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The Dallas Morning News NFL writer Rick Gosselin chatted with fans and answered questions on Thursday. Here are his responses to Cowboys related questions.
On if the Cowboys should take a look at Stephen McGee, and if so, does that tell the team it's not about winning this week's game:
Rick Gosselin: Why concede defeat because you're playing a young quarterback? The Arizona Cardinals won last week with John Skelton, a fifth-round pick last April from Fordham. He was their third-stringer. Stephen McGee was a higher draft pick (fourth round) from a much better football program (Texas A&M) than Skelton. Having spent two years in an NFL building, McGee also is more ready to play than Skelton was. The Detroit Lions won with their third-string quarterback last week. I don't understand why everyone seems to be assuming that if the Cowboys play their young players, especially at quarterback, they are going to lose. Good players and good teams rise up in support of young players. At 4-9, I'd have started McGee this week if I was Jason Garrett. When this team becomes good again there's a better chance McGee will be on the roster than Jon Kitna.
On who the Cowboys might interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule:
Rick Gosselin: If it's apparent the Cowboys are going to hire Jason Garrett, Jerry Jones may have a tough time getting minority interviews. The idea of the Rooney Rule was to give qualified candidates a chance to sell themselves. In recent years there have been minorities who have turned down such interviews because they sensed tokenism. If the Cowboys are serious about hiring a minority, I'd talk to Perry Fewell, the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. I thought he did a nice job as the interim coach at Buffalo last season holding that team together and getting the Bills to compete in what was otherwise a lost season. If the Vikings pass on Leslie Frazier, he'd certainly be in my Top 3 minority candidates.
On which team, Cowboys or Redskins, has the best chances of having a better season next year:
Rick Gosselin: Without question the Cowboys. They have the better quarterback. There isn't a team in the league that would take McNabb over Tony Romo in 2011. If McNabb had stayed in Philadelphia, he would have been a third-stringer, which is why the Eagles shipped him to Washington. On paper, the Cowboys still have talent that ranks in the Top 10 in the NFL. But the game isn't played on paper. It's played on the field. Since Jimmy Johnson left, this franchise has always had more flash than substance. This team needs to be reminded the value of hard work.
On why the Cowboys are trying to win the last few games when they should be trying to get the best possible draft pick:
Rick Gosselin: I don't suggest tanking games. But I would play more youngsters. Expose them to the highest level of competition in front of big crowds in meaningful games. Find out if the younger players on the roster have it in them to help this team win games. Get Lonyae Miller on the field. Get Stephen McGee on the field. Get Sam Young on the field. Some of these youngsters may be starters when the Cowboys again contend for playoff spots. The Cowboys shouldn't fear their youth. The Patriots certainly don't and they are the best team in football right now with one of the youngest teams. Do you aspire to be like the Patriots? Then play your young.
On if any of the offensive tackle prospects in the draft will end up being top 10 projections and a good value pick for the Cowboys at their slot:
Rick Gosselin: It's a good tackle class. There will likely be 5-7 in the first round (as usual) and a couple in the Top 10. If the value on the board is tackle, take the tackle. If the value on the board is cornerback, then take a cornerback. If it's safety, take the safety. This team has enough holes that any number of players could be attractive Top 10 picks. You can never go wrong taking the best player on your draft board. You win with your blue-chippers -- and you find them in the Top 10. Don't reach in that range. Take the value on the board. The better players you have, regardless of position, the better team you will have.
The Dallas Morning News NFL writer Rick Gosselin chatted with fans and answered questions on Thursday. Here are his responses to Cowboys related questions.
On if the Cowboys should take a look at Stephen McGee, and if so, does that tell the team it's not about winning this week's game:
Rick Gosselin: Why concede defeat because you're playing a young quarterback? The Arizona Cardinals won last week with John Skelton, a fifth-round pick last April from Fordham. He was their third-stringer. Stephen McGee was a higher draft pick (fourth round) from a much better football program (Texas A&M) than Skelton. Having spent two years in an NFL building, McGee also is more ready to play than Skelton was. The Detroit Lions won with their third-string quarterback last week. I don't understand why everyone seems to be assuming that if the Cowboys play their young players, especially at quarterback, they are going to lose. Good players and good teams rise up in support of young players. At 4-9, I'd have started McGee this week if I was Jason Garrett. When this team becomes good again there's a better chance McGee will be on the roster than Jon Kitna.
On who the Cowboys might interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule:
Rick Gosselin: If it's apparent the Cowboys are going to hire Jason Garrett, Jerry Jones may have a tough time getting minority interviews. The idea of the Rooney Rule was to give qualified candidates a chance to sell themselves. In recent years there have been minorities who have turned down such interviews because they sensed tokenism. If the Cowboys are serious about hiring a minority, I'd talk to Perry Fewell, the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. I thought he did a nice job as the interim coach at Buffalo last season holding that team together and getting the Bills to compete in what was otherwise a lost season. If the Vikings pass on Leslie Frazier, he'd certainly be in my Top 3 minority candidates.
On which team, Cowboys or Redskins, has the best chances of having a better season next year:
Rick Gosselin: Without question the Cowboys. They have the better quarterback. There isn't a team in the league that would take McNabb over Tony Romo in 2011. If McNabb had stayed in Philadelphia, he would have been a third-stringer, which is why the Eagles shipped him to Washington. On paper, the Cowboys still have talent that ranks in the Top 10 in the NFL. But the game isn't played on paper. It's played on the field. Since Jimmy Johnson left, this franchise has always had more flash than substance. This team needs to be reminded the value of hard work.
On why the Cowboys are trying to win the last few games when they should be trying to get the best possible draft pick:
Rick Gosselin: I don't suggest tanking games. But I would play more youngsters. Expose them to the highest level of competition in front of big crowds in meaningful games. Find out if the younger players on the roster have it in them to help this team win games. Get Lonyae Miller on the field. Get Stephen McGee on the field. Get Sam Young on the field. Some of these youngsters may be starters when the Cowboys again contend for playoff spots. The Cowboys shouldn't fear their youth. The Patriots certainly don't and they are the best team in football right now with one of the youngest teams. Do you aspire to be like the Patriots? Then play your young.
On if any of the offensive tackle prospects in the draft will end up being top 10 projections and a good value pick for the Cowboys at their slot:
Rick Gosselin: It's a good tackle class. There will likely be 5-7 in the first round (as usual) and a couple in the Top 10. If the value on the board is tackle, take the tackle. If the value on the board is cornerback, then take a cornerback. If it's safety, take the safety. This team has enough holes that any number of players could be attractive Top 10 picks. You can never go wrong taking the best player on your draft board. You win with your blue-chippers -- and you find them in the Top 10. Don't reach in that range. Take the value on the board. The better players you have, regardless of position, the better team you will have.
