Jones gambles, invests in Cowboys' future - Deals land Purdue end, first-round pick in '08
Tom Orsborn
Express-News
IRVING — For much of Saturday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys' draft headquarters looked like the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
"We had our wires crossed, we had four or five phones operating, all at the same time. ... There was a lot of action," said owner Jerry Jones, a notorious draft-day gambler.
By the time the smoke cleared, Jones and new coach Wade Phillips were elated because they snatched the pressure player they coveted and another major prize that already has them thinking about next year's draft.
The Cowboys traded their first-round pick — No. 22 overall — to Cleveland for the Browns' second-round pick — No. 36 overall — and their first-round pick in 2008.
Dallas then sent No. 36 and its third- and fifth-rounders to Philadelphia for the Eagles' No. 26 pick and selected Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer, who will play outside linebacker in the NFL.
Later in the day, the Cowboys made another deal with Cleveland, swapping their second-round pick (No. 53) and a sixth-rounder for the Browns' third (No. 67), fourth- and sixth-rounders. Dallas used No. 67 to select 6-foot-7, 303-pound Boston College offensive tackle James Marten.
"This is my first draft with Jerry," Phillips said, "and he's a wheeler-dealer."
Said Jones: "There is really no gain without maximum risk."
The 6-foot-2, 261-pound Spencer is expected to compete for the starting job opposite Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Greg Ellis began 2006 as the starter but tore his left Achilles' tendon in Week 10 and missed the rest of the season.
Bobby Carpenter, last year's first-round pick, also should be in the mix.
"The more pressure players you have, the better," Phillips said.
The same goes for first-round draft picks, Jones said. Despite using the No. 22 pick to draft Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, the Browns are expected to suffer another losing season, which means the Cowboys could enter next year's draft with a top-10 pick to go along with their own first-rounder.
The last time the Cowboys had two picks in the first round was 2005, when they selected Ware and defensive end Marcus Spears. Other players selected in years Dallas had two first-rounders include Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland and Alvin Harper.
"It's a little strange talking about next year here in just the first few hours of this year's draft," Jones said, "but I can't help but get excited when I think of the times we've had two No. 1s."
Jones said the draft began with him considering a proposed blockbuster deal into the top five that would have involved the Cowboys parting with one of their Pro Bowlers.
"Our blood got hot early, and we spent at least an hour or so really entertaining whether we wanted to get right up there at the top of this thing," said Jones, who declined to discuss the particulars of the proposed trade.
After nixing such a move, the Cowboys began listening to offers from two teams interested in trading for the No. 22 pick and selecting Quinn.
"We agreed our best opportunity to take advantage of (Quinn) wasn't in the conventional way of putting him on our roster but to see how bad somebody wanted him at that spot," said Jones, who noted he's happy with Tony Romo at quarterback.
The Cowboys' brain trust also agreed any deal would have to include them receiving a first-round pick in 2008.
"Obviously, someone who needs a quarterback is someone you want to talk to about next year's No. 1," Jones said.
He found a willing partner in the Browns. After completing the deal with Cleveland, the Cowboys began searching for a way to get back into the first round to grab Spencer. Philadelphia, a division rival, made for a surprising trade partner.
"Jerry and Jeffrey (Lurie, the Eagles' owner) are very close friends and they got on the phone together and finalized it," said Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones.
Joked Jerry Jones: "I hope (Lurie) can sleep tonight."
Spencer vaulted up the draft board after a senior season in which he recorded 93 tackles, 101/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and 261/2 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
"I've hardly ever heard of a defensive end having 93 tackles in one season," Phillips said. "He gets to the football, and he's also a really good pass rusher. A lot of the tackles we talked to said Spencer was the best player they played against."
Phillips, who was San Diego's defensive coordinator the last three seasons, is known for bringing out the best in pass-rushing linebackers.
"(Chargers linebacker) Shaun Phillips is another guy that he coached from Purdue, and he told me great things about him," Spencer said. "I'm really excited to get under his wing."
