The Cowboys Scouting Director Insists He Can Tell Jerry 'No'

Anybody who has spent five minutes with Cowboys scouting director Tom Ciskowski likes Tom Ciskowski. A lot.
And when the long time scout was promoted to the job after Jeff Ireland left to take the Dolphins GM gig everyone was happy for him. You want a guy like him to get that chance. But I'm pretty sure everyone was a bit nervous for him; could he handle Jerry?
I never thought, based on my gut, Ciskowski wanted Dez Bryant. I never saw him as a Tom type of player.

Today after the Cowboys pre-draft press conference I asked him can you tell Jerry 'no'?
"Oh yeah," he said.

I believe him. I also believe Jerry can be charmingly persuasive. Jerry didn't get to where he is by accepting no.

I believe Tom has a very clear idea of what he wants a Cowboys player to look like; that they should fit a certain intellectual and mental makeup. That's why the Dez Byrant thing didn't click. Have the Cowboys been able to draft to the vision that Tom has for a Cowboys player? 

"We've attempted to. I think in a lot of cases that is what you are shooting for," he said.

To me that says yes, and no.

Jerry made it a point to say - again - he doesn't meddle with the makeup of a draft board. That he listens and lets the scouts assemble the board the way they want. I believe that. I also believe Jerry owns and runs this team, and once the board is set he's not above saying, "Let's roll the dice on this guy ranked a little lower than this guy."

That's why Ciskowski's job is so hard.

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com

Jerry Willing to Draft a OL In the First Round

Had to laugh when I heard Jerry say this today, "In my 22 years I don't know that I've ever gone to bed worried about protecting the passer with a left tackle. That's been a quite a luxury."

What? Does the name Torrin Tucker not ring a frightening bell?

Jerry obviously forgot about the year Flozell Adams went down early in the '05 season and was replaced by Tucker. No one slept well at the thought of Tucker trying to protect the immobile Drew Bledsoe.

Other than that, Jerry has had some pretty decent left tackles from Mark Tuinei to Larry Allen (he did it briefly) to Flozell and now Doug Free looks like he can play, too.

But Jerry is willing to draft a tackle in the first round, if needed. A lot of draft boards have the Cowboys taking Tyron Smith out of USC at No. 9.

"If that's been a pattern or preference that has changed," Jerry said. "If you look at how the league has addressed approaching offensive lineman, especially offensive tackles, there is a willingness to take them high. ... I'm not reluctant to invest a first round pick to an offensive lineman."

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com

Jerry's Willingness to Trade Up A Sign He Thinks A New CBA Will Hammer Rookies

Jerry Jones loves him some trades, provided it not be up high in the first round of the draft. He loathes paying players who haven't done a thing a giant dime when they haven't demonstrated they are worth it. It's one thing to have a bust in the second round. It's quite another to swing and miss at No. 5

When asked on Tuesday if he would be willing to move up from the Cowboys' No. 9 position in the first round, Jerry paused for 10 seconds before answering.

"I don't know why but I think there is a chance that with a lot of the things that are up in the air right now regarding the labor agreeement I'm not as skeptical of the early round picks," Jerry said. "I think ultimately we have a chance to have a labor agreement through negotiation, which as you know is one of the key issues we're talking about (a rookie wage scale). ...
"I could see people not being as reluctant to go to the top of that draft as they have in the past. I've seen people go up there but you knew you were going to get your head handed to you that high. It's one of the things we want to address in the future. I think the odds are not great that we might be interested in a trade up, but I wouldn't want to say 'wouldn't' trade up."

The man can talk. This is what he said - Because we think we're going to have pay these guys less at the very top of the draft, we won't be quite as nervous about moving up and paying that price because the price tag won't be as high.

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com

Jerry Jones Has Not Opened Facility For Players

Just finished attending the Jerry Jones pre-NFL draft press conference at Cowboys Stadium. It lasted 45 minutes. Even though Jerry was flanked by Stephen Jones and scouting director Tom Ciskowski, Jerry probably talked for 41 of those 45 minutes. Maybe 40.

Of early note:

* Jerry said he has NOT opened the team facility and weight room to the players. Some teams have. "We are in the process of determining throughout the league how to proceed and open the (NFL) new year," Jerry said.

With a court ruling against the NFL yesterday to end the lockout, some teams did open their facilities to players. The Cowboys are waiting. I'm guessing they are waiting because they believe another court will rule against the initial ruling and the lockout will return. 

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com

Galloway and Hate: Mavs drama? Blame it on the refs

Galloway and Hate: Mavs drama

If it's the playoffs, there must be drama surrounding the Mavericks. Mr. Randy and I think it's all the refs' fault.

