Let's rethink T.O.'s importance
By Jennifer, Floyd Engel.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING - Saying who is and who is not legitimately injured is dangerous business.
One player's sore hammy is another's sorry excuse to skip practice and further gig his old-school coach and send a not-so-subtle reminder of who is actually in control.
What we do not know for sure is which is the case with Mr. Initials?
Oh, I can venture a guess at his motivation. Philly followers can, too, and probably already have after T.O. missed his third straight Cowboys preseason game Saturday.
He did not miss anything too earth-shattering. The Cowboys' defense is still very good. Their offense is not bad, not bad at all. Their big-time kicker remains a no-show. And preseason is still a gigantic waste of time, energy and ticket-buyers' money.
Nothing means anything until the games count in the standings.
This, of course, is the T.O./Deion Sanders joint argument. They believe and have so eloquently stated that preseason and practice are unnecessary evils for the imminently talented.
Go watch the film, Big Bill, was their consensus opinion. Or to use T.O.'s exact phraseology from Wednesday: "If he wants to see something, he has 10 years of film."
Of course, Parcells has plenty of film, a personal relationship and real-life experience from drafting and coaching Terry Glenn. And of Glenn, everybody deemed Saturday's festivities at Texas Stadium worthy of his time and effort.
Glenn played like what he is - a professional.
He had another spectacular diving catch in the end zone for a touchdown. And when he called it a night midway through the second quarter, he had just added a 52-yard catch to his duty roster.
Who again misses who was missing?
Seems to me that Jamaica Rector and Sam Hurd have been filling in nicely. And Glenn looks good to go as a No. 1 receiver.
I can already hear the Mr. Initials apologists, including a certain Cowboys owner: "But Glenn is not injured like T.O." Or, "This is just the preseason."
Garbage games, right?
Then why does this franchise seem prepared to tab Tony Romo as the next Troy Aikman based on what happens in them? And why are vets such as Drew Bledsoe and Larry Allen and Glenn playing?
The easy answer is, unlike T.O., they are not injured.
Real or exaggerated, and who really knows, his hammy has earned him a get-out-of-the-preseason-free card. It also has given the Cowboys a chance to see if they can be all right without him.
So far, so good.
Possibly better, if you throw in the headache factor.
T.O.'s "better teammate" and "better man" pledge did not survive Parcells getting a little cranky about his sore hammy, so I am doubtful about it surviving a two-catch game in Philly. Or when Glenn goes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Or when Bledsoe misses him wide open in the end zone.
Maybe, he will not implode. Maybe, he really is injured.
My vote is the Cowboys would be better off not waiting around to find out.
But if anybody in this organization, and especially Big Bill, has an inkling that T.O. is not seriously hurt, they would be wise to cut his butt now.
Doing so now costs them only his $5 million signing bonus. And saves them a lot of headaches.
If JJ were to veto this - and he would - at least, suggest to T.O. that such actions are under consideration. I have a feeling that will solve the mystery of just how legit his injury really is.
Jennifer Floyd Engel can be heard weekdays 9 a.m.-noon on Dennis and Engel on ESPN/103.3 FM.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING - Saying who is and who is not legitimately injured is dangerous business.
One player's sore hammy is another's sorry excuse to skip practice and further gig his old-school coach and send a not-so-subtle reminder of who is actually in control.
What we do not know for sure is which is the case with Mr. Initials?
Oh, I can venture a guess at his motivation. Philly followers can, too, and probably already have after T.O. missed his third straight Cowboys preseason game Saturday.
He did not miss anything too earth-shattering. The Cowboys' defense is still very good. Their offense is not bad, not bad at all. Their big-time kicker remains a no-show. And preseason is still a gigantic waste of time, energy and ticket-buyers' money.
Nothing means anything until the games count in the standings.
This, of course, is the T.O./Deion Sanders joint argument. They believe and have so eloquently stated that preseason and practice are unnecessary evils for the imminently talented.
Go watch the film, Big Bill, was their consensus opinion. Or to use T.O.'s exact phraseology from Wednesday: "If he wants to see something, he has 10 years of film."
Of course, Parcells has plenty of film, a personal relationship and real-life experience from drafting and coaching Terry Glenn. And of Glenn, everybody deemed Saturday's festivities at Texas Stadium worthy of his time and effort.
Glenn played like what he is - a professional.
He had another spectacular diving catch in the end zone for a touchdown. And when he called it a night midway through the second quarter, he had just added a 52-yard catch to his duty roster.
Who again misses who was missing?
Seems to me that Jamaica Rector and Sam Hurd have been filling in nicely. And Glenn looks good to go as a No. 1 receiver.
I can already hear the Mr. Initials apologists, including a certain Cowboys owner: "But Glenn is not injured like T.O." Or, "This is just the preseason."
Garbage games, right?
Then why does this franchise seem prepared to tab Tony Romo as the next Troy Aikman based on what happens in them? And why are vets such as Drew Bledsoe and Larry Allen and Glenn playing?
The easy answer is, unlike T.O., they are not injured.
Real or exaggerated, and who really knows, his hammy has earned him a get-out-of-the-preseason-free card. It also has given the Cowboys a chance to see if they can be all right without him.
So far, so good.
Possibly better, if you throw in the headache factor.
T.O.'s "better teammate" and "better man" pledge did not survive Parcells getting a little cranky about his sore hammy, so I am doubtful about it surviving a two-catch game in Philly. Or when Glenn goes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Or when Bledsoe misses him wide open in the end zone.
Maybe, he will not implode. Maybe, he really is injured.
My vote is the Cowboys would be better off not waiting around to find out.
But if anybody in this organization, and especially Big Bill, has an inkling that T.O. is not seriously hurt, they would be wise to cut his butt now.
Doing so now costs them only his $5 million signing bonus. And saves them a lot of headaches.
If JJ were to veto this - and he would - at least, suggest to T.O. that such actions are under consideration. I have a feeling that will solve the mystery of just how legit his injury really is.
Jennifer Floyd Engel can be heard weekdays 9 a.m.-noon on Dennis and Engel on ESPN/103.3 FM.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:18 PM
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