What could have been

[DragonCowboy]

Take Colombo's "knee" over McNeil's "back"? Colombo's knee is more of a ticking time-bomb than McNeil's back. Has McNeil's back EVER been operated on? I've never heard that; I've just heard/read about his potential back problems. Colombo's knee injury was devastating & has been well documented. It's a wonder he can walk, let alone play again. I'd choose the lesser of two evils - McNeil's back.....

Ok, let me word this better. We already had Colombo, and at the time, only good things were being said. I believe we still had Petitti, who many thought would make a contribution. Fabini was also there.

So we took a chance on Colombo, without giving up much, if anything.

Would you risk a first/second/third rounder on a guy who could throw his back out any second?

I still stand by taking Colombo over McNeil.

 

[5mics]

Ok, let me word this better. We already had Colombo, and at the time, only good things were being said. I believe we still had Petitti, who many thought would make a contribution. Fabini was also there.

So we took a chance on Colombo, without giving up much, if anything.

Would you risk a first/second/third rounder on a guy who could throw his back out any second?

I still stand by taking Colombo over McNeil.

We could have gotten a rookie, Pro-Bowl LEFT Tackle in the 2nd round instead of back-up TE Fasano. McNeil would have been well worth the "risk" at that stage of the draft. Yes, I believe we made a mistake by not taking McNeil in the 2nd. Now we're left hoping Flo reverts to his "old" self, hoping that McQ is the answer, or hoping that we can draft another LT prospect in the upcoming draft.....

 

[skinsscalper]

Man, there's a lot of people with perfect hindsight vision out there, huh? I'm sure all of these prognosticator's had McNeil penned in their mock drafts and were certain of his Pro Bowl greatness.

First of all, it's not a given that McNeil is going to be a perrennial Pro Bowl ANYTHING at this point. Second of all, like a previous poster noted, we have been bitten by O-linemen with injury histories and back problems (especially on the right side). A similar move by Jerry and Co. would have been risky at best. Also a "bad back" never improves. You can hold it at bay for a while but a bad back only worsens. McNeil may be good for many years, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him out of the league within the next 3 years either.

SS

 

[burmafrd]

None but those so deaf who will not hear. None so blind those that will not SEE. McNeill was bypassed by EVERY team in the first rd due to those back issues; SD got him LATE in the 2nd rd by taking a big chance. There was very little doubt that McNeill had the ability to start right away- though I do not think anyone thought he would be as good as he has been so far. POINT IS his back IS NOW AND WILL BE a serious concern. We did not want to take that chance just after the Rogers fiasco. Just WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

 

[kiheikiwi]

Not sure if I remember correctly, but isn't McNeils back a narrowing of the same spinal cavity that Irvin had? Thats the concern with him?
Would have loved him last year, but very happy with Columbo.

 

[peplaw06]

Ok, let me word this better. We already had Colombo, and at the time, only good things were being said. I believe we still had Petitti, who many thought would make a contribution. Fabini was also there.

So we took a chance on Colombo, without giving up much, if anything.

Would you risk a first/second/third rounder on a guy who could throw his back out any second?

I still stand by taking Colombo over McNeil.

We didn't give up anything but a little money for Colombo. He's still not making that much money. If you tell me both McNeill and Colombo go down with injuries this year (knock on wood), I'd rather have Colombo because we didn't waste a draft pick on him.

 

[CF74]

Fasano was a good pick and my money is on him silencing the nay sayers this season and in those to come. The guy is a beast and will only get stronger. Now if Romo can throw catchable balls in his direction this year we shall see:starspin

 

[CowboyMike]

Fasano was a good pick and my money is on him silencing the nay sayers this season and in those to come. The guy is a beast and will only get stronger. Now if Romo can throw catchable balls in his direction this year we shall see:starspin

Well I don't seem to remember Romo throwing that many UNcatchable balls last season. They all seem easy to catch.

And remember we have some guy named Witten starting at TE for us, plus Garrett uses a FB system instead of the two TE system, so I doubt we're going to see as much Fasano as we did last year. Yeah he's going to be a good one, but he's not going to get that many chances. No matter what people are going to be unhappy with him because the ball simply won't come his way that much.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Take Colombo's "knee" over McNeil's "back"? Colombo's knee is more of a ticking time-bomb than McNeil's back. Has McNeil's back EVER been operated on? I've never heard that; I've just heard/read about his potential back problems. Colombo's knee injury was devastating & has been well documented. It's a wonder he can walk, let alone play again. I'd choose the lesser of two evils - McNeil's back.....

