DMN: Cowboys feeling draft-day busts on offensive line
IRVING - In case you missed it, another member of the Cowboys' 2004 draft class has gone whimpering into the night.
Bill Parcells said Wednesday that guard Stephen Peterman's career was derailed by a player the club poached from the Lions' practice squad.
Not that Parcells has the market cornered on early round flameouts, but we're starting to see a disturbing trend on the offensive line.
In that same draft, Parcells overruled several people who advised him that USC offensive tackle Jacob Rogers was too fragile to play in this league. Turned out to be some of the best advice he's ever ignored.
Rogers never played an offensive snap while battling shoulder and knee problems.
Peterman, taken a round later than Rogers, had a similar impact. He was bumped off the roster by an undrafted player named Cory Procter, who might overtake Kyle Kozier at left guard.
But I hate to break all this bad news at once.
The good news is Parcells told us Wednesday that whiffing on a couple of first-day picks is nothing to be ashamed about. Happens to everyone.
Asked if players taken on the first day of the draft should be expected to start, Parcells said, "No, it's not fair to say that any more than it's fair to say you expect a sixth or seventh rounder to be anything. So what you hope is that in your draft, that somewhere along the line, that you get players that can be good for you for a while. Period. It doesn't make any difference where you took them if they're good players."
Parcells even provided a helpful list of players that he's hit on late in the draft, including wide receiver Patrick Crayton and cornerback Jacques Reeves, both taken in the seventh round of the 2004 draft.
You can't argue with the fact that Parcells has drafted some quality players. It's just that he keeps missing in one area.
The Cowboys have taken three offensive linemen on the first day of the draft during the Parcells era, and not one will start this season. Center Al Johnson is the last man standing, and he's currently backing up Andre Gurode.
It's easy to look at the 2004 draft and see who the Cowboys could've taken. I spent part of my afternoon doing just that, but there's really no reason to remind Parcells that Travelle Wharton (taken after Rogers and Peterman) has become the starting left tackle on a Carolina Panthers team that could make a run at the Super Bowl this season.
Parcells says almost every offensive lineman coming out of college is a "developmental player," and that's true to a certain extent. It's why a lot of teams wait until the second day to draft linemen.
But when you miss on an early draft pick, you have to spend a lot to make up for it. Over the last two years, the Cowboys had to dole out nearly $16 million in signing bonuses to Kosier, Marco Rivera and Jason Fabini.
It's the price you pay for whiffing on early draft picks.
Now, we have to see if it was worth it.
Bill Parcells said Wednesday that guard Stephen Peterman's career was derailed by a player the club poached from the Lions' practice squad.
Not that Parcells has the market cornered on early round flameouts, but we're starting to see a disturbing trend on the offensive line.
In that same draft, Parcells overruled several people who advised him that USC offensive tackle Jacob Rogers was too fragile to play in this league. Turned out to be some of the best advice he's ever ignored.
Rogers never played an offensive snap while battling shoulder and knee problems.
Peterman, taken a round later than Rogers, had a similar impact. He was bumped off the roster by an undrafted player named Cory Procter, who might overtake Kyle Kozier at left guard.
But I hate to break all this bad news at once.
The good news is Parcells told us Wednesday that whiffing on a couple of first-day picks is nothing to be ashamed about. Happens to everyone.
Asked if players taken on the first day of the draft should be expected to start, Parcells said, "No, it's not fair to say that any more than it's fair to say you expect a sixth or seventh rounder to be anything. So what you hope is that in your draft, that somewhere along the line, that you get players that can be good for you for a while. Period. It doesn't make any difference where you took them if they're good players."
Parcells even provided a helpful list of players that he's hit on late in the draft, including wide receiver Patrick Crayton and cornerback Jacques Reeves, both taken in the seventh round of the 2004 draft.
You can't argue with the fact that Parcells has drafted some quality players. It's just that he keeps missing in one area.
The Cowboys have taken three offensive linemen on the first day of the draft during the Parcells era, and not one will start this season. Center Al Johnson is the last man standing, and he's currently backing up Andre Gurode.
It's easy to look at the 2004 draft and see who the Cowboys could've taken. I spent part of my afternoon doing just that, but there's really no reason to remind Parcells that Travelle Wharton (taken after Rogers and Peterman) has become the starting left tackle on a Carolina Panthers team that could make a run at the Super Bowl this season.
Parcells says almost every offensive lineman coming out of college is a "developmental player," and that's true to a certain extent. It's why a lot of teams wait until the second day to draft linemen.
But when you miss on an early draft pick, you have to spend a lot to make up for it. Over the last two years, the Cowboys had to dole out nearly $16 million in signing bonuses to Kosier, Marco Rivera and Jason Fabini.
It's the price you pay for whiffing on early draft picks.
Now, we have to see if it was worth it.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:37 AM
<< Home