Cowboys Mailbag: Desire of Hamlin and Henry to improve impresses Phillips
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Whether it’s a pro football team worth $1 billion or a mom-and-pop operation, every business wants conscientious employees who strive to do their best and improve daily.
Wade Phillips has discovered he has two such workers in defensive backs Ken Hamlin and Anthony Henry.
Both struggled in the opener. Both apologized to their teammates and coaches. Both vowed to play better.
And on Sunday in Miami, they made good on their promises, which is why Phillips proudly presented them with game balls after the 37-20 victory.
"Giving out game balls is subjective, certainly," Phillips said. "You could give one to everybody when you win, because everybody contributes. The ones we give out are to guys who make game-changing plays. It’s just recognition, especially when two of the guys felt like they did not play as well as they could and then they come back the next week and have really good games.
"It just reinforces to your team how each player is accountable to their teammates."
Even though he was among the team leaders in tackles in the opener with seven, the hard-hitting Hamlin told his coaches and teammates he missed way too many tackles against the Giants. On Sunday, he recorded five stops and returned an interception 35 yards to the Miami 15-yard line to set up a field goal.
"The key point was not just the interception, but that he felt like he needed to tackle better, and he did," Phillips said. "He worked on it and improved in that area."
After stumbling around against the Giants, Henry excelled against the Dolphins, finishing with two tackles and two interceptions. He also broke up another pass and recovered an onside kick after Miami had pulled within 10 points at 30-20 late in the game.
"He was probably too hard on himself after the first game," Phillips said of Henry. "He went around all week saying, ‘I’m going to improve. I am going to work hard. I owe it to the rest of the guys to play my game well.’
"He really had a monster game for us."
Phillips said Hamlin and Henry are perfect examples of the professional manner he wants all his players to exhibit.
"It’s not me fixing it for them or me harassing them enough to do it," Phillips said. "I want them to want to do better. For themselves certainly but also for their teammates. That’s part of being accountable. That’s part of the team believing in each other. If you show the other guys you are accountable and are going to do better, they believe in you."
Express-News Staff Writer
Whether it’s a pro football team worth $1 billion or a mom-and-pop operation, every business wants conscientious employees who strive to do their best and improve daily.
Wade Phillips has discovered he has two such workers in defensive backs Ken Hamlin and Anthony Henry.
Both struggled in the opener. Both apologized to their teammates and coaches. Both vowed to play better.
And on Sunday in Miami, they made good on their promises, which is why Phillips proudly presented them with game balls after the 37-20 victory.
"Giving out game balls is subjective, certainly," Phillips said. "You could give one to everybody when you win, because everybody contributes. The ones we give out are to guys who make game-changing plays. It’s just recognition, especially when two of the guys felt like they did not play as well as they could and then they come back the next week and have really good games.
"It just reinforces to your team how each player is accountable to their teammates."
Even though he was among the team leaders in tackles in the opener with seven, the hard-hitting Hamlin told his coaches and teammates he missed way too many tackles against the Giants. On Sunday, he recorded five stops and returned an interception 35 yards to the Miami 15-yard line to set up a field goal.
"The key point was not just the interception, but that he felt like he needed to tackle better, and he did," Phillips said. "He worked on it and improved in that area."
After stumbling around against the Giants, Henry excelled against the Dolphins, finishing with two tackles and two interceptions. He also broke up another pass and recovered an onside kick after Miami had pulled within 10 points at 30-20 late in the game.
"He was probably too hard on himself after the first game," Phillips said of Henry. "He went around all week saying, ‘I’m going to improve. I am going to work hard. I owe it to the rest of the guys to play my game well.’
"He really had a monster game for us."
Phillips said Hamlin and Henry are perfect examples of the professional manner he wants all his players to exhibit.
"It’s not me fixing it for them or me harassing them enough to do it," Phillips said. "I want them to want to do better. For themselves certainly but also for their teammates. That’s part of being accountable. That’s part of the team believing in each other. If you show the other guys you are accountable and are going to do better, they believe in you."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:18 PM
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