Being selected by the Dallas Cowboys helped ease the pain of all the waiting former Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee had to do over the weekend while watching the NFL draft.
McGee had hoped to go by third round and thought there was a chance to go late in the second, but it wasn't until a couple hours into the second day that the Cowboys made him the first pick of the fourth round, No. 101 overall. Former A&M running back Mike Goodson was picked ten spots later by the Carolina Panthers.
With the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots showing the most interest in McGee and those teams having a surplus of second- and third-round draft picks, each time they were on the clock McGee felt he would be the likely choice, but it never materialized.
"I had actually gone outside because I was so frustrated, and then I got a call from [Cowboys owner] Mr. [Jerry] Jones," McGee said. "Since [the phone] call was from the Cowboys it was a great day. If it was anybody else I probably would have still been frustrated."
McGee's frustration was building when a call from a 214 area code went dead before Jones got in touch with him. He then got another call from an unknown number and it was Jones.
"I've definitely grown up a Cowboys fan and as I put it earlier today, there is the Cowboys and then there are the 31 other NFL teams," said McGee, who starred at Burnet High School. "There's definitely more pride when you put a star on your helmet when you are a Texas kid."
McGee said he remembers video of him in a Cowboys uniform when he was 6 or 7 years old, and he had a poster on his wall of Dallas stars Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.
He also has kept an autographed Wheaties cereal box that featured the Cowboys after one of their Super Bowl titles in the 1990s.
McGee will join a Cowboys team that has all-pro Tony Romo starting at quarterback and that picked up veteran Jon Kitna over the offseason.
"[Kitna] is a great guy, what a great guy to learn from," McGee said. "He's been in the NFL 14 years now, he's played for a lot of different teams, a great family guy and when I got to talk to him he had a lot of advice for me."
McGee was as much a running threat as a passer in his 27 starts at A&M. He threw for 5,475 yards while completing 485 of 815 passes for 28 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder added 11 rushing touchdowns while running for 1,750 yards on 387 carries.
McGee was limited to three starts last season because of a shoulder injury. He was known for his leadership skills, something brought up every time analysts talked about him. Most had McGee as the No. 4 quarterback in the draft.
He knows he'll have to wait to display those skills as he becomes a part of the team.
"First and foremost you go in there ready to work, you keep your mouth shut and do whatever it takes to make the team better," McGee said. "I may not get a whole lot of reps early on, obviously, so you have to show you can follow before you are a leader. You have to earn your stripes."
McGee will join former Aggie teammate Martellus Bennett in Dallas. McGee said he talked briefly to Bennett, a tight end, but with "180 text messages on my phone in about 3 seconds, it was pretty exciting."
One of the calls McGee took was from Dat Nguyen, a former A&M great who is now coaching at Dallas.
"There are a lot of Aggies up there, so it will be a good deal for me," McGee said.
Goodson, who skipped his senior season at A&M to enter the draft, ran for 1,964 yards with the Aggies, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. His best season was as freshman, when he totaled 847 on 127 carries for a 6.7 average. He rushed for 13 touchdowns.
"There is no question Mike Goodson has the talent to fulfill what the Panthers hope to attain with that pick," A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "We are all hopeful Mike has great success in the NFL."
Goodson, a 6-foot, 208-pounder, also was a threat in the passing game with 90 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. His best receiving season was his junior season under Sherman, when he had 37 catches for 386 yards.
The Panthers plan on using Goodson, who graduated from Klein Collins High School, as a slot receiver.
"He's an explosive player who makes big plays," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "He has good hands and can be a receiver out of the backfield and move around and make big plays."
McGee and Goodson were the only two Aggies selected in the two-day draft. Defensive end Michael Bennett, brother the Cowboys' Martellus Bennett, was thought to be a late-round possibility but was left unselected and signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Michael Bennett, a 6-4, 274-pound defensive end, was one of the Aggies' most productive performers on defense in 2008. He totaled 42 tackles, 12 of which were for losses of 44 yards. He also had two sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
A&M punter Justin Brantly, an all-Big 12 selection, averaged 45.7 yards per punt last season. He pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line on 18 of his 51 punts, but the numbers weren't good enough to be drafted as only three punters were selected.
Rockdale graduate and Missouri star defensive end Stryker Sulak was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round. The 6-5, 251-pounder known for his pass-rushing skills had 10.5 sacks his senior season and led the NCAA with six forced fumbles. He is projected to move to linebacker with the Raiders.
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Posted by: Russian KGB On: 4/28/2009
Comment Title: America
Thank you for the marching orders, now I must break you!
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/28/2009
Comment Title: MILLER58
You are not me because I am me___I am a 4 star blogger so back off___I am quite capable of proving I am an idiot without your input___5 stars for me and you are not even a 2* writer___Thank you for complimenting my ability by imitating how stupid I am___+_(OLP)I_)OPO+(* OVERLOAD
Posted by: Secret Agent Man On: 4/28/2009
Comment Title: Bang!
And with that last post.... some Chechnyans just got the go ahead to blow up a flea market.
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/28/2009
Comment Title: RE: Miller get a clue - THE TWO LIES IN YOUR POST?
