Owens can thrive in Big ‘D’, with Tuna helper
Parcells has handled Taylor, so why couldn't he get most out of T.O.?
COMMENTARY
By Jason Cole
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 5:52 p.m. ET March 19, 2006
Former New York Giants quarterback and CBS commentator Phil Simms tosses around the pairing of new Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens and Cowboys coach Bill Parcells a couple of times in his mind.
“Why will T.O. and Bill work? Why will T.O. and Bill work?” Simms said, thinking out loud.
Then came the answer.
“I was around (Parcells) a long time and I’ve said to many, many people, he could drive you harder mentally and physically than anybody who has ever coached. He could drive you harder than Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs, Mike Shanahan, whoever.
“There were times I wanted to punch him, just take him out back and even the score. But at end of the day, I never resented him. The way he does the mental, physical torture — if I should call it that — was never done in a way that made you say, ‘I can’t play for this guy.’ ”
The key was that although Parcells had control, he didn't take away someone’s ability to be a human being. Even when that human being was angry, nasty or vengeful. There were times when Simms would say dreadful things to Parcells.
“I said things to Bill that were so cruel and so over the top and so out of place that I couldn’t repeat them. One curse word after another, horrendously negative, hateful things,” Simms said.
Parcells would listen and smile.
“That’s all you could say? I expect more from you,” Parcells would say in response, defusing the moment.
Enter Owens, who Saturday agreed to a three-year, $25 million contract with Dallas. Owens has driven a string of coaches, teammates and executives to distraction and lost a lot of money recently with his antics over the years.
Owens is as incorrigible as he is uncontrollable. Furthermore, he is a man driven by doubters, to the point that he must invent in his head.
Leading up to the Super Bowl during the 2004 season, Eagles teammates made comments about how the team could keep winning at the end of the regular season and through the playoffs without Owens, who was out with a broken leg. Owens viewed those typical and innocuous comments as insults rather than statements of confidence about winning in the face of adversity.
But if there is any coach who can handle Owens, it is Parcells. Point of fact is the work Parcells has done with Keyshawn Johnson and Lawrence Taylor.
Parcells worked so well with Johnson that Johnson once said of Parcells, “Whatever he’s selling, I’m buying.” Johnson even said last week after being cut by the Cowboys that he’d go back there.
As for Taylor, Simms watched Parcells coax two Super Bowl titles out of a player who had more issues than a lot of guys in Attica. Parcells would know when to push buttons and when to back off.
About twice a year, Parcells would call Taylorl over. He looked at the future Hall of Fame linebacker and say, “I think I should change your name to, ‘What’s the matter with?’ That’s ’cause I got writers from New York and all of the country saying, ‘What’s the matter with Taylor?’ ”
Simms said he could see the steam come of Taylor’s head in those moments.
“Parcells would do it for some big game we needed, but never did it more than twice a season,” Simms said. While Parcells knew when and how often to hit the needle with Taylor, he also knew when to back off.
Like the time when, after going through drug rehabilitation,Taylor had a golf game set up for right after practice. Golf had become Taylor’s addiction and he had his car sitting at the gate of the practice field, clothes and clubs ready.
All during practice, Taylor would call out, “Bill, I’m going to make that tee time.”
Parcells eventually realized Taylor wasn’t kidding and knew it wasn’t worth fighting over.
“We were getting close to the end and Bill wiped about eight plays off the script. ‘Ah, we’ve done these about a hundred time, don’t worry about it.’ He just knew Lawrence was going to walk. Bill said to me after that, ‘Simms, sometimes you gotta lose the battle to win the war,’ ” Simms said.
With Owens, it’s the same deal. Parcells will have to play the game of who wins and loses on a daily basis to get the most out of Owens.
There is, of course, much to be gained. Owens is the best receiver in football with Randy Moss on the decline because of injuries. Owens can change an offense by himself, particularly in the pass-happy times of the current NFL.
Owens can hide many of quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s flaws. He can turn the running game into something special and make the line that much better.
He can also destroy the chemistry of the team if the Parcells and the Cowboys aren’t careful.
On Saturday, Owens was claiming to be a changed man, reciting the usual babble that you’d expect. In truth, Owens probably will clean up his act long enough to make sure he makes his money. At age 32, there aren’t that many big checks left in his future and he has already squandered at least $5 million with his antics.
But the key is not merely to get Owens to behave, it’s to get him to thrive. It’s to get him to believe that he has a coach who wants him and not just one who wants to control him.
“Did guys have problems with Parcells? Yes, but they were the guys who were smarter than everyone, that knew what plays should be run and how things should go better than the coaches knew. Those are the guys who would have a problem with any coach,” Simms said.
“Bill does have a quality that intrigues guys. Bill allows talk back, feedback, confrontation. What coach does that? … (Owens) might be able to curse him out and Bill will curse him out and then 20 minutes later, Bill will come stand right next to him and, ‘That was a good one, huh? I know you hate me. I know you want to hit me. Man that was pretty good.’
“We’re used to dealing with authoritative figures like parents, teachers and coach who won’t allow that. This is one who allows you to talk back and be yourself and still maintain control … Will it work with (Owens)? I don’t know. But I’m sure interested to see.
