We already knew that Jerry Jones was extremely close to drafting Johnny Manziel No. 16 overall in the NFL draft before deciding on Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin, but a new story says Jones’ desire to select the former Heisman Trophy winner was on a whole other level.
Jim Dent wrote a new book called “Manziel Mania” in which he says Jerry had to be restrained by son Stephen Jones from turning in the draft card for Manziel.
Here’s what Dent writes:
“I could just see Jones grabbing Manziel with the 16th choice of the first round. I wrote a book about Jerry Jones in 1995 titled ‘King of the Cowboys.’ I know the Boss Hog. I knew that Jones’ hands were shaking when the Cowboys went on the clock with Manziel still on the board. I could envision Jones scribbling the name of Johnny Manziel on the draft card. Indeed, all of these things happened.
“As it turned out, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones had snatched the Manziel card straight out of his dad’s hand. Otherwise, Jerry would have drafted him and JFF would have sat for at least three years behind Tony Romo.”
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. Last month, Jerruh said in an interview with NFL Network that he was extremely close to picking Manziel.
“I want you to know almost as I was handing in the card it was that close to putting the Manziel card in,” Jones told Rich Eisen and Michael Irvin.
Despite Jones’ admission he almost drafted Manziel and this story, the Dallas Morning News says it’s inaccurate to say Stephen had to “snatch” the draft card out of Jerry’s hand.
This whole thing is so silly now. Jerry has admitted to the world a few times now that he really wanted Manziel and thinks JFF will be a star. Now I’m thinking that Jerry wanted to draft Manziel so they could party together.
