The Dallas Cowboys have selected Dez Bryant as their new first round draft choice.

Since being drafted, Bryant has been in the news constantly, and I felt that instead of writing two or three mini-articles about Bryant, I’d do what the writers of Sports Illustrated do and just write a long article about Dez Bryant covering everything.

Let’s get this thing started with:

Dez Bryant Will Be Talked About Whether He Is Good Or Bad

When you think about the Dallas Cowboys, they always have these players that just stand out.

Whether is was the clean-cut life of Roger Staubach aka Captain America and Hollywood Henderson’s personality and antics in the 70s to the flashiness of Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin in the 90s; Dallas has always had guys in the center of attention.

The 2000s were no different. We had Terrell Owens, who made sure everyone had their popcorn ready, Roy Williams, who was just a seismic blow to receivers that came on his side in the early years, and Tony Romo, the undrafted free agent Pro Bowl quarterback that dates Jessica Simpson, Carrie Underwood, and pulls off some of the greatest highlights in the last ten years of professional football.

Now, as we enter a new decade, Cowboy fans are going to have to prepare for a new set of characters and guys in the limelight.

Dez Bryant is already under a microscope due to his suspension from Oklahoma State, the recent press about his mother; a topic I will address later, and most importantly, he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

I don’t know how it came about. To me, a kid from Texas, the Cowboys are just my team, but because of the “America’s Team” moniker, the press and media focus on them especially, so they are going to be watching Dez Bryant closely because the Cowboys will be watched closely.

Think about how often ESPN would focus on Michael Crabtree last year. After a while, the buzz around him died down because he plays for the 49ers, not a big name team like the Cowboys or the Colts or the Patriots

The big question is will Dez Bryant be a playmaker or a struggling rookie?

I can just see it now. Men in suits talking about how Dez Bryant’s five touchdown game this past week is the greatest performance by a rookie receiver.

Or I can see them talking about he’s not connecting with Tony Romo, he’s not getting by defenders, and he is looking like a bad draft choice by the Cowboys.

Dallas fans are just going to have to accept that Dez Bryant will be a major topic of conversation. He had headlines during the draft, he’ll have headlines in the NFL.

Also, by presenting Dez Bryant with the jersey number 88 that was Michael Irvin’s, a Hall of Fame receiver, puts even more attention and pressure on this young rookie.

I just wonder if Dez Bryant will bring touchdowns along with the cameras to the Cowboys this upcoming season.

Dez Bryant’s Mother is Irrelevant to His Future as a Cowboy

I’m waking up in the morning, and I check my usual football news websites so that I can find out anything, no matter how insignificant it might be, to ensure that I’m informed.

I look up and I see how this no-name general manager for the Dolphins named Jeff Ireland actually asked if Dez Bryant’s mother was, to keep it PG, a member of the world’s oldest profession at one point.

It struck me funny because I first wondered if he really was the general manager since Bill Parcells is running the show down in Miami.

Regardless of who exactly Jeff Ireland is, Dez Bryant politely skipped that question, but the sports world has kept it a headline, so here is my take:

I’ve read arguments by writers for both sides, and I don’t believe that Ireland meant to maliciously offend or embarrass Dez Bryant, I do think that he should claim temporary stupidity because only an idiot would bring that kind of question out in the open.

For one thing, the question is irrelevant. Unless Dez Bryant was actually helping his mother with some criminal activity, the past stays in the past.

Everyone has skeletons in the closet. Everyone including you and me has something that we have done that would turn us as red as a coke can should the public find out about it.

It’s called being human.

I think that the apology was not mandatory, but in that kind of situation, I would be compelled, personally, to apologize for my lack of sensitivity when it comes to the subject of the woman who gave birth to Dez Bryant.

I applaud Jeff Ireland for apologizing, I chalk up his mistake to being human just like the rest of us. Just don’t do it again.

