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What Price for Pacman?

Talks between the Titans and Cowboys for Pacman Jones have apparently reached an impasse.

That’s understandable. Dallas wants him, but doesn’t want to give up too much because he’s damaged goods; his suspension leaves him no room for future error. The Titans, on the other hand, want return on their heavy investment. He was the 6th overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Pacman the player has value. I’ve posted his numbers from the 2006 Scientific Football, where he ranked second in success % and was a top five player in YPA. The man was All-Pro that year. He was not a Pro Bowler; he was an All Pro, and that squad runs one deep.

The light went on for Pacman at the same time it went on for the rest of his team. The ‘06 Titans started out 0-5 and were 2-7 nine games in. Then they went on a six game winning streak that took them to the edge of the playoffs. Here’s how Pacman contributed to Tennessee’s run:

Week 11, Titans 30 - Eagles 13
A 90 yard 3rd quarter punt return breaks open the game. Jones adds 3 tackles and a pass defensed.

Week 12, Titans 24, Giants 21
The Titans comeback from 21-0 with 24 4th quarter points. Mathius Kiwanuka’s “catch and release” of Vince Young got most of the press but Pacman jump started the win, picking off Eli Manning to set up the 1st Titans TD, returning a punt 23 yards to give Tennessee a short field for their second TD and picking Manning at midfield and returning to New York’s 34 in the waning seconds to set up the winning field goal.

His final line — 3 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 passes defensed.

Week 13, Titans 20, Colts 17
Five tackles and 3 assists for Jones as Tennessee holds the Colts to 3 points over the final 37 minutes and rallies from a 14-0 deficit.

Week 14, Titans 26, Texans 20
Four tackles, a sack, a quarterback hurry and a big 36 yard kickoff return that puts gives Tennessee great field position on its game winning overtime drive.

Week 15, Titans 24, Jaguars 17
Three tackles, an assist, 3 passes defensed and an 83 yard interception return for a touchdown.

Week 16, Titans 30, Bills 29
Five tackles, 2 assists and a 45 yard kickoff return.

He wasn’t Jim Thorpe but Pacman had his moments. He was the catalyst to the Giants win. He was huge in the Jaguars game.

The man makes plays. That’s why Jerry Jones wants him wearing a Cowboys uniform ASAP. It’s why Tennessee wants so much for him.

But that fact that Dallas is the only team showing serious interest right now, despite his incredible on-field potential, is one reason why Dallas is not willing to pay any price.

And why some — some on this site — still wonder if he’s worth any price.

It’s Almost April. What Do We Know?

The Cowboys have scheduled 18 visits to Valley Ranch so far. Any candidate for one of these visits should be considered a first through third round prospect. I’ve been told the “Texas Day” crew will be players the Cowboys are considering in the late rounds or as un-drafted free agent signings.

1st rounders

Guys who will probably go before 22. Dallas might consider a move up or hope one or more of this groups falls to 22

• Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois
• Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
• Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy
• Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
• Keith Rivers, LB, USC
• Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma

Stewart and Kelly are the most likely to drop, IMO.

Fringe — late 1st to early 2nd rounders

Players in this group should be available at 28 or in the early 2nd if Dallas trades down

• Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech
• Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona
• James Hardy, WR, Indiana
• Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas

2nd rounders

Players to consider if Dallas trades down into round two or moves up from 61.

• Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana
• Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa
• Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas
• Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina

3rd rounders

• Beau Bell, OLB, UNLV
• Martellus Bennett, TE, Texas A&M

3rd to 4th rounds

• Duane Brown, OT, Virginia Tech

4th to 5th round

• Will Franklin, WR, Missouri

More 4th round and later prospects

• Justin Forsett, RB, Cal
• Hugh Charles, RB, Colorado
• Brandon Foster, CB, Texas
• Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado
• Josh Bell, CB, Baylor
• Joe Jon Finley, TE, Oklahoma

Update: I’m seeing some confusion in the threads. This is not an exclusive list of players the Cowboys like at various positions. It’s simply what we can determine based on the visits the Cowboys have arranged so far. The team can still arrange a dozen more official visits.

Understand that the list is not ironclad. In years past the Cowboys have invited players they really like to visit. They have also left off players they eventually drafted high. They also invited a handful of players they eventually passed over.

