NFL NUGGETS : McFadden to Dallas? It could happen
Joe West sports@nwarktimes.com
Oh, how I loves me some wild speculation.
I don’t know why I do it. Maybe I’ve gone nutso. Maybe I’m just mean enough to get Dallas Cowboys fans in Arkansas to hope for something that has little chance of actually happening.
Now, I don’t really need some slick-talking ESPNer who’s into tricking players’ mothers to tell me that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden will go pro if he turns in a Heisman-worthy 2007. So call me crazy (many folks do ) but it’s easy for me to see a scenario that sends McFadden to the Cowboys in next year’s NFL Draft.
Arkansas’ top running back still has his junior season in front of him, but if all shakes out according to plan in college football, as well as the NFL, DMac could hit Big D like a Texas tornado.
Now before you accuse me of hanging out too long around high-tension power lines, hear me out on this.
When the Cleveland Browns flushed their No. 1 pick in next year’s draft down the john to get Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in last April’s draft, an interesting possibility emerged. The recipient of the Browns’ No. 1 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft is none other than regional favorite Dallas.
It seems like every year the Browns are in contention for the top pick in the following year’s draft. This year should be no exception, especially considering Cleveland’s quarterback quandary and the strength of the AFC North.
No matter how many top-10 picks the Browns bring in, they always seem to end up as punching bags for the other teams in their division. If Cleveland somehow manages to overtake Baltimore, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati for third place in the division this year, it’ll be a minor miracle.
For wild speculation’s sake, let’s say that the Cowboys wind up with the top overall pick in next year’s draft. Would they pick McFadden ?
Keep in mind that Dallas already sports two good running backs — Julius Jones and Marion Barber — that get to share the carries. Jones is a speedster who can break a big run here or there. Barber is more bullish, and can covert short-yardage and goal-line runs.
But McFadden can do all of that and more.
Though Jones rushed for over 1, 000 yards for Dallas last season, he has not become the star back the Cowboys had hoped for when they drafted him in the second round in 2004. They never really trusted Jones around the goal line last season, hence Barber’s 14-to-4 advantage in touchdown runs.
This could be Jones ’ last year in Dallas, which would open up a spot for a new running mate for Barber. Again, wild speculation.
It may be more likely that McFadden ends up with a team that lacks a breakaway threat at running back — like Houston, Green Bay, Tennessee, Arizona or the New York Giants. But who knows ?
At Razorback practice, McFadden has been blasting through holes like some kind of suped-up speedbike. If he has another blockbuster season and Dallas ends up sitting pretty with the No. 1 overall pick, you know Jerry Jones will at least think about pulling the trigger.
Oh, and what if Dallas ends up with a pick not at No. 1, but somewhere in the top 10 ? Did I just hear Felix Jones’ name called ?
Now I’m really speculating wildly.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.
Oh, how I loves me some wild speculation.
I don’t know why I do it. Maybe I’ve gone nutso. Maybe I’m just mean enough to get Dallas Cowboys fans in Arkansas to hope for something that has little chance of actually happening.
Now, I don’t really need some slick-talking ESPNer who’s into tricking players’ mothers to tell me that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden will go pro if he turns in a Heisman-worthy 2007. So call me crazy (many folks do ) but it’s easy for me to see a scenario that sends McFadden to the Cowboys in next year’s NFL Draft.
Arkansas’ top running back still has his junior season in front of him, but if all shakes out according to plan in college football, as well as the NFL, DMac could hit Big D like a Texas tornado.
Now before you accuse me of hanging out too long around high-tension power lines, hear me out on this.
When the Cleveland Browns flushed their No. 1 pick in next year’s draft down the john to get Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in last April’s draft, an interesting possibility emerged. The recipient of the Browns’ No. 1 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft is none other than regional favorite Dallas.
It seems like every year the Browns are in contention for the top pick in the following year’s draft. This year should be no exception, especially considering Cleveland’s quarterback quandary and the strength of the AFC North.
No matter how many top-10 picks the Browns bring in, they always seem to end up as punching bags for the other teams in their division. If Cleveland somehow manages to overtake Baltimore, Pittsburgh or Cincinnati for third place in the division this year, it’ll be a minor miracle.
For wild speculation’s sake, let’s say that the Cowboys wind up with the top overall pick in next year’s draft. Would they pick McFadden ?
Keep in mind that Dallas already sports two good running backs — Julius Jones and Marion Barber — that get to share the carries. Jones is a speedster who can break a big run here or there. Barber is more bullish, and can covert short-yardage and goal-line runs.
But McFadden can do all of that and more.
Though Jones rushed for over 1, 000 yards for Dallas last season, he has not become the star back the Cowboys had hoped for when they drafted him in the second round in 2004. They never really trusted Jones around the goal line last season, hence Barber’s 14-to-4 advantage in touchdown runs.
This could be Jones ’ last year in Dallas, which would open up a spot for a new running mate for Barber. Again, wild speculation.
It may be more likely that McFadden ends up with a team that lacks a breakaway threat at running back — like Houston, Green Bay, Tennessee, Arizona or the New York Giants. But who knows ?
At Razorback practice, McFadden has been blasting through holes like some kind of suped-up speedbike. If he has another blockbuster season and Dallas ends up sitting pretty with the No. 1 overall pick, you know Jerry Jones will at least think about pulling the trigger.
Oh, and what if Dallas ends up with a pick not at No. 1, but somewhere in the top 10 ? Did I just hear Felix Jones’ name called ?
Now I’m really speculating wildly.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:51 PM
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