Don’t ask a question that isn’t related to his speed, hand skills, footwork, motivation, work ethic, or in certain cases, things that Bryant has done in the past.

What his mother allegedly did and what Bryant does are two separate issues that are not connected by any reasonable means. End of story.

What The Dez Bryant Selection States?

Okay, now for some real football talk.

Going into the draft, I felt that Dallas should have addressed needs at offensive tackle and safety since the release of both free safety Ken Hamlin and offensive tackle Flozell Adams.

Instead, Dallas decided to trade up from 27 to 24 with New England just before Baltimore and drafted Dez Bryant.

Personally, I didn’t believe we necessarily needed Dez Bryant because while Roy Williams had struggled, I saw him make some very good catches at key moments in the last two games against the Eagles this past season.

I felt that Roy Williams was going to get some more work in and knock out all the kinks and become a legitimate number two guy.

The emergence of Miles Austin was astonishing as well and combine Jason Witten, our regular Pro Bowl tight end, and the three-headed running attack of Choice, Barber, and Jones, and you have got a great offense.

Dallas was second in the league in total offensive yards gained. Granted, they were 14th in points scored, but Dallas could improve on that with better execution in the redzone.

From a team standpoint of needs and depth chart, this looks like a stupid move.

However, the reality is that Dez Bryant is an amazing talent. In 1998, the Cowboys had a chance to draft a very talented wide receiver out of Marshall named Randy Moss.

Moss had grown up a Cowboys fan, wanted to be their guy, and Dallas spurned him in the draft by drafting Greg Ellis instead.

Jerry has no problems with his memory especially since Randy Moss will go to the Hall of Fame one day and in his rookie year, he caught 69 balls for 1313 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Moss got his revenge on Thanksgiving when he and his team, the Vikings, showed up to Dallas, and Moss had three catches.

All three were for touchdowns and over 50 yards each. He finished the day with 163 receiving yards in a 46-36 win for the Vikings.

That was devastating because the Cowboys went 10-6 that year and lost in the playoffs to the Cardinals. Think about how different things would have been if Moss had been paired with Michael Irvin?

Jerry Jones is not about to make the same mistake twice. He’s going to take this young man whose character questions are arguably exaggerated, and Jerry is going to give him a chance to play football for the star.

This move also lights a fire under Roy Williams if he wants to stay a Cowboy. While I agree with many experts that the trade for Roy Williams was a reach, it can still pay dividends if he plays like the wide receiver that Jerry believes he’s capable of playing as.

This also spells the possibility of losing Patrick Crayton or Sam Hurd, two veteran receivers that I had come to cherish during their time here in the Big D.

Hopefully Dallas can keep them all because I’d love to see them win a Super Bowl with Dallas.

Interesting Stat About Dallas and First Round Receivers

The one thing about this move that concerns me is the late draft history Dallas has when it comes to receivers.

In 2000, Dallas traded two first round draft picks to the Seahawks for Joey Galloway whose career stats for Dallas are 151 catches for 2341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Seattle used those picks on the 2005 MVP Shaun Alexander and wide receiver Koren Robinson.

Then we traded Galloway to Tampa Bay for Keyshawn Johnson, and all I can say is UGH!

Finally, we trade our first, third, and sixth round picks to Detroit for Roy Williams and a seventh round pick.

Those picks drafted Brandon Pettigrew and Derrick Williams, and neither team so far has benefited from those trades.

Dallas hasn’t been very good at trading for real receiver talent, and when you trade draft picks for them, it’s the same as if you drafted them yourself.

Also, Jerry Jones did not draft Michael Irvin. Michael Irvin was the last first round pick of the Landry Era. So, Jerry Jones has done zilch when it comes to drafting first round receivers.

And before you mention how the Ravens were about to draft Dez Bryant, and they are excellent drafters, I’ll remind you that the one position that the Ravens haven’t drafted well is wide receiver.

