SPORTSDAY

Posted by Rooty @ 11:41 PM Wed, Dec 12, 2007

Parcells was never QB friendly. He was the one afraid to let Romo make mistakes and learn from them. Parcells had to have you kneel at the alter of the Tuna in order for him to allow you to flourish. He put the brakes on his own team. Give me the Tuna as a GM any day though as a headset wearer, his days should be over.

Posted by Not So Crazy Ray @ 11:45 PM Wed, Dec 12, 2007

Players get the blame, coaches get the credit. What else would you expect from Bob Knight? This is a guy who demands absolute discipline and self-control from his players, and displays none himself.

Posted by Dan @ 12:05 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

This is a ridiculous post. I didn't hear the interview, but from what I read of your description thereof, all Knight said was "who knows what would have happened...."

He says that, and you take that and describe it as "another apologist" "yammer[ing] away."

That's kind of a stretch, isn't it?

You're a reporter for a prestigious newspaper, you're not some local yokel who can run his mouth any which way he wants.

From your cursory description of this interview, Knight's comments were fine, it's your description of that conversation that crossed a line.

Now I know that certain members of the media dislike Knight, because he's old school, and he doesn't share their social/political views. But that doesn't give you leave to misrepresent the gist of the conversation. His comments, AGAIN, as reported in this brief post, were entirely speculative.

I can hardly believe you found this sufficient to serve as grist for your blogging mill.

I thought last year that if we got past Seattle, we would have beaten Chicago, which didn't have an offense, and we would have faced New Orleans in the NFC Championship game.

Where we would have gotten our brains beaten in, ... AGAIN.

But we would have gotten to the Final Four of "the Tournament" that Parcells spoke of.

Bobby Knight is a legend.

Not to mention, the guy is an incredible military historian in his own right.

He's real deal.

He's also old school.

This country is going to miss men like him, when men like him cross the river, and are seen in our midst no more.

Now I think that Keyshawn Johnson is doing what ESPN wants him to do, which is the EXACT same thing they wanted Rush Limbaugh to do, which was and is agitate and start controversies. They are now a catalyst for many controversies.

ESPN denounces and decries T.O. ALL THE TIME.

Tony Kornhiser's comments about T.O. are borderline scandalous. There are athletes out there in the NFL causing problems, but they don't get mentioned. But if T.O. so much as sneezes on the sideline, that will be interpreted as him expressing scorn for the offensive play calling.

Instead of making up nonsense about Bobby Knight's speculative comments about where his friend might have taken Dallas last year, why not start blasting away on a target very much worth the while.

ESPN!

Go after them.

Start unloading on them.

Start unleashing on them, start poring over the comments from their commentators, start comparing what they say with the factual record.

Take a look at that sacred cow Tom Jackson. Who is STILL defending that monster Michael Vick. Tom Jackson insisted that Rush Limbaugh be driven from the set, WHEN HE KNEW that Limbaugh was being urged to be "edgy" and "controversial." HE KNEW that Limbaugh was simply responding to direction from the producers of the program. But those producers skated, while Limbaugh was left twisting in the wind. And for what, for saying that the Eagles defense was more responsible for their limited success than the erratic performance of their QB, who was overhyped for certain social ends.

ESPN is becoming a disgrace.

Why not start firing for effect on them.

Posted by Mike @ 12:09 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

It's funny that people say Parcells didn't let Romo take chances. If Romo played all of last year he was on pace to have 2nd most pass attempts behind only Tom Brady.

Do NOT pull this crap out like he had a leash on Romo because it's false. Our pass rush wasn't ready enough with Ellis out. Who do you send at the QB with Ellis gone? I mean seriously? They don't give you 3 weeks off to install a new defense either.

The team just wasn't experienced/ready enough on the front 7 yet. They were all mostly 2nd year players other than Ferguson after Ellis went down. That's not Bill's fault and there's no shame in it.

Posted by Chris in Vegas @ 12:16 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

I had an epiphany the other day while driving to work. It occurred to me the true, simple difference between Parcells and Wade Phillips. Simply put:

Parcells tried to manage the game so as not to lose.

Phillips manages the game in order to win.

--------------------------

T.O. is absolutely correct and this team would be somewhere between 6-7 and 8-5 with Parcells in the drivers seat.

Posted by Richard @ 12:26 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Wow, Dan. Talk about grist. Even if you're right about ESPN encouraging drama, they are hardly the only news outlet to do so.

The FOX News channel that I'm sure you love pulls the same kind of stunt every day.

And anyway, Bobby Knight is a deluded egomaniac that is not a role model. "Old school" has nothing to do with "good."

Posted by lasertexx @ 12:50 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Parcell's is now an NFL fluffer. There's a reason for the title of e(x) coach of the Cowboys.

