pukes sign A-train

skinsfan1 · Post by **skinsfan1** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:04 pm

Here's the story:

http://www.cowboysplus.com/topstorync/s ... 8ac41.html

tsaler · Post by **tsaler** » Mon May 02, 2005 7:54 pm

This is very interesting news. Perhaps Marion Barber isn't showing as much so far in rookie camp as they thought he would? Or perhaps Thomas is going to be shifted over to fullback now that Richie Anderson is gone. If it says anything to that extent in the article, my mistake - I didn't read past the first couple lines.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:05 pm

I don't like it. I have always liked A-Train. This could cause problems for us in the future.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:09 pm

All indications are that Tuna is happy with Barber. This merely means he can concentrate more on kick returning and in the case Julius Jones goes down.

The A-Train signing gives us arguably one of the best HB combos in the league.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:22 pm

Primetime42 wrote:The A-Train signing gives us arguably one of the best HB combos in the league.

...Ha... Ha. HAHAHA! No, you don't.

I can name six betetr than your's right off the bat;

Falcons: Dunn-Duckett
Panthers( If Healthy ): Davis-Foster
Colts: James-Rhodes
Rams: Jackson-Faulk
Packers: Green-Davenport
Steelers: Staley-Bettis

You all have... Julius Jones and Anthony Thomas... I am a big A-Train fan, but I laugh at Julius "I Ran for 198 on the Seahawks" Jones.

General Failure · Post by **General Failure** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:23 pm

That's probably why he didn't sign with anyone. He was waiting for Tuna to call him up.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Mon May 02, 2005 10:43 pm

Falcons: Dunn-DuckettDuckett is better(slightly, not much) than A-Train, but you're insane if you think Dunn is a better back than Jones.

Panthers( If Healthy ): Davis-Foster Key words: IF HEALTHY

Colts: James-RhodesYou could stick Troy Hambrick with James and it'd be a good combo

Rams: Jackson-FaulkFaulk is done. Go ahead and say otherwise

Packers: Green-DavenportThis is a legit argument...if Green didn't have the worst case of fumblitis.

Steelers: Staley & BettisAll around support helps, so they are better.

Note I didn't say BEST but ONE of the best. Gotta love you guys.

...198 yards, yeah how did Portis do?

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Mon May 02, 2005 11:31 pm

This combo is pretty good too:

Ravens - Jamal Lewis & Chester Taylor

Doesn't matter if either Steven Davis or Deshaun Foster are injured either. Carolina's FB (yes, Full Back) Nick Goings took over for those guys last year and ran for 100 yards in five of six games!

Also, probably won't be like this much longer but Henry and McGahee are a great combo.

Even less likely to happen but would be the best by far:

Ricky Williams & Ronnie Brown

That'll never happen but it's intriguing just to think about it.

Finally, I really don't see how Portis and Betts aren't as good together as Jones and Thomas. Betts isn't as good as either one but he has shown he can play. However, Portis is one of the greatest running backs ever at this stage in his career. Jones was hurt a lot so it's not his fault but he hasn't proved anything yet. I'd much rather have Portis BY HIMSELF than both of those guys combined.

Redskins Rule · Post by **Redskins Rule** » Tue May 03, 2005 9:49 am

This really cracks me up!

Parcells is in his third year right now and he's still building up his team. Not only does he make the switch from 4-3 to 3-4......he brings in ANOTHER quarterback. As if that is not enough he brings in a couple of lineman to get better blocking for little Jones. Thats still not enough so he gets a A-train.

I thought Parcells would have had his team put together by now and would be making the push to get on top of the division and a championship. I could have sworn it only took him three years to make the Jets and Patriots very good teams.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:59 pm

Yes, Lord forbid he build his team wisely instead of paying for high priced guys past their prime and in their late thirties.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:42 pm

Primetime42 wrote:Falcons: Dunn-DuckettDuckett is better(slightly, not much) than A-Train, but you're insane if you think Dunn is a better back than Jones.

