Cowboys Insider: Parcells, Romo discuss their controversial pals
by Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
The Cowboys' conference calls with reporters from other NFL cities are often snooze-fests filled with clichés and stuff we've already heard.
But that wasn't the case Wednesday when the Indianapolis media heard Bill Parcells and Tony Romo discuss their relationships with two of sports most controversial figures.
Asking Parcells about his old pal Bobby Knight was a no-brainer for Indy reporters.
Naturally, Parcells took up for Knight, who came under fire this week for his jab to the chin of a Texas Tech basketball player. The shot apparently was a love tap compared to what Parcells has done to some of his players.
"I think he was just trying to tell the kid to pay attention here," Parcells said. "I've done worse than that, I tell you."
Parcells also said there's a softer, kinder side to Knight.
"I'm also a little prejudiced with this guy because he's been a longtime friend," Parcells said. "I don't agree with everything he's done, but I think this one is not much of anything.
"So many people don't know how much good he really does that goes unpublicized. I can tell you two or three stories that happened right there in Indianapolis that no one knows that show how benevolent and compassionate a guy he really is. But unless you know him, he won't show you that side."
Romo's interview included some insight as to why he gets along so well with Terrell Owens.
The main reason, Romo says, is that they speak the same language.
"He's always been a guy who likes to talk football," Romo said. "I'm the same way. I'm kind of a football guy 24/7 here. Anyone who wants to talk about it and say, 'Let's do this on this route,' or, 'Let's talk about what these guys are going to do' is fine with me. That's the way I kind of am and I kind of gravitate toward people who are like that as well.
"Terry Glenn, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, they are all like that. We all sit around and talk about what we think is going to happen, what we are trying to do, what we are trying to accomplish. It's fun for us."
Parcells and Romo weren't the only members of the Cowboys who talked to out-of-state reporters this week. Owens made a trip to New York to promote his children's book on "Live with Regis and Kelly."
Afterward, he talked to the New York Post about his relationship with Romo.
"I think with the rapport we had thus far with a limited amount of games played together, the star's the limit – no pun intended," the Post quoted Owens as saying. "We can be as good as we would like to be.
"Not just as a quarterback/receiver duo, but I'm speaking in terms of team-wise as well."
Five reasons why the Cowboys will beat the Colts
1. Julius Jones and Marion Barber will rip through the Colts' 32nd-ranked run defense, keeping the ball out of the hands of Peyton Manning. Dallas is second in the league in time of possession (32:27) and leads the league in fourth-quarter time of possession (8:34) and second-half time of possession (17:11).
2. Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo are up to the challenge of blocking Colts ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
3. The Cowboys have the firepower to hang with the Colts in a high-scoring game. Dallas' 250 points are the third most in the league. The Cowboys are on pace to score 444 points, which would be the fourth-highest point total in team history.
4. Kicker Mike Vanderjagt has an ax to grind with his former team and will be at his best.
5. The football gods seem to shine on Romo. So why not add to his mystique by allowing him to lead the Cowboys to victory in his debut as a starter at Texas Stadium?
Five reasons why the Colts will beat the Cowboys
1. The Dallas defense won't be able to overcome the loss of strongside linebacker Greg Ellis. With Ellis out, the Colts can double-team weakside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. That means the Cowboys will have to blitz, and no quarterback is better than Peyton Manning at beating the blitz.
2. For the first time in his four-start career, Romo faces a defense he won't be able to crack. The Colts own the league's second-best pass defense and have a pair of ends, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, that are nimble enough to keep up with Romo.
3. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, one of the game's great clutch players, gives the Colts a huge advantage should the game come down to the final minutes.
4. The Cowboys safeties will be a liability against the Colts receivers.
5. The Cowboys won last week. Doesn't that mean this yo-yo team is due for a loss?
Express-News Staff Writer
The Cowboys' conference calls with reporters from other NFL cities are often snooze-fests filled with clichés and stuff we've already heard.
But that wasn't the case Wednesday when the Indianapolis media heard Bill Parcells and Tony Romo discuss their relationships with two of sports most controversial figures.
Asking Parcells about his old pal Bobby Knight was a no-brainer for Indy reporters.
Naturally, Parcells took up for Knight, who came under fire this week for his jab to the chin of a Texas Tech basketball player. The shot apparently was a love tap compared to what Parcells has done to some of his players.
"I think he was just trying to tell the kid to pay attention here," Parcells said. "I've done worse than that, I tell you."
Parcells also said there's a softer, kinder side to Knight.
"I'm also a little prejudiced with this guy because he's been a longtime friend," Parcells said. "I don't agree with everything he's done, but I think this one is not much of anything.
"So many people don't know how much good he really does that goes unpublicized. I can tell you two or three stories that happened right there in Indianapolis that no one knows that show how benevolent and compassionate a guy he really is. But unless you know him, he won't show you that side."
Romo's interview included some insight as to why he gets along so well with Terrell Owens.
The main reason, Romo says, is that they speak the same language.
"He's always been a guy who likes to talk football," Romo said. "I'm the same way. I'm kind of a football guy 24/7 here. Anyone who wants to talk about it and say, 'Let's do this on this route,' or, 'Let's talk about what these guys are going to do' is fine with me. That's the way I kind of am and I kind of gravitate toward people who are like that as well.
"Terry Glenn, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, they are all like that. We all sit around and talk about what we think is going to happen, what we are trying to do, what we are trying to accomplish. It's fun for us."
Parcells and Romo weren't the only members of the Cowboys who talked to out-of-state reporters this week. Owens made a trip to New York to promote his children's book on "Live with Regis and Kelly."
Afterward, he talked to the New York Post about his relationship with Romo.
"I think with the rapport we had thus far with a limited amount of games played together, the star's the limit – no pun intended," the Post quoted Owens as saying. "We can be as good as we would like to be.
"Not just as a quarterback/receiver duo, but I'm speaking in terms of team-wise as well."
Five reasons why the Cowboys will beat the Colts
1. Julius Jones and Marion Barber will rip through the Colts' 32nd-ranked run defense, keeping the ball out of the hands of Peyton Manning. Dallas is second in the league in time of possession (32:27) and leads the league in fourth-quarter time of possession (8:34) and second-half time of possession (17:11).
2. Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo are up to the challenge of blocking Colts ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
3. The Cowboys have the firepower to hang with the Colts in a high-scoring game. Dallas' 250 points are the third most in the league. The Cowboys are on pace to score 444 points, which would be the fourth-highest point total in team history.
4. Kicker Mike Vanderjagt has an ax to grind with his former team and will be at his best.
5. The football gods seem to shine on Romo. So why not add to his mystique by allowing him to lead the Cowboys to victory in his debut as a starter at Texas Stadium?
Five reasons why the Colts will beat the Cowboys
1. The Dallas defense won't be able to overcome the loss of strongside linebacker Greg Ellis. With Ellis out, the Colts can double-team weakside linebacker DeMarcus Ware. That means the Cowboys will have to blitz, and no quarterback is better than Peyton Manning at beating the blitz.
2. For the first time in his four-start career, Romo faces a defense he won't be able to crack. The Colts own the league's second-best pass defense and have a pair of ends, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, that are nimble enough to keep up with Romo.
3. Kicker Adam Vinatieri, one of the game's great clutch players, gives the Colts a huge advantage should the game come down to the final minutes.
4. The Cowboys safeties will be a liability against the Colts receivers.
5. The Cowboys won last week. Doesn't that mean this yo-yo team is due for a loss?
posted by The Gryphon at 8:37 AM
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