So, I had to include the 20th overall pick. The Dallas Cowboys never had a 19th overall pick in the NFL draft, ever. Same goes with them having a 16th overall pick. Nonetheless, here is the list of the Cowboys’ all-time draft picks in the 18th and 20th overall spots:

1. Dennis Homan, wide receiver, Alabama (1968) — The drafting of Dennis Homan is curious considering Lance Rentzel and Bob Hayes were both in their primes. Homan only had 4 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown in his rookie year. Imagine if Dez Bryant had that stat line. Homan stuck around for two more seasons, racking up 19 receptions for 345 yards and starting in 9 games. Later, he finished out his pro career in Kansas City for two more seasons.

2. Billy Joe Dupree, tight end, Michigan State (1973) — With the transition of Mike Ditka from the field to the sidelines, the Dallas Cowboys had to replace the quality at tight end. The Cowboys did a superb job of that. Going in 2012, Billy Joe Dupree led the Cowboys with 41 career touchdowns, the most for a tight end until Jason Witten added three TD’s this season to take the lead. A winner of Super Bowl XII, Dupree was a big part of the Roger Staubach’s offense.

3. Thomas Henderson, linebacker, Langston (1975)– Part of the Craig Morton trade in 1974, Thomas Henderson joined Randy White as the Dallas Cowboys’ twin first rounders that year. Henderson popularized #56 for linebackers, setting the tone for it being a brazen number. All of Henderson’s immense physical talents were snorted away with his cocaine addiction. After being cut in 1979, Henderson played some games with the Oilers and 49ers in 1980 before hitting rock bottom completely. The consolation is Henderson has turned his life around and used his darkness with cocaine to warn other wayward men that they can beat the white powder.

Hollywood Henderson is the only Cowboys linebacker to ever return a kickoff for a touchdown.

4. Mike Sherrard, wide receiver, UCLA (1986) — The Cowboys were burned when the San Fransicko 49ers traded up in the ’85 draft to steal Jerry Rice. Mike Sherrard was a makeup pick for that spurning. Being only the second wide receiver taken in the first round by Dallas, Sherrard had a good rookie season, posting 41 catches for 744 yards and 5 team-high touchdowns. In 1987 training camp, he broke his tibia and fibula. He missed the entire 1988 season breaking the same bones. Enter Michael Irvin, exit Mike Sherrard. He played with the 49ers for four seasons until joining Dan Reeves’ New York Giants in 1993. His best season was in 1994 when he 53 catches for 825 yards and 6 touchdowns. Sherrard joined the Denver Broncos in 1996 before retiring after the season, the season before the Broncos won their first franchise Super Bowl.

Check back next week to find out more about the Cowboys’ final four 18th and 20th overall picks in franchise history.

The Dallas Cowboys have had their more than their fair share of questionable character players.  Some of the Cowboys’s most celebrated players were one slow 40 time away from being career criminals.  There will be people on both sides of the fence on every issue, but are the fans willing to look passed the transgressions.  Steelers fans will eventually accept and delude themselves about Roethlisberger’s transgressions; Cowboys fans were willing to give second chances (Adam Jones, Micheal Irvin, Hollywood Henderson, Tank Johnson, Terrell Owens, Nate Newton, etc.); golf fans embraced Tiger Woods at the Masters.

Several players in the 2010 NFL Draft have red flags from past criminal behavior or questionable decision making.  The following players and their transgressions are listed in no specific order.

• Dez Bryant: Lied to NCAA about meeting with Deion Sanders and was suspended for much of his junior season.  He did not run during combine and had a mediocre pro-day.  He then responded to his critics in what was more of a tantrum than a rebuttal.
• Tony Washington: Had consensual “relations” with his biological sister when he was sixteen and she was 15.  He consequently is a registered sex offender.
• LeGarrette Blount: Punched opposing player after a close loss and also punched teammate.  Other red flag is a slow 40 time.
• Carlos Dunlap: DUI arrest.  Physical marvel, but seemingly plays with no  heart on the field.
• Brandon Spikes: Eye gouged Georgia running back Washaun Ealey during the game.
• Mike Williams: Academic issues combined with a team suspension and him electing to quit the team rather than be subjected to a 2nd team suspension.
• Terrance Cody: Gained 20 lbs. between the Senior Bowl and the combine.

If the above players become productive players (not necessarily pro-bowlers) and continue to avoid law enforcement, then fans will care less about their past.  The question is, “Right now, are we OK with the red flags by each of the players?”

I’m genuinely creeped out by Washington’s issue; however, he has otherwise been a model citizen since.  Ridicule will undoubtedly follow him as opposing fans around the NFL are unmerciful.  I am not OK with either Dunlap’s or Williams’s lack of effort.  They are off of my draft board and if they do become Cowboys, I will root for them though I will not be hopeful.

As for ya’ll, are the above offenses enough to make you burn your Cowboys fan club membership?

****Sam Hurd signed his tender to play for the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth season. He will be paid $1.8 million. It is refreshing to see the coaching staff preserve the team’s chemistry  by keeping players who contribute on special teams.  The Cowboys had a great opportunity to build the special teams around a solid field goal kicker, but decided to let the best kickers go to other teams. So, special team tacklers such as Hurd become even more important. –The Landry Hat