Both have proven more than Jones and Thomas. Duckett's nickname became "TD" I mean... Guy is fine.

Primetime42 wrote:Panthers( If Healthy ): Davis-Foster Key words: IF HEALTHY

Don't know, Davis and Foster injured would give them a run.

Primetime42 wrote:Colts: James-RhodesYou could stick Troy Hambrick with James and it'd be a good combo

What? Don't say that. Rhodes is an excellent #2. Man stepped in as a rookie and had over 1,000 as a UDFA. He has also been god enough to send James to the bench a good deal here and there.

Primetime42 wrote:Packers: Green-DavenportThis is a legit argument...if Green didn't have the worst case of fumblitis.

Well, Julius only fumbled three times in 8 games when Green fumbled 7 times in 15 games with a heavier workload.

Primetime42 wrote:...198 yards, yeah how did Portis do?

Atleast Portis wasn't held to 2.9 a carry verse the Cowboys like Julius was to the Redskins.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:51 pm

You're right...more like 3.1 :roll:

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue May 03, 2005 8:16 pm

Even more like 4.1 and 3.2.

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Tue May 03, 2005 9:41 pm

How did Charles Barkley say it?

"Whoop-de-damn do"?

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:15 pm

...I think I win the debate.

die cowboys die · Post by **die cowboys die** » Wed May 04, 2005 1:47 am

anthony thomas? you have to be kidding. he is on the higher end of "mediocre". not even close to most of the backs mentioned in this thread.

also, julius jones has proved absolutely nothing. let's hold off on declaring him the next e***tt sm*th, ok?

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Wed May 04, 2005 3:17 am

How bout not and we say we did?

When you lose ANOTHER two games to Dallas next year, and Thomas plays a role in it, what will you say? :lol:

All he has to do is be a short yardage back.

Julius runs for 4 on 1st, 3 on 2nd. 3rd and 3, bring in Thomas plow ahead.

2nd and goal from the 3, Thomas in the backfield, play action, touchdown Jason Witten.

Eddie George he ain't.

...I think I win the debate.

What debate? That Portis got a better YPC against a bad and depleted defense than a rookie who had been getting close to 30 carries a game against the same defense you're always touting as great? Can't have it both ways, and I'll take the more important stat in W's any day.

dcd, you either didn't watch any football last year or are just being ignorant. Again, you don't NOT prove anything when you spark a team by taking the ball that many times a game, with Eddie George as your breather (2 plays a game if that) and half the offense on IR.

If he hadn't "proven" anything, Parcells would have gotten another back to start.

As it is, he got two backs to compliment him. Two backs who help the situation: One bruiser and one who is a mix of the two. THAT is why I said the backfield looks as good as I said. Anthony Thomas is not the only reason. Neither is Julius Jones.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:29 am

Primetime42 wrote:What debate? That Portis got a better YPC against a bad and depleted defense than a rookie who had been getting close to 30 carries a game against the same defense you're always touting as great? Can't have it both ways, and I'll take the more important stat in W's any day.

Well, I think I win because now you are acting like Portis's performance doesn't matter and all Cowboy fans, when they are losing in an argument, go to the "14-1" thing. It is automatic almost.

Redskins Rule · Post by **Redskins Rule** » Wed May 04, 2005 10:18 am

As it is, he got two backs to compliment him. Two backs who help the situation: One bruiser and one who is a mix of the two. THAT is why I said the backfield looks as good as I said. Anthony Thomas is not the only reason. Neither is Julius Jones.

I'm lovin this!!! Like I said earlier Parcells is still building his team. And it just makes me laugh!

All Parcells had to do to solve this problem with the running backs was draft Steven Jackson. There wouldn't even be a need for A-Train if Parcells had just drafted arguably the best running back in the draft. Oh well, that was a year ago. I guess you just have to move on with A-train and Little Jones in mix.