These past experiences raise eyebrows yet despite the past failings, I like the addition of Dez Bryant. I have to say that it is a gamble that I would take since at the time of the pick, all the really great talent at safety or offensive tackle was off the board.

Dez Bryant Scouting Report

To view the rest, please go here: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/dez-bryant-full-report-from-mom-to-talent/

But for today you are Dallas Cowboys! Congratulations!

As many of us sat watching the live war room cam, many of us expected a trade up to 12 with Miami. The player many of us expected them to target was Texas’ Earl Thomas, a playmaking safety with a skill set most of us would be thrilled to have start from day one in place of the recently released, Ken Hamlin. That didn’t happen as San Francisco traded up to 11 with Denver and took OT Anthony Davis. The next pick that Miami held was traded to San Diego for RB Ryan Matthews.

I’m not exactly sure of the timing of these two picks as compared to the reaction in the Cowboys war-room, but how I saw it, the jaws dropped as San Francisco jumped Miami by trading with Denver, one spot ahead of our proposed trade partner, taking a very coveted offensive tackle. To me, this doesn’t coincide with their recent comments supporting Doug Free as our starting left tackle in 2010. I truly believe Anthony Davis was their target all along and there’s no way they would admit that now, unless somehow this info is leaked, which would only hurt us in the long run.

In hindsight, what would have been given up for that pick at 12, compared to what was given up for Dez, wouldn’t have been worth it. Unless you fast forward to round two.

In round two, Philadelphia as expected, took their play making safety, Nate Allen from Mike Jenkins’ alma mater USF. That proved to be the end, of what the Cowboys brass viewed, the immediate starters from the safety class.
Other safeties projected in that range were Morgan Burnett, Chad Jones and Major Wright who all ended up going in the third round, proving us mock drafters only know relative position, not actual.

Getting closer to the Cowboys pick at 59, Jerry and co. saw New England sitting one spot ahead at 58 and licking their chops for the coveted linebacker, Sean Lee from Penn State. Not to be out-done, they made their move with Philadelphia, trading pick 59 and their late 4th round pick to jump to 55 and snatch their guy.

Nick Eatman was giving hints about them targeting Lee in recent weeks and believed if he was there for them at 59, that would be their pick. Again, the Cowboys moves were out in the open for everyone to see plenty ahead of time for others to strategize against. The Cowboys again had to give up a mid-round pick to take their guy.

Sean Lee, if he stay healthy, looks to be the future at one of the two inside linebacker spots. Weather that be the mic or the mo, it remains to be seen. Jason Williams, last year’s top pick will also be in the mix.

Each of these picks will be highly scrutinized in the future, should one or both prove to be the wrong decision. Both are high risk high reward in their own way. Dez with his character issues and Lee with his knee injury. Solid players were still available at both spots (27, 59 and 90, possibly 125 depending on how today goes)

Time will tell and the sceptic will be watching closely.

Those of you follow me on LSS know how much I love Dez, and how I’ve been hoping for the stars to align so that we can get this playmaker in a Cowboys uniform.

Anyone who has watched Dez play, will tell you that he just oozes with superstar potential and it wont be long until he becomes an elite NFL wide receiver.

He has outstanding quickness, great burst, glove soft hands and he will not disappoint!

The guy is an absolute stud!

Welcome to the Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant!!!

For complete round the clock coverage of all the big news, signings and trades, keep it right here as we will keep updating this thread with everything you need to know.

We also invite you to join us at our live Draft Chat where many members of our staff will be discussing the day’s events and answering questions.

LONE STAR STRUCK CHAT

Join the conversation or just stop in and say “Go Cowboys!” Let us know who you think the Cowboys should draft with the first pick.

It’s going to be a great weekend and I bet there will be a few surprises with Jerry Jones running the show.

