From The Associated Press: Receiver Jesse Holley is joining the Dallas Cowboys, courtesy of...

Receiver Jesse Holley is joining the Dallas Cowboys, courtesy of Michael Irvin.

Holley was revealed Monday night as the winner of "4th and Long," the reality show on the Spike network organized and hosted by Irvin. Holley's prize is the 80th spot on the Cowboys' training-camp roster and a standard rookie contract.

over 2 years ago Aaron Novinger 55 comments 1 recs |

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Thank God

this show is over.

by lildrummerboy on Jul 20, 2009 10:42 PM CDT reply actions

Wouldnt it be cool though?

Probably this seasons Amendola.

by BlueZombie on Jul 20, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions

He may have a shot

"What you get when you put that #9 wit that #11? ...That's right 9-1-1!" - Roy Williams.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jul 20, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions

Damn!

It airs in 1 hour here.

by Eagles suck on Jul 20, 2009 11:05 PM CDT reply actions

Should have been hawkins

unless the competition was piss-poor on the show, hawkins seemed to have something special. The guy just made plays. Perhaps the issue was the competition. Perhaps it makes the average seem special. And against NFLers, Hawkin’s size would have nullified his apparently best qualities.

Oh well. Holley went against the same competition. I wish Holley the best of luck.

by Eagles suck on Jul 20, 2009 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions

The fumbles are what hurt him i said it before

by rioplayer7 on Jul 21, 2009 5:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Why did they even bother with ST drills

if they didn’t care whether the player can play special teams?

by JimmyJohnson on Jul 20, 2009 11:09 PM CDT reply actions

Thank you.

I wondered the same thing. Can’t Coach Joe have some more pull?

Prototypes Schmototypes. Go against the grain, Cowboys.

All eyes on Free.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions

I hear you

Holley is likely a C+ version of the prototype receiver. If Avezzano’s comments about Holley vs. Cowboys receiver subs is true, then I think our receivers are just that plain. Or worse than plain. If a C+ receiver comes in and shakes things up, then… well, he had better spend some draft picks on WRs in the future.

Hawkins showed all the potential and quicks that one could hope to have in a receiver. Was the problem that he was just too short and, among the big NFL boys, he’d have no hope of standing out?

Anyone know why he’s not being invited to an NFL training camp? Not one?

by Eagles suck on Jul 21, 2009 1:21 AM CDT up reply actions

because he currently is playing Canada

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

If he was cut for being too short, then that would defeat the purpose of the show IMO.

Maybe production didn’t show Hawkins’ worse just to lead people on to thinking it wasn’t Holley. That fumble was the first bad thing I saw Hawkins do. Did it happen in an earlier episode I’m just not remembering?

I mean, the guys had the eye of the tiger—continuously beating blocks, making tackles, sustaining blocks, throwing double moves, showing he can get open in the end zone, showing toughness on end arounds, and on and on and on.

Shoulda been Hawkins.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

I know it's crazy

or is it? I wanted Hawk to win too, and while he dominated 90% of all the drills, it was Holley who showed up more often in the games. Maybe those smaller targets really are that much harder to find when you’re a QB. Even little W. Welker is like 3 inches taller than Hawk is. That’s small. Now if you could put Hawkins skills and shiftiness into Holley’s frame, WOAH BUDY!

by sublimezg on Jul 21, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

bottom line

Hawkins had no chance of making the team as a receiver any way, so the production in game situations as a receiver really shouldn’t have mattered regarding Hawkins, ST is where he would have had a legitimate shot.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I wondered the same thing during that game.

Holley provided that unnumbered QB with more of a target, which is probably why he caught so many more balls. I bet he could barely even see Hawkins.

Can the Cowboys just have both guys? Montreal can share for just a preseason game or two. It’s not like they’re featuring him.

