Careless Cowboys

For the second time in four years the Dallas Cowboys accidentally revealed their draft board. In 2010, owner Jerry Jones gave post-draft interviews while standing in front of his team's draft board. Having learned nothing from that mistake Jones did the very same thing following the past draft. It may not be that big of a deal after the draft has come to an end but the draft board is usually something that a team goes to great lengths to keep secret. It's a secret that most try to keep at any time of the year. It provides insight into how a team goes about their draft business. It's not for the eyes of everyone. Jones must have his reasons for being so careless, or generous, so often.

The media put Jones on the defensive immediately following of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. It's always fun to see Jerry all huffy. He received quite a bit of criticism for spending his first round pick on Wisconsin center Travis Frederick. Even Frederick was surprised by his selection in the first round. He was the best center in the draft but centers rarely receive first round consideration. Jones obviously felt that they needed an upgrade at the position. Since we now have the advantage of seeing how the Cowboys had the players stacked on their board, we can see that the team had Frederick rated as a second round pick. The Cowboys did trade down in the first round with the San Francisco 49ers so they were picking at the very end of the first. Drafting a player at the end of the first that you have slotted for the second isn't much of a reach. When a team drafts a player really has nothing to do with how others see the player. It only matters how the team sees the player. They drafted him. They're coaching them. It's their business. You hear it all the time time about the draft, "stay true to your board." This is one of the main reasons that teams don't reveal their boards.

The Cowboys and Jones are getting a lot of grief for this little gaffe. Especially since it's not the first time. I actually think that the Cowboys had a pretty nice draft. You really can't go wrong with a Wisconsin offensive lineman even if you draft him a round early. Frederick should be a very good player for them. Once the games start it really doesn't matter what round a player was drafted. San Diego St. tight end Gavin Escobar and Baylor receiver Terrance Williams will make super rich quarterback Tony Romo happy. Georgia Southern safety J.J. Wilcox and William & Mary corner B.W. Webb will help the secondary. Those five players should get a lot of playing time early. That's a nice draft any way that you look at it.

It's always fun to laugh and poke fun at the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones is starting to make that way too easy.