NFL Draft Update

1. Rams

2. Lions

3. Buccaneers

4. Redskins

5. Chiefs

6. Seahawks

7. Browns

8. Raiders

9. Bills

10. Jaguars

Dallas Cowboys Picks

The Cowboys have half a dozen picks with the first at #27.

Round 1, Pick 27 (27)
Round 2, Pick 27 (59)
Round 3, Pick 26 (90)
Round 4, Pick 27 (125)
Round 6, Pick 27 (196)
Round 7, Pick 27 (234)

NFL.com will be carrying a live stream of the draft for those of you who want to follow online. There are already plenty of rumors circulating as to what the Cowboys may or may not do. One this is for sure, there will be plenty of buzz and excitement and after the draft it wont be long until training camp starts and we all lineup to buy football tickets for a new season.

The Cowboys have half a dozen picks with the first at #27.

Round 1, Pick 27 (27)
Round 2, Pick 27 (59)
Round 3, Pick 26 (90)
Round 4, Pick 27 (125)
Round 6, Pick 27 (196)
Round 7, Pick 27 (234)

27. With all the top first round talent off the board, Jerry finds a trade partner AGAIN in Cleveland, who send their #38 overall pick in 2010 and a 3rd and 6th in 2011 to Dallas in exchange for #27 in which Cleveland lands their future QB.

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38. Dallas is holding out hope that Philly doesn’t pick Nate Allen at 37. No such luck. But wait. A call comes in from the Ravens.

Restricted free agent Offensive Tackle Jared Gaither is offered up for pick #38. The value here for a potential starting tackle is fantastic, however Jerry counters with #59 and a 2011 4th. No deal.

Dallas picks Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers) who surprisingly slid through the first round. Devin will provide excellent depth at corner and will be asked to return kicks.

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59. The top three second round safety prospects in the second round (Nate Allen, Chad Jones and Morgan Burnett) are gone.

Jerry dials Baltimore’s number and offers pick 59 and a 2011 5th round pick this time for Jared Gaither.

Seeing no other offers and now coming to the end of round two, Baltimore accepts the deal.

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86. Dallas sends DE Marcus Spears to Green Bay and selects John Jerry (G Ole Miss).

The Eagles, who sit at 87, are livid. Payback for drafting Nate Allen is a motha.

Dallas can comfortably send Spears away without drafting another DE high in this draft with belief that either Hatcher or Bowen will be hungry enough to finally get their shot at starting and a new contract.

Third year end, Marcus Dixon is now ready for a reserve role after spending the last two years on Dallas’ practice squad.

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90. Jordan Shipley (WR/PR Texas) has been a target of Dallas all along. The versatile former Longhorn WR finds a home with the Cowboys and will learn his position while returning punts.

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125. Eric Olsen (C Notre Dame) takes Cory Procter’s roster spot as the swing C/G. Sirens go off and the crowd roars at the draft viewing party inside Cowboys Stadium. Davis and Colombo email Olsen a link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVqgVplQG-I

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196. At this point in the draft, teams are looking for backups and possibly if they are lucky enough, future competition for their starters.

Robert Johnson (FS Utah) can compete with Patrick Watkins for the tail end of the safety spots. If he can be a solid special teams contributor, the job is his to lose.

I’m anticipating a strong run at O.J. Atogwe to upgrade the starting FS spot.

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234. Nose Tackle Jay Ratliff needs to cut back a little bit on his snaps to last a long season with an early bye.

Dallas selects Kade Weston from Georgia to compete with Junior Siavii for the reserve NT role.

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Dallas aquires:

-2011 3rd and 6th round picks from Cleveland

-CB/KR Devin McCourty

-OT Jared Gaither

-G John Jerry

-WR/PR Jordan Shipley

-C Eric Olsen

-S Robert Johnson

-NT Kade Weston

Dallas loses:

DE Marcus Spears

2011 5th round pick

27. Anthony Davis – Offensive Tackle, Rutgers

With the recent release of Flozell Adams, Dallas nabs Anthony Davis, the best true tackle in the draft behind Russell Okung and Trent Williams. In Davis, Dallas will add instant competition to the fast-dwindling depth along the offensive line. Unlike Bruce Campbell, who many mock drafts have Dallas taking at #27, Davis can contribute immediately if needed or sit for a year if Dallas goes the Doug Free route. Dallas could also be very tempted to take Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays if one of them was to drop into their laps.

