In Jones' mind, Cowboys' bases covered
By Matt Mosley
ESPN.com
IRVING, Texas -- To hear Jerry Jones tell it, the Cowboys are in such good shape that they might be using the highly underused "best nickel corner available" approach in this weekend's draft.
In an hour-long news conference Monday, the owner-general manager listed a variety of options, some of which actually seemed plausible. Jones said the Cowboys could "line up and play next week," an indication the club isn't beholden to filling a specific need for the first time in years.
He expressed regret that he hadn't been more aggressive in trading up during the Super Bowl year and said there's a possibility the Cowboys might "bundle up" some picks and try to move up and grab an impact player Saturday.
Of course, this is the time of year when people across the league work on their bluffing skills.
The Cowboys haven't traded up in the draft since 1999, when they moved up two spots to select defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban. Two years before that, they moved up to take tight end David LaFleur. Don't look for Jones to do it Saturday unless something unforeseen occurs.
On Monday, he indicated there were seven "wow" players in the draft. In his mind, these players are talented enough to consider trading up for.
Reading between the lines -- something you have to do with Jones' doublespeak -- the Cowboys would start bundling picks together if, say, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson somehow slipped out of the top 10.
"When you have your bases covered in your mind, that allows you to think like this," said Jones, whose club has 10 picks in the draft. "It allows you to think about going up. It allows you to think about doing something and really putting yourself in a position for next year's picks."
The one thing Jones ruled out completely was trading one of his current players. Last year, the club considered trading running back Julius Jones during the draft, but on Monday the Cowboys' owner said a player's value actually decreases during the draft.
Sensing the team's fan base might be concerned about him wielding too much influence in the post-Parcells era, Jones delivered the comforting news that former Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer will be stopping by Valley Ranch this week to help him evaluate running backs. No word yet on Chan Gailey's appearance.
Jones also said that Larry Lacewell, his close friend and the club's former director of scouting, has been watching film. Lacewell was forced into early retirement two years ago because Bill Parcells never cared for his work.
Jones indicated that he might seek some input from Parcells this week, but I doubt that happens. He was never comfortable in Parcells' considerable shadow -- as evidenced by an exchange Monday.
When Jones said he'd consulted with Lacewell and Switzer over the past couple of years, one of my quick-witted colleagues asked, "Did Bill know about that?"
After the laughter died down, Jones responded, "Bill was the football coach, not the personnel guy."
It was a revealing moment that indicated how uncomfortable Jones had become with the perception -- and the reality -- that he was second in command. With the laid-back Wade Phillips taking over as head coach, that's no longer a concern.
On Monday, he said Phillips places more emphasis on speed than Parcells. He also said Parcells believed in prototypes (6-3, 260-pound linebackers) while Phillips is more willing to take a talented player at any size and fit him into the system.
In other words, he'll do what Jones tells him.
Based on what the Cowboys' owner said Monday, I wouldn't expect Dallas to take a wide receiver in the first round. Jones thinks he can land a quality receiver in the second round such as South Carolina's Sidney Rice, and the Cowboys already have some talented young players at the position.
Jones acknowledged that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's tough stance regarding off-field behavior has put teams on notice, but it doesn't sound like Miami safety Brandon Meriweather's character issues will scare off the Cowboys. If the club stays at No. 22, there's a good chance they'll choose Meriweather. If they trade down, look for them to target Purdue defensive end/linebacker Anthony Spencer, who would give then a much-needed pass-rusher.
The Cowboys are convinced Tony Romo is their quarterback of the future, but that won't prevent them from drafting a quarterback in the third round.
Jones said one club has already made an offer to trade the Cowboys its 2008 first-round pick for their No. 22 pick this weekend. Jones would ask for an extra second-round pick in this year's draft.
From the sound out of it, he's making up for lost time.
ESPN.com
IRVING, Texas -- To hear Jerry Jones tell it, the Cowboys are in such good shape that they might be using the highly underused "best nickel corner available" approach in this weekend's draft.
In an hour-long news conference Monday, the owner-general manager listed a variety of options, some of which actually seemed plausible. Jones said the Cowboys could "line up and play next week," an indication the club isn't beholden to filling a specific need for the first time in years.
He expressed regret that he hadn't been more aggressive in trading up during the Super Bowl year and said there's a possibility the Cowboys might "bundle up" some picks and try to move up and grab an impact player Saturday.
Of course, this is the time of year when people across the league work on their bluffing skills.
The Cowboys haven't traded up in the draft since 1999, when they moved up two spots to select defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban. Two years before that, they moved up to take tight end David LaFleur. Don't look for Jones to do it Saturday unless something unforeseen occurs.
On Monday, he indicated there were seven "wow" players in the draft. In his mind, these players are talented enough to consider trading up for.
Reading between the lines -- something you have to do with Jones' doublespeak -- the Cowboys would start bundling picks together if, say, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson somehow slipped out of the top 10.
"When you have your bases covered in your mind, that allows you to think like this," said Jones, whose club has 10 picks in the draft. "It allows you to think about going up. It allows you to think about doing something and really putting yourself in a position for next year's picks."
The one thing Jones ruled out completely was trading one of his current players. Last year, the club considered trading running back Julius Jones during the draft, but on Monday the Cowboys' owner said a player's value actually decreases during the draft.
Sensing the team's fan base might be concerned about him wielding too much influence in the post-Parcells era, Jones delivered the comforting news that former Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer will be stopping by Valley Ranch this week to help him evaluate running backs. No word yet on Chan Gailey's appearance.
Jones also said that Larry Lacewell, his close friend and the club's former director of scouting, has been watching film. Lacewell was forced into early retirement two years ago because Bill Parcells never cared for his work.
Jones indicated that he might seek some input from Parcells this week, but I doubt that happens. He was never comfortable in Parcells' considerable shadow -- as evidenced by an exchange Monday.
When Jones said he'd consulted with Lacewell and Switzer over the past couple of years, one of my quick-witted colleagues asked, "Did Bill know about that?"
After the laughter died down, Jones responded, "Bill was the football coach, not the personnel guy."
It was a revealing moment that indicated how uncomfortable Jones had become with the perception -- and the reality -- that he was second in command. With the laid-back Wade Phillips taking over as head coach, that's no longer a concern.
On Monday, he said Phillips places more emphasis on speed than Parcells. He also said Parcells believed in prototypes (6-3, 260-pound linebackers) while Phillips is more willing to take a talented player at any size and fit him into the system.
In other words, he'll do what Jones tells him.
Based on what the Cowboys' owner said Monday, I wouldn't expect Dallas to take a wide receiver in the first round. Jones thinks he can land a quality receiver in the second round such as South Carolina's Sidney Rice, and the Cowboys already have some talented young players at the position.
Jones acknowledged that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's tough stance regarding off-field behavior has put teams on notice, but it doesn't sound like Miami safety Brandon Meriweather's character issues will scare off the Cowboys. If the club stays at No. 22, there's a good chance they'll choose Meriweather. If they trade down, look for them to target Purdue defensive end/linebacker Anthony Spencer, who would give then a much-needed pass-rusher.
The Cowboys are convinced Tony Romo is their quarterback of the future, but that won't prevent them from drafting a quarterback in the third round.
Jones said one club has already made an offer to trade the Cowboys its 2008 first-round pick for their No. 22 pick this weekend. Jones would ask for an extra second-round pick in this year's draft.
From the sound out of it, he's making up for lost time.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:07 PM
<< Home