Shoulda been Hawkins.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

"he may have a shot"

I would pick holley over stanback right now, stanback is just too fragile, and if he gets hurt again in tc, holley will battle with manny johnson and I predict will beat him out.

safe
1.RW
2.Miles
3.PC
4hurd- he can play the xyz positions and contributes on ST seems to be steady and consistent
Which leaves 1-2 spots left probably 1, and holley has as good a shot as anyone.

I must say I really liked hawkins, he reminded me of kevin williams.

by TONYINCC on Jul 20, 2009 11:15 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

at least he can play better than Stanback and is not made of glass

In training camp two years ago Holley lasted all the way until the last day of cuts on quite possibly the best WR corps in the league (Bengals – Chad Johnson, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Chris Henry, Antonio Chapman).

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/nfl/players/Jesse_Holley/

Sep 6, 2007: Re-signed by the Cincinnato Bengals to the practice squad.
Sep 1, 2007: Released by the Cincinnati Bengals.
May 2, 2007: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals.
May 2, 2007: Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals.

by BluStar on Jul 21, 2009 12:01 AM CDT reply actions

Both Hawkins and Holley proved rather durable during the show.

It was like training camp 1a. for them. Hopefully, the water the WRs drink in San Antonio is different than that in Oxnard.

All eyes on Free.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 12:25 AM CDT up reply actions

What if...

Hawkins didn’t fumble?

All eyes on Free.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 12:26 AM CDT reply actions

Exactly he lost it because of his 2 fumbles not just tonight

by rioplayer7 on Jul 21, 2009 5:04 AM CDT up reply actions

If he didn't lose the ball

It was his, but for a guy thats already a long-shot turnovers is a instant killer

"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards

by nicholas.rodriguez on Jul 28, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Go Holley...

I’ve been rootin for Holley or Jones to win ever since the show started. Hawkins clearly replaced Jones after awhile but Holley was my main candidate. We’ll figure out what’s up at PR but I hope Holley can be our Fitzgerald… Imagine that along side Roy Williams and cast… ;)

God 1st, Family Always & Dallas Cowboys 4 Life!!!!!

by CodeNamedG on Jul 21, 2009 12:52 AM CDT reply actions

As a Tar Heel, I'm pulling for the guy...

But competition at the lower end of the WR ladder can be funny… teams are often willing to gamble here, as the Cowboys have proven in recent years with Stanback. It’s not always the best guy for that year that makes it … and this could hurt Holley’s chances. Holley is a known quantity. He’s been around for a few years now, and still hasn’t been able to get on the field.

My bet is on the Cowboys keeping Stanback or a rookie — purely based on future potential — over a guy like Holley.

Tar Heels = National Champs in Basketball ... #1 in Baseball ... Top 10 this year in Football?

by DalaiLuke on Jul 21, 2009 2:03 AM CDT reply actions

Don't get me wrong, I like Holley,

but what can he bring to this team. His special teams play was average against scrubs. I thought Hawk had the most to bring to the table on this team. Fierce gunner. Solid return guy. Good blocker. Holley just seems like even if he makes the 53, he’ll be inactive every game.

by Mandmeisterx on Jul 21, 2009 5:57 AM CDT reply actions

I think the final game sealed the deal

as impressive as Hawkins looked throughout the show, he got lost in the final game while Holley lit up the field. Granted, the competetion was not NFL – caliber but that’s what they had to judge with and Holley took control.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in training camp. They said his lack of experience hurt him with the Bengals and the guy certainly proved durable with all the drills they ran him through.

Could you imagine Stanback on that show? He would have lost a leg.

by Billito on Jul 21, 2009 6:32 AM CDT reply actions

I thought Hawkins was clearly the best player on the show

and had a much better chance of making the team than Holley. There is nothing special about Holley, he is just a slower version than Stanback.

Hawkins, however, would have automatically been the best punt returner on the team other than Newman and is a much better ST player than Holley.

