Billionaire T. Boone Pickens might have played a role in the Dallas Cowboys drafting Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle.
Dallas selected Randle with the 151st overall pick in last weekend's draft. Randle, the 11th running back drafted, has the chance to become the Cowboys' backup behind starter DeMarco Murray.
Felix Jones will likely depart in free agency, leaving Lance Dunbar and Randle competing for the second-string position. According to the Dallas Morning News, Randle already has a leg up on his competition.
"In Dunbar, we've got a back that we really like a lot, and he's very natural in what he does, but he's your third back," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "He's not a guy that comes in and carries a big part of that load."
If Randle can secure the spot behind Murray, he can potentially receive a lot of playing time. Murray, a third-round pick in 2011, has a history of injuries. His trouble staying healthy caused him to miss six games last season. The opportunity for Randle to see the field is there.
He might have Pickens to thank for it.
Pickens is close friends with Jerry Jones. Pickens is also a major donor to Oklahoma State, the college Randle played for. It's not a stretch to think Pickens might have put a good word in about his alma mater's running back.
"We had a lot of great information about his entire Oklahoma State [career]," Jerry Jones said. "I respect and know the coach over there really well. Boone's one of my three or four best friends there are, and Boone gets you some information over there."
The Cowboys have done stranger things than take draft advice from a billionaire.
Randle carried the ball for 1,216 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,417 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior last year.
