Why do so many see McQuistan & Austin as chump change?

[Hostile]

Oh, IMO, you are tweaking things a bit here in an attempt to gain rhetorical advantage.

For the record, I do not consider reasonable people to be unreasonable.

I do not think that people who were not wrong, were in fact wrong.

But I do believe that people who were wrong, were wrong.

Huh? I honestly have no idea what you're trying to tell me I did or what point you want me to grasp. I was no good at psychobabble. My apologies if I am being dense.

And that they were largely wrong because they allowed themselves to be so blinded by Romo's draft status that they were unable to trust their own eyes and ears.

This doesn't mean that these people were nefarious or subversive. It just means that they got it wrong, most likely because they weren't paying attention to the relevant variables. They were, in many cases, preoccupied by what amounts to an ACT score that was 3 or 4 years old.

I don't know that it is wrong. I honestly don't. It is simply a case of people would like to actually see a guy perform before they anoint him. I've seen the same cautious outlook displayed for guys who weren't 6th rounders, 7th rounders, or UDFAs. Jason Hatcher comes to mind immediately.

 

[J-DOG]

I believe both McQuistan & Austin can really contribute to this team & won't dismiss them as chump change like some on this board have done. Nor when I read a statement in Flozel Adams' replacement posting that McQuistan as a 7th rounder hasn't shown anything. Since others posted that Austin as an undrafted player probably won't be much either so I decided to include him in my disclaimer.

Now I'm not going to bet my mortgage on either but not going to dismiss them either. Parcells has a good eye for talent and many of the players he drafted, undrafted rookies we signed and yes even FAs have made big contributions to this team. Yes some have failed but no team has a 100% successful rate so get a life. Anyway, part of the dismissal of both players seem to follow the line that since Parcells liked them they probably won't do much, etc. So, before we discuss McQuistan & Austin, let's step back and take a look at a few other players he selected when the odds against them.

Now let me see. Are we or aren't we committed to an undrafted QB who Parcells signed in his first season (2003), allowed him to develop & then started him in 06 when Parcells jerked Bledsoe. Romo absolutely amazed everyone in his first 5 games & was the talk of the NFL, etc. Performance certainly dropped off in last 5 games but he still ended up highly rated at around 95% in QB rankings. What were his odds?

We also desperately in need of an OT in 05 and instead Parcells signed an OT late in November who he know couldn't help us that year but hoped this player could rehab enough to help in 06. Instead, Colombo won the starting RT job where he played all 17 games & who most on this board were thrilled to have re-signed. What were those odds?

I could go on but want to discuss McQuistan and Austin.

Did any posters to the Flozel Adams Replacement site listen to Parcells PC last summer when he discussed McQuistan? If not, he was laughing when he said he received calls from other teams asking about their getting McQuistan. Parcells made it clear McQuistan wasn't going anywhere; that's when we knew McQuistan made the team. In another PC Parcells said McQuistan would be the next starting LT for the Cowboys but he 1 year behind his twin brother who drafted in 3rd round & started whole season for the Raiders; remember our McQuistan played 2 less years of football then his twin brother. McQuistan was not activated last year but we do know he has all the intangibles for a LT including fact he a very hard worker with a nasty disposition on the playing field. BTW: Yes, I still want us to draft an OT who can challenge McQuistan but also doing so gives us flexible on whether to re-sign Adams. I'd like Doug Free if we can get him in the 3rd round or Barbre in 3-4.

Now re Austin. Cowboys signed 2+ undrafted free agents in 06 but two of them (Austin/Hurd) realy stood out. We only saw Austin in first preseason game cause it later came out Parcells trying hide him so he could waive him & re-sign to our PS. But that didn't work out cause Cowboys learned thru their contacts that other teams had seen enough of him in just 1 game that he would be grabbed off the waiver wire; same went for Sam Hurd. So Parcells forced keep both Austin & Hurd on the team (along with McQuistan, Hoyte and Elam) knowing all needed development. Austin saw virtually no playing time at WR cause how could Parcells justify sitting either TO or Terry Glenn much. Anyway, while neither Hurd nor Austin had ever played ST before & knowing Parcells demanded his backups play ST, Hurd became one of our better ST & Austin stepped in for Thompson when he went down to become a good PR--frankly better then Thompson cause Austin has good speed and can evade tacklers, etc. BTW: I would still go along with signing a WR like Meacham or Bowe but none of the others. I just don't like Jarrett's lack of speed, etc. If we must draft a WR, I want a player who clearly shows he can become our #1 WR cause Cowboys have already ticketed Austin with his size/speed/hands to replace Terry Glenn.

I'm sure I left out some other points I wanted to make but this is long enough. My only regret is that Austin didn't get more playing time at WR. If Payton had been our OC he would have sure tried get him some opportunities. Frankly I wonder what kind of opportunities any WR we draft this year will get in regular season.

