Cowboys sign Procter plus more UDFA's

by Dave Halprin on May 2, 2007 1:37 AM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

The Cowboys finally got Cory Procter under contract.

Dallas continued to strengthen its offensive line by signing guard Cory Procter to a one-year contract worth $435,000.

We also signed a few more UDFA’s:

Dallas also signed UT-El Paso linebacker Alex Obomese and punter Sam Paulescu to free-agent deals. Paulescu, from Oregon State, was on the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers' developmental squad last summer.

OK, even JJT is having the Tony Romo vs. Brady Quinn debate.

There's an undeniable groundswell of anger that Jerry Jones didn't select Brady Quinn with the 22nd pick because there's a belief out there that the Cowboys still need a franchise quarterback.
I say they've already got him.
Time will tell, but you have to be impressed with Romo's 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and nearly 3,000 yards passing. He has charisma, athleticism, and he should only get better.
Now, there will be times he makes mistakes because he wants to make a big play. But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Obviously JJT comes down on the side of not drafting Quinn. So do I, for the record. Why? Because we’ve invested time and energy in the grooming of Tony Romo, and he showed a great deal of promise last year. If he can get out of the ball-security funk he fell into over the last stretch of the season, he should be OK. I'd prefer to stay with Romo and see the end result.

On the other hand, Brady Quinn is a fine prospect, and I’d guess that most NFL people would say he has a very good chance of being successful in the league. How successful? That's the trick, if you knew that answer with certainty you'd be a very successful GM.

Is he the all-world prospect that should’ve caused Dallas to change directions at QB? I don’t think so, but I don’t think anybody’s wrong for thinking he is that franchise QB. The kid has produced on the big stage, and he has a lot of physical and mental ability. If you like him, you like him. If you don’t, you don’t. But there is no absolute right answer to the question of Tony Romo vs. Brady Quinn, yet. Get back to me in a few years, and the picture will be clearer.

So if you’re going to debate TR vs. BQ, try to show some respect for the other guy. Because I know one thing – and this is hard to deny – nobody knows exactly how that story is going to play out.

Update [2007-5-2 10:56:8 by Grizz]: BTB reader mhuff13 makes a very valid point in the comments. I tend to agree with it.

Nobody knows how Romo OR Quinn will turn out, but I do know one thing.
Romo + Spencer + potential top 5 pick is much better than Quinn.

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Comments

Romo vs. Quinn

Nobody knows how Romo OR Quinn will turn out, but I do know one thing.

Romo + Spencer + potential top 5 pick is much better than Quinn.

by mhuff13 on May 2, 2007 3:20 AM CDT reply actions

You stated my thought exactly

by lee3022 on May 2, 2007 3:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Amen, mhuff13... Amen, brutha!

Romo and Quinn do have a few non-football things in common, though. Both seem to have class and character. And because of that, I wish them well.

However, I don't want Quinn to start excelling until the 2008 season -- after next year's draft :)

"Beware of D-Ware!"

by kcbrett5 on May 2, 2007 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Romo vs. Quinn

Quinn is a product of the Notre Dame Over-Hype Promo Machine. If Romo falls on his face this year (which I don't think he will), Dallas has the ammo to go after Brian Brohm, the best QB prospect I've seen since Carson Palmer -- otherwise, there's McFadden, Sweed, etc.

From the hometown of Bob Lilly, Long Ball

by Long Ball on May 2, 2007 8:40 AM CDT reply actions

I agree that Brohm

is light years better than Quinn, I've seen both of them play, its not even close.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 2, 2007 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually

Brohm is not. He plays in a pass happy Lville team against mediocre competition. Not sure, again, how you can say that...

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I say it because its true

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 2, 2007 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

You say it

because you think Tyler Palko is good and on an NFL team.

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions

which is also true

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 3, 2007 7:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Mediocre?

Beating Miami (FL), Kentucky, Kansas State (didn't they beat Texas?), West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest is mediocre? I wonder if anyone ever referred to John Elway's Stanford teams as "pass happy"?

From the hometown of Bob Lilly, Long Ball

by Long Ball on May 2, 2007 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions

the debate is ridiculous

there is absolutely no sane argument that can be made for drafting brady Quinn. Romo has proven he is capable of being a star in this league. In his first year starting, he posts an incredible qb rating, gets voted by his peers and coaches to the pro bowl, and is mainly responsible for leading to the team playoffs and is loved and adored by his teammates. This kid is ultra special and WILL be a star for years to come leading us to numerous SB's.

Regardless of what you think of Brady Quinn, when you take a qb in the first round, you're basically saying that guy will be your qb at some point soon in the future. You don't pay first rd qb's millions to sit the bench. So if you draft Quinn, you're saying Romo doesn't have what it takes to lead us to the SB, and nothing could be farther from the truth. It has nothing to do with competition, thats just a stupid argument. You draft a guy in the 4th or 5th rd as competition, not the first.

Romo is the real deal and if you deny it, you simply don't like him and shouldn't even root for the Cowboys because he's going to be the man for years to come, plain and simple.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 2, 2007 8:47 AM CDT reply actions

I like Romo

as much as the next fan, and I really believe he's going to improve this year with a much improved line and more effective defense, but there will always be room for wondering if he's the real deal until he's been starting for a couple of years.

by dunkman on May 2, 2007 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Does the new BTB interface allow for blocking

comments by posters who don't understand "try to show some respect for the other guy" and who can only frame their opinions in strident and hysterical language?