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59. Nate Allen – Safety, South Florida

After missing out on the top three premier safeties in the draft, Dallas nabs one of the top second-tier safeties in Nate Allen. Like Davis, Allen will add immediate depth to a safety position that is now diminished with the release of Ken Hamlin. Allen will be able to step in and compete with Alan Ball, Pat Watkins, and Mike Hamlin for the starting job.

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90. Jordan Shipley – Wide Receiver, Texas

Instantly my favorite pick of the draft, Dallas takes a homegrown Texas prospect in Shipley. He will add another dimension to the offense in the slot, and give Dallas an effective return weapon on special teams. Jerry is well aware of the success that has taken place down in Austin, and cannot pass up a college star from the Lone Star State.

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125. John Jerry – Guard, Ole Miss

In another move to add depth and competition to the offensive line, Dallas grabs John Jerry with their 4th round pick. My fellow writer Nate also has Dallas drafting Jerry in the 3rd round, but I think he could still be on the board here. He has the huge earth-moving frame that the Cowboys like on their interior linemen, and can sit and learn for a year with Kyle Kosier entering the last year of his deal. He will also push Robert Brewster, who I am not completely sold on, for supremacy on the depth chart.

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196. Clifton Geathers – Defensive End, South Carolina

With question marks surrounding Marcus Spears’s future with the Cowboys, Dallas drafts some insurance in Clifton Geathers. At 6’7″, 299 pounds, Geathers has a freakishly enormous frame that reminds the Cowboys of Chris Canty. Could slide into the defensive line rotation immediately and fill a role similar to what Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen have. Geathers also comes from football bloodlines. His father and uncle played in the NFL as well as his brother, Robert, who plays for the Bengals.

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234. John Conner – Fullback, Kentucky

With tightly crossed fingers, Dallas lands the fullback they coveted in John Conner. The Cowboys have shown too much interest in Conner to not draft him with their last pick. Jerry Jones is tired of dealing with problem child players. With the selection of Conner, Deon Anderson can pack his bags.

27. TRADE to Baltimore for Jared Gaither

There WILL be a projected first round tackle that falls to the Cowboys at 27. Could be any one of these   three; Anthony Davis, Charles Brown or Bruce Campbell. They could also reach for a tweener such as Roger Saffold from Indiana or U-Mass’ Vladimir Ducasse. Davis is the only one I’d take for sure. Unfortunately, he is gone. The Cowboys could also look for safety help here, where Taylor Mays might have fallen to. The thing with Mays though, is his square hips and weak reputation as a bawl-hawk, which is our primary concern for our new free-safety. No matter how you would use him in Wade’s 3-4 (safety or linebacker) there would be a learning curve and that simply can’t happen with this pick. Either trade up or get max value. Don’t reach or take on another project. The Cowboys offer their first round pick this year to Baltimore, where all the other teams interested were offering a second round pick plus a fourth or a 2011 future pick. Jerry is the highest bidder and gets tremendous value out of the 27th pick in the draft.

The Cowboys are impressed with his body of work at Tashard Choice’s alma mater.

His Combine and Pro-Day results might make him a goner before the Cowboys pick at 59, but today we’re lucky.

A 6’5″ 335 lb. mauling run blocker is what the Boys get in the third round with John. Jerry was an All-SEC first-teamer.

Should be able to develop this year and slide into Kyle Kosier’s spot when hios contract expires, or at least compete with Brewster if he (Brewster) doesn’t stay at tackle like recently reported. Solid pick.

