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Jerry Jones press conference and 2nd round open thread

Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips had a quick press conference covering the first round draft selections. I paraphrased as best as I could. This is not by any means a word for word transcript.

The fact that Marion Barber is on the team played heavily into the decision to draft Felix Jones. Jerry said that with Felix Jones and Marion Barber the Cowboys would have more versatility than Barber and Rashard Mendenhall. The team doesn’t see Felix as a 20-25 carry back, and with Barber on the team it gave them opportunity to take Felix Jones, who has been exceptional in a two back system. Jones is also a great special teams playmaker which heavily into their decisions.

Dallas was sure that the running backs available at 22 would be gone before the 28th pick. They made the decision that the running backs would go much faster than the corners in those spots between 22 and 28 and wanted to grab the RB they wanted while they had the chance.

 Jerry admitted that Felix Jones does not have the size of Mendenhall, but they were planning all along on drafting a player for a two back system and Mendenhall is more of a three down back. They loved the big play ability that Jones brought to the table. They wanted to bring someone in that could truly be a change of pace back to Barber and allow Barber to come into the game and allow him to flourish when he is fresh.

 When asked about if the Cowboys tried to make a trade for a vet WR, Jerry said that he is not allowed to speak about any players nor is he able to talk about any trade talks with teams either. The Cowboys were more interested in taking calls for trades than placing them.

 The Cowboys figured that Barber/Mendenhall vs Barber/Jones would have pretty much the same overall numbers, but the Cowboys wanted someone with true big play ability. The Cowboys are committed to signing Barber long term, and that Jones and Barber will really compliment each other well, not only on the field but also off of it in work ethic and desire to win.

 Jerry said that the Cowboys drafting a cornerback was going to happen no matter what happened with the Pacman trade. Wade repeats the saying that a team can never have too many corners and how a 4th corner plays a lot in the league today and mentioned Nate Jones as an example from last year. Said that the Cowboys did not focus so much on the players’ special teams abilities but looked at each package as a whole and how the Cowboys’ big play potential has risen significantly with the addition of Jenkins and Jones. Jerry makes the note that the Cowboys now have a corner that can not only knock a pass down but has the ability to intercept it and return it which was a major factor when the Cowboys looked at corners. The Cowboys are convinced that Jenkins has the best ball skills of any other corner in the draft.

 On the subject of Pacman’s character: Jerry said that his upside and risk/reward was worth the trade and cites how he has had success with problem players before. Jerry said that a lot of times he would prefer someone who has been knocked down and picked themselves up to prove themselves over someone who has never been knocked down at all. Jerry says how he and Parcells got some players with character issues and it worked out ok. Jerry acknowledged that there is a lot of risk involved with his decision to bring in Pacman but says that there never is a lack of risk when running the Cowboys.

 Wade says that Anthony Henry’s job is not in danger. Jerry states that the trade for Pacman is a very complicated one and the Cowboys are still working to get it completed, and says its tough when there are multiple entities involved and says that for all practical purposes the trade is complete. Jerry says that the Cowboys are committed to Pacman Jones being a positive addition this year for the Cowboys, both on and off the field. Wade says that both first round picks has the ability to make a difference as a rookie this year. Jerry acknowledges that Cowboys most likely will add another RB either later in the draft or through FA. Says Jones can get involved not only in the running game but also in other aspects of the game, such as splitting out as a WR. Drafting Jones was not a matter of getting a backup to Barber but to get a second back to play with Barber. Jerry would be very disappointed if Felix does not get significant playing time this year.

 Jerry says that the Cowboys really didn’t have a chance to move into the top 10. A lot of teams looking to trade down wanted a higher pick than the cowboys had in return. Jerry mentioned he was lightly working on a three team deal but nothing remotely close to a final deal. Jerry was also was never interested in giving up both 1st rounders to move up because there wasn’t a player worth the value of the two players the Cowboys got.

 

This is an open thread to discuss the remainder of the second round, leading up to the Cowboys' pick.

0 recs | Comment 302 comments

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damnit

there goes tyrell johnson

Gimme that "WOW" factor Jerry

by FearRomo on Apr 26, 2008 6:27 PM CDT   0 recs

That was Minnesota

They traded for the Eagles pick.

by Philosopher on Apr 26, 2008 6:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oops

To Minnesota

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I still say

Felix Jones was the wrong pick. It should have been Mendenhall. I sincerely hope I end up being wrong.

Sweed and Jackson still there…...

by Philosopher on Apr 26, 2008 6:29 PM CDT   0 recs

I heard a lot

of people saying that Felix may end up as the best back coming out of this draft.

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no that would be Stewart

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No I heard

Stewart from you. I heard several analysts saying that about Felix

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree, I can't understand how Jones

complements MB3 better than mendenhall as he is just as fast as Jones but is a much better blocker.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Apr 26, 2008 6:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No thanks on Jackson

His real value was as a return guy and we now have 3 elite returners in Jenkins, Adam Jones and Felix Jones

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jackson in the slot would be unstoppable

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i can tell you now

you’re wrong.

just got ownaged

by Longhorn on Apr 26, 2008 6:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I liked

Matt Forte in the 3rd. Bummer

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:33 PM CDT   0 recs

If Felix Jones

becomes a Brian Westbrook, Ill be happy.