Just wondering.

by jsdoty on May 2, 2007 9:46 AM CDT reply actions

Creation of a non-existent issue

has anyone else beside JJT experienced this "undeniable groundswell of anger"? I have been on the web constantly on all kinds of sites since the draft and have not seen one draft review that suggested the Cowboys should have taken Quinn. Furthermore, not taking Quinn was almost risk free. It lets Romo have a full year with no one looking over his shoulder. If he doesn't pan out(unlikely), use one of the two 1st picks next year (or a combination of both) to position for the best QB available.

So if Romom has a good year, we woul

Vak

by vak on May 2, 2007 10:16 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, I also thought...

the undeniable groundswell of anger comment was kind of fishy. I mean, there are definitely dissenting opinions, but it's not exactly the Dolphins situation. Did you guys see them boo their new coach and chant "Brady" at the post draft press conference? Those guys were undeniably a groundswell of anger!

If you're reading this, you could be commenting, too. Sign up for a free account on Blogging The Boys.

by Dave Halprin on May 2, 2007 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Beck is going to be good

but ginn is going to be a bust

Burt-D

by Burt D @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

John Beck is 26

and has never faced very mediocre competition at BYU.

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Creation of a non-existent issue to sell papers

Has anyone besides JJT experienced this alleged "undeniable groundswell of anger" that the Cowboys didn't pick Quinn? Personally, I jumped out of my seat and yelled in joy (startling my wife and small children), when they made the trade. I haven't seen any review yet which suggestes we should have taken Quinn.

Besides its a total no brainer. Consider the following:

Present scenario: We get the player we wanted in the first round. Romo gets a boost of confidence by the decison and gets to play for a full year w/o someone breathing down his neck and no fodder for a distracting media generated QB controversy to distract the team from the task at hand. Even if Romo doesn't pan out this year (unlikely, we have more than enough ammo next year to position for the best qb avaialable.

Possible scenario if we took Quinn:

Vak

by vak on May 2, 2007 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

Possible scenario if we took Quinn:

We are forced to pay more for Quinn that the No. 22 slot because he was a supposedly highly slotted qb. He sits for a year, Romo flourishes and goes to another pro bowl. Now we have a very highly paid (but entirely unproven) back up QB. This schackles us salary cap wise in the coming years. Furthermore, his trade value is certainly diminished. This isn't 1990 anymore and you can't hope to pick a QB, have him sit for a year and then get a No. 1 for him (i.e. steve walsh). Overall, a potential disaster compared to the upside of our present situation).

Vak

by vak on May 2, 2007 10:29 AM CDT reply actions

EXACTLY!!

somebody finally gets it! There is no way you get a first rd pick for Quinn so its essentally a wasted pick.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 2, 2007 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Proctor to Center

I read on the Cowboys website Wades plans on moving Proctor to Center.

by Cowboys81 on May 2, 2007 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

No

it's not if/when Romo busts. If it is, yes, someone will trade a 1st rounder for Quinn.

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions

not true

if you draft Quinn and he sits on your bench and only plays in preseason, there is no way in hell somebody gives you a first rd pick for him, no way.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 2, 2007 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Really?

Didn't drew henson, who was playing baseball for years, get traded for a 3rd round pick? Maybe you should pick reading as your new hobby...

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions

so how does that translate into a 1st rd pick?

you should try thinking as your new hobby

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 3, 2007 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Mick weighs in

Article

I completely agree with this point: even if Quinn turns out to be Dan Marino, you can't blame the Cowboys for passing up on him. You can't predict the future. You can only use the best information you got and make a logical decision.

by alienate on May 2, 2007 11:08 AM CDT reply actions

Romo vs. Quinn

All Romo has to do is learn how to throw inside the pocket (he's only 6 feet tall) vs. outside the pocket in which he had so much success last year, and we'll win 11-12 ball games.

by cowboy k on May 2, 2007 12:54 PM CDT reply actions

Actually

he's 6-2 and a fraction. And as most coaches say, you throw through passing lanes, not over linemen. Otherwise you'd need to be 6-7 or 6-8 to play QB.

His problem with throwing in the pocket was that it typically collapsed back on him, usually from Rivera's side, but often from the other side as well. When that happens your field of view (lanes) gets way small.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do with much better protection and running game, and a solid defense that doesn't force him to win games.

by dunkman on May 2, 2007 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

thats true

Romo is just as tall as Montana, Staubach and Favre so this being short talk is garbage. 6-2 is plenty tall enough as those guys have proven.

Romo is actually very effective throwing within the pocket if he gets protection and thats true for any qb, not just him. Brady and Manning look very pedistrian without protection.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on May 2, 2007 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Not to mention

that Drew Brees is 6ft and 3/8...

by dunkman on May 3, 2007 7:04 AM CDT up reply actions

spending energy on a QB

QB is an interesting position in that you just need someone who can minimize mistakes to have a good chance of winning. I think it's much more important to have superstar studs at RB or LB or the D line to have success in the NFL. Therefore, I think the important thing to do is just pick a QB that doesn't fumble a lot or throw a bunch of picks and just stick with him. Even if his arm is weak or he's not the biggest star - as long as he's average and doesn't turn the ball over he's golden. I have full confidence that Romo is at least average. But, given how long it takes to train a QB, get him acclimated to the league, its just nonsense to keep having to repeat the process every two years. Quinn might end up being better, but at this point, I'd rather move forward and focus attention elsewhere.

by ab03 @ Blogging The Boys on May 2, 2007 1:05 PM CDT reply actions