The Doctor (Parcells) Is In
By: Mike Fisher
TheRanchReport.com
Date: May 11, 2006
TIDBIT: BILL VS. JERRY: I once barked this into the face of Skip Bayless, the former Dallas-based reporter who is a sort of leper in all the towns he's worked despite his high profile nationally. "Why,'' I asked Bayless, "do you make up stories about the Cowboys when there are so many real, true stories unfolding at Valley Ranch every day?''
Then, with such easy access to the team, Skip had no excuse.
Do reporters writing about the Cowboys of today have one? After all, there might be stories occuring at the Ranch -- but Parcells spends a great deal of time and effort trying to keep a lid on them.
My answer is "no''; there are still truths available, and there remain avenues available to arrive at those truths, too.
Nevertheless, the "lid'' is the explanation for why so many writers (especially national writers) used Parcells' long silence to guess at the secret meaning. The No. 1 misplaced guess? Bill hates Jerry. And he hates him even more because of the Terrell Owens signing.
From what I can gather from years of one-on-one dealings with the owner: His disagreements and debates with the coach are no different, and no more frequent, than the disagreements and debates that occur in every NFL front office, or for that matter every business in America. Parcells addressed the issue:
"Contrary to what a lot of the people have been writing here, we work as a team here," said Parcells. "We make decisions as an organization and we do it collectively, more now than ever. Whatever decision we make, then we all support that. And I support whatever decisions we make in the organization. I was part of it. I continue to be part of it."
Good stuff. And it means that Parcells is devoted to the cause (though, I caution, he can "un-devote'' himself at season's end). And it means that while Bill runs the football stuff, Jerry is still his boss.
And it's a good and healthy, abnormal not because of the conflict but because of the assembled power.
TheRanchReport.com
Date: May 11, 2006
TIDBIT: BILL VS. JERRY: I once barked this into the face of Skip Bayless, the former Dallas-based reporter who is a sort of leper in all the towns he's worked despite his high profile nationally. "Why,'' I asked Bayless, "do you make up stories about the Cowboys when there are so many real, true stories unfolding at Valley Ranch every day?''
Then, with such easy access to the team, Skip had no excuse.
Do reporters writing about the Cowboys of today have one? After all, there might be stories occuring at the Ranch -- but Parcells spends a great deal of time and effort trying to keep a lid on them.
My answer is "no''; there are still truths available, and there remain avenues available to arrive at those truths, too.
Nevertheless, the "lid'' is the explanation for why so many writers (especially national writers) used Parcells' long silence to guess at the secret meaning. The No. 1 misplaced guess? Bill hates Jerry. And he hates him even more because of the Terrell Owens signing.
From what I can gather from years of one-on-one dealings with the owner: His disagreements and debates with the coach are no different, and no more frequent, than the disagreements and debates that occur in every NFL front office, or for that matter every business in America. Parcells addressed the issue:
"Contrary to what a lot of the people have been writing here, we work as a team here," said Parcells. "We make decisions as an organization and we do it collectively, more now than ever. Whatever decision we make, then we all support that. And I support whatever decisions we make in the organization. I was part of it. I continue to be part of it."
Good stuff. And it means that Parcells is devoted to the cause (though, I caution, he can "un-devote'' himself at season's end). And it means that while Bill runs the football stuff, Jerry is still his boss.
And it's a good and healthy, abnormal not because of the conflict but because of the assembled power.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:25 PM
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