CFZ Your All Time Overrated Draft Pet Cats

[Carson]

If I have to tasted foot, than it would be Anthony Spencer for sure.
Ive missed on a few, but that was an obvious monumental failure.

I don’t think Spencer was a bad player. 33 sacks, one pro bowl year. Could be much worse like taco Charlton lol

 

[Typhus]

I don’t think Spencer was a bad player. 33 sacks, one pro bowl year. Could be much worse like taco Charlton lol

Spencer was just a specific pic, I hated the Taco pic and knew it was a mistake.

 

[stiletto]

I thought Felix Jones was going to be good for a long time. He fizzled pretty bad.

 

[sunalsorises]

Carl Lewis-

Many years ago in 1984 we used a 12th round pick on an Olympic Gold Medal sprinter hoping it could be another Bob Hayes.

He never played in the NFL.

I've seen him throw a baseball. I'm not sure he was athletic enough to do anything other than run in a straight line very fast.

 

[sunalsorises]

I'm going to go a little outside of the box and say Randy Moss. I'm not sure if Dallas had taken him the team would have been much better. He would have played with Irvin for one year, maybe, and Aikman for 2, I think. He would have been in year 5 by the time Parcells got there.

 

[SinceDayOne]

No doubt the all time winner for this thread is a guy name Bill Thomas. He was the first round draft pick out of Boston College in 1972.

Let me set the stage. The Cowboys won their first SB in 1971. Brandt, Schramm, Landry and Company had been on an absolute drafting roll racking up quality drafts almost every year. Thomas had the size and he had been really good in college. We all had high hopes and expectations for him. But he also had a badly injured shoulder in college which he hurt again in training camp. His cowboy career consisted of two (2) kickoff returns in the 8th game of the '72 season. He was waived after that one season.

As a footnote the Cowboy's second round pick in '72 was Robert Newhouse.

 

[Bobhaze]

No doubt the all time winner for this thread is a guy name Bill Thomas. He was the first round draft pick out of Boston College in 1972.

Let me set the stage. The Cowboys won their first SB in 1971. Brandt, Schramm, Landry and Company had been on an absolute drafting roll racking up quality drafts almost every year. Thomas had the size and he had been really good in college. We all had high hopes and expectations for him. But he also had a badly injured shoulder in college which he hurt again in training camp. His cowboy career consisted of two (2) kickoff returns in the 8th game of the '72 season. He was waived after that one season.

As a footnote the Cowboy's second round pick in '72 was Robert Newhouse.

Great example. Bill Thomas has to be one of the biggest draft duds in HOFer Gil Brandt’s long career. Let’s also remember two other duds a few years later, the vastly overrated corner we drafted first in ‘76- Aaron Kyle and DE Larry Bethea in 78. Both were out of the league in 5 seasons.

 

[The Realist]

Bobby Carpenter and Gabe Watson

 

[Bullflop]

I actually thought Matt Johnson would have been a good player if had been able to get on the field. He must have been made of Ramen noodles because it was one injury after another with him.

Hate to admit that I had the same misgiving -- man, was that ever a disappointment when the truth came to light.

I had high hopes for Bobby Carpenter, as well, although my admiration didn't last so long! He fizzled in short order.

 

[Whyjerry]

Draft day is here. This time of year is when “Pet Cat Disease” (or PCD) hits the strongest. You know the symptoms- Cowboys fans breaking into a cold sweat after watching a draft prospect’s overrated college highlight film, then falling in draft love with a mediocre pro prospect this team “has to have”. We were thrilled when they were drafted. We’ve all probably had at least 1 or 2 pet cats that turned out to be not that great.

Which leads me to ask: Who are the all time overrated Cowboys fans Pet Cats of the past? Here’s my short list:

• Rico Gathers- a former basketball player drafted in the 6th round in 2016, projected as a TE. Gathers quickly became an OTA and preseason legend- especially against UFAs in preseason games. You know like a 175 lb safety from a directional mid-major school that would never make an NFL roster. I’ve never seen a more overrated player than Rico Gathers, who stayed stashed on this roster for too long.

• Matt Johnson- a Safety selected by the Cowboys in the 4th round of the 2012 draft out of Eastern Washington. Considered a freak athlete, Johnson was kept on the IR for two full seasons although he never played a down of regular season NFL football. I remember many fans believing he was a future stud who just needed to stop pulling hammies.

• Beau Morgan- a former QB from Air Force who was being converted to RB in the Jimmy Johnson/Barry Switzer era. Morgan was an UFA who was essentially just a camp body who happened to lead the team in rushing in preseason. Which somehow convinced loads of fans that he was the real deal. Two straight preseasons Morgan led the team in rushing. And two straight Septembers, the Cowboys cut him, much to the pain of many Cowboys pet cat owners.

• Alexander Wright- a former second round pick of the Cowboys in Jimmy’s second draft in 1990. Wright was drafted because of his 4.4 speed and nothing else. He was fast, but as the old sayings go, “He couldn’t catch a cold”, or “Couldn’t play dead in a western movie”. Fast doesn’t make you a football player. Wright’s best year as a Cowboy was his first, when he caught 11 passes. Was traded to the raiders in ‘92.

There are many more infamous overrated pet cats. Who’s on your list? Maybe you have some in this year’s draft?

Great post. I will throw Stanback and Escobar on the list. Stanback was supposed to be the greatest athlete of all time. Guy did nothing. Escobar was going to catch 80 balls a year and be a red zone demon. Guy was the worst 2nd round pick of all time.

 

[Hagman]

Great example. Bill Thomas has to be one of the biggest draft duds in HOFer Gil Brandt’s long career. Let’s also remember two other duds a few years later, the vastly overrated corner we drafted first in ‘76- Aaron Kyle and DE Larry Bethea in 78. Both were out of the league in 5 seasons.