I agree.
I listened to every PC and you are right. Parcells gave these young guys some good compliments. Now a lot of people would say " So what!". Well Parcells is not a coach to give those compliments to rookie players. And he really liked these two guys.
Austin did catch a td in the Saint preseason game from Romo during mop up time and he looked the part on that play. I like Mcquistan too. Parcells mentioned that he has the skills to be a starter...at left tackle too. And I remember him talking about Austin and that he could be a starter, and not just as an adequate starter. He thought he could be special. With Austin and Hurd coming on I think we go def. back with that 1st pick.

 

[speedkilz88]

I look it as McQuistan is held in high regard not only by the former coach but its been reported that Sparano is really high on him also. I would assume the scouts are too.

They have Flozell Adams for one more season so they have one more season to see how far McQuistan has developed and if they are right on him. Who knows maybe he beats Flo out this year in camp.

So they can go BPA in this draft which is their plan. If that happens land them an OT the first day then great, if not, its not the end of the world. They have options.

If McQuistan isn't what they thought after the season is over, they still have the 2008 draft and free agency to find an alternative and they at least have a competent player in their back pocket just in case (Leonard Davis). Having Davis also keeps Flozell from holding them over a barrell if they wish to re-sign him.

 

[jay cee]

Oh, I fully expect the Cowboys will draft at least one OT to help provide competition... it just won't be happening in round 1.

It does not have to be round 1, but I hope it's not another 7th rd project.

 

[ZeroClub]

I think that may be the other extreme in the investing analogy. While McQuistan is virtually completely unknown, Newman is a well proven commodity. Really the best bet would be to invest in someone like Tony Romo or even Bobby Carpenter. This investing analogy is really kind of interesting, because I'm sure while you would be willing to invest in McQuistan, you wouldn't invest a ton in him. Sure, pour some money into a boom/bust type stock and you have the potential of making a lot of money, but put too much into it then the risk is too high and isn't in proportion with the reward.

It's really the same thing with NFL players. Sure we can keep "investing" in McQ by giving him a roster spot, but like you said, we do need to diversify and balance out the risk/reward projection of out "portfolio".

People can invest in small caps wisely.

I was excited by the early reports of Tyson Thompson. After hearing Parcells talk about him, I bought stock in Thompson. And I'd have made some money. I'd sell now, though; I'm not sure he's going to make the team this year.

I bought a lot of Romo stock, dirt cheap, during his second year in Dallas and continued to buy regularly, and especially heavily through last preseason. I now have a truck load of that stock, and it's gone through the roof. While I'd still maintain a stake in Romo, I'd take profits now. I'm not sure how much higher he will go. He could be a Delhomme type or something more. But I think there are better investment opportunities out there - Romo's stock is now too expensive.

When people talk about their various investments, they usually only mention their winners. I've lost a modest amount on Demetris Summers - I was willing to buy based on his raw physical ability (despite Parcells snarling at him). I dropped a small bundle on Justin [SIZE=-1]Beriault. I thought he showed signs of becoming a player and figured there was a chance that his knee condition could be managed. I'd have lost some on Torrin Tucker. Parcells had patience with him and I thought Tucker would become a serviceable right tackle and/or a guard (a position he played in college).

I bought some Crayton when he was a rookie, held it, but sold it at the end of last season. There is too much competition at the 3rd WR position; I think his situation as a Cowboy has more downside than upside now - especially if Dallas picks a WR on Day 1. If he were to be traded to another NFL team, though, I'd reinvest in Crayton.

I never owned Henson, Jacob Rogers, or Rob Petitte.

I currently own some Pat Watkins, Jay Ratliff, and Jason Hatcher stock and a little in Jacques Reeves. I'm holding the healthy stake in McQuistan that I bought last summer. I didn't like the Kevin Burnett draft pick when it happened, but now that his stock is down, I'd buy. He's reasonably valued and has a bigger upside than downside - there's a decent chance that he has a bigger year under Phillips.

Ware is the main expensive blue chip in my portfolio. He's as close to a sure thing as you'll find. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Newman would be there too. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Mat McBriar[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] provides a safe and reliable big dividend. No Roy Williams for me. Spears is overpriced. [/SIZE]

 

[Angus]

It does not have to be round 1, but I hope it's not another 7th rd project.

Why don't you just hope that, whoever it is, he is good? Maybe more good often comes earlier in the draft, but good and bad can be found in all rounds.

 

[theebs]

someody from ny is on the phone with bob pappa and randy cross, using ourlads numbers, the 23% etc.

Pappa is explaining to him that is a product of free agency and a tool for teams nowadays to gain an advantage without paying big money.

Ripping me off! I wonder if this guy comes here, claims he is a packers fan.

Also he had his own stat that the packers and titans the two youngest teams in the league have the most undrafted free agents.

pappa and cross spent about 10 minutes talking about this on sirius radio just now..! very funny.