WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

Hall of Famer thinks Jesse Holley can make Cowboys squad

By Tim Hall

Jul 24, 2009

Former North Carolina football and basketball player Jesse Holley is on cloud nine.  After winning reality show 4th and Long he stares a chance at making the Dallas Cowboys roster dead in the face. 

The Cowboys open training camp on July 28 in San Antonio.  Roy Williams is the clear No. 1 wide receiver with the loss of Terrell Owens.  After that Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd are the leading returners.  That leaves slim chances for a team that might only keep five at the position.

Michael Irvin, who hosted the show, was recently quoted in the Dallas Morning news saying Williams is the only receiver that is far and away better than Holley.

"When Michael said that I called him and said 'thanks Mike you just now made me public enemy No. 1 going into training camp," Holley told 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio on Friday.  "To hear that from him (and coach Joe Avezzano) it's huge because these are two guys have been around the game......they aren't afraid to tell the truth, they give it to you straight."

Former Dallas special teams coach Joe Avezzano assisted Irvin in hosting the show. 

For Holley getting back within a stone's throw of the NFL has been a journey.  In 2007 he had a short stint with the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad, but never played in a game.  He followed that up with a short stay in the CFL with the BC Lions.  Holley said that it's extremely difficult to get to the NFL, leave, and  then try to make it back in.

"This opportunity is such a blessing, it's such a unique thing," Holley said. "I have to take advantage of it because opportunities like this do not come every ten minutes. It's extremely hard to get in the NFL."

Holley said that he was humbled when he was released by the NFL, forcing him to go back to normal "9 to 5" jobs.

"Nothing wrong with working 9 to 5 but when you can be a professional football player playing on Sunday you would much prefer that."