Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones says he did a great job of paying attention to his football people on draft day this year.
Jones, who has admitted he was tempted to draft quarterback Johnny Manziel, says he showed off some good delegation abilities when he allowed the other people in the Cowboys’ draft room to convince him the team needed the substance of offensive lineman Zack Martin, rather than the flash of Johnny Football.
“I think I’m proud of that decision right now, and I’m proud I was a good listener,” Jones said.
Jones added, however, that if he had drafted Manziel, it would have been because he truly believes Manziel is going to be a great franchise quarterback for years to come. Jones said the fact that Johnny Football is already a star in Texas is just a bonus, not the reason Jones considered drafting him.
“The reason you take Manziel is to win. We’ve talked a lot about the cache. We’ve talked a lot about the visibility,” he said. “But I don’t think anybody has to back into the fact that this guy is a winner. He’s a proven winner and high competition. And so I wouldn’t distinguish any conversation I’m having about taking him or not taking him with the idea that if we have him he’ll help us win.”
Instead, Martin will block for Tony Romo, and Manziel will back up Brian Hoyer in Cleveland. Not quite as exciting as the situation Jones envisioned when he dreamt about drafting Manziel, but probably the right move for the Cowboys.