Posted by Alex @ 1:12 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

If Bill Parcells were still around, there would be no Jason Garrett. He's the one who figured out how to use TO and both running backs to their fullest potential. AND, Wade's scheme's for the 3-4 defense, while not perfect this year, have yielded a lot more sacks this year, even without Ellis. None of those things happen with Parcells in the driver's seat

Posted by Jrs2300 @ 1:17 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Are we talking about Bob Knight .. a Guy who likes to boss kids around but scared to try that with a Millionaire Pro Player.. Sounds like Petrino to me..
At Least Parcells yelled and bossed around Grown Men..
The Fumble ruined a Super Bowl chance huh ? No.. Parcells being SCARED TO THROW AT PETE HUNTER lost them the game !!!

Posted by Mike @ 1:32 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Alex, hmmm Garrett is figuring out how to use both backs to their full potential. If that's the case how do you explain JJ of '06 outperforming JJ of '07?

Got one for that?

Peoples' memories are short. Everyone was in a conga line when we dropped Carolina last year. The media was proclaiming Bill a "genius" for revitalizing the Cowboys with Romo. Then Ellis got hurt and I guess it's just a coincidence that when our pass rush went away we lost. And again, if anyone has any ideas of how we were going to get to the QB after that I'm all ears.

Posted by Dan @ 1:34 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Egomania is an occupational hazard of coaching, any sport, at any level.

I've known high school basketball coaches who thought they were all that.

The cautious, take-no-chances, eke out a win style of Bill Parcells hamstrung our offense last year.

We strongly suspected as much last year.

Jason Garrett and Wade Phillips provided unrebuttable proof this season.

Parcells got us close, but his ethos also kept us away. It's kind of strange, but that's how it was.

I don't dislike Parcells however.

BUT ESPN is altogether a different matter. Keyshawn and ESPN almost seem suited for each other.

And it's not wise to judge Knight by the delicate style of today. When I grew up, coaches got in your face. I had a football coach pick me up, one handed, by the face mask, and tell me I had better out there and kick some a#$. Which I did, because the guy who did that to me was 6'7, and 270 lbs.

Nobody batted an eye back then. Nobody thought that exceptional, nobody thought that outrageous.

But today, people are horrified if they see a parent get in the face of a kid who is acting like a jerk in public.

The old style, more robust, more direct, expected more, and got more.

There's nothing wrong with old school. It has its place, and we're ALL at risk if we allow to fade away.

Old school was about clarity and accountability.

But this will surely be my last post on this, for the new security code will bar any further comment.

Posted by Habib @ 1:51 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Picture these three stooges Bill sour puss Parcells,Bob bully Knight and Tony drunk Larussa.No wonder they pal around.

Posted by Jeff @ 5:22 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Substitute the name "Tom Landry" for Bill Parcells when talking about coaching styles and you will see what the blogs would have said at the end of the Landry era. "Too conservative". "Not good with developing the modern QB". "Plays not to lose instead of playing to win". These are the things Coach Crap Bayless actually said about Coach Landry in the late 80's. Lets be honest here. Tuna was a great personnel man who was a good coach and a rotten person to deal with. He did not like young guys trying to push him around. I not only understand that, I am that exact way myself. But this team needed a Wade Phillips to pull the trigger on the next level. I despise J Jones, but give the devil his due. He made the right call for the second time in his career. Jimmy Johnson was the last one, so it had been a long dry spell.

Posted by don @ 6:47 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Wow, the revisionist history being displayed by some here is staggering.

Any true cowboy's fan rejoiced the day JJ hired parcells. And any one who can reflect honestly on the last few years should recognize that this team would simply not be what it is today had parcells not come to town.

On more than one occassion this season, I have heard parcells acknowledge that this team is currently playing better than it was when he was here. What more do you want from the man?

He decided his heart wasn't in coaching anymore, so he walked away. In so doing, he left a team on the cusp of greatness (one botched snap away from advancing in the playoffs-and who knows, we probably could have beaten the bears, it would likely have stopped there). His revamped scouting department will likely keep the cowboys great for years.

Give JJ credit for hiring Wade Phillips, who certainly was the most logical choice, and get the hell off parcells' back. He gave alot more to this franchise than he took away.

Posted by Mike @ 6:50 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

This is funny. Everyone acts like Wade Phillips also has a right guard that can barely stand up, the team's sack leader on IR, a first year QB, a 2nd year defensive front instead of a 3rd year defensive front, a slot DB that can't even squat into position, and a 2nd corner with a bum knee. Need I mention a HoF receiver with a busted up finger.

That's right, let's keep pretending that some important player changes and healings are neither here nor there.

And the Buffalo game showed Romo still had some stuff to learn. Bill wasn't interested in Romo learning it on the road in Seattle. The fact Seattle's front 4 alone could break up running plays didn't help either.

Reasons, reasons, reasons.

Posted by don @ 6:52 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

BTW Tim, your post is more "yammering" than anything Bob Knight said.

Posted by Trapper @ 7:00 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

I'll give Bill his props, although I'll never understood why "that guy who fumbled the ball" was still holding kicks two months after becoming the starting quarterback.