McNeil has a degenaritive back condition, meaning his spine is weakening, or is going to weaken sometime in the future

that's a killer condition to have for Olinemen who are supposed to bend at the waist

 

[tomson75]

I'll keep Fasano and Colombo IMO. God forbid anything happen to Witten, but if it were to happen...every poster on this board is going to appreciate that draft pick. Fasano can ball.

 

[peplaw06]

lol LOVE the Al Iafrate mention.. the wild thing had a SICK shot...

Iafrate on NHL '94...

Check it out Mikey, I'm gonna make his head bleed. Make Wayne Gretzky's head bleed for Mr. Superfan Number 99 here.

 

[Manster68]

You do know that McNeil was taken 3 picks before Fasano right?

So Dallas never had a shot at McNeil - unless you wanted them to take him with the #17 overall pick.

 

[kTXe]

You do know that McNeil was taken 3 picks before Fasano right?

So Dallas never had a shot at McNeil - unless you wanted them to take him with the #17 overall pick.

You do know that McNeil was on the board when we traded down 4 spots with the Jets, right?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

McNeill's Spin is narrowing. That is the same kind of issue Irvine had and it took one hit just right. That could have come in his first season, fifth season or tenth season. That's a gamble his entire career. I think McNeill is great but I also think it's a risk.

 

[Manster68]

Oh, I forgot about that. My bust.

Regardless, we will not be disappointed with Fasano.

 

[5mics]

No guts, no glory. We had a chance to solve out LT issue for years to come, BUT we blinked. Sure, McNeil could be gone in a year or two BUT so can Fasano. When the Bears took Colombo, they thought he would be a mainstay on their team also. This is football, everytime you step on the field, it could be your last. I'm not knocking Fasano, I just would rather have a starting LT than a back-up TE.....

 

[Tristan]

Hind sight my ***!, I was furious at the time, and every time I see him play I get nauseas.

If he didn't have a "risk" factor then we would have been ignorant to pass on him in the first.

The risk is well worth the reward IMO. A guy has top 10 ability, and the skills to fit the coveted LT position, you take him in a heart beat with your late second. Especially when your O-Line has been weak for years.

The "degenerative Spine" condition is quite common, many people live full and long lives without symptoms. Irvins' condition was in the neck region, that's a different story, especially for a WR, a big hit could cause paralysis.

Mcneil's condition is in the Mid-thorasic to Low Back region, odds are that even if he developed symptoms from this condition it would be more of a chronic pain issue IMO.

Most males have some level of Degenerative Disk Disease by their thirties, I know I am one of them. I get excruciating pain doing dishes, but I can still lift weights or play basketball for three hours.

Many second round picks never even play a game (Rogers), Mcneil has already played in a pro bowl at Left Tackle. Perceived risk or not, he would be a real nice player to have on our team.

 

[Cowboys&Caps]

I'd take Colombo any day over McNeill and his back problems.

yes because Colombo is the epitome of a healthy player......right

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

who here thinks that OL is a top priority? this whole thread is coming from a guy whose entire mock draft is longhorns. i want talk on football that is worth talking about. this is not it.

 

[DragonCowboy]

No guts, no glory. We had a chance to solve out LT issue for years to come, BUT we blinked. Sure, McNeil could be gone in a year or two BUT so can Fasano. When the Bears took Colombo, they thought he would be a mainstay on their team also. This is football, everytime you step on the field, it could be your last. I'm not knocking Fasano, I just would rather have a starting LT than a back-up TE.....

I wonder, would you be saying the same thing if we had used the second rounder to pick McNeill, and he DID end up getting his back hurt? Because THEN, we probably would not have a back up for Witten, and god-forbid if Witten got hurt, who would step in for him, and also, we just wasted a 2nd rounder on a guy that 31 other teams had worries about. Yeah, didn't think so.

Hindsight is 20-20 for most of you, the others had sheer dumb luck . Parcells/Jones had plenty reason not to pick McNeill, and I still stand by their decision.