This is a thread for all Dallas draft talk. I am probably taking over the other thread too much with Dallas talk, so I created a new thread so those that don't want to discuss Dallas don't have to.... and if you do, here is the thread. April 25, 2008 12:50 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley Interesting story in this morning's Los Angeles Times about how Darren McFadden's mom, Mini Muhammad, doesn't want her son being drafted by the Jets or the Raiders. She thinks both New York and the Bay Area are too big and would like Darren to end up with the Falcons, Cowboys or "whatever team they've got there in Tennessee." Ms. Muhammad, that would be the Tennessee Titans. In the end, she said her preference would be Dallas, a sleepy little town located in North Texas. "But we want what's good for him, whatever they say. I'd rather particularly he'd go to Dallas, I really do." Muhammad will be releasing her final mock draft at a famous New York piano bar later this evening. Right now, she has her son slipping all the way to the Titans at No. 24, but that's just a rough draft. But in all seriousness, the team that drafts McFadden isn't just drafting the Arkansas running back. I'm told that his entire family (11 brothers and sisters) might end up in that city. And as one Arkansas football coach put it recently, "that's a little different situation there." Let's just say that Muhammad and her children plan on having quite a bit of involvement in Darren's life. Just something to ponder as we prepare for tomorrow.
More Dallas rumors: From Clarence Hill, this time: IRVING -- With two first-round picks in this weekend�€™s NFL draft, the Cowboys are seemingly in a can�€™t-lose situation. But as defensive end Marcus Spears can attest, it�€™s all about perspective. The last time the Cowboys had two first-round picks was in 2005 -- taking linebacker DeMarcus Ware with 11th overall pick and Spears at 20th. While Ware is a two-time Pro Bowler on the brink of super stardom, Spears is heading into this weekend�€™s draft wondering about his future. After starting at left end the past two years, there is talk about Spears being moved out of the lineup and possibly off the team via a draft- day trade. The Cowboys are contemplating moving Jason Hatcher into the starting lineup as well as moving nose tackle Jay Ratliff back to end, according to a source. Any one of those moves puts Spears in the cross hairs. He has two years left on his contract that expires in 2009. With 4.5 sacks in three years, Spears admittedly has not been as productive as even he hoped or expected. But he thinks his best football is in front him. He has heard all the talk and rumors and although he likes it in Dallas, he says he is ready for whatever comes next. "I have been going through everything this off-season," Spears said. "The trade talk and all the other stuff. I�€™m just doing my part, handling what I can handle. If I get caught up in the business part of football and have to make a change, I won�€™t be happy because I love it here. But at the same time I love playing the game. I am ready for whatever. Hopefully, I�€™m around. We will see what happens." For the record, owner Jerry Jones said no one on the current roster will be used as draft-day trade bait. "No. I can almost be, without equivocation, say that," Jones said. "That�€™s not the time to be getting value out of a player. Poor timing. Draft picks are thought too highly of and players aren�€™t thought of as much as they should be thought of." I am not happy if this happens.... Keep Spears. He's cheap, young, and a good defender against the run. Sure, he hasn't been much of a pass rusher, but he is a large part of why the run defense was good against the left side even though Ellis was terrible against the run. If we want to move Ratliff to end or give Hatcher looks; fine. I am all for that. But NOT for moving Spears on draft day or any day, really. Edit: I guess I should have included this... If Spears goes in a larger package, say, for a veteran WR, ok. I meant I am against trading him for a draft pick unless the value is too much to pass on.
This is from Mickey Spagnola, who is a writer for DallasCowboys.com (so keep that in mind) They’ve done all the contract negotiations with PacMan. They are waiting for Tenn to do their paperwork. It probably gets wrapped up today. It will be a sign and trade. They have purchase 3 forms of “insurance” for this to work, and they’ve already completed two. First, they get a draft pick back if he’s not reinstated. Secondy, they’ve negotiated a contract with no guaranteed money. The third step is on draft day they can’t rely on him as a solution to CB. The day you rely on that guy he will break your heart. So they have to get their 3rd insurance policy in the first day of the draft to make sure they have a starting caliber CB on the roster if PacMan gets in trouble again. If they depend on Alan Ball to step in right away if someone gets hurt next year, you’re in the same position as last year with Jacques Reeves. I don’t think you can bank of Pac Man for continued good behavior. If he has one bad night you’re in trouble. I don’t think they’ll trade the #22nd unless someone blows them away with a trade proposal. The 28th pick, I could see them dropping back to the 2nd round. A lot of these WRs are second round guys. A bunch of RBs are second round guys. So they could get better value by dropping back a few spots and picking up a mid round pick that they used on PacMan. Now, if someone will offer their veteran WR for the 28th pick, Jerry will certainly do it. A lot of WRs were drafted high last year, and Dewayne Bowe was the only one who made an impact as a rookie. I’m not sure rookie drafted in that area is going to immediately beat out the young guys they already have on the roster who have been here a couple of years. George Dunham: I really like Felix Jones. He’s a perfect compliment to Barber. He’s a great return guy. Mickey: I look at him as a niche back. If you draft him, you better find yourself another guy, because do you know if Felix Jones can fill in for an injured Barber and carry 25 times a game? That’s the only thing .. I don’t know if you can spend a first round pick on a niche back. When Deuce McAllister went down Reggie Bush couldn’t carry the load as an every down back. He’s a guy you got to move around, put in the slot, run reverses … etc. He had a great ypc in college, but a lot of that came from reverses and stuff. So you’ll need to find another normal RB if you get Felix Jones. Maybe there is a veteran out there who can fill that role cheaply. I don’t know if Shaun Alexander is ready to accept NFL minimum wage.