My personal opinions:_____Lets take the two lies in your post one at a time?_____First,(You can't withdraw scholarships) Sherman evaluated Fran's commits, and withdrew at least two scholarship offers from from commits._____ This po'd high school coaches across Texas, and was a stupid thing to do!_____The names of the young men committed to A&M that had their scholarships withdrawn by Sherman, were Mike Brown signed with ole miss. and Janisch signed with rice!_____As for the second lie, the record shows that A&M actually committed 14 four and five star players during the previous staffs last season, and Sherman could re-recruit and only sign 7!_____And Fran was bringing up to 20 four and five star difference makers to the '08 season._____Two of the difference makers even told Sherman to shove it just before signing day, CB Harris to ou and WR Johmson to isu, two need positions?_____miller58
Posted by: On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: Miller get a clue
Miller you continously make comments that Sherman has had 3 recruiting classes. You sir are wrong. His first class was put together by Fran's staff and you of all people should know that you have to honor scholarships given by a previous staff. His first true class has not even enrolled in school yet. If you really know college football as much as you believe, you of all people should know that you will not see dividends on the field for two years. So it is my opinion that you need to get your facts straight before you type your nonsense. Oh wait, all you do is cut and paste your old posts regardless of the topic in the article
Posted by: Impressed with the honest truth On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: That would Totally Rock!!!!
I never thought about that before, but that idea is totally golden!!! I can imagine Sabateurs in Eastern Europe Logging in to theagle.com everyday waiing to get marching orders covertly. Miller58 posts some random garbage about 4 and 5 star recruits, but what he's really saying is "hold still." Then someone else logs in using the username "Seeing Stars" and posts some wishy-washy remark agreeing or disagreeing with him and then.... Bang! It's on!
Posted by: The honest truth On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: Get a Clue
For those of you belly-aching about Miller's Long-lost wife; Get a clue. Everybody knows that Miller isn't a particular person. This is an anonymous forum with no login or username requirements. Anybody who feels the need to gripe, be annoying, or just have some anonymous fun can be Miller58. I've been Miller58 before, people at work have been Miller58; heck I wouldn't be surprised if Spies in Europe are using this forum to send each other secret messages and orders using the name Miller58. The point is Miller has no feelings or credibility because its just a username not a person.
Posted by: On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: re: eiland o2
Is there a rule the post must pertain to the article. How about the ones slamming miller. Why don't YOU get a grip eiland02.
Posted by: eiland02 On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: Miller58
Miller, once again you don't even read the article do you? This was about how McGee and Goodson got drafted into the NFL...not about A&M's recruiting or Sherman's coaching! Get a grip on reality man.
Posted by: T. Owens On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: I agree Miller69
What right do you have to post such information on this man, true or unture but especially if it is true. This is not the purpose of this blog whether you agree with Miller58 or not. What kind of stupid hillbilly are you?
Posted by: Sniffy On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: To Miller 69
If it is true that Miller58 lost his wife then you have no right what so ever to post that information on this blog, you ignorant, uncompassionate FOOL!
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: IS IT TOO EARLY TO SEE A TREND IN SHERMAN"S RECRUITING?
My personal opinions:_____In Feb'08, mike Sherman signed 7 four star difference makers._____In Feb'09, Sherman dropped to only 5 signed_____In the current class, Sherman has only 1 difference maker committed._____Now with multiple offers out in the next class, Sherman has dropped to 0 difference makers signed._____Going from 7 one year, to 5 the next year, to 1 now, and 0 next year is either the worse recruiting possible, or the worse trend in recruiting possible?_____Which is it?_____Sherman's excuse makers do not like it when their coach is measured in four and five star difference makers signed, because it shows even he most novice football fan quickly how bad things really are?_____miller58
Posted by: miller69 On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: Be easy on Miller58
Miller58 lost his wife a few years ago and has been a bitter old man ever since. He hates the things and people he used to love the most. He is a lsot soul in search of joy by aggreviating the others he knows love Texas A&M.
Posted by: Sniffy from Snook ums On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: Oh, joy!
If my Cowboy team was not in enough trouble as it is, now they go and waste a pick with this McGee boy. I guess McGee will be on the practice squard, running the opposing teams offense against the starting defense. GO McGee!!
Posted by: miller99 On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: PITY THE FEW GOOD PEOPLE LEFT TO TOLERATE miller58!
My personal opinions:____miller58 now with no offers for love in his life, 3 rejections from fat girls, his life a complete failure, graduating last place from a third rate university, 100% rejection rate from his family, national news stories belittling and joking about his life, just pity the few people in his life that will have to suffer through another year of his crap!_____miller99
Posted by: Walt76 On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: Go Away Miller
Go Away__Miller. Please. GO AWAY!
Posted by: miller58 On: 4/27/2009
Comment Title: PITY THE FEW GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYERS LEFT BEHIND BY GOODSON AND MCGEE!
My personal opinions:____With Mike Sherman now with multiple offers out for his fourth signing class, 3 recruiting classes a complete failure, on the field coaching a complete failure, coaching leading a team to last place in he big 12, and a #99 Sagarin rating, national news stories belittling and joking about A&M, just pity the few players that will have to suffer through another year of this crap!_____miller58
CU fans not excited about A&M; Remember that bad CU team in 2000? McFerrin thoughts
