Two Cowboys Linemen Get Some Love From ESPN

by One.Cool.Customer on Jun 10, 2011 6:00 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys General

"Hey, ESPN, I got a couple more underrated players on my roster. Read the comments section below to find out who they are."

Dan Graziano from ESPN's NFC East blog put up his list of the four most underrated players in the NFC East today. By definition, one of the four has to be a Cowboy.

John Clayton, one of ESPN's senior writers, posted his version of an All-Underrated Team today. The twist here is that the team is made up entirely of players who haven't made a Pro Bowl (yet) and were not drafted in the first round. Clayton's team also contains a Cowboys player.

Both writers chose a Cowboys lineman to include in their respective lists, one a defensive lineman, one an offensive lineman. Find out who they picked after the break

Dan Graziano sings the praises of Jay Ratliff:

He's been to the Pro Bowl the past three years, so clearly, people are catching on. But it's tough to find "underrated" players on a roster that gets as much attention as the Cowboys' roster does. And because of the position he plays, Ratliff doesn't get a lot of attention for the number of different ways he impacts the game. Opponents and opposing coaches fear and respect him, and the Cowboys consider him a versatile team leader who'd likely move to DE if they felt they needed him there to help their pass rush next year.

Doug Free makes John Clayton's All-Underrated team.

Some members of the underrated team are free agents. Doug Free of the Cowboys played well enough replacing Flozell Adams at left tackle that he should get a nice contract from Jerry Jones. The Cowboys can't afford to let him go.

Both of these picks are solid choices for either list, but an argument could be made that in Cowboys Country, neither of these players in underrated. Looking at the current Cowboys roster, who would be your pick for the most underrated player?

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Comments

most underrated: Martellus Bennett

may be the best blocker on the team, but constantly gets bashed for underperforming to the extend that a lot of fans/media call for him to be traded/cut… his receiving production has been underwhelming compared to his draft position, but that has a lot to do with Witten being in front of him, and his blocking skill is extremely underrated.

I could pick a few other guys but I think Martellus deserves some love.

"When you want to win a game, you have to teach. When you lose a game, you have to learn."—Tom Landry

by scottmaui on Jun 10, 2011 6:12 PM CDT reply actions

I agree.

He just makes it so hard to give him some respect/love. It’s hard to appreciate someone when they’re spouting off every month. I think fans would open up to him more if he took more of a Ware/Witten route, aka the “Keep my mouth shut and let my play do the talking” approach. I like Martellus the player, I just don’t care for Martellus the talking head.

by Fergie3108 on Jun 10, 2011 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Com'on man...

Look…guys get a little out of control at times with their mouths, but so what? Martellus is a good dude and deserves the benefit of doubt. Why does he have to conform to anybody’s standard of what his persona should be like? We need some personality and enthusiasm to this bunch.

I do agree that we don’t want guys being chemistry messer-uppers, but this kid is young and full of fun. Let him be himself as long as he doesn’t get out of control and as long as he works hard. I think the unreaslistic expectations and the media have a lot to do with the constant complaints about his production. But as has been pointed out, he consistently has graded out as the best TE blocker.

Just don’t see why it’s so hard for some people to understand some guys are different…and that’s ok. It shouldn’t be so hard to pull for them and give them props just because they are a little different. Geez….

by ChuckCowboy on Jun 10, 2011 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm okay with some of the random, hairball comments.

But when he starts questioning who the starting QB should be, it bothers me.

by Fergie3108 on Jun 10, 2011 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions

How bout

Louis-Philippe Ladouceur and Mat McBriar are two guys that make a big difference that I don’t think most people even consider.

by IMHO on Jun 10, 2011 6:40 PM CDT reply actions

I couldn't agree with you more.

After McBriar went down in the Arizona game a few years ago, our special teams really struggled. I don’t think people will ever really appreciate Ladouceur until he retires. Good long snappers are hard to come by. The time period between Jeff Robinson and Ladouceur was a tumoltuous one for the Cowboys. It felt like they botched a snap at least once a game. I’m sure I’m exaggerating quite a bit, but botched snaps stick with a fan. With Ladouceur I can’t even remember a bad snap that was his fault.

by Fergie3108 on Jun 10, 2011 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely, particularly Ladouceur.

The man is as dependable as sunrise and absolutely invisible, which means he just never makes mistakes.

If at first you don't succeed - blame someone else.

by Tom Ryle on Jun 10, 2011 6:54 PM CDT reply actions

Yup

He’s probably the best in the league at what he does.

by Admiral Dallas on Jun 11, 2011 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Bradie James

Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!

by Archie Barberio on Jun 10, 2011 6:57 PM CDT reply actions

Alex Barron

Camp Cupcake turns to....Camp "Pound"cake

by harrim28 on Jun 10, 2011 8:18 PM CDT reply actions

Really?

After the Redskins game? It hurts…

God Bless Texas

by dwarfknight64 on Jun 10, 2011 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

no, but for real...Orlando stepped up this year, just this year though.

Camp Cupcake turns to....Camp "Pound"cake

by harrim28 on Jun 10, 2011 8:20 PM CDT reply actions

Scandrick did well this year

Still lots of room for improvement, though.

by Admiral Dallas on Jun 11, 2011 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions

3-straight 100 yard games by Steve Smith attests to that

The Ohio State Buckeyes are your Sugar Bowl champions... and for the 7th year in a row Michigan still sucks.

by Blue Eyed Devil on Jun 11, 2011 6:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Stephen Bowen

by Impatient on Jun 10, 2011 10:30 PM CDT reply actions

I'll second that one.

God Bless Texas

by dwarfknight64 on Jun 10, 2011 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Mat McBriar

remember when Parcells said he was a weapon?…he may boot a ball 5 or six times a game but he usually pins the opposition deep in their own territory.

by 0k on Jun 11, 2011 12:04 AM CDT reply actions

We have played a lot of field position ball last few years...

I think I will go with Stephen McGee or AOA, though.

Give me UR calls! Give me highstepping by CBs and PRs entering the endzone! Give me screaming on the sidelines and headbutting! Give me Fortitude, Solidarity and VIOLENCE! Bring me CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Bring me Ridolin LOL! - B'nSB

by BlueNSilverBlood on Jun 11, 2011 7:10 AM CDT up reply actions

John Phillips

he was hurt, but coming into 2010 season, I had big expectations for him…in my eyes, he is something like Witten 2.0 …I like his attitude, his hard work, his blocking and also his receiving skill despite he is not something like athletic freak….when we drafted him , he wasnt supposed to be anything….now I see him as our TE no. 2 and many teams would make him TE no. 1….

before there was law, there were the Cowboys!!!

by orli on Jun 11, 2011 6:45 AM CDT reply actions