http://corner.bigblueinteractive.com/index...p;thread=286671 Awesome thread containing quotes from scouts on various players. HIGHLY recommended.
From PFW concerning Pacman: April 25, 2008 The first order of business for the Cowboys will be to hear what the commissioner’s office rules on CB-RS Pacman Jones and whether he’ll be eligible to play for the Cowboys this season. Another factor is when he might be able to join the team. DT Tank Johnson, for instance, was allowed to practice with the team before joining the Cowboys' active roster coming off a suspension; a similar situation might be allowed for Jones, though there has been no word yet. But if he’s cleared, the Cowboys won’t just turn Jones loose. They know he hasn’t played in more than a year, so they will work him into the rotation slowly. But they think he has the potential, at some point, to be an impact player on defense — either as a right corner or as a nickel back to start — and on special teams, as a kickoff and punt returner. He also might be tried, as he had been occasionally in Tennessee, on offense as a trick-play specialist.
So its time for me to go official with what I want Dallas to do: 22. Antoine Cason 28. James Hardy 2. Jamaal Charles 3. Red Bryant 4. Traded for Pacman 5. Andre Woodson 6. Tommy Blake 7. Jack Ikegwuono (redshirt him) Some of these I'm fairly certain won't happen. I don't think we'll go WR in round 1, I don't think we'll draft a developmental QB, and I don't think we'll draft Ikegwuono in round 7 either. Rather, this is just a wishlist.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Apr 25 2008, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So its time for me to go official with what I want Dallas to do: 22. Antoine Cason 28. James Hardy 2. Jamaal Charles 3. Red Bryant 4. Traded for Pacman 5. Andre Woodson 6. Tommy Blake 7. Jack Ikegwuono (redshirt him) Some of these I'm fairly certain won't happen. I don't think we'll go WR in round 1, I don't think we'll draft a developmental QB, and I don't think we'll draft Ikegwuono in round 7 either. Rather, this is just a wishlist.</div> That's a pretty damn good wishlist! In the second round I have my preferences for CJ and RR, but then again so might everyone ahead of 61. Jamaal Charles looks realisitic, and I wouldn't be too disappointed with that pick. If we draft Felix Jones at 22 I'll cry, not only because I don't want any part of the Arkansas RB's (DMC will cost too much to sign, and trade up for), but because after seeing months of Felix Jones mocks it'll be pretty anti-climatic to go that route.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Main Event @ Apr 25 2008, 04:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Apr 25 2008, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So its time for me to go official with what I want Dallas to do: 22. Antoine Cason 28. James Hardy 2. Jamaal Charles 3. Red Bryant 4. Traded for Pacman 5. Andre Woodson 6. Tommy Blake 7. Jack Ikegwuono (redshirt him) Some of these I'm fairly certain won't happen. I don't think we'll go WR in round 1, I don't think we'll draft a developmental QB, and I don't think we'll draft Ikegwuono in round 7 either. Rather, this is just a wishlist.</div> That's a pretty damn good wishlist! In the second round I have my preferences for CJ and RR, but then again so might everyone ahead of 61. Jamaal Charles looks realisitic, and I wouldn't be too disappointed with that pick. If we draft Felix Jones at 22 I'll cry, not only because I don't want any part of the Arkansas RB's (DMC will cost too much to sign, and trade up for), but because after seeing months of Felix Jones mocks it'll be pretty anti-climatic to go that route. </div> I've warmed up to him, especially after reading comments made by scouts in regards to Felix Jones. He has football speed. Its not like Tyson Thompson who was extremely fast, but didn't have much football speed. Jones is the opposite, plus he has wiggle. In addition, he can block and catch. We can actually line him in the slot similar to what the Eagles do with Westbrook. Jones has a lot of possibilities and Garrett, I hope, would be able to utilize him like the weapon he is. He'd be a dynamic playmaker for this offense...
