Jean-Jacques Taylor: Cowboys fit Parcells' mold
IRVING – It has taken longer than anticipated for Bill Parcells to resurrect the Cowboys. And there's been more angst than expected.
But Jerry Jones is finally getting his money's worth from Parcells – the man he's paying more than $20 million to revive his struggling franchise.
Suddenly, that seems like a bargain.
A 38-10 stomping of Tampa Bay on Thanksgiving Day proves these Cowboys are through underachieving.
Dallas' 15-17 record the last two seasons led, rightfully so, to questions about whether the game had passed the 65-year-old Parcells by. Clearly, Jerry expected more after giving Parcells more autonomy than any other coach since Jimmy Johnson, thus removing all excuses for failure.
That's part of the reason there's been a foregone conclusion this will be Parcells' last season, even though he's under contract through 2007. The rumor mill already has Tennessee's Jeff Fisher as the Cowboys' next coach. One Florida paper this week said the Cowboys want Jon Gruden, though Tampa's performance should end that speculation.
After the game, Jerry made it clear he doesn't want another coach.
"Yes, I want him back," he said of Parcells.
Don't fret, Jerry. Unless the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, Parcells is returning. Anything less and Parcells' ego and the lure of a third championship will bring him back for another season.
Do you really think Parcells is going to let some other coach reap the benefits of his four-year master plan for developing Tony Romo? Do you think after suffering through Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Chad Hutchinson, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe that Parcells isn't going to enjoy at least a couple of seasons with Romo?
Considering the years those other guys took off his life, Parcells owes it to himself. Besides, Parcells finally has the team he wants.
The Cowboys can run it, pass it and play defense. Their punter is excellent, and their kicker is the most accurate in NFL history, though you can't tell it from his subpar performance this season. Parcells seemingly has a team capable of ending the Cowboys' nine-year streak without a playoff win.
That seemed impossible seven games ago, when a struggling Bledsoe played behind an offensive line that couldn't protect him and the defense gave away big plays like Halloween candy.
Romo has changed all of that. His improbable performance the last five weeks has energized the coach and the franchise.
So don't expect these Cowboys to fade in the final month.
Not after following the biggest win of Parcells' tenure, a 21-14 win over the previously undefeated Colts last week, with a blowout win over struggling Tampa. The Bucs are a team the Cowboys should have beaten easily. We know all too well the Cowboys don't always do what they're supposed to do.
Their effort Thursday is a testament to Parcells, who has artfully guided this team through Terrell Owens' numerous distractions, Bledsoe's benching, embarrassing losses to Philadelphia and the New York Giants and a gut-wrenching loss to Washington.
"His intelligence is off the charts, and that's shown in how he's managed this team and the people on this team," Jerry said. "He's managed all of the moving parts we've had and put us in position for the last month."
Dallas heads into December in control of its future.
When Parcells coached the Giants, his teams were virtually unbeatable in December when games took on more significance. His teams improved steadily during the season and peaked in December.
In his first three seasons, the Cowboys are 6-8 after Dec. 1. Last season, the Cowboys entered December in control of their destiny and failed miserably.
That won't happen this time.
"This word confidence is one that is used ambiguously. ... I have always felt like you don't really have genuine confidence unless you demonstrate the ability to do something," Parcells said. "Recently, we are starting to demonstrate the ability.
"I told you last week that I thought we were playing our best football in this last month, and we are. I think we're an improved team from what we were early in the season."
Give Parcells the credit.
FADING AT THE FINISH
How the Cowboys have done in regular-season games in December and January Bill Parcells' three seasons as coach:
Year.........Dec.-Jan. .........Final
2003............2-2..............10-6
2004............2-3..............6-10
2005............2-3...............9-7
But Jerry Jones is finally getting his money's worth from Parcells – the man he's paying more than $20 million to revive his struggling franchise.
Suddenly, that seems like a bargain.
A 38-10 stomping of Tampa Bay on Thanksgiving Day proves these Cowboys are through underachieving.
Dallas' 15-17 record the last two seasons led, rightfully so, to questions about whether the game had passed the 65-year-old Parcells by. Clearly, Jerry expected more after giving Parcells more autonomy than any other coach since Jimmy Johnson, thus removing all excuses for failure.
That's part of the reason there's been a foregone conclusion this will be Parcells' last season, even though he's under contract through 2007. The rumor mill already has Tennessee's Jeff Fisher as the Cowboys' next coach. One Florida paper this week said the Cowboys want Jon Gruden, though Tampa's performance should end that speculation.
After the game, Jerry made it clear he doesn't want another coach.
"Yes, I want him back," he said of Parcells.
Don't fret, Jerry. Unless the Cowboys win the Super Bowl, Parcells is returning. Anything less and Parcells' ego and the lure of a third championship will bring him back for another season.
Do you really think Parcells is going to let some other coach reap the benefits of his four-year master plan for developing Tony Romo? Do you think after suffering through Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Chad Hutchinson, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe that Parcells isn't going to enjoy at least a couple of seasons with Romo?
Considering the years those other guys took off his life, Parcells owes it to himself. Besides, Parcells finally has the team he wants.
The Cowboys can run it, pass it and play defense. Their punter is excellent, and their kicker is the most accurate in NFL history, though you can't tell it from his subpar performance this season. Parcells seemingly has a team capable of ending the Cowboys' nine-year streak without a playoff win.
That seemed impossible seven games ago, when a struggling Bledsoe played behind an offensive line that couldn't protect him and the defense gave away big plays like Halloween candy.
Romo has changed all of that. His improbable performance the last five weeks has energized the coach and the franchise.
So don't expect these Cowboys to fade in the final month.
Not after following the biggest win of Parcells' tenure, a 21-14 win over the previously undefeated Colts last week, with a blowout win over struggling Tampa. The Bucs are a team the Cowboys should have beaten easily. We know all too well the Cowboys don't always do what they're supposed to do.
Their effort Thursday is a testament to Parcells, who has artfully guided this team through Terrell Owens' numerous distractions, Bledsoe's benching, embarrassing losses to Philadelphia and the New York Giants and a gut-wrenching loss to Washington.
"His intelligence is off the charts, and that's shown in how he's managed this team and the people on this team," Jerry said. "He's managed all of the moving parts we've had and put us in position for the last month."
Dallas heads into December in control of its future.
When Parcells coached the Giants, his teams were virtually unbeatable in December when games took on more significance. His teams improved steadily during the season and peaked in December.
In his first three seasons, the Cowboys are 6-8 after Dec. 1. Last season, the Cowboys entered December in control of their destiny and failed miserably.
That won't happen this time.
"This word confidence is one that is used ambiguously. ... I have always felt like you don't really have genuine confidence unless you demonstrate the ability to do something," Parcells said. "Recently, we are starting to demonstrate the ability.
"I told you last week that I thought we were playing our best football in this last month, and we are. I think we're an improved team from what we were early in the season."
Give Parcells the credit.
FADING AT THE FINISH
How the Cowboys have done in regular-season games in December and January Bill Parcells' three seasons as coach:
Year.........Dec.-Jan. .........Final
2003............2-2..............10-6
2004............2-3..............6-10
2005............2-3...............9-7
posted by The Gryphon at 8:41 AM
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