Character Scouting
by Impatient
on May 6, 2008 2:31 AM CDT
So after the first weekend of rookie minicamps, what do we know?
So far it seems that the Cowboys scouts have pulled gems out of the rubble. First we get news that Mendenhall is robbed at gunpoint after pulling a hammie in his rookie camp and Fred Davis is not smart enough to set his own alarm clock or order a wake up call.
These type of setbacks are not usually an indication of a picks worth on the grand scheme of things, BUT...
How many rookies coming in to the leauge can you name that have had early adversity have gone on to star in this league? Not to sound Terryesque and claim the sky is falling for these youngsters after the first NFL weekend for them, but I have to say that I am pleased that from the player positions we drafted, the other guy we didnt draft has had issues. Its not like we would have moved up for Fred Davis, but Mendenhall was within our grasp. The more time passes and the more spin I hear has me glad we went with Felix.
I think Mendenhall is this years Blair Thomas. I just cant see him turning out to be all that considering all the mitigating factors in his career. One good game against USC does not a hall of fame career make.
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I'd like for you to explain to me
how pulling a hamstring and getting robbed at gunpoint is related to character issues.
The Fred Davis issue, yes, that is being irresponsible, but how character comes into play with physical injuries and being a victim of a crime is beyond my comprehension.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on
May 6, 2008 7:12 AM CDT
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+1
I think the kid is going to be a stud no question about it. If we didn’t have MB3 here, he would’ve been the perfect fit. He had a bad week that’s all and has nothing to do with his character.
by Boyzfan94 on
May 6, 2008 10:41 AM CDT
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Ok
Here’s my line of thinking. I want my draft choice in minicamp and prepared for whatever, I want him to forego the banquet circuit to prepare himself for his pro career. Mendenhall was supposed to be a top 20 pick and he wasnt. All the dinner circuits in the world will not move you up in the perception of scouting departments, so blow it off and get ready to make an impact.. I will agree to disagree on this at this point and say lets have this conversation once meaningful bad intentions contact has been made. But I will go on record as saying that Mendenhall is a bust.
by Impatient on
May 7, 2008 12:36 AM CDT
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when he wins OROY I'll remind you of that
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on
May 7, 2008 9:09 AM CDT
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he's certainly not the odds on favorite....
as he’ll be 2nd string behind last years rushing leader after week 15…there are big question marks with Pitts o line….and they run way too many 3-4 WR sets….
Stewart in Carolina will have the chance to shine, in a power run offense….as will Forte in Chicago, Smith in Detroit,, and don’t rule out Ray Rice in Balt…....
I have already predicted Felix Jones as Rookie of the Year…and that was BEFORE we drafted him…and I’m stickin’ with it…he’ll have more all purpose yards than all the backs in this draft…..
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
by BoyzRback on
May 7, 2008 6:41 PM CDT
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yeah, but Parker is coming off
a serious leg injury. Don’t let the 3-4 WR sets fool you, the Steelers are first and foremost a running team, always were, always will be.
He’ll get just as many opportunities to touch the ball as the Cat, if not more so.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on
May 7, 2008 9:34 PM CDT
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ur right....he'll get plenty of chances...
single back formation with a completely overhauled o line…..i wish him luck…
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
by BoyzRback on
May 8, 2008 6:15 AM CDT
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The problem is
That he wont be the starter. In all of our research we did on him, we were told that if he is not the top dog he doesnt work very hard. His college coach didnt even give him a good review when we talked to him. This is the reason he couldnt get on the field his first two years.. With a suspect work ethic and only one good year of college ball, its going to be hard for him to be OROY or ROY
by Impatient on
May 8, 2008 9:04 AM CDT
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Stewart is my prediction
He’s in the best situation to succeed, and will likely be given the starting job if he shows something in camp. I think Mendenhall and Felix Jones (and Smith) all have good shots, though.
by grapejoos on
May 8, 2008 10:59 AM CDT
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I don't know about the character issues for Mendenhall
But I do think the guy has a bust factor. He worked hard for one season out of his college career, and that in a specific set. He’s being brought into a situation where he’s not going to be in position to succeed according to what we’ve seen of his success. Pittsburgh will split carries three or even four ways, and I don’t know if they can count on Mendenhall to keep caring enough to keep himself in Adonis-shape.
by BudLight on
May 6, 2008 7:24 AM CDT
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Talk about a major reach
How does pulling a hamstring and getting held up at gun point equate to character issues or a Davis who didn’t get a wakeup call from the hotels front desk, I guess you equate Chris Canty in that same boat since he was hit in the face with a beer bottle minding his own business in a bar before the draft. What happens if Felix Jones breaks an ankle running in the next three weeks or comes to the next mini camp and tears an ACL, god forbid, then what, does he have character issues too….
And alot of people are reading too much into these mini camps, you cant judge any player based on these mini camps, it’s a whole different ball of wax when the starters are there and the pads are on. What’s going on out there now is nothing more than to get these players in to see and talk to them on what’s going to be expected of them as a pro and teaching some technigue and footwork that they can work on until they come back again. There is a major learnig curve between college and the pros.
by Deke on
May 6, 2008 7:46 AM CDT
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You can't call Mendenhall a bust
but I agree that the more we hear and see about El Gato, the more I like that pick. He is a humble, high character, team first guy with deceptive talent and an incredible work ethic. I have zero regrets about picking Jones over Mendenhall and I think JJ got this one right.
by Billito on
May 6, 2008 8:34 AM CDT
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+1
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
by BoyzRback on
May 6, 2008 10:37 PM CDT
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Nothing good happens when your in downtown Chicago at 2:00 a.m on a Monday morning...
he’s lucky he wasn’t killed…..
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
by BoyzRback on
May 6, 2008 10:39 PM CDT
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He wasn't in downtown
Or he wouldn’t have been on the lakefront. He was on the Southside
by Ailuridae on
May 7, 2008 2:08 PM CDT
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wrong......Southside of Chicago is the LAST place on earth you want to be...even during the day time....
Lake front is east of downtown, and about a 5 minute walk to downtown Rush St…..cuz I’ve been there….Southside…..got lost there….big mistake….don’t go there…trust me..
A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.
"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones
by BoyzRback on
May 7, 2008 6:44 PM CDT
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Umm, no, you are mistaken.
Its basically impossible to walk anywhere downtown along the lakefront late at night because the police start combing the paths with ATVs about an hour after dusk. They are less likely to do this on the southside (or way up north) because there are less people out up there and, frankly, those people are far more likely to be armed.
From this article:
A male and a female were robbed around 2 a.m. Monday by two offenders near 39th Street and Lake Shore Drive, police spokesman John Mirabelli said.
If you want, google map 39th and Lake Shore Drive. Its in a horrible area. Probably less safe than any area most Americans ever see. And people congregate to that area of the lakefront from even worse areas throught the southside. So he exercised bad judgment in doing something mildly illegal in being on the waterfront after dusk and then picked about the worst neighborhood he could to do it in. Seems like a good kid who made a really stupid decision.
by Ailuridae on
May 8, 2008 1:29 PM CDT
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Technically
It doesn’t look like that intersection is actually on the lakefront, though it’s not far away. Based on my limited exposure to the south side, it seems like walking around at 2am in this area was probably a bad call. But it’s also where he’s from, or so I’ve heard. Just a crappy break.
by grapejoos on
May 8, 2008 4:01 PM CDT
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