USAToday Inside Slant: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys remain firm behind their decision to pass on quarterback Brady Quinn in 2007 draft.
Of course, it's hard to argue with their reasoning.
First, getting a first-round draft pick from Cleveland, which could be a top 10 pick in 2008, was a great return.
Second, they have a quarterback in Tony Romo and didn't mess up team chemistry by taking Quinn.
What's certain now is that this decision will be revisited on a yearly basis if Quinn becomes a franchise quarterback and Romo lives down to his undrafted free agent pedigree.
It should be noted that if Romo doesn't develop they can always draft the best quarterback available next season — likely Louisville's Brian Brohm.
And if Romo does develop they can draft someone like Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
That is the exciting part of the draft. Combine the Browns' No. 1 pick with the Cowboys' own first-round pick and they should be able to move up and get whatever they need.
But that doesn't erase the questions surrounding the decisions with Romo and Quinn.
Quinn was ranked No. 8 on the Cowboys' draft board. They could have gotten him with the 22nd pick. In others words, they could have gotten a franchise caliber quarterback at a bargain.
That won't happen next year, when the risk and the price of a franchise quarterback goes way up. The Cowboys say they didn't want to stunt Romo's growth or ruin his confidence.
It says here that you can never have too many quarterbacks. And it says here that in Dallas, you can't just be a good quarterback — you have to be a special quarterback in the line of a Roger Staubach and a Troy Aikman.
Ask Danny White.
The Cowboys don't know if Romo is going to be Aikman or White or maybe a Gary Hogeboom.
They owe it to themselves to find the best quarterback for the team. And if that meant drafting Quinn they should have done it. If Romo couldn't handle the competition or if he wasn't mentally tough enough then he would have never made it as the Cowboys' quarterback anyway.
NOTES, QUOTES
—K Carlos Martinez has been cut by the Cowboys in the wake of the team's decision to draft kicker Nick Folk in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. Folk joins Martin Gramatica as kickers on the roster. Martinez spent the 2006 season on the Cowboys' practice squad. Before signing with the Cowboys, Martinez served as the kicker for the Dallas Desperados for part of the 2004 season and the 2005-06 seasons.
—LB Greg Ellis admits being frustrated by the Cowboys' decision to draft linebacker Anthony Spencer in the first round of the 2007 draft.
To Ellis, who is recovering from a torn left Achilles, it's another sign that his status on the team is up on the air. For Ellis, it's a continuation of a familiar theme.
He felt the Cowboys were trying to get rid of him two years ago when they benched him at defensive end in favor of rookie Chris Canty.
He asked for a trade before training camp last year when they decided to switch him from defensive end to linebacker.
Ellis eventually became and starter and flourished at the position before going down with the Achilles injury.
He is on schedule to return in 2008 but he now feels the Cowboys might not want him.
"Who wouldn't be frustrated?" Ellis asked to the Star-Telegram. "I'm keeping my cool and my composure. But it's hard not to be frustrated when they constantly move you around, and thank God you are able to play (a new position, linebacker). Now, they do it to you again."
According to the Cowboys the decision to draft Spencer was not about getting rid of Ellis but giving the Cowboys another pass rusher. When Ellis went down last year they only had DeMarcus Ware and it crippled the defense. Now they could have three pass rusher to rotate next year.
—The Cowboys finalized the dates and times for their 2007 preseason schedule.
The Cowboys will begin their four-game schedule with a nationally-televised home game against the Super Bowl champion Colts on Aug. 9 (Fox). The Cowboys will play again at home Aug. 18 against Denver, followed by road games Aug. 25 at Houston and Aug. 30 at Minnesota. All kickoff times are 7 p.m. (CDT).
Of course, it's hard to argue with their reasoning.
First, getting a first-round draft pick from Cleveland, which could be a top 10 pick in 2008, was a great return.
Second, they have a quarterback in Tony Romo and didn't mess up team chemistry by taking Quinn.
What's certain now is that this decision will be revisited on a yearly basis if Quinn becomes a franchise quarterback and Romo lives down to his undrafted free agent pedigree.
It should be noted that if Romo doesn't develop they can always draft the best quarterback available next season — likely Louisville's Brian Brohm.
And if Romo does develop they can draft someone like Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
That is the exciting part of the draft. Combine the Browns' No. 1 pick with the Cowboys' own first-round pick and they should be able to move up and get whatever they need.
But that doesn't erase the questions surrounding the decisions with Romo and Quinn.
Quinn was ranked No. 8 on the Cowboys' draft board. They could have gotten him with the 22nd pick. In others words, they could have gotten a franchise caliber quarterback at a bargain.
That won't happen next year, when the risk and the price of a franchise quarterback goes way up. The Cowboys say they didn't want to stunt Romo's growth or ruin his confidence.
It says here that you can never have too many quarterbacks. And it says here that in Dallas, you can't just be a good quarterback — you have to be a special quarterback in the line of a Roger Staubach and a Troy Aikman.
Ask Danny White.
The Cowboys don't know if Romo is going to be Aikman or White or maybe a Gary Hogeboom.
They owe it to themselves to find the best quarterback for the team. And if that meant drafting Quinn they should have done it. If Romo couldn't handle the competition or if he wasn't mentally tough enough then he would have never made it as the Cowboys' quarterback anyway.
NOTES, QUOTES
—K Carlos Martinez has been cut by the Cowboys in the wake of the team's decision to draft kicker Nick Folk in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. Folk joins Martin Gramatica as kickers on the roster. Martinez spent the 2006 season on the Cowboys' practice squad. Before signing with the Cowboys, Martinez served as the kicker for the Dallas Desperados for part of the 2004 season and the 2005-06 seasons.
—LB Greg Ellis admits being frustrated by the Cowboys' decision to draft linebacker Anthony Spencer in the first round of the 2007 draft.
To Ellis, who is recovering from a torn left Achilles, it's another sign that his status on the team is up on the air. For Ellis, it's a continuation of a familiar theme.
He felt the Cowboys were trying to get rid of him two years ago when they benched him at defensive end in favor of rookie Chris Canty.
He asked for a trade before training camp last year when they decided to switch him from defensive end to linebacker.
Ellis eventually became and starter and flourished at the position before going down with the Achilles injury.
He is on schedule to return in 2008 but he now feels the Cowboys might not want him.
"Who wouldn't be frustrated?" Ellis asked to the Star-Telegram. "I'm keeping my cool and my composure. But it's hard not to be frustrated when they constantly move you around, and thank God you are able to play (a new position, linebacker). Now, they do it to you again."
According to the Cowboys the decision to draft Spencer was not about getting rid of Ellis but giving the Cowboys another pass rusher. When Ellis went down last year they only had DeMarcus Ware and it crippled the defense. Now they could have three pass rusher to rotate next year.
—The Cowboys finalized the dates and times for their 2007 preseason schedule.
The Cowboys will begin their four-game schedule with a nationally-televised home game against the Super Bowl champion Colts on Aug. 9 (Fox). The Cowboys will play again at home Aug. 18 against Denver, followed by road games Aug. 25 at Houston and Aug. 30 at Minnesota. All kickoff times are 7 p.m. (CDT).
posted by The Gryphon at 11:53 AM
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