Think of this as an educated guess list. And what I guess is this:

1. What we’ve been saying all along is right. Look at the first three groups. What do you see? Keith Rivers aside, it’s nothing but cornerbacks, wide receivers and running backs. In fact, look at all the groups. They’re dominated by CB, RB and WR. Don’t be surprised if Dallas takes more than one player at any or all of these spots. They need numbers in the secondary and only have one RB on the roster with Julius Jones and Tyson Thompson leaving.
2. I’m guessing the guys in the first group are some of the 21 players to whom Dallas assigned 1st round grades.

Update II: The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram story linked also mentions Texas WR Limas Sweed as a possible national invitee. If he joins the list put him in the first group.

Connecting the Pacman Dots

Two different stories yesterday, but both point out that the Cowboys are serious about obtaining Pacman Jones‘ rights.

CNNSi reported that Dallas originally offered a 7th round pick but was rebuffed and upped the offer to a 5th rounder and a player. Which player? Hard to say but I would guess ILB. Dallas has numbers there after signing Zack Thomas. The Titans are looking to add linebacker depth and signed free agent Josh Stamer to aid their special teams.

The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter said the Titans were pushing for a conditional 3rd rounder, that Dallas had offered a 5th and he believed a compromise would be reached on a 4th. Dallas has perhaps offered a player in lieu of a 4th rounder.

– In other news, the Lions’ Roy Williams says he’s happy if he moves to a new team or remains a Lion.

Pay The Man

The Seahawks today signed CB Marcus Trufant to a six-year, $50.2 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.

Trufant offers another benchmark for Terence Newman’s upcoming negotiations, whenever they may occur.

I’ve seen some posters make the outlandish prediction that Newman will or should be allowed to walk when his contract runs out next year. I asked Scientific Football author and ESPN.com analyst K.C. Joyner for an assessment of Newman’s game, with emphasis on his performance curve; in other words, is Newman’s game showing any sign of decline now that he’s approaching 30. Joyner responds:

“Newman is coming off a season where he posted a 6.1 YPA. He wasn’t targeted as much as he had been in the past because teams were going after Reeves, but his play hasn’t dropped off even one iota. No offense to the posters on your site but they should at least wait until Newman starts showing some sign of dropoff before they think of kicking him out the door.”

Note: That 6.1 YPA is a full yard better than Newman’s ‘06 YPA, even with his foot problem. — RV

Newman will be paid. The Cowboys will cut Roy Williams and/or let Anthony Henry walk before they let Newman go.

Sign the Man

Looking over Joyner’s 2006 cornerback rankings, I see that Pacman Jones ranked 5th among every-down corners in yards per attempt (YPA) and second overall in success percentage, or the percentage of plays defensed, behind Champ Bailey. If the contract makes sense — i.e. is incentive-based — he’s worth the risk to me.

Looking for Corners in All the High Places

Add Iowa CB/S Charles Godfrey to the Cowboys’ prospect list. Godfrey ran times in the 4.3s at Iowa’s pro day. Dallas has Godfrey scheduled for a visit. (scroll down) He’s considered a solid second round pick and had teams like Buffalo, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington eyeing him as well.

He’ll likely be one of the last high-level CB prospects drafted and if this team list is any indication, it appears the run on first and second tier CB prospects will end before the second round is over. In other words, Dallas needs to take a CB with one of its first rounders, trade down into the early second or move up from 61. I think the Cowboys will be disappointed if they sit at 61 and cross their collective fingers.

– Bears looking for a RB?

We keep hearing the McFadden-to-Dallas rumors, most recently courtesy of Peter King. Here’s a scenario that seems a bit more plausable. The Bears are looking closely at both Arkansas running backs, with head coach Lovie Smith lunching with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones yesterday. Incumbent RB Cedric Benson had screws and a plate inserted in his fractured ankle this past December and his rehab appears to be moving too slowly for the Bears’ satisfaction.

The Bears pick 14th, too low for McFadden, who will likely go to Oakland at 4 or the Jets at 6 if no moves are made. That’s also too high for Jones, who is rated in the last third of the first in most mocks.

If Chicago is looking to move down about eight to twelve spots to select Jones, might Dallas contemplate a move up, in order to get one of the top four corners? The points difference between 14 and 22 is 320 points or a late 2nd round pick. If you could move down from 28 and get say, the 37th and Atlanta’s early 4th, would you sacrifice the 61st?

I think the top two CBs, Leodis McKelvin and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, will be gone by 14 but you would almost guarantee a shot at Mike Jenkins and Aqib Talib. There’s also a fair possibility that one of the top two corners would be there.

