Coach Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys in upbeat mood
Lopsided loss has been put on the back burner heading into Carolina game
By Joe Menzer
JOURNAL REPORTER
Because of his reputation and his team's 35-7 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, one would think that Coach Bill Parcells of the Dallas Cowboys had very little holiday spirit to share this week.
That would be an incorrect assumption, according to Drew Bledsoe. And Bledsoe should know. Although he's in his first season as the starting quarterback of the Cowboys, he spent his first four NFL seasons under Parcells when both were with the New England Patriots.Bledsoe knows the wide mood swings of Parcells as well as anyone.
"From my experience with him over the years, sometimes when things are the worst is when he is at his best or most positive," Bledsoe said. "There are times where if you win a few games he can be tough to be around because he's trying to keep everybody focused. When things go bad is when he turns it around and kind of lifts the spirits of the team a little bit.
"Bledsoe said he sat down with Parcells earlier this week and that Parcells was remarkably upbeat."That seemed to be his attitude," Bledsoe said. "He's very focused about this week, not dwelling on what happened Sunday. From that standpoint, he's trying to keep the team moving forward."Parcells chuckled when he heard Bledsoe's analysis.
"Well, when everybody else is killing them, it would be nice if somebody tried to lift them up," Parcells said. "The week before last, they were saying that it was one of the greatest wins we'd had here when we beat Kansas City.... I don't know if this type of thing happens in Charlotte, but west of the Mississippi (River) it's either outhouse or castle.
"Parcells would like to see his team in the castle, or at least in the playoffs that can lead to the castle. To do so, he knows that the 8-6 Cowboys must shrug off the game they played against Washington, their bitter NFC East division rival, and pull off an upset Saturday against the 10-4 Panthers, who are hoping to lock up the NFC South title.
"Fortunately, we still have an opportunity," Parcells said. "That is more than a few teams in the league have right now. I know we can't stand another loss, so in that regard it's pretty important. I realize that it's a real important game for Carolina, too."Bledsoe added: "No doubt, we need to win our last two to even have a chance at the playoffs. That's what it is, and even then we need some help. But if we don't win these last two, we have no shot. So yes, this is definitely a must-win game for us.
"If they lose, the kinder, gentler Parcells will really be put to the test heading into the season finale at home against St. Louis on Jan. 1. Bledsoe said that he hopes not to put his coach in such a situation, although he added that he realizes that the Panthers are pursuing their own hotly contested playoff position.
"I know that the Panthers are highly motivated. They're in a tight race as well," Bledsoe said. "To say that we have more at stake than they do, I don't know that that is an accurate statement. For us, coming into this game, we've probably got to play our best game of the year to win - and that's what we're going to try and do."
By Joe Menzer
JOURNAL REPORTER
Because of his reputation and his team's 35-7 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, one would think that Coach Bill Parcells of the Dallas Cowboys had very little holiday spirit to share this week.
That would be an incorrect assumption, according to Drew Bledsoe. And Bledsoe should know. Although he's in his first season as the starting quarterback of the Cowboys, he spent his first four NFL seasons under Parcells when both were with the New England Patriots.Bledsoe knows the wide mood swings of Parcells as well as anyone.
"From my experience with him over the years, sometimes when things are the worst is when he is at his best or most positive," Bledsoe said. "There are times where if you win a few games he can be tough to be around because he's trying to keep everybody focused. When things go bad is when he turns it around and kind of lifts the spirits of the team a little bit.
"Bledsoe said he sat down with Parcells earlier this week and that Parcells was remarkably upbeat."That seemed to be his attitude," Bledsoe said. "He's very focused about this week, not dwelling on what happened Sunday. From that standpoint, he's trying to keep the team moving forward."Parcells chuckled when he heard Bledsoe's analysis.
"Well, when everybody else is killing them, it would be nice if somebody tried to lift them up," Parcells said. "The week before last, they were saying that it was one of the greatest wins we'd had here when we beat Kansas City.... I don't know if this type of thing happens in Charlotte, but west of the Mississippi (River) it's either outhouse or castle.
"Parcells would like to see his team in the castle, or at least in the playoffs that can lead to the castle. To do so, he knows that the 8-6 Cowboys must shrug off the game they played against Washington, their bitter NFC East division rival, and pull off an upset Saturday against the 10-4 Panthers, who are hoping to lock up the NFC South title.
"Fortunately, we still have an opportunity," Parcells said. "That is more than a few teams in the league have right now. I know we can't stand another loss, so in that regard it's pretty important. I realize that it's a real important game for Carolina, too."Bledsoe added: "No doubt, we need to win our last two to even have a chance at the playoffs. That's what it is, and even then we need some help. But if we don't win these last two, we have no shot. So yes, this is definitely a must-win game for us.
"If they lose, the kinder, gentler Parcells will really be put to the test heading into the season finale at home against St. Louis on Jan. 1. Bledsoe said that he hopes not to put his coach in such a situation, although he added that he realizes that the Panthers are pursuing their own hotly contested playoff position.
"I know that the Panthers are highly motivated. They're in a tight race as well," Bledsoe said. "To say that we have more at stake than they do, I don't know that that is an accurate statement. For us, coming into this game, we've probably got to play our best game of the year to win - and that's what we're going to try and do."
posted by The Gryphon at 9:37 AM
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