Top ten from Yahoo!

[ZeroClub]

Although we could blame the Cowboys for drafting the marginal Fasano in the first place, I don't blame the Cowboys for cutting their losses and getting something for him.

 

[kmp77]

If you think we got robbed, then you havent watched many Cowboys games. I wish we'd have gotten another pick along with that 4th but these were just backups that didn't produce. Bennett looks to be an upgrade. Thomas looks to be an upgrade. Now once the season starts and they are upgrades, does it really matter?

 

[HoosierCowboy]

That guy's an idiot. We are merely unloading two of Thenotsotuna's mistakes. The pick was just a bonus.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Forget Ayodele. He was on his way out anyway. The problem is that they traded a second rounder two years later for a 4th. That's like getting 50 cents on the dollar. Then they had to burn another high pick to atone for the earlier screwup at that position. Not good. What's their plan? To keep drafting backup TEs high until they get it right? For their sake, I hope Bennett can play.

unfortunately, you don't get equal value for a backup players in trades

or any players for that matter

 

[superpunk]

It's funny, Al Johnson and Julius Jones were second rounders who left and we got NOTHING for them. But you trade another second rounder who's been less productive than those two and actually get something of value, and it's as if you got robbed.

But then we knew this was coming. Parcells = Genius. Jerry = Rube.

Free agent additions and subtractions are not evaluated in the same manner as trades. The fact is we let a starter and a second round TE go in exchange for a 4th rounder, THEN spent a second rounder on a TE. No matter what the reasoning, you can definitely see how impartial observers would say that entire scenario doesn't make sense. It's not like it was do or die with Ayodele and Fasano. We didn't need to move them. But we did, apparently to go ina different direction.

The only thing wrong with the premise of the article is that he thinks we are putting all our eggs in the Thomas basket. Like we don't have 18 first and second round picks at LB.

 

[bbgun]

unfortunately, you don't get equal value for a backup player

And unless you're one piece away from a championship, you don't draft blocking TEs in the second round. Even if they're from New Jersey.

 

[LarryCanadian]

I think its being forgotten that Fasano has some shoulder problems. He had surgery last year (or after this season) and it bugged him all year. There were rumors he couldn't lift his hands over head to catch well.

When I was at camp a couple years ago Fasano had shoulder problems too, so it might be chronic (hard to block with a bum shoulder).

Then there was performance on the field stuff too. Fasano had a few costly penalties, a couple of costly drops, and I thought he muffed some special teams plays too.

As for Akin, well I think he might have been a cap casualty and/or a training camp cut anyway. He wasn't a playmaker for us.

These were Parcells guys and the makeup of team is shifting again. Does anyone else not think that of all the positions on the team, these two were probably the most obvious areas where upgrade in playmaking talent were possible? I think they addressed two spots that were noticeably upgradeable IMHO.

LarryCanadian

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Free agent additions and subtractions are not evaluated in the same manner as trades.

Well maybe they should be.

The fact is we let a starter and a second round TE go in exchange for a 4th rounder, THEN spent a second rounder on a TE. No matter what the reasoning, you can definitely see how impartial observers would say that entire scenario doesn't make sense.

I don't think Florio is impartial, though. That's part of the point.

I actually think we should do MORE of this than we have recently. If we identify that a player can't play, it's much smarter to get a pick for him than to let his time expire worthless only a year or two later.

Of course, you have to trust your evaluation of the player, but a team should know its own players better than anyone.

 

[jterrell]

I tend to agree with the writer. A fourth rounder for a starter and a solid backup who could potentially be a starter is not near enough. I'm anticipating the arguments that Ayodele wasn't a playmaker and that Fasano is dumb, but the fact is that Ayodele was a starter for the Cowboys and probably will be a starter for the Phins, and Fasano is a potential starter.

I would have thought they could have at least squeezed a third rounder out the Phins. Tuna must have some incriminating photos of Jerrah.

Who cares whether these guys start in Miami or not?

The value to them in Dallas was nil.

Bottom line is neither guy was in the teams long term plans. Akin would have been cut. Floiro is an idiot and he has to be to think Dallas was going to pay 5 million for a 2 down backup insurance policy....

Fasano was injured last year and before that he just wasn't a good athlete. BP thinks he is Mark Bavaro but Mark Bavaro isn't Jason Witten either. Fasano could not get separation from linebackers and his ability to play with Witten was minimal which is why the two TE sets we heard so much about never came to fruition.

And it was the first pick of round 4.

All in all this was a good trade for Dallas. They simply let go of Akin and traded off Fasano for the first pick of round 4. It was a classy way to move Akin who was a class act here and it allowed Fasano who has busted out here to go toa guy who truly believes in him.

Lets judge this trade in a few years but it is clear Dallas gave up two guys who weren't in their plans and the only team who seemed interested in either guy was the Dolphins.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Free agent additions and subtractions are not evaluated in the same manner as trades. The fact is we let a starter and a second round TE go in exchange for a 4th rounder, THEN spent a second rounder on a TE. No matter what the reasoning, you can definitely see how impartial observers would say that entire scenario doesn't make sense. It's not like it was do or die with Ayodele and Fasano. We didn't need to move them. But we did, apparently to go ina different direction.

The only thing wrong with the premise of the article is that he thinks we are putting all our eggs in the Thomas basket. Like we don't have 18 first and second round picks at LB.

more like ignorant observers, they don't know that we want to have 2-TEs incorporated alot into our offense

And unless you're one piece away from a championship, you don't draft blocking TEs in the second round. Even if they're from New Jersey.