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Wed May 04, 2005 10:52 am

Primetime42 wrote:What debate? That Portis got a better YPC against a bad and depleted defense than a rookie who had been getting close to 30 carries a game against the same defense you're always touting as great? Can't have it both ways, and I'll take the more important stat in W's any day.

Yeah, portis did get a better YPC.

I want to know why it's so important that Jones getting close to 30 carries a game means anything? In case you didn't realise, Portis had the second most carries of any back in the NFL last year.

Why is it an excuse that Jones got almost 30 a game? Is he really that fragile that he can't handle that and that's why his YPC was so low?

We actually can have it both ways, CP carried the ball a lot more than Jones over the year AND had a better YPC against your team!

dcd, you either didn't watch any football last year or are just being ignorant. Again, you don't NOT prove anything when you spark a team by taking the ball that many times a game, with Eddie George as your breather (2 plays a game if that) and half the offense on IR.

If he hadn't "proven" anything, Parcells would have gotten another back to start.

Maybe he has proven that he is a good player but no more. As for why Parcells lest him start, that's because Jones "proved" he was better than Eddie George. Wow, that's impressive.

Julius has only played half a season! It's easy to carry the ball a lot when you only play in half the games!

He is certainly NOT a proven ELITE back in the same class as ANY of the number one backs in the backfield combinations earlier in this thread. He has only proven that he can run for 100yds against the Bears, Seahawks, and Giants.

Big deal! Why don't we just say that Garnell Wilds is a proven shutdown CB because he shut down Randy Moss in the one NFL game that he has played in. I hope the Hall Of Fame comittee are watching Jones and Wilds!

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Wed May 04, 2005 11:34 am

Both of these threads are great at putting words in my mouth.

1-Never said Portis' performance didn't matter.

2-Never called Jones and "elite" back. Simple fact though. He and Earl Campbell are the only backs to carry 30 times in 3 straight games. I don't care if you miss time or not, that's a grind.

3-Shutting down a disinterested Randy Moss for one game is a whole different matter.

4-Parcells would have gotten more running backs REGARDLESS of who he drafted last year. Go look at his history. He doesn't rely on one guy, because if said guy goes down, what do you have? Example, Portis goes down, what do you do? Jones goes down, what do WE do?

Keep trying though guys. You'll shut me up with something that makes sense one of these days.

...eventually :wink:

Redskins Rule · Post by **Redskins Rule** » Wed May 04, 2005 12:05 pm

4-Parcells would have gotten more running backs REGARDLESS of who he drafted last year. Go look at his history. He doesn't rely on one guy, because if said guy goes down, what do you have? Example, Portis goes down, what do you do? Jones goes down, what do WE do?

That makes perfect sense then. Now I understand why Parcells passed up on Steven Jackson. He doesn't need one all around back. He needs two backs that are completely different from each other. He needs one for the speed and one for the power. Its just to bad that he's getting that in his third year...........I can't wait to see what he's gonna do in his fourth and final year.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:11 pm

Primetime42 wrote:Example, Portis goes down, what do you do?

We put Betts in to get 100-yards? :lol:

Well, if he went down as well...Guess we could put Chad(wic) Morton in

. Chadwic(I like that name for some reason.) could do alright with a mix of Nehemiah Broughton power running... NEMO POWER!

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Wed May 04, 2005 5:45 pm

Redskins Rule wrote:I can't wait to see what he's gonna do in his fourth and final year.

Either winning his 3rd or 4th Super Bowl :wink:

wonker · Post by **wonker** » Wed May 04, 2005 6:50 pm

<<The A-Train signing gives us arguably one of the best HB combos in the league>>

The keyword is arguable, because the A-Train couldn't get a job anywhere until Dallas offered him little money.

I'm not even sure the Dallas backfield combo is any better than 3rd best in the NFC East. Actually, Barber nad jacons is better. Make that fourth best.

HTTR

wonker