Jerry Jones is a gambling man. Chicago might be a willing trade partner. Are you ready to make a deal?

Mock Me Baby

There are some mocks I like and some I can’t stand. This one I like.

Pat Kirwin is a former NFL personnel guy, so he has some very good connections. He has Dallas getting Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and De Sean Jackson at 28.

I love the Rogers-Cromartie selection and would do cartwheels if he were on the board at 22.

I hate the Jackson selection, but am intrigued by the guys he has available when Dallas comes up a second time — Devin Thomas, Mario Manningham, Felix Jones, Jonathan Stewart, Early Doucet.

He also had Brian Brohm going to Green Bay at 30. Just as important, he has Atlanta selecting Glenn Dorsey at 3.

If the real draft breaks down anything like this, Dallas could seriously contemplate trading down from 28 to 34 with Atlanta and getting a top RB there (the points value for that drop is Atlanta’s top-of-the-4th rounder) or just staying at 28 and taking their pick.

I know if Stewart is available at 28, they won’t pass him up for De Sean Jackson.

If this breaks Dallas way and they sign Pacman Jones, they could roll out a nasty set of corners next year.

I must say, Kirwin has a gynormous blind spot which makes me wonder if he dictated this mock over the phone while he was in the car — he does not have Mike Jenkins in his first round. Discuss.

Underwhelmed by the Wonderlic

It’s that time of the NFL pre-draft silly season when Wonderlic scores are released. The NFL has used Wonderlic tests for years, if not decades to measure player intelligence. This year, we see a lot of high scores for offensive linemen, which is normal, since OL score highest as a group than any other position on the field.

The author of this piece makes the mistake of correlating Wonderlic scores to a player’s probability for success. If you’ll recall, Titans QB Vince Young took a hammering a few years ago for scoring a 10 on the test; the implication was that Young was too stupid to play quarterback.

And this gets me to my beef with the Wonderlic. It’s a test designed for office workers. (Here’s a ten question sample test. See how you do.) It measures reasoning skills, which are important on the football field, but the decisions office workers make are not the same ones that NFL players make in real time on the field.

If the Wonderlic were an accurate predictor of success, then how do we explain why washouts like Drew Henson got a 42 and Quincy Carter got a 30, while a successful QBs like Dan Marino got a 13?

I think that NFL teams should take a more updated approach to measuring intelligence. Howard Gardner’s theory of mulitiple intelligences has offered an alternative to the linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences covered by the Wonderlic. NFL teams should test spatial intelligence and even bodily-kinesthetic intelligence to get a fuller appreciation of their prospects’ skills. Spatial intelligence figures just as highly into the on-field decisions players make as logical intelligence.

There’s book smart and there’s football smart. Wonderlic tests measure the former. Some team is going to devise new tests that measure the latter and get an edge over its competition.

(Full disclosure: A few years ago a placement agency gave me the Wonderlic. I scored a 33. That means I’m smart enough to play LT in the NFL. Now, if I could just grow another 7 inches, lengthen my arms about the same amount and add about 100 lbs. of muscle…)

A Points Swap That Could Work

Dallas has two #1s and a very late 2nd.

It’s looking at players (Felix Jones, Antoine Cason, Jamaal Charles) who are rated in the early-to-mid 2nd round. The rumors are that it could use the 22nd pick on a veteran wideout or hope that a high rated player drops, as Brady Quinn did last year.

I think we would all feel better about moving up from 61 about a dozen spots and leave with three favored players. But how?

Talk to Atlanta. Consider, they have three 2nd rounders after trading D’Angelo Hall to the Raiders, the 34th (3rd in round) 37th (6th) and 48th (17th) overall.

Look at the points on this two-for-two swap:

Atlanta gets:

• Dallas’ 28th overall — 660 pts.;
• Dallas’ 61st overall — 292 pts.;
• Total — 952 points

Dallas gets:

• Atlanta’s 37th overall — 530 pts.;
• Atlanta’s 48th overall — 420 pts.;
• Total — 950 points

Call it a win-win. Both teams keep their initial number of overall picks. Atlanta keeps its highest 2nd round pick and gets to move into the late 1st. Dallas drops down nine spots from 28 but just as important, it moves up 13 spots from 61 to 48, allowing the Cowboys a shot at a quality CB or RB prospect. With these picks, Dallas can realistically think about Jones, Tracy Porter, Cason, Charles, Ray Rice and Justin King. If it wants to draft a WR here, James Hardy and Early Doucet would likely be available.

