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Posted on Sun, Apr. 27, 2008

Contrary to his nature, Jerry quietly makes safe, 'need' picks

By Randy Galloway

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

IRVING -- At this time of year, the man loves his gambling, rambling image, and definitely has the draft-day scars that go along with the risk-taking.

But on Saturday, Jerry Jones found football religion.

Either that, or Jerry's new acquisition of PacRat Jones has finally scared him straight.

Call it boring, call it safe, or call it accurate long-ranging planning, but the Dallas Cowboys took a first-round April course that had been charted at Valley Ranch going back to early March.

Despite national and even local suggestions that the Cowboys were prepared to make a bold move into the top five of the NFL Draft, or at least the top 10, Jones denied it strongly seven weeks ago.

And what the Cowboys came away with in the first round Saturday -- running back Felix Jones of Arkansas and cornerback Mike Jenkins of South Florida -- were exactly the two positions Jerry had circled in early March.

"Need" positions, by the way, but neither Felix Jones nor Jenkins was a reach, based on every mock draft in the country. Plus, going back seven weeks, Jerry indicated Felix was the Cowboys' top RB choice at that time, based on the 22nd pick.

So, all this suggests what?

Certainly not that it was a successful draft. Give us all a couple of years to make that decision. But with Jerry large and in charge of all things football at Valley Ranch, it can be said he was in tune Saturday with what his scouting department had determined about this draft nearly two months earlier.

If nothing else, the Cowboys ended a three-year run of taking outside linebackers in the first round, and Felix Jones became the first offensive player taken by Dallas in the first round since David LaFleur in 1997. Hopefully, LaFleur's bust status won't bring Felix bad hoodoo voodoo.

But for controversy and disappointment, there was also some of that Saturday. Not much, but some.

The disappointment is Jerry didn't deliver on his "wow" promise, which meant he was attempting to acquire a much-needed veteran wide receiver via trade and was hoping to parlay a deal with one of his two first-rounders. Yet, no Roy Williams (Detroit), no Chad Johnson (Cincinnati) and no Anquan Boldin (Cardinals).

"Still working the phones, however," Jones said Saturday.

Or "wow" could have signaled bulldozing into the top five of the draft to take the top-shelf Arkansas running back, Darren McFadden. Again, Jerry had denied any interest in moving up that far, but when his old pal Al Davis landed McFadden with the fourth pick, you could somehow picture Jerry making an immediate call to Oakland.

But for anything of that nature to happen, Jerry said, Davis "would have had to make the first call." Al wasn't interested, even if Jerry possibly might have been tempted.

Asked if there was any temptation or opportunity to move into the top 10, Jones' answer was "no." But he indicated he had been working last week on a three-team transaction "just in case."

For mild controversy, the Cowboys found the right kind when it came time to pull the trigger on the 22nd pick.

Felix Jones was there, as expected, but due to slippage, so was Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois, who outranked Felix Jones on most draft boards. Two totally different RBs, for sure, with Felix the breakaway, speed threat and Mendenhall the Marion Barber type of bruiser.

"Felix Jones gave us dimensions we didn't have," said coach Wade Phillips, who shared the draft-day podium with Jerry.

That explanation makes football sense, particularly in a shared running back situation. But Mendenhall is considered more of an every-down back, unlike Felix.

As soon as the Cowboys took Felix, the Steelers quickly handed over the name card with Mendenhall on it. Obviously, all Cow Sheep will closely follow the careers of both, and comparisons will be made.

The reverse happened with Jenkins, a highly regarded cornerback who was slipping in the first round, and the Cowboys decided they could wait no longer. Giving up fifth- and seventh-round picks, they moved from 28 to 25 and landed the South Florida product.

Again, as promised, Jerry ignored his quirky Pacman trade where the draft was concerned. He took a corner in the first round.

OK, one personal complaint. With receiver being a major position of need (my opinion), one Valley Ranch voice said weeks ago there was no first-round candidate in this draft. The rest of the league agreed Saturday. No receiver was taken in the top 31.

But, c'mon, Jerry. Why not the second round? Jones claimed his opinion was to move up for "several receivers" in the second, but he couldn't find anyone in the war room willing to second his motion.

Another "need" was met when Texas Aggies tight end Martellus Bennett was the pick. Not exactly a high-use college commodity at the position, but that was due to a boring offensive system. And tight end became a need when backup Anthony Fasano was traded Friday.

However these draftees eventually rank as NFL players, the Cowboys' organization had a long-range plan, followed it, and then followed through in making the picks.

Jerry was tame on Saturday. When it comes to draft day, the Cowboys are usually better off this way.

Randy Galloway can be heard on Galloway & Co. weekdays 3-6 p.m. on ESPN/103.3 FM.