1989....This is how you run a draft

Found a great article that made me remember "The Good 'Ol Days" and had to pass it on along with my thoughts on this year's draft.

http://www.cowboysplus.com/classic/r...

clip:

The Cowboys were sitting with the first pick in the second round when Davis called. Davis, drafting 11th in the second round, badly wanted Penn State guard Steve Wisniewski and feared another team would snatch him.

Davis, the man in black and winner of three Super Bowls, was eager to make a deal with the rookie NFL coach.

"He said, 'Jimmy, this is the first time we've dealt with one another, and it will be a good experience,'" Johnson said. "I said 'Al, this is my first time, so I need an extra pick.'"

The best thing Jerry Jones has done for the Dallas Cowboys was the hiring of Jimmy Johnson. The staff Jimmy assembled, the draft picks and the trades were the culmination of an NFL  "Perfect Storm."  Jimmy hasn't had the same success since leaving the Cowboys and with every year that he doesn't entertain the idea of returning, he solidifies this theory.

Now Jerry Jones has had his moments, both good and bad. He tries hard and he falls just as hard. At one point after losing to the Cardinals in the 1998 playoffs, I thought he might have done everything short of selling his soul for another championship.  Make no mistake, Jerry has devoted his life to the Dallas Cowboys.  Of all the owners in all of professional sports, I can't think of one owner with more passion for winning than Jerry Jones. To his credit he won't ever give up. To his detriment this passion is the very reason for Post-Jimmy mediocrity.

When he hired Bill Parcells to put a team together, it was the first time since Jimmy's era that he let someone else hold the reigns to his prized possession.  You could argue that he never really let go, probably kept his hands as close a young dad giving driving lessons in the mint 67 Camaro. Always flinching, waiting to take over - just in case.  Jerry watched and eventually learned from Bill what he wouldn't admit all along, he knows a lot less than he thinks.  The business of evaluating talent isn't easy.  Even Bill admits a few mistakes here and there.

But Jerry seems pretty pleased with his recent draft strategy. He's almost giddy about aquiring next year's #1 and ONE truly promising draft pick this year in Spencer. He's learning but he's not quite there in this talent business.

Not all of the players drafted under Jimmy Johnson made the roster, or even remained in the NFL.  But more often than not you got better football players contributing sooner rather than later.

This article it reminded me of Jimmy's key to success.  Don't draft Potential, draft Production.

Another article about the same draft:
http://www.cowboysplus.com/classic/r...

During his two days in the draft room, Johnson sat next to his friend and employer, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

"Jerry was pretty excitable," Johnson said, smiling. "But I was happy that he didn't give us a lot of suggestions."

As it turned out, Johnson didn't need any.