The fumble IMO wasn’t the reason Irvin didn’t pick Hawkins, Irvin picked Holley because he has a soft spot for big, athletic physical receivers like himself, that was the deciding factor IMO.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 7:20 AM CDT reply actions

100% agree....you had to think that Irvin would want a big, physical receiver - someone in his mold...

because obviously its in his best interest to be able to bring someone to the cowboys that actually has a shot at making the team

the show was finished in April so that gives Irvin 3 months to take this guy under his wing and give him 1 on 1 training…and these lessons will translate better to someone with similar physical characteristics than they would to Hawkins

this would also explain why he kept that dog Montrell Jones around for so long…

by McLovin9 on Jul 21, 2009 8:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I was going to say that last part.

I think he wanted Jones to win REAL bad. I still can’t believe he lost that 1 on 1 to Mo Wash. He must either not be as good as advertised, or he was pretty hurt.

by Mandmeisterx on Jul 21, 2009 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Does he have decent speed?

(being in Aus I haven’t watched any of the show)

But I don’t think we need another possession guy, we already have Roy, Witten, MartyB, Crayton and Hurd. We need another guy who can stretch the field.

"Where's Woody? - We need another Darren Woodson

by BoyfromOz on Jul 21, 2009 9:00 AM CDT reply actions

decent yes, field stretching, no

He runs a 4.5, same as Crayton and Hurd so he looks to be another possession receiver.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Excited to see what happens now

I really am anxious to see what he is able to do. I really liked Hawkins because he could have been a deep threat and a great punt returner and special teams guy. What speaks volumes though is that during the show, coach joe was asked if Holley stood a chance at beating out guys like Hurd and Stanback. He said that he was better than any of the current backups on the squad right now. They wouldn’t have chosen him if they didn’t truly think that. If nothing else though, he will be a cause for churning the bottom of the roster, because now guys like Hurd and Stanback know that their roster spots are on the line if this guys outperforms them. Also just another note, how often are Stanback and Hurd getting injured? A lot, and Holley went through a couple months of more extreme training than these guys do in NFL practices with no injuries, which automatically increases his value as the backup WR for the cowboys just can’t seem to stay healthy.

Tony Romo off in dat hole, Watch roll and watch him throw, Watch him lead dem cowboys to the super bowl, now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys, Now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys, Now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys, Now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys!

by ProBowlFactory on Jul 21, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

Not Hurd

Guys – I think those of us who throw Hurd in the “at risk” mix are wrong. I think none of the sub-WRs with potential could unseat Hurd. He’s been solid when he’s been on the field. Good hands, good route runner and good special teams. And I don’t think his recent health issues will cost him his job with the Cowboys. Ultimately, Hurd could be an emergency starter and he’d hold his own.

Stanback is another story. He is truly a project and is unproven (he has what? maybe 5-7 catches in his entire career) other than being an average KO returner and is a health risk all the time. He needs a strong training camp (and a healthy one).

I think we’re likely to keep 5 wrs and put at least 2 others on the practice squad. I think most of our 6th WR candidates are practice squad material. Including Holley—if he’s eligible. Stanback isn’t. He’d b picked up by another team if we cut him.

by Eagles suck on Jul 21, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

Hurd is the most underrated WR on this squad.

Shoulda been Hawkins.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

+2

He looked good when not injured the last two years

Prime Time: If we were playing a game of pickup basketball, what should I expect?
Tony Romo: Well...I'd spot you 10 points if we were playing to 11.

by aussie_cowboy on Jul 21, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Didn't he get injured on some end around at a pointless time in a preseason game last year?

I sure hope they don’t have Austin covering KOs this year, either.

Shoulda been Hawkins.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah, he's a lock to make the team

along with RW, Austin and Crayton. The 5th or 6th spots are the ones up for grabs.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Stanback is another story. He is truly a project and is unproven (he has what? maybe 5-7 catches in his entire career) other than being an average KO returner and is a health risk all the time. He needs a strong training camp (and a healthy one).

I think you could replace Stanback with Austin in this sentence and still be entirely accurate, whether fans want to admit that or not.

by Mandmeisterx on Jul 21, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

"health risk all the time" does not apply to Austin.

