from the University of New Hampshire," Sicko says. "At the time, I was acting on emotions rather than thinking things through and what was best for me. After stepping back from the situation and letting my emotions calm down, it was really flattering to see the Cowboys sticking with me. It's an amazing organization. It was definitely the best decision for me and I'm excited to be here."
Sicko is still serious about going back to school. He plans on eventually taking online courses, but all that will wait until this plays out.
"Those are amazing players and you're very aware of their careers and successes,'' he says of previous undrafted rookies who've made it. "It's easy to look up to those guys and the examples that they've set for a lot of free agents and kids like me growing up."
Sicko has size (6-4, 251), he can run, and he's got good hands. His versatility is also a plus. The Cowboys want to look at him as an H-back, and he was given a shot at deep-snapping during special teams drills.
Garrett got involved in helping convince Sicko to sign with the Cowboys.
"He's a guy that we liked and we kind of targeted," Garrett says. "We only had six picks and there are a lot more than six guys that you want. So there are a number of guys that you start talking to as potential guys that you might draft late or sign as a free agent. We have that whole process with our assistant coaches and our scouts, and like I did with a number of other players, I just said, 'Hey, do you mind if I give him a call and talk him through and tell him what our situation is?'
"Really, that's what you're trying to do with these guys is convince them that this is a good place for them, this place fits what they can do, the numbers are right, whatever the case may be for the specific player. That's what my role is, that's what our assistant coaches' roles are, that's what our scouts' roles are. Just to inform them and make them feel like this is a good place for them."
There are many routes that can end with a locker at Valley Ranch. Take the case of Matt Nichols from Eastern Washington.
The Cowboys needed a quarterback for rookie camp since Stephen McGee was on last season's active roster, making him ineligible. So they signed the little-known Nichols, who passed for 12,616 yards during his four years at Eastern Washington and placed fourth in voting for the 2009 Walter Payton Award for Football Championship Subdivision players. Nichols knows he's a long-shot, but the more practice reps he gets, the better his chances will be to prove himself in a preseason game and beyond.
"It's good to get an opportunity," Nichols says. "Coming from a 1-AA school, it's hard to get the exposure. You're not on ESPN. So this is big for me and I've got to take advantage of it. It helps coming to a place like this."
At the close of the rookie minicamp, coach Wade Phillips singled out four more undrafted kids who caught his eye: defensive lineman Lorenzo Washington, offensive tackle Mike Tepper, and safeties Barry Church and Danny McCray.
They're all in the mix, ready to show that having your name called during the draft isn't the only route to NFL employment.
"You look for where your best opportunity is going to be," Nichols says. "When you make that decision, you have people saying this will be a very good opportunity to come and show what you can do."
2010 UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
P/K Delbert Alvarado, South Florida
NT Junior Aumavae, Minnesota State
T Will Barker, Virginia
S Barry Church, Toledo
G/C Phil Costa, Maryland
WR Rashaun Greer, Colorado State
FB Chris Gronkowski, Arizona
WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon
CB Bryan McCann, Southern Methodist
S Danny McCray, Louisiana State
RB Lonyae Miller, Fresno State
QB Matt Nichols, Eastern Washington
TE Scott Sicko, New Hampshire
G/C Chet Teofilo, California
T Mike Tepper, California
TE Nick Tow-Arnett, Minnesota
WR Verran Tucker, California
DE Lorenzo Washington, Alabama
Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine, May, 2010
Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Junior Aumavae? Scott Sicko? Undrafted rookies can be encouraged by the Cowboys' recent success.
by Ken Sins
Prized draft picks Dez Bryant and Sean Lee were microphone magnets during the recent rookie minicamp. Can Bryant make an immediate impact on the Cowboys' passing game? Will Lee contribute as a nickel linebacker, on special teams, and perhaps even push for a starting job?
Simultaneously, the Cowboys got long looks at several intriguing rookie free-agent prospects. Each believes he should have been drafted, so all of them have an underdog tale to tell.
There's a chance at least a few secure roster spots. The Cowboys have a rich history of undrafted rookies going on to become NFL contributors. Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Stephen Bowen, Kevin Ogletree and Mat McBriar are examples on the contemporary Cowboys. They followed in the footsteps of Drew Pearson, Bill Bates, Mark Tuinei, Everson Walls, Michael Downs, Dan Reeves, Pettis Norman and many others.
"They have a good history, and I did my own research before I picked this team," former Colorado State wide receiver Rashaun Greer says. "Those players had good careers, so there's hope for me."
That's always been part of the Cowboys' sales pitch to talented college players who've fallen through the cracks of the draft.
"We have a great track record here with this organization of free-agent players making our team and having success," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett says. "We tell them right from the start that it doesn't matter where you came from, it doesn't matter how you got in this room. We're going to evaluate and we're going to try our best to play the right guys and keep the right guys. It's all merit-based."
No one among the current class of 18 undrafted rookies has more incentive than nose tackle Junior Aumavae, the pride of Palmer, Alaska. His goal is to help make a better life for his extended family back home.
Aumavae was born in American Samoa, and the ever-growing clan relocated to Washington state. Their house burned to the ground, however, and he recalls, "We were pretty much homeless, 15 of us. But we got help from some people who'd moved up to Alaska."
Life wasn't a whole lot easier in Palmer, 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, but it was better than being homeless.
"We lived in a three-bedroom apartment, all 15 of us," Aumavae says. "When I was in high school I slept in the living room and on the kitchen floor. The little kids were in the bedrooms."
