Report: Manziel was highest rated player on Cowboys board at time of pick

[Bleu Star]

I heard this earlier today and it just got reported on The Ticket here in Dallas: Johnny Manziel was the higfhest-rated player on the Cowboys board when they drafted Martin. They skipped over him due to Romo.

Insane.

Published: May 9, 2014 at 10:28 p.m.
Jerry Jones: Johnny Manziel was No. 1 on my board

Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
It was strangely the moment of the night during Thursday's first round of the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys were on the clock. Johnny Manziel was still on the board. The internet was about to explode.

The Cowboys decided to pass on Manziel, but it wasn't an easy decision. Owner Jerry Jones admitted to reporters Friday that Manziel was the highest rated player on the Cowboys' board at the time. NFL Network's Albert Breer reports that the Cowboys discussed drafting Manziel while they were on the clock.

Ultimately, Jones said, the Cowboys just had too much invested in Tony Romo. (That's largely because of Jones' self-inflict salary cap woes, which forced his hand in Romo's last contract negotiations.)

"It's not the usual development guy behind an accomplished quarterback. He's a celebrity. He's Elvis Presley," Jones said via ESPNDallas.com.

So Jones ignored value because Manziel is a celebrity? Welcome to bizarro Dallas.

The latest "Around The League Podcast" provided instant reaction to all the wild happenings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

 

[KB1122]

I wonder if he was the #1 player overall, like McShay reported.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I heard this earlier today and it just got reported on The Ticket here in Dallas: Johnny Manziel was the higfhest-rated player on the Cowboys board when they drafted Martin. They skipped over him due to Romo.

Insane.

Yes, insane if they took him. We can get a QB next year or the year after if needed.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Aaron Rodgers is waving back.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/the-fear-of-the-quarterback-draft-bust/

 

[zrinkill]

35 years ago, we passed on a quarterback b/c we thought we were well situated at the position. That qb was Joe Montana.

We also passed on Brady Quinn

Johnny Football is closer to him than Montana

 

[Zman5]

So if the BPA is a QB in every round when you pick, you go with the BPA? So you are willing to draft 7 QBs in one draft because you believe going with the BPA is the best way to draft?

That is ridiculous.

 

[KB1122]

Yes, insane if they took him. We can get a QB next year or the year after if needed.

If we give up picks.

 

[joseephuss]

He was the top player on our board at the time, IIRC. They considered drafting him and didn't. The next pick he went to SF.

Dallas took Cosbie at #76 and the 49ers grabbed Montana at #82.

So you scout players for a year, analyze, debate, build a board, and then change the board at the last minute?

Why not? There isn't anything wrong with having some flexibility. It also depends on how close you have some of these guys clustered together. It would be different if you passed on a guy you have a 1st round grade on for a guy you think will be there in the 3rd.

 

[cml750]

How is quarterback not a need? Romo is at the end of the window. We're doubling down on the stupidity of his contract.

Let's separate the concept of "need" and the concept of "painted ourselves into a corner."

I am not sure where you got that quote with my name because I never made such a post. I happen to think we do need a QB. I have little faith Romo will come back 100% and even less faith he can remain healthy all season. I absolutely would have drafted Manziel if it was my decision to make. I have little doubt we will regret not taking him one day as his intangibles and leadership skills are off of the chart. You are absolutely correct that we painted ourselves in a corner with Romo's contract and that made Jerry pass on his replacement which will end up being a huge mistake.

BTW- I have always been a huge Romo fan and have never called for a new QB but now realize the hand writing is on the wall with his age and health and it is just a matter of time.

 

[Hoofbite]

How is quarterback not a need? Romo is at the end of the window. We're doubling down on the stupidity of his contract.

Let's separate the concept of "need" and the concept of "painted ourselves into a corner."

Nobody knows how long he's going to play. You're short-window guess is just as good as Jason's "forever young" outlook.

Johnny Manziel isn't going to be the last QB to ever enter the draft.

 

[DFWJC]

I wonder if he was the #1 player overall, like McShay reported.

No freakin chance.
Not even the top QB

 

[StarBoyz83]

I cant lie I felt bad for jf last nite! When the cowboys were up and he was available you could tell he was really hoping dallas picked him. He wanted to play here bad.

 

[joseephuss]

If QB isn't your 1st rd need why even rate for it. Downgrade for need. If you have a true board why not follow it? I didn't want Manziel but in about 2 years we are talking about the poopoo platter of NFL backups or teaching. I'm a wait and see guy on drafts so I refuse to downgrade our picks yet

In case a team wants to trade up to your spot. You want to have an idea of what you can get in return.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

I am not sure where you got that quote with my name because I never made such a post. I happen to think we do need a QB. I have little faith Romo will come back 100% and even less faith he can remain healthy all season. I absolutely would have drafted Manziel if it was my decision to make. I have little doubt we will regret not taking him one day as his intangibles and leadership skills are off of the chart. You are absolutely correct that we painted ourselves in a corner with Romo's contract and that made Jerry pass on his replacement which will end up being a huge mistake.

BTW- I have always been a huge Romo fan and have never called for a new QB but now realize the hand writing is on the wall with his age and health and it is just a matter of time.

Well aren't you Mr. Sunny Disposition? Can we at least let Romo play his first game under the new contract before we deem it a massive failure?

 

[joseephuss]

Talking about GB drafting Rodgers when Farve was 34 and they took Rodgers in the first round

They got Rodgers at the 24th pick. That is a bit different than using the 16th. Plus Manziel is no Rodgers.

 

[jnday]

Sturm doesn't sound pleased.

Questioning coziness of Cowboys FO with Romo.

I question putting Romo above the betterment if the team myself.

 

[cml750]

Well aren't you Mr. Sunny Disposition? Can we at least let Romo play his first game under the new contract before we deem it a massive failure?

I have had the exact same back injury and surgery so I speak from experience.

 

[Hoofbite]

I am not sure where you got that quote with my name because I never made such a post. I happen to think we do need a QB. I have little faith Romo will come back 100% and even less faith he can remain healthy all season. I absolutely would have drafted Manziel if it was my decision to make. I have little doubt we will regret not taking him one day as his intangibles and leadership skills are off of the chart. You are absolutely correct that we painted ourselves in a corner with Romo's contract and that made Jerry pass on his replacement which will end up being a huge mistake.

BTW- I have always been a huge Romo fan and have never called for a new QB but now realize the hand writing is on the wall with his age and health and it is just a matter of time.

He's struggling with the quote function. That was my post he quoted.

 

[jnday]

We have a ton of money tied to our starting QB who also happens to be a terrific player.

On top of that, we have far greater needs elsewhere that must be addressed if we want any chance at making noise in the immediate future.

What part of that is difficult to understand? It's not rocket science.

The immediate future is not the only time period that they should be worrying about.

 

[Dale]

I absolutely understand passing on Manziel. It would have been almost impossible for Romo-Manziel to work on the same team. The writer above insults Jerry for citing Manziel's celebrity, but it's actually sound rationale. Draft Carr and the whole development thing could work. Draft Manziel, and First Take/SportsCenter would be camped outside Valley Ranch every day until Romo were benched. Circus personified.

With all of that said, I unfortunately think the situation is set up to not work out well for us when looking back 20 or so months from now. Romo has had a number of injuries/incidents in recent years, and the back thing absolutely scares the living daylight out of me. I just wonder what the odds are of him starting 29+ games for us over the next two seasons.

There is a lot of rationale to justify not taking Manziel, but the bottom line is we passed on a quarterback prospect we had as the highest-rated player available, when we're sitting here with a 34-year-old QB coming off of back surgery. On some level that concerns me.