He was injured last year, but his previous years have been healthy, unlike Stanback who’s had recurrent injury problems. Austin hasn’t. So I think saying he is a “health risk all the time” is not at all accurate.

by scottmaui on Jul 21, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought he was hurt again this year.

I was mistaken. But he did reinjure himself last year, and it is something to worry about. Not saying he’s Stanback level, but still a risk.

by Mandmeisterx on Jul 21, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

well he was held out of mini-camp with a minor injury

but I wouldn’t read much into that, it seems like because of the field they were practicing on they were taking extra precautions and holding out anyone with the most minor bruise. Seems like he should be fully ready for training camp. If he gets injured again this year, god forbid, it will be a trend, but just one year out due to injury I don’t think makes him a health risk yet.

by scottmaui on Jul 21, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Holley isn't better than any of our primary backups

Like I said, he’s a slower version of Stanback, that’s about it.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions

with all due respect

I’ll take Coach Joe’s word about it over yours lol.

but time will tell.

by scottmaui on Jul 21, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Coach Joe didn't say Holley was better than our primary backups

He said Holley was just as good as Wilson, Jefferson, Olgetree and Stanback, not Hurd, Crayton or Austin.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

what he actually said

Holly is a flat out solid receiver, and can be better than some of the backups the Cowboys have now, as far as running routes, making the catch on the sideline, going high for a ball.

You are inferring who he means by that. You can’t know for sure. But I bet he’s better than Hurd at going high for the ball.

Then at the end he says:

I don’t have any doubt about how Jesse will represent himself and the Cowboys when he goes to training camp. I’m very proud of our selection, I’m proud of Jesse, the way he’s fought through this process. Because we had doubts, and they had to be erased before we would deliver him. And he did erase them. So I’m very proud of Jesse Holley, I think he’s got high character, high intelligence, excellent athletic skills, and I think he’s a good prospect.

Where he really stacks up remains to be seen, but when you say “he’s a slower version of Stanback, that’s about it,” like I said I will take Coach Joe’s word over yours and give him a chance to prove himself before I just dismiss him like you apparently have.

by scottmaui on Jul 21, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I know for sure that Coach Joe

doesn’t believe Holley is as good as Crayton, Hurd or Austin, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out he was talking about our 3rd and 4th string WRs.

And I wouldn’t be too sure about him being better than Hurd at going after the ball, Hurd has three years of pro ball under his belt, Holley has zero.

BTW, I never said I was dismissing Holley at all by saying he’s just a slower version of Stanback. If some of the primary backups get hurt in camp, he might shine, you never know, but then again, so could Jefferson, Johnson or Olgetree.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 21, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

There is no way to tell who he is talking about when he says "backups"

So stop inserting your opinions into his mouth.

That being said, you’re right about everything else in this thread :)

by ChrisRichey on Jul 21, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Holley is good at going for the ball.

That’s a great mentality for a WR to have. If the ball is in the air, it’s mine!

Maybe he’ll help save a pick/incomplete pass or two for our QBs this preseason.

Shoulda been Hawkins.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta love those former basketball players

Like Bennett, Gates, etc, not only are they not afraid to go and get the ball, the LOVE doing it!

I don’t expect anything from Holley, but he seemed like a good guy and teammate so I will be rooting for him.

by ChrisRichey on Jul 21, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't forget Leon Lett!

I will be rooting for Holley too. The whole WR position has just frustrated me since Terry Glenn’s release.

With Holley, MannyJ, & Ogletree, it will be nice to at least see some new faces next week at the position.

Shoulda been Hawkins.

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 21, 2009 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions

The thing that really bothers me

If you watch Holley during that final game, he never really had very good separation, he just got very well placed balls that the defender couldn’t quite get to. That’s good that he’s able to go for jump balls and win, but personally I’d rather have the guy who can make you lose your jock strap. Eh, I hope Hawkins gets a shot in the NFL from someone, he certainly deserves at least a practice squad spot.

by sublimezg on Jul 21, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions