DMN: Todd Archer: Sparano's a keeper for Cowboys
Todd Archer
IRVING – Not much is known about Tony Sparano.
It's a product of Bill Parcells not allowing assistant coaches to speak, and it's a product of Sparano's quiet nature.
Sparano is not the type to politic for a position to curry favor with players, coaches or media. He will grind and work and work some more. His players love him. He is tough but fair. He will criticize and he will praise. Most important, they say, he will be honest.
Tony Sparano He has been a coach since 1984 when he was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, New Haven. He's been in the NFL since 1999, working for two years in Cleveland, then a year in Washington and a year in Jacksonville before coming to the Cowboys.
He is one of only two assistant coaches remaining from Parcells' original staff in 2003. He coached tight ends in 2003 and '04, then took over as offensive line coach and running game coordinator the last two seasons. He had assistant head coach added to his title last year.
For all of the talk of Jason Garrett's undefined role in the Cowboys' offense, remember that it was Sparano who called the plays last season, which is a much more difficult task when Parcells is looking over your shoulder. The Cowboys scored 425 points. They had a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers for just the second time in team history.
Was it perfect? No, but it wasn't perfect for any team.
Two of his linemen – Andre Gurode and Flozell Adams – will play in Saturday's Pro Bowl. The tight end he coached for two years, Jason Witten, is in his third straight Pro Bowl. The quarterback he helped guide in 2006, Tony Romo, is making his first Pro Bowl appearance.
It's widely assumed Garrett will become offensive coordinator. Jones acknowledged Garrett cannot be a position coach because Miami gave the Cowboys permission to speak with them for a play-calling position and head coach. Maybe Garrett could assume Todd Haley's passing game coordinator title as well as coach the quarterbacks.
While offensive assistants David Lee, Haley, Chris Palmer, Anthony Lynn and Freddie Kitchens were allowed to leave or not retained, teams like San Diego and Cleveland were denied permission to speak with Sparano – who interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching job – about coordinator gigs. Sean Payton wanted to bring him to New Orleans last year, but Parcells blocked the move.
Under the rules, the Cowboys did not have to grant teams permission. Sparano is under contract and they didn't want to lose him. But there's also an issue of fairness. If Norv Turner got the job instead of Wade Phillips, Sparano's role would have been greatly reduced. As it stands, he might not have the same power he had in 2006.
He is signed through 2007 and should receive an extension now that the head coaching search is over.
It's the least the Cowboys could do, especially if they think so highly of him.
IRVING – Not much is known about Tony Sparano.
It's a product of Bill Parcells not allowing assistant coaches to speak, and it's a product of Sparano's quiet nature.
Sparano is not the type to politic for a position to curry favor with players, coaches or media. He will grind and work and work some more. His players love him. He is tough but fair. He will criticize and he will praise. Most important, they say, he will be honest.
Tony Sparano He has been a coach since 1984 when he was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, New Haven. He's been in the NFL since 1999, working for two years in Cleveland, then a year in Washington and a year in Jacksonville before coming to the Cowboys.
He is one of only two assistant coaches remaining from Parcells' original staff in 2003. He coached tight ends in 2003 and '04, then took over as offensive line coach and running game coordinator the last two seasons. He had assistant head coach added to his title last year.
For all of the talk of Jason Garrett's undefined role in the Cowboys' offense, remember that it was Sparano who called the plays last season, which is a much more difficult task when Parcells is looking over your shoulder. The Cowboys scored 425 points. They had a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers for just the second time in team history.
Was it perfect? No, but it wasn't perfect for any team.
Two of his linemen – Andre Gurode and Flozell Adams – will play in Saturday's Pro Bowl. The tight end he coached for two years, Jason Witten, is in his third straight Pro Bowl. The quarterback he helped guide in 2006, Tony Romo, is making his first Pro Bowl appearance.
It's widely assumed Garrett will become offensive coordinator. Jones acknowledged Garrett cannot be a position coach because Miami gave the Cowboys permission to speak with them for a play-calling position and head coach. Maybe Garrett could assume Todd Haley's passing game coordinator title as well as coach the quarterbacks.
While offensive assistants David Lee, Haley, Chris Palmer, Anthony Lynn and Freddie Kitchens were allowed to leave or not retained, teams like San Diego and Cleveland were denied permission to speak with Sparano – who interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching job – about coordinator gigs. Sean Payton wanted to bring him to New Orleans last year, but Parcells blocked the move.
Under the rules, the Cowboys did not have to grant teams permission. Sparano is under contract and they didn't want to lose him. But there's also an issue of fairness. If Norv Turner got the job instead of Wade Phillips, Sparano's role would have been greatly reduced. As it stands, he might not have the same power he had in 2006.
He is signed through 2007 and should receive an extension now that the head coaching search is over.
It's the least the Cowboys could do, especially if they think so highly of him.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:20 PM
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