FWST: Galloway: Jason Witten just another victim of Dallas Cowboys’ toxic locker room
By RANDY GALLOWAY
rgalloway@star-telegram.com
TAMPA, Fla. — Go ahead, "rat" this:
A question here Wednesday for Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten:
Did any of your so-called teammates, who did a lot of media whispering, actually ever go face-to-face and call you "a rat"?
"No," answered Witten. "Nothing even remotely close to that was ever said. If anything, when all that stuff was flying around, what I got personally was teammates being very supportive."
Hypocrites and idiots roam freely in the locker room at Valley Ranch. But until December, Witten was one of those team members considered far above the line that separates the manly from the lower form of humanity.
Then, however, his good name was also sucked into the cesspool, as the team imploded internally.
Obviously, there’s only a couple of reasons for any member of the Cowboys to be visiting in Tampa this week, and football is not involved. Otherwise, there’s the Super Bowl party scene, or in the case of Witten, he was here to receive a high honor.
Among eight finalists from players around the league (such as Kurt Warner, Brian Dawkins
, Andre Johnson, Amani Toomer, etc.), he was named The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP for his positive impact in the local community through charitable programs and contributions.
At least it was a positive way for Witten to wrap up a rough season, both personally and team-wise.
"To go through the injuries I had, well, that was a big disappointment personally," he said, "but after six seasons of trying to maintain high standards on and off the field, to be placed in the middle of what else was going on, it was embarrassing."
Or to be blunter, Witten added, "It pissed me off. What happened with our team, that was a personal burden for me and everyone else. But the other stuff, now that hurt deeply. I kept asking myself, 'How do you handle it?’
"You think you have played the game the right way for six years, and with no hidden agendas at any time, then I’m caught up in something totally different. It was a bad place to be. You feel helpless."
In December, of course, a volatile locker room was rocked by off-the-record quotes given to a national dot-com writer, quotes that centered around one Eldorado Owens.
Those teammates who are supportive of Owens, and that’s a sizable number, unleashed the whispers that Witten was the unnamed teammate saying it. Or the "rat." Except some of those saying it were the same Tony Romo backstabbers who were making the quarterback the culprit for a bad season. The resulting toxic chemical locker-room spill lingers into the off-season.
"I was not involved," Witten said. "But I still got caught up in it. Tony and I got placed in the middle of it."
Again, however, it was only in behind-the-back whispers. No one personally confronted Witten with "rat" charges.
But with the Cowboys still in a state of off-season turmoil, Jerry Jones seems dug in, meaning he will not attempt to change the climate by making major changes.
Can 2009 be any different with the softy, Wade Phillips, as head coach, and Owens as the off-season reality TV show poster child?
"A lot is being said about our lack of chemistry and leadership," noted Witten, "but all that can be solved by winning. Now, can we win? I believe so. You don’t need a bunch of choirboys in a locker room, but you do need players who are accountable, players who place an emphasis on the team concept."
Can the Cowboys’ locker room provide enough of those players?
"Yes, definitely," Witten said. "We have competitive guys, including Terrell. We have a head coach who is competitive. But things need to change when it comes to leadership roles, and in the area of team chemistry."
What about work ethic? What about a lack of discipline? What about the locker-room whispers that even Romo had bad practice habits? Is that true?
"No," answered Witten, firmly. "Anyone saying that is flat wrong. As Tony goes, so goes this team. Tony is competitive, and he’s driven. We can all play better, Tony included. But to say his problems involved work ethic, anyone who knows Tony knows that’s not true."
Witten claims he looks to 2009 with optimism, even if the same cast of characters return.
Excuse me for totally disagreeing. It’s a team that needs more Wittens and a lot fewer rats.
rgalloway@star-telegram.com
TAMPA, Fla. — Go ahead, "rat" this:
A question here Wednesday for Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten:
Did any of your so-called teammates, who did a lot of media whispering, actually ever go face-to-face and call you "a rat"?
"No," answered Witten. "Nothing even remotely close to that was ever said. If anything, when all that stuff was flying around, what I got personally was teammates being very supportive."
Hypocrites and idiots roam freely in the locker room at Valley Ranch. But until December, Witten was one of those team members considered far above the line that separates the manly from the lower form of humanity.
Then, however, his good name was also sucked into the cesspool, as the team imploded internally.
Obviously, there’s only a couple of reasons for any member of the Cowboys to be visiting in Tampa this week, and football is not involved. Otherwise, there’s the Super Bowl party scene, or in the case of Witten, he was here to receive a high honor.
Among eight finalists from players around the league (such as Kurt Warner, Brian Dawkins
, Andre Johnson, Amani Toomer, etc.), he was named The Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP for his positive impact in the local community through charitable programs and contributions.
At least it was a positive way for Witten to wrap up a rough season, both personally and team-wise.
"To go through the injuries I had, well, that was a big disappointment personally," he said, "but after six seasons of trying to maintain high standards on and off the field, to be placed in the middle of what else was going on, it was embarrassing."
Or to be blunter, Witten added, "It pissed me off. What happened with our team, that was a personal burden for me and everyone else. But the other stuff, now that hurt deeply. I kept asking myself, 'How do you handle it?’
"You think you have played the game the right way for six years, and with no hidden agendas at any time, then I’m caught up in something totally different. It was a bad place to be. You feel helpless."
In December, of course, a volatile locker room was rocked by off-the-record quotes given to a national dot-com writer, quotes that centered around one Eldorado Owens.
Those teammates who are supportive of Owens, and that’s a sizable number, unleashed the whispers that Witten was the unnamed teammate saying it. Or the "rat." Except some of those saying it were the same Tony Romo backstabbers who were making the quarterback the culprit for a bad season. The resulting toxic chemical locker-room spill lingers into the off-season.
"I was not involved," Witten said. "But I still got caught up in it. Tony and I got placed in the middle of it."
Again, however, it was only in behind-the-back whispers. No one personally confronted Witten with "rat" charges.
But with the Cowboys still in a state of off-season turmoil, Jerry Jones seems dug in, meaning he will not attempt to change the climate by making major changes.
Can 2009 be any different with the softy, Wade Phillips, as head coach, and Owens as the off-season reality TV show poster child?
"A lot is being said about our lack of chemistry and leadership," noted Witten, "but all that can be solved by winning. Now, can we win? I believe so. You don’t need a bunch of choirboys in a locker room, but you do need players who are accountable, players who place an emphasis on the team concept."
Can the Cowboys’ locker room provide enough of those players?
"Yes, definitely," Witten said. "We have competitive guys, including Terrell. We have a head coach who is competitive. But things need to change when it comes to leadership roles, and in the area of team chemistry."
What about work ethic? What about a lack of discipline? What about the locker-room whispers that even Romo had bad practice habits? Is that true?
"No," answered Witten, firmly. "Anyone saying that is flat wrong. As Tony goes, so goes this team. Tony is competitive, and he’s driven. We can all play better, Tony included. But to say his problems involved work ethic, anyone who knows Tony knows that’s not true."
Witten claims he looks to 2009 with optimism, even if the same cast of characters return.
Excuse me for totally disagreeing. It’s a team that needs more Wittens and a lot fewer rats.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:57 AM
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