Seahawks owe 'Boys an XL note of thanks
Seahawks owe 'Boys an XL note of thanks
By Mac Engel
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DETROIT -- In NFL circles, the trade is akin to the Dutch colonists supposedly buying the island of Manhattan for $24 worth of beads.
But in Cowboys circles, the acquisition of former Seattle receiver Joey Galloway is no myth.
It's pure, regrettable fact: Seattle receiver Joey Galloway for two first-round draft picks.
"Overall, the loser was Dallas. I think we won," Seahawks running backs coach Stump Mitchell said.
Six years after the Cowboys made that dreadful move, it has come full circle.
Galloway did little in his time with the Cowboys, and the move helped the Seahawks obtain three vital components in their rebuilding effort that has culminated in an appearance in Super Bowl XL.
Meanwhile, that trade slowed a Cowboys rebuilding job that continues today.
Component No. 1: Running back Shaun Alexander, who was the NFL's MVP this season. He could have been Emmitt Smith's backup/replacement.
"I never knew that," Alexander said about the Seahawks drafting him with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 draft, which had been the Cowboys' selection.
Component Nos. 2 and 3: Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson. Armed with the Cowboys' No. 7 pick and their own No. 10 pick, the Seahawks made a flurry of trades, coming away with, among other things, Hasselbeck; the No. 17 pick, used to take Hutchinson; and receiver Koren Robinson."Everybody says it was a great trade," Hutchinson said.
Not true.
When the Cowboys obtained Galloway on Feb. 12, 2000, they thought they were acquiring a playmaker who could replace The Playmaker, Michael Irvin.
Galloway suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter of the season opener in 2000. After four average seasons with the Cowboys, he was traded to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson.
This season, Galloway was the playmaker he never was for Dallas, posting his first 1,000-yard season since 1998.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, Alexander developed into a fantasy football player's dream, rushing for more than 1,100 yards each of the past five seasons.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, haven't had anyone rush for 1,100 yards since 2000.
Would the Cowboys have used that first-round pick in 2000 on Alexander? Doubtful. Smith was in dogged pursuit of Walter Payton's career rushing mark.
"It [would have been] sweet to be mentored by him," Alexander said, "but I was mentored by Ricky Watters, who was a great player and a great teacher for me. I would never change anything."
Of course he wouldn't. He's an MVP. And he's in the Super Bowl.
And, "It has worked well for [Galloway]; he's doing fine in Tampa now," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "It certainly worked well for us."
By Mac Engel
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DETROIT -- In NFL circles, the trade is akin to the Dutch colonists supposedly buying the island of Manhattan for $24 worth of beads.
But in Cowboys circles, the acquisition of former Seattle receiver Joey Galloway is no myth.
It's pure, regrettable fact: Seattle receiver Joey Galloway for two first-round draft picks.
"Overall, the loser was Dallas. I think we won," Seahawks running backs coach Stump Mitchell said.
Six years after the Cowboys made that dreadful move, it has come full circle.
Galloway did little in his time with the Cowboys, and the move helped the Seahawks obtain three vital components in their rebuilding effort that has culminated in an appearance in Super Bowl XL.
Meanwhile, that trade slowed a Cowboys rebuilding job that continues today.
Component No. 1: Running back Shaun Alexander, who was the NFL's MVP this season. He could have been Emmitt Smith's backup/replacement.
"I never knew that," Alexander said about the Seahawks drafting him with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 draft, which had been the Cowboys' selection.
Component Nos. 2 and 3: Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson. Armed with the Cowboys' No. 7 pick and their own No. 10 pick, the Seahawks made a flurry of trades, coming away with, among other things, Hasselbeck; the No. 17 pick, used to take Hutchinson; and receiver Koren Robinson."Everybody says it was a great trade," Hutchinson said.
Not true.
When the Cowboys obtained Galloway on Feb. 12, 2000, they thought they were acquiring a playmaker who could replace The Playmaker, Michael Irvin.
Galloway suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter of the season opener in 2000. After four average seasons with the Cowboys, he was traded to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson.
This season, Galloway was the playmaker he never was for Dallas, posting his first 1,000-yard season since 1998.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, Alexander developed into a fantasy football player's dream, rushing for more than 1,100 yards each of the past five seasons.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, haven't had anyone rush for 1,100 yards since 2000.
Would the Cowboys have used that first-round pick in 2000 on Alexander? Doubtful. Smith was in dogged pursuit of Walter Payton's career rushing mark.
"It [would have been] sweet to be mentored by him," Alexander said, "but I was mentored by Ricky Watters, who was a great player and a great teacher for me. I would never change anything."
Of course he wouldn't. He's an MVP. And he's in the Super Bowl.
And, "It has worked well for [Galloway]; he's doing fine in Tampa now," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "It certainly worked well for us."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:22 PM
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