 

Tuesday Must C TV: Game 7s Galore; Glee Goes Ga-Ga

Would normally focus on the Rangers hosting the Blue Jays at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Southwest, but the NHL offers the best thing in sport tonight: Game 7. Two of them.

NHL
Sabres at Flyers 6:30 p.m. on Versus
Sabres had the series wrapped up in Game 6 but blew it in the third period, and then OT. The Sabres should have the difference in the better goalie in Ryan Miller, but as we continue to see teams can win series - and Cups - with JAGs (just another guy) in net.

Blackhawks at Canucks 9 p.m. on Versus
If you think the Mavs blew it a few years ago losing as the 1 seed to the 8-seeded Warriors in a best-of-seven was bad the Canucks can top them. The Canucks, the best team in the regular season, had a 3-0 series lead but here we are with a Game 7, and the Canucks now have a goalie controversy. This was supposed to be Canada's best chance to win a Cup since Montreal in 1993. Now it's not looking too good.
Mas pressure on the home team.

NBA
Hawks at Magic 6:30 p.m. on NBA TNT
Don't care. Still.

Pacers at Bulls 7 p.m. on TNT
The little Pacers have made every game close, and finally won one in Game 4. They play hard and tough, but lack a scorer. Bulls close out the series tonight, but they have not looked very good so far. Derrick Rose may not play (ankle), but I expect him to. Whether he's effective is another story.

Hornets at Kobes 9:30 p.m. on TNT
Chris Paul has been the best player in the playoffs so far. But for the Hornets to win he's going to have to have Superman games every time. Kobe is on crutches (ankle) but he plays. Lakers win.

Elsewhere ...

A Few Good Men 7 p.m. on CMT
If it's on, it stays on. 

Glee 7 p.m. on FOX
A new 90 minute episode. Features Lady Ga-Ga tunes. Show needs to focus more on Naya Rivera. Because she can sing really, really well.

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com 

Tuesday Morning MacGriddle: Brandon Roy Is Not Chris Paul; Taliban Channels Steve McQueen

1. The home team in the Mavs/Blazers series will win every game. Mavs lead 3-2 after a convincing 93-82 win on Monday night at the AAC. Tyson Chandler got himself paid, paid, paid with a 14 point, 20-board night. Even though the Mavs gave stupid money to Brandon Haywood last offseason, how do they not pay free-agent-to-be Chandler for his work this season?

2. Don't expect to see this stat line in Portland: Mavs were 26-of-35 at the line. No way they get to the line 35 times in Portland. The referees obviously did a great job of calling the game last night. 

3. One game after looking like he was the Brandon Roy of old, Brandon Roy looked old; 5 points on 2-of-7 shooting. 

4. The Old Men RiverWalks are in trouble. The Spurs are about to join the Mavs as the only 1 seed to lose to an 8 seed in the new first round best-of-seven format. Griz lead that series 3-1.
Spurs look old because they are old. No one on Los Grizzlies scored more than 15 points in their 104-86 win against Los Spurs.

5. Not sure the Taliban likes old movies, but they pulled a Steve McQueen here in this story.

6. Colby Lewis ... what's the problem? In the Rangers' 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays, the Rangers' playoff pitching hero of '10 looked not good; 5 ip., 7 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks. He now has a 6.95 ERA.

7. A former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and Euless resident really goes after Paris Hilton. Hot girl turned mediocre actress lets out her feelings about the do-nothing socialite here.

8. You've got a decent staff when Cliff Lee is a weak link. Against the D-Backs last night, Lee pitched 7 innings and allowed four 4 runs with 12 Ks in a 4-0 loss. Here is the Phillies starting staff:
Roy Oswalt 3-0, 1.88 ERA
Roy Halladay 3-1, 2.41 ERA
Cole Hamels 2-1, 2.92 ERA
Cliff Lee 2-2 4.18 ERA
Joe Blanton 0-1 5.92 ERA

9. Memo to NFL boss Roger Goodell - nobody cares about the specifics and absolutely NO ONE believes a billionaire owner is trying to do the "right thing" other than make more cash.
Click here to read his op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal after a judge ruled an end to the NFL lockout. 

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com

Judge Rules for NFL Players; Can't Imagine This Will Hold

The Internet machine thingy is "blowed up" with news that a judge has ruled in the favor of the players and that lockout is lifted. Who can't get enough NFL legal news? 

Now this is what I call some football lover's football news!

Hooray! The millionaires' lawyers have crushed the billionares' lawyers. Cash bonuses for all legal parties, and a serious BBQ at the country club!

