Myers: Jerry likes Johnny, who would make interesting fit with Romo
It's such a perfect match: Johnny Football and America's Team.
The flashiest player in the draft winding up with the team that loves to make a splash would create the most riveting quarterback controversy since Joe Montana vs. Steve Young.
Of course, the Cowboys need defensive help everywhere after giving up 6,645 yards last season, the most in their 54-year history and the third-most in NFL history, and then deciding to release DeMarcus Ware, their all-time sack leader.
Even so, the pre-draft buzz is Jerry Jones is enamored with Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, and in many ways, it makes sense for the Cowboys to move up from the No. 16 spot if Manziel is still on the board in the back end of the top 10 - especially if they can do it by putting together a package that does not include a future No. 1 pick.
Even if Manziel drops, he's not going to make it to the Cowboys at No. 16. They have to go get him. Tony Romo is 34 years old and coming off two straight years of back surgery. He had a cyst removed from his back following the 2012 season and then required surgery to repair a herniated disc with one game remaining last year, missing the NFC East title game in the final week, which Dallas lost for the third year in a row.
Romo is throwing again, and last week tight end Jason Witten reported that he has the 'same zip' on the ball. Jones gave Romo a six-year, $108 million contract extension last year that included a record $55 million guaranteed, so the Cowboys still have a lot of money invested in him, but they also better start thinking about their QB of the future, especially if Romo is breaking down physically.
Backup Kyle Orton is 31 and he has not reported for the voluntary offseason program, which has further fueled speculation he will retire. Dallas has signed former Browns No. 1 pick Brandon Weeden and recently added journeyman Caleb Hanie. Bill Polian once told me if he had remained the Colts' president he would have kept Peyton Manning and drafted Andrew Luck in 2012. The rookie salary cap has made it financially feasible to have a high-paid veteran QB and still draft a QB high in the first round. Jones can make it work with Romo and Manziel.
Manziel is from Tyler, Tex., the birthplace of the legendary Earl Campbell, who stayed in Texas when he was drafted by the Houston Oilers. Manziel is immensely popular in Texas, and Cowboys fans have just about run out of patience with Romo, who has won one playoff game in eight seasons as the starter. The first time Romo throws an interception in the final minutes to lose a game in 2014, Cowboys fans will be screaming for Manziel. That might be too much for Jason Garrett, in the last year of his contract, to handle as he fights to keep his job. But having Manziel looking over Romo's shoulder pressuring him for playing time might clean up Romo's game if he's concerned about getting benched.
Manziel could step in as the No. 2 right away and learn from Romo, who is a good guy and a hard worker.
Is it realistic the 'Boys can get him?
The Texans apparently have backed off Manziel at No. 1 and seem locked in on South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney, unless they trade down. If the Texans move out of the top spot, their target is likely Buffalo LB Khalil Mack with the plan to take a QB at the top of the second round. I don't think the Browns want Manziel at No. 4 - they are more likely to trade down to take Fresno State QB Derek Carr or trade up from their No. 26 overall pick to get him. The Raiders could take Johnny Football at No. 5. It would cost way too much for the Cowboys to jump ahead of Oakland.
But if Manziel gets past the Raiders, it would present an opening for Jones to get him. The Vikings, at No. 8, like Central Florida QB Blake Bortles. The Titans, at No. 11, would be a possibility for Manziel, which means the Cowboys could target the Bills at No. 9 or Lions at No. 10 to make a trade.
Manziel to the Cowboys is the best story line in this way-too-long draft process.
12TH DIMENSION The word is the Giants have targeted two players with the No. 12 pick in the first round: Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans and Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan. Of course, there's a chance Evans and Lewan will both be gone when the Giants pick. Who would that leave for the Giants: Pitt DT Aaron Donald and North Carolina TE Eric Ebron. . . . NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock says six wide receivers could go in the first round: Sammy Watkins (Clemson) and Evans are on the first level, Odell Beckham Jr. (LSU) and Brandin Cooks (Oregon State) going next followed by Kelvin Benjamin (Florida State) and Marqise Lee (USC). . . . Mayock said in a mock draft he did Wednesday night he had the Jets taking Beckham at No. 18. The Jets need a starting corner and a starting receiver. So, it could come down to Beckham rated higher than Michigan State CB Darqueze Dennard or Virginia Tech CB Kyle Fuller. . . . This is a passing league, and the Jets need more wideouts to move the ball and more cornerbacks to stop Manning and Tom Brady. The Jets play Manning and Brady four days apart in October. Mark Sanchez beat them back-to-back in the 2010 playoffs in his second season. Maybe Geno Smith can do it during the regular season in his second year. . . . Running backs have been so devalued in this pass-first era that it's expected none will be taken in the first round for the second year in a row. . . . The Jets need Michael Vick to be a lot more decisive at the line of scrimmage than he was picking his jersey number. He's already switched from No. 8 to No. 1.
WILD ABOUT HARRY For the fourth consecutive year, the NFL is having former players announce their team's second-round selection on Friday night. Harry Carson will do the honors for the Giants and Chad Pennington for the Jets. . . . Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater may be having the same draft experience as Smith did last year. Going into the draft process in February of 2013, Smith was considered a sure top-five pick and perhaps even the top overall pick. By the time teams finished evaluating him, he wound up being selected by the Jets in the second round at 39th overall. Bridgewater was a lock to be a top-five pick and perhaps the top overall pick by the Texans back in February. Now it appears he's dropping right out of the first round. Bridgewater's stock tumbled out of control after a poor pro day performance when his accuracy and arm strength were questioned. It's rare that a QB gets bad reviews at a pro day because the workout is scripted and they are usually throwing to familiar receivers.
ROUNDIN' OUT RAMS The Rams have the second overall pick in the final installment of the RG III trade from two years ago thanks to the Redskins losing their last eight games to finish 3-13. St. Louis is also picking 13th, giving it two quality picks in one of the best drafts in years. What should the Rams do? If Clowney does not go first to the Texans, then the Rams will be getting trade offers - with the Falcons at No. 6 the most likely match. Even though the Rams are set with pass rushers Robert Quinn and Chris Long, I don't think you can pass on Clowney. But assuming Clowney is off the board, the Rams should take Watkins at No. 2 and the best offensive tackle at No. 13, even with the top three of Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews and Lewan all expected to be gone. The Rams could still draft Notre Dame's Zack Martin. The Rams have to provide Sam Bradford with an elite receiver and Watkins might be as good as A.J. Green and Julio Jones. Bradford is going into the fifth year of a six-year, $78 million deal. He's coming off ACL surgery. The Rams must find out if he's their guy going forward. The only way to do that is to get him better receivers.
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