COMMENTARY
By Jason Cole
NBCSports.com contributor
Updated: 5:52 p.m. ET March 19, 2006
Former New York Giants quarterback and CBS commentator Phil Simms tosses around the pairing of new Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens and Cowboys coach Bill Parcells a couple of times in his mind.
“Why will T.O. and Bill work? Why will T.O. and Bill work?” Simms said, thinking out loud.
Then came the answer.
“I was around (Parcells) a long time and I’ve said to many, many people, he could drive you harder mentally and physically than anybody who has ever coached. He could drive you harder than Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs, Mike Shanahan, whoever.
“There were times I wanted to punch him, just take him out back and even the score. But at end of the day, I never resented him. The way he does the mental, physical torture — if I should call it that — was never done in a way that made you say, ‘I can’t play for this guy.’ ”
The key was that although Parcells had control, he didn't take away someone’s ability to be a human being. Even when that human being was angry, nasty or vengeful. There were times when Simms would say dreadful things to Parcells.
“I said things to Bill that were so cruel and so over the top and so out of place that I couldn’t repeat them. One curse word after another, horrendously negative, hateful things,” Simms said.
Parcells would listen and smile.
“That’s all you could say? I expect more from you,” Parcells would say in response, defusing the moment.
Enter Owens, who Saturday agreed to a three-year, $25 million contract with Dallas. Owens has driven a string of coaches, teammates and executives to distraction and lost a lot of money recently with his antics over the years.
Owens is as incorrigible as he is uncontrollable. Furthermore, he is a man driven by doubters, to the point that he must invent in his head.
Leading up to the Super Bowl during the 2004 season, Eagles teammates made comments about how the team could keep winning at the end of the regular season and through the playoffs without Owens, who was out with a broken leg. Owens viewed those typical and innocuous comments as insults rather than statements of confidence about winning in the face of adversity.
But if there is any coach who can handle Owens, it is Parcells. Point of fact is the work Parcells has done with Keyshawn Johnson and Lawrence Taylor.
Parcells worked so well with Johnson that Johnson once said of Parcells, “Whatever he’s selling, I’m buying.” Johnson even said last week after being cut by the Cowboys that he’d go back there.
As for Taylor, Simms watched Parcells coax two Super Bowl titles out of a player who had more issues than a lot of guys in Attica. Parcells would know when to push buttons and when to back off.
About twice a year, Parcells would call Taylorl over. He looked at the future Hall of Fame linebacker and say, “I think I should change your name to, ‘What’s the matter with?’ That’s ’cause I got writers from New York and all of the country saying, ‘What’s the matter with Taylor?’ ”
Simms said he could see the steam come of Taylor’s head in those moments.
“Parcells would do it for some big game we needed, but never did it more than twice a season,” Simms said. While Parcells knew when and how often to hit the needle with Taylor, he also knew when to back off.
Like the time when, after going through drug rehabilitation,Taylor had a golf game set up for right after practice. Golf had become Taylor’s addiction and he had his car sitting at the gate of the practice field, clothes and clubs ready.
All during practice, Taylor would call out, “Bill, I’m going to make that tee time.”
Parcells eventually realized Taylor wasn’t kidding and knew it wasn’t worth fighting over.
“We were getting close to the end and Bill wiped about eight plays off the script. ‘Ah, we’ve done these about a hundred time, don’t worry about it.’ He just knew Lawrence was going to walk. Bill said to me after that, ‘Simms, sometimes you gotta lose the battle to win the war,’ ” Simms said.
With Owens, it’s the same deal. Parcells will have to play the game of who wins and loses on a daily basis to get the most out of Owens.
There is, of course, much to be gained. Owens is the best receiver in football with Randy Moss on the decline because of injuries. Owens can change an offense by himself, particularly in the pass-happy times of the current NFL.
Owens can hide many of quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s flaws. He can turn the running game into something special and make the line that much better.
He can also destroy the chemistry of the team if the Parcells and the Cowboys aren’t careful.
On Saturday, Owens was claiming to be a changed man, reciting the usual babble that you’d expect. In truth, Owens probably will clean up his act long enough to make sure he makes his money. At age 32, there aren’t that many big checks left in his future and he has already squandered at least $5 million with his antics.
But the key is not merely to get Owens to behave, it’s to get him to thrive. It’s to get him to believe that he has a coach who wants him and not just one who wants to control him.
“Did guys have problems with Parcells? Yes, but they were the guys who were smarter than everyone, that knew what plays should be run and how things should go better than the coaches knew. Those are the guys who would have a problem with any coach,” Simms said.
“Bill does have a quality that intrigues guys. Bill allows talk back, feedback, confrontation. What coach does that? … (Owens) might be able to curse him out and Bill will curse him out and then 20 minutes later, Bill will come stand right next to him and, ‘That was a good one, huh? I know you hate me. I know you want to hit me. Man that was pretty good.’
“We’re used to dealing with authoritative figures like parents, teachers and coach who won’t allow that. This is one who allows you to talk back and be yourself and still maintain control … Will it work with (Owens)? I don’t know. But I’m sure interested to see.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:23 PM
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