Posted by JTW @ 7:11 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Every time I read blogs such as this, I get amazader and amazader about how many football experts are out there, and wonder why, with their football expertise and keen insight about players/coaches/formations/etc., they aren't being grabbed up by NFL teams needy of their knowledge and wisdom. JJ and other NFL owners should start paying attention to these people. It's a truly sad waste of talent.

Posted by Gary @ 7:42 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

I hope Dan never comes accross Bobby Knight in a mens's room. It's sure to be an embarrasing situation for both. I'm pretty sure O'l Dan will be "reaching down to pick up some dropped toilet paper"

Posted by Old Hap @ 7:47 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

It's all conjecture. How can you say The Cowboys couldn't be 12-1 with BP ? You have no idea what they could or couldn't be with him. BP put the majority of this team together and he deserves some of the credit. HE'S GONE. Now, Wade has plugged a few holes and is doing well as Head Coach. Nothing more needs to be said about it.
Let it go.

Posted by tvats @ 8:05 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Mike,

Wade has only had to deal with his premier cover corner missing the first 2 games and yes he still has a bum knee. His 2nd corner missed multiple games forcing the nickel back into a starting role. His 2nd WR has missed games because of a sore ankle and lets not forget to mention that he has been playing the entire season without Terry Glenn. This is actually a 1st year defensive front because it is a new system and this is a 1st year offense for the same reason.

Bottom line is there are going to be injuries no matter what. Its how you adjust to those circumstances and still have your team ready to play.

Romo showed against Buffalo that he still had a lot to learn. He has since showed that he has learned quite a bit from that game. Were you chiding Peyton Manning for still having ALOT to learn after throwing 6 picks against SD????

And if i hear again how this team was "one fumbled snap away from going deeper into the playoffs I am going to puke". This team was on its way to a division title, a home playoff game and a possible 1st round bye until it did what all of Parcell's Cowboys teams did. It collapsed in Dec.

Check the record, Parcells as Cowboys head coach was 2 games UNDER 500 in the month of DEC.

Posted by David H @ 8:38 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Here's what would have happened if "that guy" didn't fumble the snap. Gramatica would have kicked the FG, then Seattle would have easily gone down the field for a game-winning Josh Brown FG, since the Cowboys defense blew last year.

Posted by The truth @ 8:50 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

You know what you never hear? You never hear Carl Banks, Harry Carson , Lawrence Taylor and the rest of the Giants that won Super Bowls complaining about Bill Parcells. They respected him because they were real men that played for the love of the game. Not like this bunch of overpaid disrespectful punks in pro sports now days.

Posted by Dave @ 9:29 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

The tuna always said. You are what your record says you are. The record says Phillips is a great head coach. The record also says the Tuna did a great job as GM. Anything else is silliness. There's plenty of credit to go around at 12-1. Let's talk about stopping Westbrook now.

Posted by don @ 10:31 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Dave,
Its not going to happen.

As another blogger once posted on a far better blog, too many people are still sitting around in a partial coma with little "parcells flies" buzzing maddeningly around their heads.

They, and some local sportswriters, remind me of an old Pink Panther movie. the nutty inspector finally drives the chief of police to hate-filled insanity. In the end, he is sitting in the nut-house, in a straight jacket, gripping a crayon in his toes and writing "kill pink panther" on the floor over and over again.

If Tim isnt careful, thats going to be him. "kill parcells" over and over again.

Posted by Babinator @ 11:14 AM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Fixation on coaching errors is not a good thing on the cowboys blog. Let's fixate on getting the job done in winning the next game. Human Chemistry has its origin through mutual desire! The current cowboys team was birthed from a Parcell's conception. But the true parent is Coach Phillips.

Babinator

Posted by joey @ 4:02 PM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

I think Tuna Deserves zero credit for building this team. Romo came courtesy of Sean Payton. Tuna wanted Pat Williams instead of T. Newman. Tuna lobbied for Spears ahead of Ware, who would have never been there at #20. He did succeed in getting Rob Carpenter's boy though, and we know how that is working out.

The guy that built this team is Jerry.

Posted by Ron @ 4:35 PM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Joey, I have to agree. As more info comes out of the Cowboys war room, Parcells was over rulled or outvoted on several 1st round draft picks. If he had total autonomy, his selections would have been disasters.

Posted by Aaron Layman @ 5:29 PM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Hey, I am sure Tony Dungy and Mike Krzyzewski are about clarity and accountability too. But they don't need to throw chairs, choke their own players, and throw temper tantrums like 4 year olds when they don't get their way. Bob Knight is a great basketball coach, no doubt about that, but I wouldn't want my son around him.

Posted by Robert @ 10:21 PM Thu, Dec 13, 2007

Unfortunately, today, most journalists don't report they advocate.

Tim, frankly, is a moron who allows his dislike (and desire to be popular with the othe Dalls Parcells haters) of Parcells to cloud hsi points.

Knight's comments where fine. Timuuuhhhh's are plain ignorant. He should go to the NY Times if he wants to mask advocacy as journalism.

Posted by MikeInUkraine @ 6:41 AM Fri, Dec 14, 2007

Parcells Quit
F---him