Sam Hurd... blazing fast?

[Idgit]

Another thing. Why do people keep saying "nobody knew about Austin until he was given a chance last season"? These guys are given chances during every practice, every mini-camp, every pre-season game and even during the regular season. Chances that the coaches get to see and base their judgments. Hurd had just as much if not more opportunity as Austin. Austin has capitalized greatly on his opportunities. Hurd has not capitalized to Austin's extent.

Everyone says it, because it's true. Austin was buried on the bench for a long time. Regarding chances at practice, mini camps, and preseason games, these are the reasons why the coaches, owner, and QB have been saying for years that they like their WRs and that these guys can play in the NFL, even if the fans don't see it. Romo's gone on record several times saying Sam Hurd can play in the NFL if given the opportunity.

 

[pigskin fan]

Hurd sholud be a cowboy this year.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

invested a 1st round draft pick ( 18th overall ) on a Sam Hurd type receiver back in 1986. Because of injuries, the team's impatient front office, and their eagerness to get rid of a so called " mistake ", they missed out on salvaging a pretty solid career from a not spectacular, but solid player.

[youtube]ZzMHebBv0e8[/youtube]

Pay close attention and you'll see how similar Hurds and Mike Sherrards styles are.

I thought your post was going to be about Jimmy Smith. Similar situation to Sherrard's, but Smith had a FAR better career once he left Dallas. THAT one was the real heartbreaker.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'd rather keep Hurd than Holley. And as much as I really like KO I certainly wouldn't be opposed to keeping Hurd over him as well.

 

[Randy White]

I thought your post was going to be about Jimmy Smith. Similar situation to Sherrard's, but Smith had a FAR better career once he left Dallas. THAT one was the real heartbreaker.

Jimmy Smith was mostly his fault. Just like when Chris Carter was in Philadelphia earlier in his career, Jimmy Smith was inmature and didn't take his job seriously ( partied too much ) . He admits to that. Also, the Cowboys at the time of Smith were incredibly talented. Even though he was a heck of a talent himself, the Cowboys had Michael, Alvin Harper, and Kelvin Martin as the slot guy, with Alexander Wright and Smith himself. They usually carry 4 receivers, 5 max, anyways.

 

[sago1]

Hurd has average NFL speed; no one, except the poster, has ever said he's got blazing speed. His lack of speed keeps him low man on the totem pole. We've simply got better WRs in front of him. Our other WRs have better speed then Hurd except Crayton whose got better hands. Actually Hurd got better chances to catch balls in past years then did Austin, but Hurd can't overcome his average speed. Certainly, he can play WR in the NFL, but not behind a talented WR core like we have.

Give some injuries to WRs around the NFL, I'm hoping some team will give us a 6th rounder, but it will probably be a 7th, to ensure they secure him rather then attempt go the waiver wire. His ST skill increases his value. I don't think we will get rid of Hurd in the 1st cut.

BTW: I think Hurd makes $1.8M.

 

[Randy White]

Dez Bryant. That is who is pushing Hurd off the team.

No, he isn't. Dez Bryant is a future starter, at worst 1A to Miles' 1 in the long term. Hurd will never be starter in Dallas unless something VERY drastic happens, but that doesn't mean there's no room for him.

Last year Dallas had 5 receivers. They have added Dez. They keep 5 receivers again and someone has to lose a job. Could be Hurd. Could be Ogletree. Even if they do keep 6 receivers, it is unlikely all 6 would be active on game day. So the decision is not just about money.

They carried 5 receivers because they had to carry not only an extra kicker ( although that affected the O-line more ) but because they were desperately looking for somebody who could return kicks since Ogletree couldn't handle the job, so they signed players like Allen Rossum and extra DBs like Marvin White when Ken Hamlin got injured. That's NOT happening this year.

As far as being activated during game days, Ogletree is NOT the special team player that Hurd is. He could EASILY be the guy who gets deactivated every week, depending on the match ups. And it's not as if he's deserving of an automatic spot either, going by the reports coming out of camp this year.

Sorry, Dallas was very patient with Sherrard. There was talk that he may never play again. I can't fault any team that moves on from that situation. It didn't matter who else Dallas was putting out there to play. What mattered is that Sherrard broke his leg 3 different times, which was very unfortunate. Why keep a guy who was injured on the roster for the 1987 and 1988 seasons. He was on IR during those years.

Oh, I don't know, how about this: Because the Cowboys STUNK during those years and Sherrard was a talent who didn't cost anything but a couple of bucks ?

And in 1988, while they were waiting on Sherrard to heal, they put a guy by the name of Michael Irvin on the field. Maybe you heard of him. There was also Kelvin Martin. Doesn't matter because who played was independent of what was going on with Sherrard.

Yea, Michael, Kelvin, and ???? wait, let's see: Everett Gay, Kelvin Edwards, Cornell Burbage, Ray Alexander.. Heck of a group there ( although I must admit I was partially fond of Ray Alexander )...

