If Parcells goes away, then watch out for T.O.
Buck Harvey: If Parcells goes away, then watch out for T.O.
Web Posted: 01/02/2006 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
IRVING — The Cowboys never had a chance. The Rams are far more experienced this season in meaningless games.
All the Cowboys could do was follow the Texans' lead (improve their draft status), and then limp off with a 9-7 record (that seems so much worse than 10-6). The only game left for Dallas, now, is the one involving Terrell Owens.
If Bill Parcells returns, signing T.O. is possible but not likely.
But if Parcells retires?
Then don't be surprised if Jerry Jones becomes Jerry Jones again.
Parcells said Sunday night he doesn't know what he's going to do, but most think Parcells will re-up for the final year of his contract. He seems happy enough, especially with a core of young talent.
Sunday night was not part of that happiness, but the lack of emotion was understandable. The Cowboys spent most of the day watching television and angrily throwing the remote, and that's no way to get ready to play.
Parcells' players likely confuse even him, and the finale only added to that. The same Cowboys who ran on the sturdy Carolina defense last week couldn't run on the soft Rams.
It's also part of the confusing league. T.O.'s Eagles became the fifth consecutive Super Bowl loser to miss the playoffs the next season. The line between winning and losing is thin, and the Cowboys tripped over it all season. They were close to the playoffs and just as close to 7-9 or worse.
The Cowboys arguably outplayed Seattle and Denver, two high playoff seeds, and that's why they kept saying no one out there scared them. But the Cowboys also lost to both, and what should scare the Cowboys is how close they were to the other side.
Even their three remarkable road wins said that. They caught San Diego in an opening-day funk, since the Chargers had just suspended their star tight end. They caught the Eagles in a similar position, after Owens' suspension, yet still needed Donovan McNabb to foolishly lob a pass to Roy Williams.
As for the win in Carolina: Wasn't that one as fortunate for Dallas as the first Washington loss was unfortunate for the Cowboys?
So Parcells has a few holes to fill. He needs offensive linemen, defensive backs, a pressure punter and a reliable kicker. He could also use a quarterback who is faster than a coat rack, but Drew Bledsoe is the best option out there. Besides, if Parcells wouldn't give Tony Romo even a few snaps Sunday night in a throwaway game, do you think he will turn over his final year to an inexperienced passer?
DeMarcus Ware will come back older and stronger and smarter. Flozell Adams will return as a hero; he's never been more missed. And then there's Jason Witten and Roy Williams. If they aren't back, then neither is the star on the helmet.
But the Cowboys also will need a game-breaker, since Julius Jones proved to be that for all of one Sunday. And sitting there in the offseason, the Ron Artest of his sport, is Owens.
Jones already has said he's open to T.O., but Parcells would have to swallow hard to take him in. Parcells already has health and age issues, and T.O. can do damage to both.
No one thought Jones and Parcells could live together, either. And Parcells might be one of the few coaches who could tame the Terrible Terrell.
Parcells would also have incentive to try. If 2006 is his last shot, then he would want all the help he can get.
But it's hard to imagine Parcells gambling on this kind of personality in his final year. He's sensitive to how his locker room reacts to him, and that's another factor for his return. He thinks he connects with his guys now.
Owens could blow it up with one press conference, as well as go against everything Parcells stands for. Would this Hall of Fame coach want to leave in chaos? Dick Vermeil, at least, went out Sunday with tears of joy.
But if Parcells retires, then Jones will be in charge again, and he will have lost the coaching aura that brought attention to his franchise. With the new stadium not opening until 2009, won't Jones need something to sell?
Enter Owens, courtesy of an exit.
Web Posted: 01/02/2006 12:00 AM CST
San Antonio Express-News
IRVING — The Cowboys never had a chance. The Rams are far more experienced this season in meaningless games.
All the Cowboys could do was follow the Texans' lead (improve their draft status), and then limp off with a 9-7 record (that seems so much worse than 10-6). The only game left for Dallas, now, is the one involving Terrell Owens.
If Bill Parcells returns, signing T.O. is possible but not likely.
But if Parcells retires?
Then don't be surprised if Jerry Jones becomes Jerry Jones again.
Parcells said Sunday night he doesn't know what he's going to do, but most think Parcells will re-up for the final year of his contract. He seems happy enough, especially with a core of young talent.
Sunday night was not part of that happiness, but the lack of emotion was understandable. The Cowboys spent most of the day watching television and angrily throwing the remote, and that's no way to get ready to play.
Parcells' players likely confuse even him, and the finale only added to that. The same Cowboys who ran on the sturdy Carolina defense last week couldn't run on the soft Rams.
It's also part of the confusing league. T.O.'s Eagles became the fifth consecutive Super Bowl loser to miss the playoffs the next season. The line between winning and losing is thin, and the Cowboys tripped over it all season. They were close to the playoffs and just as close to 7-9 or worse.
The Cowboys arguably outplayed Seattle and Denver, two high playoff seeds, and that's why they kept saying no one out there scared them. But the Cowboys also lost to both, and what should scare the Cowboys is how close they were to the other side.
Even their three remarkable road wins said that. They caught San Diego in an opening-day funk, since the Chargers had just suspended their star tight end. They caught the Eagles in a similar position, after Owens' suspension, yet still needed Donovan McNabb to foolishly lob a pass to Roy Williams.
As for the win in Carolina: Wasn't that one as fortunate for Dallas as the first Washington loss was unfortunate for the Cowboys?
So Parcells has a few holes to fill. He needs offensive linemen, defensive backs, a pressure punter and a reliable kicker. He could also use a quarterback who is faster than a coat rack, but Drew Bledsoe is the best option out there. Besides, if Parcells wouldn't give Tony Romo even a few snaps Sunday night in a throwaway game, do you think he will turn over his final year to an inexperienced passer?
DeMarcus Ware will come back older and stronger and smarter. Flozell Adams will return as a hero; he's never been more missed. And then there's Jason Witten and Roy Williams. If they aren't back, then neither is the star on the helmet.
But the Cowboys also will need a game-breaker, since Julius Jones proved to be that for all of one Sunday. And sitting there in the offseason, the Ron Artest of his sport, is Owens.
Jones already has said he's open to T.O., but Parcells would have to swallow hard to take him in. Parcells already has health and age issues, and T.O. can do damage to both.
No one thought Jones and Parcells could live together, either. And Parcells might be one of the few coaches who could tame the Terrible Terrell.
Parcells would also have incentive to try. If 2006 is his last shot, then he would want all the help he can get.
But it's hard to imagine Parcells gambling on this kind of personality in his final year. He's sensitive to how his locker room reacts to him, and that's another factor for his return. He thinks he connects with his guys now.
Owens could blow it up with one press conference, as well as go against everything Parcells stands for. Would this Hall of Fame coach want to leave in chaos? Dick Vermeil, at least, went out Sunday with tears of joy.
But if Parcells retires, then Jones will be in charge again, and he will have lost the coaching aura that brought attention to his franchise. With the new stadium not opening until 2009, won't Jones need something to sell?
Enter Owens, courtesy of an exit.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:55 PM
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