Bennett is more than just a blocking TE

another example is that Fabian Washington, a former 1st round pick a couple of years ago, gets traded for a 4th

it's clear that we wanted to upgrade our 2nd TE, and at least get something for Fasano in the process

 

[bbgun]

Bennett is more than just a blocking TE

I was referencing Jersey boy Fasano.

 

[gimmesix]

3. The Cowboys get fleeced.

Because news of the trade between the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins came on the eve of the draft, it made the deal a bit less noticeable—but no less remarkable.

The Cowboys sent linebacker Akin Ayodele and tight end Anthony Fasano to the Dolphins for a fourth-round draft pick. Total. Seriously.

Ayodele signed with the Cowboys as a free agent in 2006, and Fasano was a second-round pick that same year. Although Ayodele would have been bumped to the bench by free-agent pickup Zach Thomas, it’s highly risky, at best, for Dallas to count on the veteran linebacker with the history of head trauma to stay on the field. Meanwhile, after dealing away Fasano, the Cowboys had to burn a second-round pick on a new tight end (Texas A&M’s Martellus Bennett) to work behind Jason Witten.

I think it's hard to say whether we got "fleeced."

If Dallas tried to trade Ayodele and found no takers, and was just going to have to release him, then we didn't get fleeced. We obviously were not keeping him for that salary as a backup who doesn't play special teams.

If including Ayodele in the deal increased Miami's offer any, then it was likely worth it ... although I would have preferred keeping him for depth purposes until the near of training camp (the negative on that would be likely having to cut him and get nothing).

On the surface, trading Fasano then drafting a second-round tight end seems like a waste. But again, we don't know everything about it. If your offensive coordinator says he doesn't fit, if he's blowing assignments (as has been reported), then getting a fourth-round pick for him and a cast-off is probably a decent move. Obviously, Dallas would have traded them for more if the Cowboys could have gotten it, but apparently no one felt Fasano's play warranted a higher draft choice.

Based on what I know about the players, I probably wouldn't have made the trade, but what do I know? The Cowboys have had time to evaluate both, and decided they were worth giving up for just a fourth-round pick.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I was referencing Jersey boy Fasano.

I'm sorry, I'm an idiot

damn Yankees

 

[Hiero]

I didnt like ayodele or Fasano. Ayodele was about to get cut... and Fasano was a complete and utter failure. As a blocker and receiver. He whiffed on all of his blocks and dropped too many passes. Plus he wasnt much of ar eceiver out of the backfield.

 

[rodd94]

I didnt like ayodele or Fasano. Ayodele was about to get cut... and Fasano was a complete and utter failure. As a blocker and receiver. He whiffed on all of his blocks and dropped too many passes. Plus he wasnt much of ar eceiver out of the backfield.

From what i heard tony curtis was gonna beat him for back-up role any way. as for ayodele he'd got too much compatition for his spot from zach thomas,kevin burnett and bobby carpenter. at least in miami they will both start

 

[Frosty]

If this the worst anyone can say about the Cowboys is that we got fleeced(which I don't agree with) for trading 'Butterhands' Fasano and '40 tackles' Ayodele, then I'll take it.

It was a win win situation for Miami, all one sided. I bet a little under the table deal was made or lost at the poker table

 

[percyhoward]

We didn't even think it was worth waiting until after a few preseason games to see if we could get any higher than a 4th for Fasano.

We probably got the better end of the deal.

 

[speedkilz88]

The Cowboys got both Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick for two guys they didn't want. Drafting Fasano was a mistake, getting two quality rookies in exchange looks like a good move.

 

[jobberone]

I tend to agree with the writer. A fourth rounder for a starter and a solid backup who could potentially be a starter is not near enough. I'm anticipating the arguments that Ayodele wasn't a playmaker and that Fasano is dumb, but the fact is that Ayodele was a starter for the Cowboys and probably will be a starter for the Phins, and Fasano is a potential starter.

I would have thought they could have at least squeezed a third rounder out the Phins. Tuna must have some incriminating photos of Jerrah.

I think its BS. See below.

the only the trade makes sense is if you think fasano is as developed as he is going to be.

i think JJ gave up on him way too early.

i don't question the trade, but just a 4th was not enough.

rd

There is no way for us to know if this is true or not. The proof is in the pudding. Unless you think Jerry is utterly stupid, then you have to believe they got something for a player they didn't want in Fasano. I have other thoughts on Akin. See below.

It's funny, Al Johnson and Julius Jones were second rounders who left and we got NOTHING for them. But you trade another second rounder who's been less productive than those two and actually get something of value, and it's as if you got robbed.

But then we knew this was coming. Parcells = Genius. Jerry = Rube.

On the nose as usual.

The Cowboys got both Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick for two guys they didn't want. Drafting Fasano was a mistake, getting two quality rookies in exchange looks like a good move.

I don't see Fasano as a mistake but I agree with the rest. They got a 4th for Fasano and he's not worth a fourth. So who got fleeced. Now if Fasano turns into another Witten we got fleeced. The rest is not adressed to you sir.

Akin was a favor to Parcells and to the player who was not going to start here. He will probably start or be first backup on the inside with the Fins. He was probably going to be cut here. And he had no trade value. So now the Fins owe us one which is a value. That may not be true but its JMO and I think likely.

So we got a 4th which means Choice for a player who would be cut and has zero trade value (Akin) and a player who was obviously going to be a number three TE sometime this year. You can't really think Fasano had any real trade value.

 

[slogriff]

You could also look at what the Boys got with the MIA 4th round pick. They parlayed that pick into getting T. Choice and moving up 12 spots to ensure getting Scandrick.

Which would you rather have: Fasano/Ayodele or Choice/Scandrick?

I'll take the rookies.