Jerry Jones the Smoke Machine

“That statement is backed by another NFL voice who said Friday, “within the league, you hear the Cowboys are attempting, or will attempt, to work a trade for Chad Johnson, for Roy Williams, for maybe others.”

– Randy Galloway, ‘Shakin trees, but can ‘Boys avoid nuts?

Let’s connect some dots here.

The Cowboys have three obvious needs — a cornerback, two actually, but one to play the nickel spot and another to groom, having lost #3 and #4 corners Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones in free agency.

They needs a running back to complement Marion Barber.

The Cowboys also need a second wide receiver to complement Terrell Owens.

The team has three picks in the first two rounds of the draft.

The big rumor all week is that Dallas will obtain the troubled and talented Tennessee CB Pacman Jones. The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter has suggested the deal could be worked out this coming week. News from Boston is that the Patriots have also been contacted by Jones’ agent but it’s not clear if the team has reciprocated Jones’ interest.

The story did say Jones’ price is likely a 4th or a 5th round pick. That’s a severe markdown for a player who was the sixth overall selection a few years ago.

Acquiring Jones would lessen the need to draft a cornerback in round one. That helps because it appears less likely that any of the top four corner prospects — Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Leodis McKelvin, Aqib Talib and Mike Jenkins — will be available at pick 22. The Patriots at 7 are allegedly interested in a corner, as are the Ravens at 8, the Saints at 10, the Bills at 11, the Cardinals at 16, the Texans at 18 and the Bucs at 20.

The next tier of CBs includes Brandon Flowers, Tracy Porter, Antoine Cason, Charles Godfrey and Justin King. Flowers’ name sneaks into the last 1st, most often linked to the Chargers at pick 27 and Dallas at pick 28. The others are sure 2nd round picks. They may be rated a bit high for Dallas 61st overall pick but would be reaches at 28.

If Dallas does move one of its #1s on a veteran receiver, what to do with the second one? It’s becoming more apparent that running back could be the pick. ESPN’s Matt Mosley, who gets good juice from Cowboys’ sources, commented yesterday in his updated mock draft that the Cowboys would try to choose between Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart and Arkansas RB Felix Jones. Stewart carried a first round grade but is falling after turf-toe surgery and both will almost certainly be on the board at 22. There’s a fair chance they will both on the board at 28.

Dallas is also looking at Texas RB Jamaal Charles, though he, like the second-tier CBs listed above, is rated a solid second rounder.

To me, it appears:

1. Dallas is hoping one of the top four CBs lasts to pick 22;
2. If that happens, it will take the CB and flip the 28th pick for a veteran wideout;
3. absent that, the team could flip the 22nd pick for a veteran wideout and take a RB at 28;
4. or select a RB at 22 and flip the 28th for a veteran WR;
5. Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys also try trading up from the bottom of round two to ensure they fill the CB or RB need they didn’t address in the 1st round. The Cowboys had Steve Smith snatched from their grasp by the Giants last year. I don’t think the Cowboys want to sit and watch that scenario replay itself this year.

All this means you better have your pizza, beer and chips stocked up on draft night, cause things are gonna move fast at Valley Ranch. Jerry loves to blow smoke around the draft but there are too many rumors coming from too many other league sources right now.

It appears he’s not just blowing smoke this time. But where is he building the fire? Cincinnati? Tennessee? Arizona? Detroit? Some other “mystery team”?

Stay tuned.

An Open Letter to Bill Parcells

Mr. Tuna,

Draft somebody already!

Please?!

Your team is on the clock. There’s no John Elway-like talent atop this year’s board. Yeah, we’ll hear the Dallas-is-going-to-trade-up rumors a few more times, but let’s get real. You can’t get the team at pick five to jump up because the bonuses are too big and there’s no Reggie-White like talent there either. You can’t hold an auction. And be honest. If the next Elway or Lawrence Taylor was sitting there you would have signed him already.

So make your decision and pick. There’s no need to wait.

Please! I could not care less about the NCAA tournament. I used to be an Astros fan, but they’re going to suck eggs for the next ten years, so I don’t care about baseball either. I was also a Rockets fan at one time and was just beginning to pay attention when Yao Ming broke his foot. Now that the Cinderella Houstons have turned back into pumpkins I can put the NBA on my thanks-but-no-thanks list for another year.

