New Cowboy Jenkins finds the corners crowded

By Darrell Laurant  |   Tuesday, May 13, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

South Florida Bulls
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The Dallas Cowboys sneaked up on Mike Jenkins from behind -- or, more accurately, from beneath.

The onetime America's Team wasn't even on Jenkins' radar screen as he sweated out the first round of the NFL draft last month, especially after Dallas had made a deal for suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones.

"I don't think I spoke to them (the Cowboys) once," Jenkins told the team's official Web site.

But then Dallas spoke for him, trading up several places to grab the former University of South Florida standout with the 25th pick in the draft. Four picks later, the Cowboys drafted another corner, well-regarded Orlando Scandrick of Boise State.

Exhibiting the diplomacy befitting a newly minted professional, Jenkins expressed disappointment in lingering that long, but added, "I'm just happy to be a Cowboy."

One of Dallas' stated goals entering the draft was to strengthen the cornerback position, especially with Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves exiting via free agency. Returning starters Terence Newman and Anthony Henry had some injury problems last year, leaving Cowboys DB coach Dave Campo with fewer cards to play than he wanted. Case in point: Jones getting burned for 11 catches by Wes Welker of the New Engand Patriots.

Now, the Cowboys have cornerbacks everywhere, and Jenkins is philosophical.

"I'd like to step in and play," he said, "but if it doesn't work out right away, I'll play special teams."

Campo, for his part, tossed a little incentive into the preseason competition, noting, "DB is one of those positions where guys can play early."

A solidly built 5-foot-11, 197 pounder, Jenkins comes in with a solid resume. As a senior, he had 41 tackles, three interceptions, four tackles for loss and 12 pass deflections. Oh, yes -- and a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Cincinnati, helping him average 30.4 per return. He relishing one-on-one situations, and reeled off a 4.38 40 at his school's pro day.

In Dallas, though, he'll be in the odd position of trying to beat out one of his mentors (Deion Sanders is another) for a starting job. Henry, who graduated from South Florida before Jenkins arrived, has gotten into the habit of sending his protege text messages before and after games.

"He tells me what I did wrong and what I did right," Jenkins said.

But if Jenkins was surprised at being picked by Dallas, his mother back in Bradenton, Fla., took that to another level -- she fainted.
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