Express-News
IRVING — For much of Saturday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys' draft headquarters looked like the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
"We had our wires crossed, we had four or five phones operating, all at the same time. ... There was a lot of action," said owner Jerry Jones, a notorious draft-day gambler.
By the time the smoke cleared, Jones and new coach Wade Phillips were elated because they snatched the pressure player they coveted and another major prize that already has them thinking about next year's draft.
The Cowboys traded their first-round pick — No. 22 overall — to Cleveland for the Browns' second-round pick — No. 36 overall — and their first-round pick in 2008.
Dallas then sent No. 36 and its third- and fifth-rounders to Philadelphia for the Eagles' No. 26 pick and selected Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer, who will play outside linebacker in the NFL.
Later in the day, the Cowboys made another deal with Cleveland, swapping their second-round pick (No. 53) and a sixth-rounder for the Browns' third (No. 67), fourth- and sixth-rounders. Dallas used No. 67 to select 6-foot-7, 303-pound Boston College offensive tackle James Marten.
"This is my first draft with Jerry," Phillips said, "and he's a wheeler-dealer."
Said Jones: "There is really no gain without maximum risk."
The 6-foot-2, 261-pound Spencer is expected to compete for the starting job opposite Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Greg Ellis began 2006 as the starter but tore his left Achilles' tendon in Week 10 and missed the rest of the season.
Bobby Carpenter, last year's first-round pick, also should be in the mix.
"The more pressure players you have, the better," Phillips said.
The same goes for first-round draft picks, Jones said. Despite using the No. 22 pick to draft Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, the Browns are expected to suffer another losing season, which means the Cowboys could enter next year's draft with a top-10 pick to go along with their own first-rounder.
The last time the Cowboys had two picks in the first round was 2005, when they selected Ware and defensive end Marcus Spears. Other players selected in years Dallas had two first-rounders include Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland and Alvin Harper.
"It's a little strange talking about next year here in just the first few hours of this year's draft," Jones said, "but I can't help but get excited when I think of the times we've had two No. 1s."
Jones said the draft began with him considering a proposed blockbuster deal into the top five that would have involved the Cowboys parting with one of their Pro Bowlers.
"Our blood got hot early, and we spent at least an hour or so really entertaining whether we wanted to get right up there at the top of this thing," said Jones, who declined to discuss the particulars of the proposed trade.
After nixing such a move, the Cowboys began listening to offers from two teams interested in trading for the No. 22 pick and selecting Quinn.
"We agreed our best opportunity to take advantage of (Quinn) wasn't in the conventional way of putting him on our roster but to see how bad somebody wanted him at that spot," said Jones, who noted he's happy with Tony Romo at quarterback.
The Cowboys' brain trust also agreed any deal would have to include them receiving a first-round pick in 2008.
"Obviously, someone who needs a quarterback is someone you want to talk to about next year's No. 1," Jones said.
He found a willing partner in the Browns. After completing the deal with Cleveland, the Cowboys began searching for a way to get back into the first round to grab Spencer. Philadelphia, a division rival, made for a surprising trade partner.
"Jerry and Jeffrey (Lurie, the Eagles' owner) are very close friends and they got on the phone together and finalized it," said Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones.
Joked Jerry Jones: "I hope (Lurie) can sleep tonight."
Spencer vaulted up the draft board after a senior season in which he recorded 93 tackles, 101/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and 261/2 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
"I've hardly ever heard of a defensive end having 93 tackles in one season," Phillips said. "He gets to the football, and he's also a really good pass rusher. A lot of the tackles we talked to said Spencer was the best player they played against."
Phillips, who was San Diego's defensive coordinator the last three seasons, is known for bringing out the best in pass-rushing linebackers.
"(Chargers linebacker) Shaun Phillips is another guy that he coached from Purdue, and he told me great things about him," Spencer said. "I'm really excited to get under his wing."
posted by The Gryphon at 1:12 PM
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