Get the show started, Bill. You don’t work for NBC any more. You don’t owe their prime-time draft any favors. YOU care about baseball. The Dolphins can get their guy and you can hang out with your buddy Tony LaRussa the next few weeks while the other GMs agonize over their picks. By the time the draft rolls around we might be at pick seven. Call Jeff Ireland once a day. If there’s any emergency you can come back with plenty of time to spare.

You won’t miss a thing.

But you’ll give us football fans something to follow because right now we’re dying.

Coverage Friday — Pacman, Newman Pouts and a Thong

– Pacman About to be Gobbled Up?

The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter says the Cowboys and Titans could work out a deal for Pacman Jones before the end of the month with a “mid-round pick” exchanging hands.

The Nashville City Paper seconds that Dallas is interested, though it quotes Jones’ agent that New England has also shown interest.

The Boston papers have nothing on Jones, though Bill Belichick was in Florida yesterday and visited with CB Mike Jenkins.

– Newman Wants the Money

No link to this, but Terence Newman was on NFL Radio yesterday and told the hosts he wants a new deal before camp and looks to Asante Samuel’s and D’Angelo Hall’s deals as benchmarks.

– A Bow to Jim Vance

who offered up this gem in the threads:

[with] 3 good corners, we could still do well, even if we had to live with Roy ’Thong’ Williams back there at safety.

A thong doesn’t cover anything, and neither does Roy!

And Then Along Comes Jones?

The last time we heard rumors about a difficult player with such persistence, Terrell Owens became a Cowboy.

The increasing frequency of Pacman Jones-to-Dallas rumors suggests they are more than smoke. Today the DMN confirms that the Cowboys are stoking the fire, discussing a trade for Jones that would cost the team a late-round pick.

A rumor earlier in the day claimed Jones’ representatives and the team had reached an understanding on a new deal. That fits with a story last month where Jones agents indicated a willingness to give up some salary certainty to get Jones back on the field:

Jones’ agents said last week they would be willing to restructure the cornerback’s contract, if need be, to a more incentive-laden deal if it helps Jones get another chance to play in the NFL either with the Titans or another team.

Agreeing to compensation with the Titans and the player would get Dallas over two of the three major hurdles but the team must have an assurance from the league that Jones will be reinstated this year. Otherwise, look for the Cowboys to seek a cornerback in round one.

If Jones is cleared the Cowboys have a little more flexibility and could consider a first round rated running back like Jonathan Stewart if he were to drop. In the long run, I don’t think this will change Dallas’ thinking very much. Getting Jones and a top CB prospect gives the Cowboys the flexibility to consider Anthony Henry at safety in the near future.

Not the Cowboys’ Board

A story, or rather some photos are making the rounds and are making some wonder if the Cowboys’ draft board may have been inadvertently leaked to the public in a Dallas news video.

I spoke to a source who told me this is footage from the defensive coaches’ room and that the lists behind DC Brian Stewart are likely a coach’s or some defensive coaches’ rankings of players and are not those of the Dallas scouting staff.

In other words, this ain’t the board, folks. Not even close.

Mock Out

“Are you a Mod or a Rocker?”

“I’m a Mocker!”

– Ringo Starr, A Hard Day’s Night

And so am I and so are you. It’s time to put your mocking caps on and make some picks. Here are mine for day one:

Pick 22 — Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State

Yeah, I’m the corner at 22 guy. But I keep running scenarios in my head and the top four CBs — McKelvin, Rogers-Cromartie, Jenkins and Talib — keep dropping off the board just ahead of Dallas. So at 22, I’m seeing them scratch the itch they ignored last year, when they passed over Dwayne Bowe and Robert Meachem. Consider those guys as their prototype. Bowe is 6′2″, 221 lbs. Meachem lists at 6′2″, 214 lbs. These are number one size guys, guys you can groom to take Terrell Owens‘ place in time.

If Malcolm Kelly drops to 22, I think he’s Dallas’ pick. But I don’t see him dropping that far, despite the rumors that he’s falling. This is smoke season, folks, when rumors are started about players teams down the draft order want, in the hopes that teams will be spooked and a guy falls.

Limas Sweed could also be an option here, but I’d like to know the condition of his wrist.  A source told me once that “wrist injuries with receivers and offensive linemen are big red flags because they can become chronic problems.”  Sweed mentioned at the combine that his wrist was only 65%.  He would rate higher than Thomas but only if his wrist checks out.