No way he’s still on the board. Well, if teams look at his post-college work, then maybe.

Warren ran a slower 40 at his Pro Day (4.62) than at the Combine (4.59).

I don’t need a track star. I want a cover corner. Thank you. Please drive through.

His duties would include the following; run bock, pass protect, catch out of the backfield and play special teams.

If John works out, he’ll be the steal of the draft.

A college kicker to compete with Connor Hughes and David Buehler.

May the best man win.

Do Jerry and company really believe Doug Free is ready NOW? Apparently they do because between the two starting positions released, there HAS to be at least one starter in waiting. Alan Ball, although filled in admirably last season for Ken Hamlin, is not the ball-hawking center fielder that Jerry covets.

This brings us to the newest mock draft I have assembled with these new twists in mind.

Earl Thomas (safety, Texas) falls to 19 where Atlanta is waiting to take a player like Pierre-Paul. Dallas jumps ahead of Houston and Cincinnati, giving the Falcons #27(1st), and #125(4th) and a 2011 3rd for #19. The Cowboys draft their ball hawking center fielder with solid depth behind him (Alan Ball, Mike Hamlin)

The biggest concern in the second round is drafting SOLID O-Tackle help should Free not work out or a starter goes down. The picks at 59 (2nd) and 90 (3rd) are enough ammo to move up to Denver’s spot at 45 and draft a tackle that dropped out of the first round such as Indiana’s Roger Saffold or Rutgers’ Anthony Davis.

With no picks left from the 3rd round until the 6th (3rd to Denver, 4th to Atlanta, 5th to Denver for Montrae Holland) the Cowboys kick back and chill. There is no sense in giving up any more future picks and realistically, at this point, we are done giving up players. (e.g.Bennett, Choice, Barber)

At the end of the 6th round the Cowboys are pleasantly surprised to see Fullback John Connor from Kentucky still on the board. Drafting a potential starter this year in the 6th round is the quiet victory of this entire off-season.

In the 7th, kicker Brett Swenson from Michigan State is selected to compete with David Buehler and Connor Hughes. This would be a very good situation for the Cowboys to be in concerning their kicker issues. New kicking consultant Chris Boniol should be able to coach up one of the three, shoring up our immediate place kicking need. We can debate who holds the advantage in a later post.

27. Markise Pouncey G/C Florida
Pouncey is a strong and versitile lineman that brings youth and depth to the aging O-Line. Markise will compete with Kosier for the left guard spot and provide solid depth at center should Gurode go down.

59.  Brandon Ghee CB Wake Forest
Brandon ran an impressive 4.37 40 yd. dash at the Combine and completely shut down receiver Demaryius Thomas earlier in the year. With Newman getting up there in age, more solid depth is needed in the secondary and the 6 ft. 200 lb. speedster is a great addition.

90. Major Wright FS Florida
After signing O.J.Atogwe away from the Rams and releasing 2009 starter Ken Hamlin, depth is needed at the safety position and Major comes from a long line of impressive Florida safeties. Major has good size, speed and instincts making this a solid choice in the third round.

125. Tony Washington OT Abilene Christian
Jerry said the biggest focus of this draft was to get younger on the O-Line and with the selections of Pouncey and Washington, he does just that. Washington is a 6ft. 6in., 311 lb. Tackle with 35.5in. arms. Free is projected to be the successor on the left side, so an upgrade will be needed on the right. Washington will be an upgrade over McQuistan who never developed into a quality tackle.

196.  John Connor FB/H-Back Kentucky
The Cowboys select a versatile FB in the sixth round after releasing Deon “Crickett” Anderson. Connor will be asked to block for the three-headed monster, catch passes out of the back-field and play special teams.

234. Brett Swenson K Michigan State
Jerry takes a late round flier on a kicker. Swenson will compete with Connor Hughes and David Buehler for placekicking duties. BTW, who’s going to hold this year?