Jerry: Darren McFadden Still Has First Round Skill Set

The Cowboys signed McFadden to a two-year deal two weeks ago

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes Darren McFadden still possesses the skill set that got him drafted fourth overall out of Arkansas back in 2008, and is hopeful that if he can just stay healthy, he can make an impact running behind that vaunted young offensive line.

“[Y]ou’ve got a good chance to not live up to expectations,” Jones said of McFadden’s career thus far on NBC Sports Radio’s PFT Live this week. “Because when you are drafted that high, people think that you are going to be the next Jimmy Brown.  So, yes he would have liked to have had a more productive career.  But the kinds of skills that got him drafted with the fourth pick in the draft, he still has.

“You worry about injury, but we were worried about injury with Murray. In eight seasons, four in Oklahoma and four with the Cowboys, Murray only had two injury free seasons.  And so the position is one you have to take into consideration no matter what the skill level is, they take a lot of hits, lot of punishment, and you got a good chance to have an injury issue.  And that’s why we couldn’t make that kind of commitment of dollars to that position.”

In seven seasons with the Raiders, McFadden has only had one injury free season, and that came last year when he appeared in all 16 games, started 12 and finished with a modest 534 yards and two touchdowns on 155 carries. His best season as a pro came back in 2010, when he went for 1,157 yards--the only 1,000-yard campaign of his career--and a career-high seven touchdowns while appearing in 13 games.

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