Sorry, I don't buy that. Those Cowboys teams were too void of talent for that to happen. Simple fact is that they weren't patient enough.

 

[Randy White]

Another thing. Why do people keep saying "nobody knew about Austin until he was given a chance last season"?

Don't tell me: YOU knew all along that Austin was a Pro Bow receiver just itching to get a chance..


Most of the rest of the NFL world ( and the human world ) could only speculate about his future. Alot of us said repeatedly, shouted at times, that he should be given a chance just to see what he can do. Half the posters in this place were praying the Cowboys wouldn't match an offer from the Jets, if they gave him one, because they wanted the 2nd round pick and gave, pretty much, the same crappy reasons you and others are giving about Hurd.

Now everybody, just like Raymond, loves Austin.

 

[joseephuss]

Yea, Michael, Kelvin, and ???? wait, let's see: Everett Gay, Kelvin Edwards, Cornell Burbage, Ray Alexander.. Heck of a group there ( although I must admit I was partially fond of Ray Alexander )...

Sorry, I don't buy that. Those Cowboys teams were too void of talent for that to happen. Simple fact is that they weren't patient enough.

You are making it sound as if Dallas was making a conscience decision to play those others guys instead of playing Sherrard. They didn't intentionally keep him off the roster. He was hurt and could not play in 87 and 88. They had no other choice than to place him on injured reserve during those two years.

They wish it were different because he showed great promise his rookie year. Then in 1989, Landry and Schramm were gone and it was up to the new regime to decide what to do with Sherrard. It has nothing to do with a lack of patience.

And it is not as if Sherrard showed Dallas made a mistake. He went out in 1989 and caught 0 passes. Three straight years of zero receptions. Yep, big mistake.

 

[ThrowuptheXDez88]

big Hurd fan here

 

[baj1dallas]

It's not like he's slow. If he wasn't fast, he wouldn't be so good on ST, isn't he the gunner? He's pretty close to Austin's speed imo, he's just not nearly as strong. I've never felt he was any slower than Crayton, just not as good a route runner and not quite as reliable hands.

 

[joseephuss]

Don't tell me: YOU knew all along that Austin was a Pro Bow receiver just itching to get a chance..


Most of the rest of the NFL world ( and the human world ) could only speculate about his future. Alot of us said repeatedly, shouted at times, that he should be given a chance just to see what he can do. Half the posters in this place were praying the Cowboys wouldn't match an offer from the Jets, if they gave him one, because they wanted the 2nd round pick and gave, pretty much, the same crappy reasons you and others are giving about Hurd.

Now everybody, just like Raymond, loves Austin.

I am not going to tell you that because that is not what I thought. I thought Austin could be good, but I wasn't ready to predict he was ready to do as well as he did. Between Hurd and Austin, I thought Austin had the greater upside and had shown a little more. That was it and Austin far exceeded those expectations.

Hurd is caught up in a numbers game. I won't complain if he sticks around because he is a mult-faceted player, but I think his days are numbered. You add someone like Dez Bryant to the team and everybody else except Austin after last season's performance moves down a peg. Since Hurd was already way down the list, there is not much further to go. Same goes with Ogletree. He and Hurd are battling for that last spot.

 

[joseephuss]

They carried 5 receivers because they had to carry not only an extra kicker ( although that affected the O-line more ) but because they were desperately looking for somebody who could return kicks since Ogletree couldn't handle the job, so they signed players like Allen Rossum and extra DBs like Marvin White when Ken Hamlin got injured. That's NOT happening this year.

It may happen. They may keep extra DBs because of injuries to Sensenbaugh and because every other safety is very young and inexperienced.

 

[DallasDomination]

Hurd will never get a chance on this team. It's unfortunate because he looks like a guy that can make some big plays.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I like Hurd's game. I really think he's underrated. But his spot on the depth chart is about where he belongs. Its tough. I remember about a offseason or two ago it was Sam Hurd who was going to have the breakout year and it ended up being Miles. If he has to go hopefully he'll go to a team he can get some playing time for. Maybe as a 2nd or 3rd receiver. But he's been very reliable for us. I don't think people remember last season the only reason we even had a chance to beat the Bronco's was because of Hurd's catch.

 

[Stautner]

Hurd will never get a chance on this team. It's unfortunate because he looks like a guy that can make some big plays.

Based on what? All those bombs he's caught? 2 dozen catches in 4 years?

The deal people don't seem to realize is that the reason Hurd stands out on the VERY rare ocassion he catches a pass at a key moment is that it is so rare - it stands out because you are surprised to see who caught it. You don't think quite as much about it when a guy who catches 70 passes does it because it's normal, but when someone who catches 6 passes a year does it the abnormality makes it more memorable. People tend to mistake this for a sign that the guy can make key plays all the time when the reality is that it only skews perceptions.