Oh, What Could Have Been

Let's hop in the Blue Star time machine and take a look back to 2008.

April 26, to be exact.

On that day, the Dallas Cowboys had the No. 22 pick in the NFL Draft, and Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" topped the Billboard Hot 100.

I've never heard of that song.

Anyway, "with the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Felix Jones, running back, Arkansas," and Double J got his man. A Hog with speed and the newest home run threat for America's Team.

Oh, and the next two picks? Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Johnson. But what does that matter?!? Right?

Now, let's compare career statistics for Jones, Mendenhall and Johnson, not including 2010.

Jones: 146 carries for 951 yards, 6 TDs and 6.5 yards per carry. He also averaged 24.2 yards on 46 kickoff returns while battling injury problems in each of his first two seasons.

Mendenhall: 261 carries for 1,166 yards and 7 TDs (only played four games as a rookie).

Johnson: 609 carries for 3,234 yards and 23 TDs (finished 2009 regular season with 2,006 yards rushing).

So it's becoming pretty clear. The Cowboys made the wrong draft choice in 2008, and this isn't even to mention the running backs that went in the third and fourth round such as Matt Forte and Ray Rice. Hindsight is 20-20, I know, but I'm wearing really strong glasses.

Here's the deal: I'm not ready to give up on Felix Jones yet, but appears Jason Garrett has. If you're not going to give him more touches in the offense, why not return him to the kickoff return game where he was so successful? I mean, you're not preserving him for the offense, that's for sure.

How different could things be right now with Chris Johnson in the blue and silver? Wow.

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