Aumavae didn't even play football until his sophomore year of high school. He proved to be a quick study and by his senior year he was named Alaska's large-school lineman of the year as an offensive guard and defensive end. He was recruited by some Division I powers, but his academic record wasn't good enough to qualify and he ended up at Western Washington, where he starred until the football program was dropped after the 2008 season. Aumavae transferred to Minnesota State- Mankato, earning Northern Sun All-Conference honors and being named Newcomer of the Year in his final college season as the Mavericks compiled a 10-2 record, hosting the first playoff game in school history.
Despite the early academic struggles, he's earned his degree from Minnesota State, and now is trying to continue his success story by becoming the first Palmer High School Moose to make an NFL roster. Aumavae considered free-agent offers from the Colts, Patriots and Browns before opting for a shot at backing up Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff. He'll battle fellow American Samoa native Junior Siavii, who held the job with the Cowboys last season.
The history of success with undrafted rookies made the Cowboys' offer hard to pass up.
"They made it clear that nobody has a spot guaranteed, and that's good for everybody," Aumavae says. "It was the best fit for me, nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. I'm pretty heavy with light feet, so I feel like I can do a good job here."
New Hampshire tight end Scott Sicko nearly passed on the opportunity to try out for the Cowboys. Upset that he wasn't drafted, Sicko initially turned down a deal with Dallas that his agent negotiated a few hours after the draft ended. He'd had 50 or more catches in each of his final three seasons at New Hampshire and was rather put off that nobody was willing to invest even a seventh-round pick on him. So Sicko told his representative that he'd rather go back to school. He'll earn his bachelor's in history from New Hampshire later this month, but he also wanted a B.A. in political science and a master's in history, aiming toward either a job in law enforcement or a professorship.
But he reconsidered his position. After all, plenty of talented players who've gone undrafted have advanced to the next level, proving personnel experts wrong. On second thought, Sicko decided to give the NFL a whirl, becoming the last rookie free agent to agree to terms with the Cowboys.
"I was real nervous because I'd never seen anyone go through the whole process of going to the NFL from the University of New Hampshire," Sicko says. "At the time, I was acting on emotions rather than thinking things through and what was best for me. After stepping back from the situation and letting my emotions calm down, it was really flattering to see the Cowboys sticking with me. It's an amazing organization. It was definitely the best decision for me and I'm excited to be here."
Sicko is still serious about going back to school. He plans on eventually taking online courses, but all that will wait until this plays out.
"Those are amazing players and you're very aware of their careers and successes,'' he says of previous undrafted rookies who've made it. "It's easy to look up to those guys and the examples that they've set for a lot of free agents and kids like me growing up."
Sicko has size (6-4, 251), he can run, and he's got good hands. His versatility is also a plus. The Cowboys want to look at him as an H-back, and he was given a shot at deep-snapping during special teams drills.
Garrett got involved in helping convince Sicko to sign with the Cowboys.
"He's a guy that we liked and we kind of targeted," Garrett says. "We only had six picks and there are a lot more than six guys that you want. So there are a number of guys that you start talking to as potential guys that you might draft late or sign as a free agent. We have that whole process with our assistant coaches and our scouts, and like I did with a number of other players, I just said, 'Hey, do you mind if I give him a call and talk him through and tell him what our situation is?'
"Really, that's what you're trying to do with these guys is convince them that this is a good place for them, this place fits what they can do, the numbers are right, whatever the case may be for the specific player. That's what my role is, that's what our assistant coaches' roles are, that's what our scouts' roles are. Just to inform them and make them feel like this is a good place for them."
There are many routes that can end with a locker at Valley Ranch. Take the case of Matt Nichols from Eastern Washington.
The Cowboys needed a quarterback for rookie camp since Stephen McGee was on last season's active roster, making him ineligible. So they signed the little-known Nichols, who passed for 12,616 yards during his four years at Eastern Washington and placed fourth in voting for the 2009 Walter Payton Award for Football Championship Subdivision players. Nichols knows he's a long-shot, but the more practice reps he gets, the better his chances will be to prove himself in a preseason game and beyond.
"It's good to get an opportunity," Nichols says. "Coming from a 1-AA school, it's hard to get the exposure. You're not on ESPN. So this is big for me and I've got to take advantage of it. It helps coming to a place like this."
At the close of the rookie minicamp, coach Wade Phillips singled out four more undrafted kids who caught his eye: defensive lineman Lorenzo Washington, offensive tackle Mike Tepper, and safeties Barry Church and Danny McCray.
They're all in the mix, ready to show that having your name called during the draft isn't the only route to NFL employment.
"You look for where your best opportunity is going to be," Nichols says. "When you make that decision, you have people saying this will be a very good opportunity to come and show what you can do."
2010 UNDRAFTED ROOKIES
P/K Delbert Alvarado, South Florida
NT Junior Aumavae, Minnesota State
T Will Barker, Virginia
S Barry Church, Toledo
G/C Phil Costa, Maryland
WR Rashaun Greer, Colorado State
FB Chris Gronkowski, Arizona
WR Terrell Hudgins, Elon
CB Bryan McCann, Southern Methodist
S Danny McCray, Louisiana State
RB Lonyae Miller, Fresno State
QB Matt Nichols, Eastern Washington
TE Scott Sicko, New Hampshire
G/C Chet Teofilo, California
T Mike Tepper, California
TE Nick Tow-Arnett, Minnesota
WR Verran Tucker, California
DE Lorenzo Washington, Alabama
Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine, May, 2010
