Orsborn: Cowboys taking on persona of leaders
By Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
He approaches his job with enthusiasm.
He has no use for the past and views the future with optimism.
"Fun" is one of his favorite words, and he has a Zen-like whatever will be, will be approach to weathering tough times.
The above describes Wade Phillips.
It also fits Tony Romo.
There are other similarities. Their subtle, self-deprecating sense of humor is often laced with sarcasm. They aren't afraid to take chances.
And, above all else, they absolutely love football.
That was apparent last week in the Dallas Cowboys' 35-7 victory over St. Louis.
When the Rams missed a chip-shot field goal in the first half, Phillips reacted as if Jeff Wilkins' wide-right attempt allowed the Cowboys to advance to the Super Bowl. Then, in the third quarter, Phillips gave Greg Ellis a hug after he recorded a sack in his first game since November.
"I'm going to enjoy coaching — that's why I coach," Phillips said. "I enjoy the game."
Phillips says he has no interest in coaching with an "all-the-time grimace." Call it a veiled shot at Bill Parcells if you must, but Phillips was referring to all coaches who operate in joyless fashion.
"I have fun watching these guys make plays," Phillips said. "They work long and hard and put a lot of effort into it. ... I just enjoy watching our guys make plays."
None have made more this season than Romo, who chased down an errant snap against St. Louis and turned it into an improbable first down.
"That play obviously won the game," Romo joked afterward.
One of the oldest clichés in sports is that teams take on their coach's personality. In the case of the Cowboys, they've taken on the personality of their coach and quarterback.
"This team really enjoys what we do," Romo said. "We really have fun playing this game. We understand we're lucky to do it. We also understand the season is a journey. We don't want to bypass these games and go straight to the playoffs. We want to play each week and enjoy it for what it is. It's fun."
For the past decade, the Spurs have benefited from having a coach and a star player always on the same page.
Phillips and Romo are on their way to becoming the Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan of the NFL.
Make no mistake. I'm not predicting they'll win four Super Bowls. But Phillips and Romo, like Popovich and Duncan, are kindred spirits.
"Wade is a guy who wants to win and who makes sure people enjoy the process of doing it," Romo said. "You're not going to win every game. And you're not going to perform every week, but you're at least going to enjoy what you do and you're going to work like heck to be as good as you can be.
"There's a real secret in that to living a happy life."
And with the Cowboys a victory away from their first 5-0 start since 1983, Phillips and Romo couldn't be happier.
San Antonio Express-News
He approaches his job with enthusiasm.
He has no use for the past and views the future with optimism.
"Fun" is one of his favorite words, and he has a Zen-like whatever will be, will be approach to weathering tough times.
The above describes Wade Phillips.
It also fits Tony Romo.
There are other similarities. Their subtle, self-deprecating sense of humor is often laced with sarcasm. They aren't afraid to take chances.
And, above all else, they absolutely love football.
That was apparent last week in the Dallas Cowboys' 35-7 victory over St. Louis.
When the Rams missed a chip-shot field goal in the first half, Phillips reacted as if Jeff Wilkins' wide-right attempt allowed the Cowboys to advance to the Super Bowl. Then, in the third quarter, Phillips gave Greg Ellis a hug after he recorded a sack in his first game since November.
"I'm going to enjoy coaching — that's why I coach," Phillips said. "I enjoy the game."
Phillips says he has no interest in coaching with an "all-the-time grimace." Call it a veiled shot at Bill Parcells if you must, but Phillips was referring to all coaches who operate in joyless fashion.
"I have fun watching these guys make plays," Phillips said. "They work long and hard and put a lot of effort into it. ... I just enjoy watching our guys make plays."
None have made more this season than Romo, who chased down an errant snap against St. Louis and turned it into an improbable first down.
"That play obviously won the game," Romo joked afterward.
One of the oldest clichés in sports is that teams take on their coach's personality. In the case of the Cowboys, they've taken on the personality of their coach and quarterback.
"This team really enjoys what we do," Romo said. "We really have fun playing this game. We understand we're lucky to do it. We also understand the season is a journey. We don't want to bypass these games and go straight to the playoffs. We want to play each week and enjoy it for what it is. It's fun."
For the past decade, the Spurs have benefited from having a coach and a star player always on the same page.
Phillips and Romo are on their way to becoming the Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan of the NFL.
Make no mistake. I'm not predicting they'll win four Super Bowls. But Phillips and Romo, like Popovich and Duncan, are kindred spirits.
"Wade is a guy who wants to win and who makes sure people enjoy the process of doing it," Romo said. "You're not going to win every game. And you're not going to perform every week, but you're at least going to enjoy what you do and you're going to work like heck to be as good as you can be.
"There's a real secret in that to living a happy life."
And with the Cowboys a victory away from their first 5-0 start since 1983, Phillips and Romo couldn't be happier.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:12 AM
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