The Cowboys have not drafted a WR in the first since Alvin Harper in ‘91. They’re going to do so either here or at 28, IMO. Thomas is 6′2″, 217 and ran a 4.40 at Indy. The run on CBs forces the pick.

28. Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech

The other necessary pick. There’s a chance he could get snagged just ahead of Dallas by a team like the Chargers, but he’s a good fit here. Scratch that, he’s a need fit here.

Round 2

Red Bryant, NT, Texas A&M

Dallas was a good defense last year, not a dominant one. They were soft up the middle. Everybody fingers Akin Ayodele and figures Zack Thomas will upgrade one ILB spot. I agree. Thomas is better at getting around guards and fullbacks than Ayodele.

But you can’t put this all on Akin. Jay Ratliff was a game player and held his position fairly well, but he’s a speed NT, an oddity who can rush from the nose. He’s not a dominant run plugger. Tank Johnson was rusty and earns an incomplete.

Both guys are listed at 300 lbs. or lighter. Wade Phillips‘ Chargers teams had a 227 lb. runt named Donnie Edwards who gathered tackles by the bushel playing behind king-sized Jamal Williams. He lists at 348 and is probably a couple of small children heavier.

Bryant weighted 322 at A&M’s pro day. He’s the phone booth Thomas can hide behind.

Round 3

Matt Forte, RB/FB, Tulane

He might go at the end of round two, but I think he’ll slide into round three because the running backs are plentiful and will therefore fall a bit. He’s been described by some scouts as the most complete back in the draft and that’s the type of guy Dallas likes.

I’ve seen lots of press lately for Chris Johnson as a “wow” guy. Perhaps but let’s remember one thing; Julius Jones, for all the abuse he took from the fans, was a sound blocker from day one. Marion Barber, as good as he is, didn’t get extensive play his rookie year because he blew assignments on passing downs.

You might look for a “wow” run. I’m dreading the “wow” of watching Tony Romo wheeled off on a stretcher because one of these speed guys whiffed on a linebacker. The Cowboys will not draft a RB on day one who cannot block. They have too much invested in Romo to take that risk.

Forte ran a faster 40 at the Combine than Felix Jones. The Cowboys might have to move up a bit to get him, but that’s a good risk in the 3rd round, in my opinion.

Hall Passed. 22 is for Corner

The D’Angelo Hall-to-Oakland deal appears to be imminent. The disgruntled cornerback commented yesterday that other teams were still interested in him and named three NFC East teams among them — the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins.

This appears to have been nothing more than posturing to spur the Raiders into giving him more money. The Raiders and Falcons had agreed on compensation for Hall — Oakland will give Atlanta its 2nd and 6th round picks, but the Raiders and Hall’s agent had not agreed on a contract extension, critical because Hall is entering the final year of his initial deal.

That pushes Dallas to the draft — not that it was ever serious about Hall — and judging from the limited list of visitors that’s known so far, it’s a safe bet that pick 22 will be used on a corner, unless a top rated prospect falls unexpectedly, as Brady Quinn did last year, or the top corners are off the board when Dallas gets its turn.

Of the five known official visits, three are for cornerbacks. Two are rated in the second dozen by most mock drafts — Leodis McKelvin and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. Arizona’s Antoine Cason is also an invitee and may be a consideration at 28 if Dallas misses on a corner at 22.

One caveat on these visits — they can almost be taken at face value. Most of the players the Cowboys bring in are targets. Some are not and are being used as smoke screens. The Cowboys will also have top prospects on their list who do not get an invitation at all.

Judging from past history, I’d say three quarters of the guys who come are serious targets, a handful are bluffs and there will be a handful of serious prospects whose identities will remain secret. Sleuth away.

What Does 21 Mean for Pick 22?

A source told me this morning that the Cowboys have 21 players on their board with first round grades.

The team picks 22nd.

That’s no reason to panic. As I’ve said time and again, every team has a different board. What are the odds that the 21 players Dallas has rated as blue chippers will go exactly in slots 1 through 21? They have to be very high. If just one team ahead of Dallas takes a player the team has as a high second the Cowboys will have first round value waiting for them when they pick.

And if seven such players go that high, the Cowboys could find first round talent at both of their first round spots.

Any guesses on the identity of the Talented 21?

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