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Dallas Cowboys don't need to rush Pacman deal
11:35 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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If you're worrying about why it's taking the Cowboys so long to acquire Pacman Jones, then stop it.
Dallas is taking absolutely the right approach with Tennessee.
The Cowboys have affixed a value to Jones, a fourth- or fifth-round pick, and they're not budging off it. Nor should they.
Tennessee claims they need two picks for Jones because he's a stud cornerback and returner. He is. No one would argue with that.
But the Titans have no leverage.
Though coach Jeff Fisher talks about what a great teammate he was and the organization talks about how imperative it is they get value for him, we all know they don't want him back on the team.
The Titans have given him permission to seek a trade, and no one other than Dallas seems interested.
So what we have here is a case of posturing.
Pacman is eventually coming to Dallas unless some other team shocks the world and decides it can't live without the troubled cornerback. And if that happens, so be it.
Dallas has made its offer, and Jerry Jones should let it ride. There's no need to bid against himself.
And if the Cowboys don't get him, that's OK. They don't need him to win the Super Bowl.
Q: Do think Jerry Jones is still fishing to find his "wow" move or do you think he already has it set up for the draft? What is the chance that there just won't be such a move at all?
William Carrick, La Quinta, Calif.
TAYLOR: I don't think there's any doubt he's still waiting for the "wow" factor of the off-season – and that's OK. The key is making the right move, not just making a move. I don't t know that you can say he's waiting strictly for the draft because he has to have a partner and you can't predict what another club will do. If no one wants to do business, then there won't be a wow factor to this off-season aside from the draft.
Q: Do you think there is any chance Branden Albert falls to Dallas at No. 22? And even if this were the case, do you think the Cowboys would take a shot at him?
Ami Heda, Maplewood, N.J.
TAYLOR: I don't think he'll fall to No. 22, but you can never say never. I don't think the Cowboys would have any problem taking him, especially if they thought he was an upgrade over Kyle Kosier. Dallas wants to help Tony Romo and the offense. Adding a guy who can block in space the way Albert does would do that. Of course, if a better player at running back, receiver or cornerback were there, the Cowboys would probably prefer to go that route.
Q: Do the Cowboys intend to sign Ken Hamlin to a long-term contract, or is he just holding the spot for Pat Watkins or Anthony Henry in 2009?
Dorian Jung
TAYLOR: They would like to get him signed to a long-term deal, but they're cap-strapped and can't get the numbers to work. I think they'll get it done sooner or later.
Q: Last year, the big surprise was Brady Quinn falling to the 22nd pick in the draft. Whom do you see as an assumed high first-round pick falling in the draft who the Cowboys could have as an option with the 22nd pick?
Reagan Rogers, Anna, Texas
TAYLOR: That's really a hard question that I can't answer. That's because the guy who falls is a guy no one expects to fall. That said, I would say cornerback Mike Jenkins is a guy who falls because there is such a wide opinion about whether he's going to be a star or a bust.
Q: Any thoughts on Dallas' part in calling Oakland about one of the Raiders' extra cornerbacks?
Rich Barnett, Greencastle, Pa.
TAYLOR: I think Dallas would rather spend a draft pick on its own player instead of taking a cornerback off one of the league's worst teams. Maybe I'm naïve, but the Cowboys really value draft picks and they aren't just giving them away for warm bodies.
Q: As much as what you say makes sense, about teams just not letting good players go like Roy Williams (Detroit) or Chad Johnson (Cincinnati), why do I keep hearing whispers around the league that the Cowboys are trying to trade for these guys?
Tim Rubio, Dallas
TAYLOR: Let's see, did you really think Philadelphia would release Terrell Owens? Or Tampa Bay release Keyshawn Johnson? Did you really think Randy Moss would get traded? Or DeAngelo Hall? It seems to me quality players are being moved quite a bit in today's NFL. Maybe you can't get a deal done, but the Cowboys have to make the phone call just to see what it costs to get one of those elite receivers.
Q: If the Cowboys were to trade up in the draft to get Darren McFadden, what kind of message would that send to Marion Barber?
Charles Bankhead, Houston
TAYLOR: First, I don't think that's going to happen. Secondly, it doesn't send any message to Barber other than the Cowboys are going to give each player an opportunity to make things happen on the field. Again, though, I don't think McFadden is going to wind up in Dallas.
Q: I know this seems odd at first and I'm surprised to have not heard it mentioned, but what would you think if we spent both first-round picks on cornerbacks?
Gene Egeberg, Baltimore
TAYLOR: I think that would be a little bit of overkill, considering they already have Terence Newman and Anthony Henry and will probably end up with Pacman Jones. Besides, the Cowboys seem determined to get Tony Romo some more help on offense – and I think they will.
Q: Much is made of the inherent risk faced by teams drafting in the top five because of the associated contracts, which for better or worse shape the direction of the franchise for years to come (think Alex Smith). Is it cheaper now than say five years ago to move up simply based on the financial barriers to entry of a top-five pick, assuming the slotted team has so many holes to fill that a big contract for one player is more detriment than benefit?
K.J. Rhodes, Wake Forest, N.C.
TAYLOR: That's a great question and you would think it would be cheaper to trade up, but it's not. Those picks in the top five still hold quite a bit of value, and the guaranteed money those players receive is so great that teams are really reluctant to pay that high if a price for players that aren't guaranteed to be stars.
Q: Any chance the Cowboys would packages their two first-round picks to move up to draft a corner if someone slips?
Jeff Gallo
TAYLOR: I don't think so. There are four, maybe five cornerbacks who will get first-round grades. Dallas will either take one of those guys who is available or will wait until the second round to get one. There's no need to reach. The Cowboys simply need to get a quality player worthy of whatever pick they use to get him whether its the first, second or third round.
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