Tatum Bell was Cowboys Choice!

[Mistril48]

Phil Simms reported that the Dallas Cowboys contacted Tatum Bell shortly before he was selected by the Broncos in last year's draft. According to Bell, the Cowboys told him that they would be picking him in the next few picks.

Perhaps the Cowboys spin that Julius Jones is the guy they wanted all along is just that ... spin.

Phil Simms report came during the 3rd quarter of the CBS broadcast of the Broncos game with the Colts.

 

[Mistril48]

I think Huge pretty much called this one right on the money during the draft. The Broncos moved up to take him before the Cowboys could snag him.

I think your recollection is incorrect. I believe that the Broncos used the pick they got from the Redskins long before the draft and long before the Cowboys acquired the Bills pick.

I think it would be more accurate to say that when the Cowboys traded with the Bills, they were aware that they would have to accept whichever RB the Broncos didn't want.

 

[Mistril48]

I'm sure he will respond...he had some pretty astute comments about this.

I'll await his comments. He previously argued with me that the Broncos didn't move ahead of the Cowboys, because of when the Broncos got their selection from Washington.

 

[Huge]

Phil Simms reported that the Dallas Cowboys contacted Tatum Bell shortly before he was selected by the Broncos in last year's draft. According to Bell, the Cowboys told him that they would be picking him in the next few picks.

Perhaps the Cowboys spin that Julius Jones is the guy they wanted all along is just that ... spin.

Phil Simms report came during the 3rd quarter of the CBS broadcast of the Broncos game with the Colts.

So this is what you're reporting through Phil Simms through Bell? I guess that's straight from the horse's mouth.

I think Huge pretty much called this one right on the money during the draft. The Broncos moved up to take him before the Cowboys could snag him.

I'm sure he will respond...he had some pretty astute comments about this. Bell was taken right before the Cowboys pick at 41. The Boys picked at 43 and missed out on him.

41 Tatum Bell Broncos RB Oklahoma State
42 Travis LaBoy Titans DE Hawaii
43 Julius Jones Cowboys RB Notre Dame

No, mistril is correct. I made the argument that Jones was contacted by Dallas in regards to him being their RB. What mistril is incorrect on, is that Dallas contacting Bell does not mean they didn't contact Jones or that they "settled" on Jones.

I think he's also incorrect in his assumption that Dallas was going to wait to see what RB Denver selected. If you're the Dallas Cowboys, what information do you have that tells you Denver is going to take a RB with their selection?

Dallas also contacted Steven Jackson and told him the exact same thing (that he would be their RB if they had the opportunity). Thing is, you can't always go by what teams say before a draft.

Besides, with the season Jones had, wouldn't it be a little stupid for Simms to point out how Dallas "missed out" on Bell?

 

[Mistril48]

No, mistril is correct.

Thank you.

What mistril is incorrect on, is that Dallas contacting Bell does not mean they didn't contact Jones ... wouldn't it be a little stupid for Simms to point out how Dallas "missed out" on Bell?

I agree. The fact (as told by Bell) that he was contacted by the Cowboys right before the Broncos took him and told that the Cowboys were going to take him does not prove that the Cowboys didn't also contact Jackson, or Jones, or any other back they didn't get.

I have no idea why Simms reported it. I was just watching the game and he said it. He did not report it from the point that the Cowboys had missed him. He mentioned some stat, which I didn't catch, like Tatum lead rookies in yards per carry over last 'blank' games, or something ... and then he went on to say the Cowboys called.

What mistril is incorrect on, is that Dallas contacting Bell does not mean ... that they "settled" on Jones.

I didn't mean that the Cowboys contact proved that the Cowboys settled on Jones. The settling on Jones is obvious from the fact that the Cowboys allowed the Broncos to pick first. They knew that the Broncos would pick ahead of them when they traded with the Bills. They must have been content to take whoever the Broncos didn't.

I think it's the very same as the Texans taking Robinson. While they may have preferred Robinson and even been happy with the selection, the fact is that they allowed Atlanta to pick first. They had to 'settle' on Robinson, who may (or may not ... we'll never know) have been a player they liked just as much.

Let's just stop all the "they got the player they wanted all along" talk we see in the media.

 

[Huge]

I have no idea why Simms reported it. I was just watching the game and he said it. He did not report it from the point that the Cowboys had missed him. He mentioned some stat, which I didn't catch, like Tatum lead rookies in yards per carry over last 'blank' games, or something ... and then he went on to say the Cowboys called.

I didn't watch the game so I'm not sure of the context of which Simms was speaking. I can only assume that because of the blow-out, he was making an attempt to bring up a topic...regardless of how relevent it is.

I didn't mean that the Cowboys contact proved that the Cowboys settled on Jones. The settling on Jones is obvious from the fact that the Cowboys allowed the Broncos to pick first. They knew that the Broncos would pick ahead of them when they traded with the Bills. They must have been content to take whoever the Broncos didn't.

I think it's the very same as the Texans taking Robinson. While they may have preferred Robinson and even been happy with the selection, the fact is that they allowed Atlanta to pick first. They had to 'settle' on Robinson, who may (or may not ... we'll never know) have been a player they liked just as much.

They "allowed" several teams to draft before them after their trade with Buffalo. There were 19 picks made (from 22nd in the first to 11th in the 2nd) before Dallas would pick again. 19 times the "RB they really wanted" (Bell) could've been taken. But why is Denver singled out as the team Dallas "allowed" to pick first? Did Dallas know the Broncos would take a RB and just wait to see which one was still available?

Maybe I don't understand your motivation. Are you trying to point out that Dallas "settled" on a RB they didn't want? If so, what indications point towards them not wanting Jones?

 

[Mistril48]

I didn't watch the game so I'm not sure of the context of which Simms was speaking. I can only assume that because of the blow-out, he was making an attempt to bring up a topic...regardless of how relevent it is.

Exactly. They were looking for things to say about Tatum Bell in a blowout and said the Cowboys called him right before the Broncos picked him.

... why is Denver singled out as the team Dallas "allowed" to pick first?

They were playing in the game (the Rams and Lions weren't) and some information came out that I thought was regionally interesting (assuming that members of this board, while largely Texan fans, probably know more about the Cowboys and Titans than other teams). Just a thought.

Maybe I don't understand your motivation.

I don't understand the relevance of my motivation. You'll notice I posted on a Texan board, not a Cowboy board. Perhaps other Texan fans feel the Cowboys are over-hyped and will appreciate the information.

I'm previously on record as saying I think the Cowboys made good trade. They only had 5 picks (as I recall) in the 2004 draft and although it was not without it's cost, it was a 'dare to be great' move. I think the Cowboys 'get' that people were going to say 'why didn't you take Jackson ... or KJ.' It's unfortunate for the Cowboys that they turned a 22nd pick in what Vinny refers to as a 'deep' draft in 2004 into a 20th pick in a much weaker 2005 draft (I believe this to be Vinny's position as set out in the "What is a 13th pick" board - I'm not sure about the 2005 draft, although every Jr who stays certainly hurts it), but it's unfair to hold that against them. It was the right thing to do at the time, IMO. Hey, in several years, it may turn out that Julius is the best of the class, has had his last injury, etc ... time will tell.

My only complaint is the hype that Cowboys got the guy they wanted all along. If you felt that strongly about it, you wouldn't have traded down 19 spots. I think it is much more likely that they saw RBs falling in 2004 and took a gamble that they would still get a good player with whoever was left when they picked.