Oh, if we're going old school, then dishonorable mention goes to Jim Jensen. Second round pick in '76 whom the Cowboys envisioned, as I recall, as a running back/tight end. Don't think he had a yard passing or receiving during his year on the team.

They did put him on special teams, and the one memory I have of him is from a Monday night football game where the announcers blasted him for having no lateral movement at all on a return. I guess Landry had seen that too and the next year traded him to Denver.

 

[Motorola]

Draft day is here. This time of year is when “Pet Cat Disease” (or PCD) hits the strongest. You know the symptoms- Cowboys fans breaking into a cold sweat after watching a draft prospect’s overrated college highlight film, then falling in draft love with a mediocre pro prospect this team “has to have”. We were thrilled when they were drafted. We’ve all probably had at least 1 or 2 pet cats that turned out to be not that great.

Which leads me to ask: Who are the all time overrated Cowboys fans Pet Cats of the past? Here’s my short list:

• Rico Gathers- a former basketball player drafted in the 6th round in 2016, projected as a TE. Gathers quickly became an OTA and preseason legend- especially against UFAs in preseason games. You know like a 175 lb safety from a directional mid-major school that would never make an NFL roster. I’ve never seen a more overrated player than Rico Gathers, who stayed stashed on this roster for too long.

• Matt Johnson- a Safety selected by the Cowboys in the 4th round of the 2012 draft out of Eastern Washington. Considered a freak athlete, Johnson was kept on the IR for two full seasons although he never played a down of regular season NFL football. I remember many fans believing he was a future stud who just needed to stop pulling hammies.

• Beau Morgan- a former QB from Air Force who was being converted to RB in the Jimmy Johnson/Barry Switzer era. Morgan was an UFA who was essentially just a camp body who happened to lead the team in rushing in preseason. Which somehow convinced loads of fans that he was the real deal. Two straight preseasons Morgan led the team in rushing. And two straight Septembers, the Cowboys cut him, much to the pain of many Cowboys pet cat owners.

• Alexander Wright- a former second round pick of the Cowboys in Jimmy’s second draft in 1990. Wright was drafted because of his 4.4 speed and nothing else. He was fast, but as the old sayings go, “He couldn’t catch a cold”, or “Couldn’t play dead in a western movie”. Fast doesn’t make you a football player. Wright’s best year as a Cowboy was his first, when he caught 11 passes. Was traded to the raiders in ‘92.

There are many more infamous overrated pet cats. Who’s on your list? Maybe you have some in this year’s draft?

Bobhaze bestowed some "medical knowledge" I wasn't aware of....there is a post-draft "variant" of PCD in addition to the "main strain" that occurs during training camp.

 

[Motorola]

Second only to the legendary Rico in recent Pet Cat glory.

Don't forget Jameill Showers - longest tenured pet cat in franchise history.
May 2015 to September 2019.

 

[Coogiguy03]

When I visit the draft forum threads I’m often struck by how many fans are wowed by a college player’s film highlights against inferior college competition. It can be very misleading.

Examples without using names- like watching a player’s highlights from OU or Ala playing against a directional school without a single player on their roster who could even make a power 5 roster. Those players look like NFL All Pros against players who would never even make a camp body in the NFL.

Can't stand it haze, show us the BAD plays this player has. There's always the strength and weaknesses to a players scouting report, these weaknesses need to be on the highlight film so we know what we're getting ourselves into!!

Seeing guys wide open on every video or sacking a QB etc, means nothing if all the other plays they were lazy etc

 

[OmerV]

Tyson Thompson - Oklahoma State Cowboy. Man I had high hopes for him.

He doesn't fit the topic because he wasn't drafted, but I thought he had the potential to at least be a decent backup. He was a good kick returner for a few years.

 

[Madtowner]

What about Darius Jackson, RB out of E. Michigan. Seem to remember a few people on here thinking he was a steal in the 2016 draft.

 

[MarkP88]

I remember being absolutely psyched about Danny Noonan and Ron Francis in '87...little did I know that our best players from that draft would be Kelvin Martin and Kevin Gogan.

 

[SinceDayOne]

Great example. Bill Thomas has to be one of the biggest draft duds in HOFer Gil Brandt’s long career. Let’s also remember two other duds a few years later, the vastly overrated corner we drafted first in ‘76- Aaron Kyle and DE Larry Bethea in 78. Both were out of the league in 5 seasons.

Brandt and the guys had their misses. So did Jimmy Johnson. As have Jones and Son. And all have had their good moments. Johnson and Landry were able to overcome the misses and work with the success stories and win on the field. Jones and Son and their "coaches" seem to lack that ability.

 

[nalam]

For me has to be jaylon Smith....loved the value and pick at the time, trusted the Dr's, but at the end it was too bad an injury to overcome

In recent times this.

we all got roped in some of the past ones like matt J, rico G and a few others who I can’t remember, too early to start drinking ? Lol

 

[CoachD]

Here's a few of mine....
Robert Levette - They called him Mr. August because he only saw playing time in the pre-season.
Kendell Watkins- Just a massive human being who was supposed to be a glorified tackle at TE but was nothin.
Eric Bjornson- Was supposed to be the heir apparent to Novacek BAHAHAHAH nope.
Dana Howard- The guy was awesome in college but turned out to be another dud.
Markus Steele - What a great name for a linebacker, should have been named Markus made of Glass.
Antonio Bryant- The guy could have been great but a major headcase.
Julius Jones - Had an awesome first year on a really bad team then when the Cowboys got better he got worse.
and last but certainly not least....
Bobby Carpenter - I called the pick because I knew Parcells liked him but boy did he suck and I mean he goes down as one of the top ten worst first-round picks of all time by the Cowboys.