Dallas Cowboys' Jenkins faces team that snubbed him in draft

[USFishin]

Dallas Cowboys' Jenkins faces team that snubbed him in draft

11:59 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News

brnichols@dallasnews.com

IRVING – When the Dallas opens the season Sunday at Tampa Bay, Mike Jenkins has much to prove – to the Cowboys and the Buccaneers.

He begins his second season alternating starts and splitting time at right corner with Orlando Scandrick.

In addition to impressing the Cowboys coaching staff, Jenkins would like to impress upon the Bucs that they should not have bypassed him in the NFL draft.

The Tampa-area native became the University of South Florida's first NFL first-round draft pick. But Tampa Bay took Aqib Talib from Richardson Berkner. Talib's hometown team, the Cowboys, took Jenkins five picks later at 25th overall.

Jenkins insists that getting snubbed by the Bucs never bothered him.

"Just another team," he said. "I am going to play just like I did my preseason games."

A SuperPrep All-America at Southeast High in Bradenton, Jenkins was recruited by Florida and Nebraska. He chose USF so he could continue helping his sick mother take care of his little brother.

At USF, Jenkins started 40 of 48 games. He took the first kickoff of his senior year 100 yards for a touchdown. He finished the season with 41 tackles and three interceptions.

At the very least, Jenkins will feel comfortable at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Bucs and the Bulls. While working out for the draft at Raymond James, Jenkins thought the Bucs would select him.

"Of course, I played in that stadium for five years," he said. "That's the past. I really don't want to talk about it. I'm on a great team right now."

As a rookie, Jenkins received help from another former USF player – Anthony Henry. Jenkins played in 14 games, starting three. In his second start, against Tampa Bay, Jenkins made a career-high seven tackles.

But he took a big fall for the one tackle he did not make. Late in a blowout loss to the New York Giants, Jenkins avoided contact with running back Derrick Ward. Criticism from that replay is still ringing.

"I feel like I had a great season last year until one play, and everybody's judging me off of one play, and that was a tackle," Jenkins said. "That's how I'm getting judged, off one play."

Henry's trade to Detroit for quarterback Jon Kitna opened the door for Jenkins to start. But the competition with Scandrick has been so tight that the coaching staff decided the players would split time.

Jenkins and Scandrick are friends and former roommates. Eventually, one will step to the forefront. But until then, both should benefit from the intense competition.

"I thought both of them played well enough to start," coach Wade Phillips said. "As long as you have good players, you want them playing."

On Sunday, Jenkins will have an opportunity for redemption on multiple levels. Ward, the object of Jenkins' phantom tackle, left the Giants for Tampa Bay in the spring, signing a four-year deal.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/090909dnspocowlede.4036f76.html

[Held_AccountaBull]

how did they snub him? they took the better, more talented player.

[Matt]

how did they snub him? they took the better, more talented player.

i'm sure a lot of bucs fans wish we had jenkins right now instead of talib.  regardless of the "system" that the bucs run.  talib is a PR nightmare for a bad team

[Rabbi Bull]

how did they snub him? they took the better, more talented player.

Jenkins met with somebody high up in the Bucs before the draft and the guy told him that if he was still available when they had their first pick they would take him.  He was available and going against their word the Bucs snubbed him and took Talib.

[USFishin]

There were a lot of projections that had Jenkins going to the Bucs.  He was even on the Pewter Report's cover for the draft issue:

[hightechbull]

As much as I hate the Dallas Cowboys and pretty much everything else related to that state, I would love to see Jenkins have a huge game against the Bucs.

Of course it might be hard to see the game on TV if the Bucs do not sell out the game.  >

[Jamie]

Talib was light years better than Jenkins last year. And the PR aspect is overblown. Unless you're a total head case like Brandon Marshall or a megastar like Shawne Merriman, it doesn't seem to be a big problem.

[Bullpride08]

Talib was light years better than Jenkins last year. And the PR aspect is overblown. Unless you're a total head case like Brandon Marshall or a megastar like Shawne Merriman, it doesn't seem to be a big problem.

because why?  Talib came to a team that allowed him to get a ton of reps immediately and was the man from day one in a Cover 2 scheme.  Jenkins went to a defense that had four potential starting corners when he arrived, including two pro bowlers in Henry, and Newman, and big investment Pacman Jones.  There was no way Jenkins was going to get a ton of time as a rookie like Talib got, and Dallas ran a bump and run system.  Which in NFL takes time to transition to, it's not the comfy, cozy confines of the cover 2 where the linebackers got you covered underneath, safeties deep, and all you've got is a rectangular box you've got to cover.

Talib had a better season last year because he got more reps, came to a team that needed a corner more, and played in a system that made it easier to transition onto the field quicker.  Tha doesn't mean he's better than Jenkins, or that he's not better than Jenkins he just landed in a better circumstance then Jenkins. 

Mike ended up starting 3 games last year, and they traded Henry because Mike Jenkins was coming along so well.  I think both will be fine pros, Dallas is now pleased with Jenkins development, and given the off-field issues I'd say my money may be on Jenkins for the long-term given the NFL's stance on malcontents and Talib's already in their sights.

[cophbulls]

I'm glad he's with the Cowboys, much better to be with a real team then this year's version of the creamsicles.

Ha Ha, Go Bulls

and Cowboys!

[Cow Pie]

My dad is a huge Cowboys fan and will be pulling for them this weekend... as a Dolfan I don't like the Buc's too much so this game is an easy choice for me.

I hope Jenkins whips them...  >