Cowboys owner high on Choice
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Irving, Texas — When Tashard Choice heard Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tell him by telephone that the team was about to draft him last month — he lost it.
Then he saw the reaction of everyone packed into his mother's house in Riverdale that Sunday. He realized he was the one that needed some semblance of composure.
"It was ecstatic, crazy," Choice said. "The whole family — brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunties erupted. The place was crazy."
Then, reality quickly set in. Dallas took Arkansas tailback Felix Jones in the first round of the NFL draft. Marion Barber already is there.
And Choice thought his mother's house was crowded.
"Once I got the call I knew I had to come in and work and if I get my chance I have to go make the most of it," Choice said. "I'm going to do what I've been doing since I was little — run the football, do what I got to do on special teams and when I get that shot I've got to roll with it."
If initial impressions mean much, Choice is rolling in the right direction.
The former Georgia Tech standout turned heads at Dallas's rookie minicamp last weekend, showing more versatility than expected, especially catching the ball.
"We didn't have the running back in the passing game at Georgia Tech so that's one thing I had to do ... show them my hands," Choice said. "Showing that I can catch is going to be huge for me."
His adeptness at picking up the offense also helped his cause. With only rookies on hand, his every move was being measured against Felix Jones.
"He's able to do anything you ask a running back to do," Jerry Jones said of Choice. "He's exceptionally smart. He's got a chance to have a role here. We know that he's been a very productive back and hopefully he can bring that with him to the NFL."
Choice gained 3,365 yards at Tech in three seasons. His tough running style and courage playing through injuries earned him respect among his peers and a shot at the NFL. Yet going to Dallas might not seem ideal because Barber, by merit, and Felix Jones, by draft status, are going to get first dibs at touches.
It's familiar territory for Choice, who went to Oklahoma out of Lovejoy High to sit behind Adrian Peterson, the 2007 NFL Rookie of the Year. Upon transferring to Tech, he had to wait behind P.J. Daniels. Even so, Choice didn't just volunteer away playing time.
He worked for what he eventually got at Tech and he plans to do the same with Dallas.
"Everybody wants to run the football and you wouldn't be here if you couldn't make plays," Choice said. "The main thing is to make sure I do better than everyone else, do what the coach says and make plays when I'm in there."
Felix Jones, who Jerry Jones said over and over looks "smooth," acknowledged that he was familiar with Choice before the draft. He is aware Choice is going to push him. Felix Jones and Choice have spent chunks of their college careers fighting for playing time — Jones behind Darren McFadden — and Jones said they both possess an innate competitiveness.
"We have a good relationship," Felix Jones said. "We met at the [NFL scouting] combine and clicked. He's somebody I can talk to and relate to. We're going through the same thing. We're going to compete out there on the field but in the locker room, we're friends and we'll communicate. We talk about things."
There is a new catch phrase making its way into the vernacular about the NFL being a two-tailback league. That means you may need three because at some point, one of the two is going to get hurt.
Jerry Jones is preaching the credo, which is why adding Choice, he said, was a smart choice.
"We've got those running backs and it's great to have all that talent on this field," Jerry Jones said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Irving, Texas — When Tashard Choice heard Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones tell him by telephone that the team was about to draft him last month — he lost it.
Then he saw the reaction of everyone packed into his mother's house in Riverdale that Sunday. He realized he was the one that needed some semblance of composure.
"It was ecstatic, crazy," Choice said. "The whole family — brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunties erupted. The place was crazy."
Then, reality quickly set in. Dallas took Arkansas tailback Felix Jones in the first round of the NFL draft. Marion Barber already is there.
And Choice thought his mother's house was crowded.
"Once I got the call I knew I had to come in and work and if I get my chance I have to go make the most of it," Choice said. "I'm going to do what I've been doing since I was little — run the football, do what I got to do on special teams and when I get that shot I've got to roll with it."
If initial impressions mean much, Choice is rolling in the right direction.
The former Georgia Tech standout turned heads at Dallas's rookie minicamp last weekend, showing more versatility than expected, especially catching the ball.
"We didn't have the running back in the passing game at Georgia Tech so that's one thing I had to do ... show them my hands," Choice said. "Showing that I can catch is going to be huge for me."
His adeptness at picking up the offense also helped his cause. With only rookies on hand, his every move was being measured against Felix Jones.
"He's able to do anything you ask a running back to do," Jerry Jones said of Choice. "He's exceptionally smart. He's got a chance to have a role here. We know that he's been a very productive back and hopefully he can bring that with him to the NFL."
Choice gained 3,365 yards at Tech in three seasons. His tough running style and courage playing through injuries earned him respect among his peers and a shot at the NFL. Yet going to Dallas might not seem ideal because Barber, by merit, and Felix Jones, by draft status, are going to get first dibs at touches.
It's familiar territory for Choice, who went to Oklahoma out of Lovejoy High to sit behind Adrian Peterson, the 2007 NFL Rookie of the Year. Upon transferring to Tech, he had to wait behind P.J. Daniels. Even so, Choice didn't just volunteer away playing time.
He worked for what he eventually got at Tech and he plans to do the same with Dallas.
"Everybody wants to run the football and you wouldn't be here if you couldn't make plays," Choice said. "The main thing is to make sure I do better than everyone else, do what the coach says and make plays when I'm in there."
Felix Jones, who Jerry Jones said over and over looks "smooth," acknowledged that he was familiar with Choice before the draft. He is aware Choice is going to push him. Felix Jones and Choice have spent chunks of their college careers fighting for playing time — Jones behind Darren McFadden — and Jones said they both possess an innate competitiveness.
"We have a good relationship," Felix Jones said. "We met at the [NFL scouting] combine and clicked. He's somebody I can talk to and relate to. We're going through the same thing. We're going to compete out there on the field but in the locker room, we're friends and we'll communicate. We talk about things."
There is a new catch phrase making its way into the vernacular about the NFL being a two-tailback league. That means you may need three because at some point, one of the two is going to get hurt.
Jerry Jones is preaching the credo, which is why adding Choice, he said, was a smart choice.
"We've got those running backs and it's great to have all that talent on this field," Jerry Jones said.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:59 PM
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