The NFL is expected to ask for a stay on the ruling. The league wants to make its case before the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, which is located in St. Louis, Missouri. That can't be good for the players.
The Rams suck. Does a judge, who is a Rams fan, really want football back just yet even when the Cardinals aren't "the Cardinals" because Adam Wainwright is out for the season? 

This legal fight isn't over yet.

I'm sticking to my original prediction - the lockout ends after Week 3 of the regular season. Would prefer to be wrong.

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com 

Man v. Mother Nature: The Squirrel Must Go Down, He Must Go Down Hard

For years man has tried successfully to harness Mother Nature's resources. Solar power. Hydro electricity. Wind farms. The Kardashians.
But man's attempt to defeat Mother Nature once and for all has, thus far, proven unattainable. It will remain thus if we keep saying that to ourselves as well. To beat Mother Nature we must believe we can do it. YES WE CAN.

Which brings us to this latest installment of the fight: Man vs. Squirrel. For years society has canonized the common squirrel because they look cute, and wear affordable outfits. Pop culture turned a squirrel into this little adorable creature that fights crime.

Life tells us, however, that this cartoon is not what a squirrel is. A squirrel is a home-wrecking rat dressed in nice clothes. Do not be fooled. Consider yourself warned.

I have spent thousands (that's with a th) to try to rid my home of these dastardly animals. I have set traps myself. I have hired professionals. I hired one professional who screamed at me over the phone, "You have to understand, it's not your house! You think it's your house, but it's not. It's their house! I've been catching these animals for 20 years and to catch a squirrel you have to think like the squirrel."

Have to respect any professional that can quote Carl from Caddyshack seriously, and apply it to his chosen profession.

Recently I hired a group that would make my home squirrel-proof. I was tired of these little rats listening to their Pink Floyd records, cooking meth in my attic at all hours. That has worked ... so far. But they're out there. Waiting. Watching. 

There they sit, casing my house like Robert De Niro in Heat. Two mornings ago I saw floor plans of the house in the yard. A few weeks ago, I took the tiny little toy BB gun and shot one. The squirrel looked at me and said, "Gotta do better than that son" and ran off. It reminded me of Blazing Saddles, when Gene Wilder insist that to shoot Mongol would be just to make him mad.

As you can see by the photo above, this is one of a dozen or so animals taunting me. This out-of-focus shot on the right, though, looks into the squirrel's soul: Look at his eyes. They are red. Red like the Lucifer himself.

So I pour my struggles against Mother Nature out on the keyboard. They are not in the house yet, but they are trying. I'm missing a key to the house, so that has me concerned. They may have already hacked into my computer, which would explain the repeated visits to Maxim.com.

Currently a pair of traps are waiting their arrival. I have tried corn with peanut butter smeared on it. This is true - two days later, the corn was out of the trap. That means a squirrel retrieved the corn without tripping the door. Hello, lawsuit! I have also tried a bowl full of nuts. The bowl is still there. Empty.

I do realize I need to get a better trap, but maybe I'm not trying hard enough.

I have resorted to a last line: Cash. Animal lovers, don't fret. When I finally catch one of these devils I will take them to a farm where they can run and play. 

If you have any practical advice, tips, or words of experience to catch these little things, please pass it along.

I need help.

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com

 

This Dallas Cowboys Draft Story is Depressing

Reading Clarence Hill's story about the recent drafts of the Dallas Cowboys is depressing.

What is most alarming is that as the misses pile up means as the current group ages, which they are already, means the guts of this team is going to be a cast of not-good-enoughs. It's going to be a Dave Campo collection of talent.

No one should, however, be surprised. No one. When Jerry had Jimmy running the room with a clear identity of what the Cowboys should be drafting, there was a direction and a purpose. Once Jimmy left, it was just sort of a catch-as-can of talent. Maybe they got someone that worked. Mostly they didn't.

When Bill Parcells came to town, the same thing happened. The Cowboys had a defined idea of what they should look for in a player. Neither Jimmy or Bill guys were perfect in their picks (Bobby Carpenter, anyone?) but there was an outline. Literally. Parcells had a couple of pages worth of bullet points of what they should be looking for in a draftee.

I do believe Cowboys scout man Tom Ciskowski has an idea of what he wants. He wants tough guys who just want to play football. But I also firmly believe he can't say no to Jerry. Jimmy could. Bill could.

The NFL Draft begins Thursday night. Right now S-T NFL guru Charean Williams has the Boys taking USC tackle Tyron Smith in the first round.

Why do I think there aren't a lot of Cowboys fans out there who are completely confident they will nail the No. 9 overall pick.

@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com