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:33 PM CDT   0 recs

no way, sixth maybe, thats where he'll be still

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that is a long drop from last year

when he was projected as a top 5 pick

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder if it would be worth

grabbing Brohm or Henne. Brad Johnson is a better 3rd stringer…..

by Philosopher on Apr 26, 2008 6:35 PM CDT   0 recs

kelly is still on the board

by Zak on Apr 26, 2008 6:36 PM CDT   0 recs

Eagles Are Supposed to Be Geniuses

At drafting, but they keep bailing out of the sweet spot in a deep draft. Combined with their bailing out last year and drafting two busts at the top of the 2006 draft, their magic looks long gone.

by kindablue on Apr 26, 2008 6:36 PM CDT   0 recs

Who is the guys from TCU?

I hope we get him.

by coolaid on Apr 26, 2008 6:37 PM CDT   0 recs

yup

he could have been a first round pick last year but now we could probably get him in the 7th or 8th round.

by coolaid on Apr 26, 2008 6:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Iggles

Are trying to force McNabb into despair and retirement.

by accidental innuendo on Apr 26, 2008 6:38 PM CDT   0 recs

Whoops

Fit, rather, not fir.

by ajspop on Apr 26, 2008 6:41 PM CDT   0 recs

late 3rd early 4th

I will guess 100th overall ;-)

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

fifth round

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

im really surprised...

Limas and Desean are not being picked over a bunch of these WR’s

Gimme that "WOW" factor Jerry

by FearRomo on Apr 26, 2008 6:44 PM CDT   0 recs

Wow....

Philly didn’t take Jackson or Sweed…

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:46 PM CDT   0 recs

they have another one coming up

I’d be shocked if they didn’t take one then … McNabb’s eternal complaint has been no WRs

by MeanMr.Mustard on Apr 26, 2008 6:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yess...

Eagles take DeSean Jackson. He’s the exact sort of guy I’m not afraid of. Really small, but fast enough that teams get sucked in. This is such a Philly pick at WR it’s not even funny.

T-New is going to own him.

by GhettoBear04 on Apr 26, 2008 7:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If I were Mcnabb,

I would be pissed.

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Problem Is the Eagles

Can’t draft a good WR to save their lives. Their record is appalling. That’s why they rolled the dice on T.O.

by kindablue on Apr 26, 2008 6:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Has anybody

even heard of this Trevor Laws guy?

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:46 PM CDT   0 recs

lol

NFLN just showed him getting his a$$ handed to him at the senior bowl

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes

a lot of people should know him.

just got ownaged

by Longhorn on Apr 26, 2008 6:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

But Tampa Bay

is comping up soon and they will take the guy Philly doesn’t…

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah

I was surprised they didn’t take Devin Thomas in the 1st round

by MeanMr.Mustard on Apr 26, 2008 6:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

HaHa

maybe Roy Williams will break him with one of those fierce shoulder tackles

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Is Kolb still the heir apparent in Philly?

I could see them considering a QB … lots of good ones on the board.

Clearly the smartest thing is WR though

by MeanMr.Mustard on Apr 26, 2008 6:50 PM CDT   0 recs

Desean Jackson

is the pick.

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:51 PM CDT   0 recs

Not the

fastest Jackson in the draft… :)

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Great

Desean is going to BURN Roy repeatedly that first game…

just got ownaged

by Longhorn on Apr 26, 2008 6:52 PM CDT   0 recs

Desean

and his 175 pound frame will get rocked by Roy..

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Roy

would be lucky to sniff his farts let alone catch him…

just got ownaged

by Longhorn on Apr 26, 2008 6:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LMAO Longhorn.....

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

by BoyzRback on Apr 26, 2008 6:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Like I said above

Roy’s only shot is to break the midget with a monster shoulder tackle

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If Roy is covering DeSean

Wade will get fired.

They’ll probably put DeSean in the slot to make use of his speed. It just so happens that we have a CB who matches up well with those guys.

Plus, I still contend this is the type of WR who makes it as a successful NFL player much less often than the bigger guys. We’ll see..

by GhettoBear04 on Apr 26, 2008 7:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sigh...

Good choice

by MeanMr.Mustard on Apr 26, 2008 6:52 PM CDT   0 recs

If he

can add 30 pounds.

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jackson has already put on ten pounds

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jackson...

You can tell he is full of himself….

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:54 PM CDT   0 recs

yeah

im not too sure who’s gunna fall to us now… Sweed will most likely be swooped up very soon… Malcolm Kelly maybe drops to us??? if not i can see maybe a DT to backup tank/jay ratliff

Gimme that "WOW" factor Jerry

by FearRomo on Apr 26, 2008 6:54 PM CDT   0 recs

Kelly has bad knees. I'd stay away from him

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No to

a NT…

And the secret sources in Cincinnati get the last laugh....

by miles on Apr 26, 2008 6:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

pray,

pray and pray some more that Sweed falls to us.

by coolaid on Apr 26, 2008 6:55 PM CDT   0 recs

so glad Philly took Jackson

he has bust written all over him

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Apr 26, 2008 6:55 PM CDT   0 recs

Hey

I actually agree with you on something lol

by Impatient on Apr 26, 2008 6:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's a polished receiver

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Apr 26, 2008 6:56 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs