Post by scorpion42 on Jan 9, 2009 15:06:43 GMT -7
Dallas Cowboys’ lack of chemistry obvious to NFL analysts
By RAY BUCK
rbuck@star-telegram.com
The Dallas Cowboys just don’t get it.
CBS analysts Phil Simms and Dan Dierdorf might be onto something with this observation. The Cowboys can’t see the forest for the me-me-me’s.
"The last time I checked, football was a 'team game,’ and the more cohesive that team is, the more success it’ll probably enjoy on the field," said Dierdorf, a Hall of Famer. "If the Cowboys can’t figure that out after what’s happened to them over the last couple of years ..."
He ran out of words.
"Until they’re a football team," Dierdorf decided, "they’ll be [playoff] spectators on the outside looking in."
Long before Wade Phillips was charged with everything but war crimes, the great Bill Parcells couldn’t get it done, and before that Dave Campo, with lesser talent, couldn’t get it done. "It," of course, being a simple playoff win.
"Look at the teams in the playoffs right now," said Simms, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Parcells Giants. "[They have] a very strong presence from the right people on the team."
He rattled off the Ravens, Giants and Eagles as examples of strong team leadership.
"Is it the coach? You’d like for it to start there," Simms said. "But you also need a couple of players on each side of the ball with the desire and the will to make sure everything stays in the right order. I’m not sure those things are in Dallas."
These comments were made during a CBS conference call for the two AFC games this weekend. But even AFC analysts can’t let the Cowboys get away with such squander.
"Name me the four guys on the Cowboys that you just know are setting the table, making it happen and holding the rest of the players accountable," Simms challenged. "You can’t do it."
Perhaps an easier answer can be found in: Name four guys on the Cowboys who have radio shows or excessive face time on TV?
"I mean, how you give your interviews ... how often you give interviews, I think all that’s important," Simms said.
Winning, even in today’s NFL where the million-dollar inmates run the asylum, can be traced to basic player responsibility.
In Baltimore, John Harbaugh inherited a veteran locker room with several strong personalities, such as Ray Lewis.
When asked by CBS how he established control and "sold" his system as a rookie head coach, Harbaugh replied. "It’s not my job to sell it. It’s their job to buy it."
Bingo!
"That’s the best line I heard all year from a coach," said Dierdorf. "Now apply that to Dallas, and see if that’s happening there."
The Ravens went from being a 5-11 team to still in the playoffs at 12-5. The Cowboys (13-3 to 9-7) are left holding the remote.
Cowboys’ tube power: The headcount is in. Neilsen reports 225 million Americans watched NFL games this past season.
Thirteen of the nation’s 15 most-watched television shows over 17 weeks were NFL games — including six involving the Cowboys.
Topping TV’s "most-watched" programming during the NFL regular season: Dec. 7 Cowboys-Steelers, 25.7 million viewers.
Ray Buck, 817-390-7760
By RAY BUCK
rbuck@star-telegram.com
The Dallas Cowboys just don’t get it.
CBS analysts Phil Simms and Dan Dierdorf might be onto something with this observation. The Cowboys can’t see the forest for the me-me-me’s.
"The last time I checked, football was a 'team game,’ and the more cohesive that team is, the more success it’ll probably enjoy on the field," said Dierdorf, a Hall of Famer. "If the Cowboys can’t figure that out after what’s happened to them over the last couple of years ..."
He ran out of words.
"Until they’re a football team," Dierdorf decided, "they’ll be [playoff] spectators on the outside looking in."
Long before Wade Phillips was charged with everything but war crimes, the great Bill Parcells couldn’t get it done, and before that Dave Campo, with lesser talent, couldn’t get it done. "It," of course, being a simple playoff win.
"Look at the teams in the playoffs right now," said Simms, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Parcells Giants. "[They have] a very strong presence from the right people on the team."
He rattled off the Ravens, Giants and Eagles as examples of strong team leadership.
"Is it the coach? You’d like for it to start there," Simms said. "But you also need a couple of players on each side of the ball with the desire and the will to make sure everything stays in the right order. I’m not sure those things are in Dallas."
These comments were made during a CBS conference call for the two AFC games this weekend. But even AFC analysts can’t let the Cowboys get away with such squander.
"Name me the four guys on the Cowboys that you just know are setting the table, making it happen and holding the rest of the players accountable," Simms challenged. "You can’t do it."
Perhaps an easier answer can be found in: Name four guys on the Cowboys who have radio shows or excessive face time on TV?
"I mean, how you give your interviews ... how often you give interviews, I think all that’s important," Simms said.
Winning, even in today’s NFL where the million-dollar inmates run the asylum, can be traced to basic player responsibility.
In Baltimore, John Harbaugh inherited a veteran locker room with several strong personalities, such as Ray Lewis.
When asked by CBS how he established control and "sold" his system as a rookie head coach, Harbaugh replied. "It’s not my job to sell it. It’s their job to buy it."
Bingo!
"That’s the best line I heard all year from a coach," said Dierdorf. "Now apply that to Dallas, and see if that’s happening there."
The Ravens went from being a 5-11 team to still in the playoffs at 12-5. The Cowboys (13-3 to 9-7) are left holding the remote.
Cowboys’ tube power: The headcount is in. Neilsen reports 225 million Americans watched NFL games this past season.
Thirteen of the nation’s 15 most-watched television shows over 17 weeks were NFL games — including six involving the Cowboys.
Topping TV’s "most-watched" programming during the NFL regular season: Dec. 7 Cowboys-Steelers, 25.7 million viewers.
Ray Buck, 817-390-7760