Off to the Cowboys' Annual Kick-Off Luncheon at AT&T Stadium today where - I can almost guarantee - there will be no twerking or rump shaking or booty poppin' or ... hats.
It's indoors. It's formal. And it's becoming normal these days to see Jason Garrett without headwear.
In Texas, the old saying to identify a fraud
goes “Big hat; No cattle.”
At Valley Ranch, the new slogan to
validate a leader is “No hat; More command.”
In case you haven’t noticed, Garrett this preseason has stopped wearing his trademark topper – hat or visor – on the sideline. But, if you were paying attention last
Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, he’s wielding more control than ever.
(continued from page 1)
In the wake of the Cowboys’ embarrassing,
six-turnover loss to the Raiders the week before, starting running back DeMarco
Murray fumbled on the team’s fifth offensive snap. He was promptly benched,
replaced by Phillip Tanner and didn’t return to the field until the second
half.
“It can’t happen,” Garrett explained of the
fumble. “I don’t care who you are, we can’t have it. DeMarco’s a man. He
understands what his role is on this football team. We just felt that was the
right thing to do, and he responded exactly how we thought he’d respond. He
came back and played hard really well and took care of the rock.”
Message sent. And received.
One of the main reasons Garrett has his job
is because predecessor Wade Phillips lost control and lacked authority. Garrett
promised discipline and accountability. It’s finally sinking in. At least
temporarily.
The head coach yanked Dez Bryant off punt
returns last year against the Giants and demoted Doug Free to a part-timer
forced to share snaps with backup right tackle Jermey Parnell. But this
preseason it’s as though the hat had been handcuffs on Garrett’s power.
He’s
openly criticized players, lambasting rookie B.W. Webb and even ripping Tony
Romo for taking a sack to took Dallas out of field-goal position against the
Bengals.
It’s refreshing as it is surprising.
(continued from page 2)
Given
an off-season in which owner Jerry Jones stripped the head coach of
play-calling authority, it would’ve been understandable had Garrett shown up a
meeker coach with a hatless head shrunken in confidence and visibly diluted
control over his team.
But, alas, the walk-around coach is a
bee-boppin’ leader. At last week’s Silver ‘n Blue practice he sprinted to
various drills with energy and enthusiasm, often even imploring the crowd to
make noise. Jason Garrett? From calm conservative to chaotic cheerleader?
The Cowboys may again ultimately be a sloppy
8-8 team. But it won’t be for a lack of effort and a commitment to change by
their head coach. And, at least for message on one night, it worked.
An embarrassed, determined Murray returned
for the second half’s first drive and promptly broke four tackles and dove into
the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown catch.
“I wasn’t mad at anyone,” Murray explained
Monday at Valley Ranch. “I wasn’t pouting on the sidelines. I wasn’t anything.
I was waiting for my opportunity to get back in the game. Once my number was
called, I was ready to play. He’s a smart coach, great coach. I’m always going
to be behind him. Whatever is best for the team, I’m all for it.”
Jimmy Johnson famously cut backup running
back Curvin Richards after a couple fumbles in the Cowboys’ 1992 regular-season
finale. Total authority. Zero tolerance.
I’m not saying the benching of Murray in
August will be Garrett’s signature move as the feared leader of the Cowboys.
But – hat or not – it’s a step in the right direction.
You're a fool if you think Garrett has any more "power" than he has ever had. Jara is running this bitch and will until he passes on to the nest plane. Whatever little dog and pony show Garrett is putting on is all well and good but that all it is..... dogs and ponies my friend dogs and ponies.
ReplyDeletePreston Munchsingsonton III
It must be fun to ignore all realities or facts while forming opinions
DeleteEquating the power of Jimmy cutting a guy for fumbling to Red sitting a guy a few plays is a far reach. Jerry holds all the power on this team and in this organization and everyone knows it.
ReplyDeleteEvery owner of Every team holds the power.
DeleteTrue. However most delegate far more than Jerry, especially things like personnel/GM duties. Every owner in the league except Jerry would have fired GM Jerry three times over by now.
Delete-JC
Don't really think he is equating the power of jimmy Johnson to Garrett. Simply, it is nice someone has taken some kind if control. Been a while since we have seen that
ReplyDeleteDisagree somewhat with these comments. Jerry controls this team. Yes. Personnel, trades, etc., but he's not the cat on the field running the show during game time. He's not on the phone telling Garrett "run this play" or "put so and so in". That's Garrett and his staff. And Garrett is in charge. I like the new Garrett. Will it translate to the field and the W column? Who knows. This team has shown time and again they're football stupid. Time will tell....
ReplyDeleteAre you sure Jerry isn't on the phone to Garrett during games? I'd like to think not, but I put nothing past that dilweed. Remember it was Jerry who walked down to the sideline early in a game a couple of years ago and told Jason to get Romo out of the game since winning or losing wouldn't have any bearing on playoff position.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI've been one to say since the beginning that Garrett, while maybe not quite yet, will at some point be a top notch NFL coach. He's young, energetic, very driven, extremely intelligent, has a high football IQ and I think handles the players with a good combination of respect and authority.
ReplyDeleteThe problem Garrett has is a coach is only as good (or maybe slightly better in some cases) than the product he is handed by the general manager. And of course we've seen the groceries that the GM has bought over the last decade and a half. And while there have been a few gems, by and large, it has been a complete failure, especially in the inner workings of the roster, i.e., the offensive and defensive lines.
The second problem Garrett has is that everyone knows he's not in charge, including the players. While Garrett may eventually be a highly successful coach in the NFL, I really doubt that it will be in Dallas as that's really not possible for any coach as long as the current GM, who's been a dismal failure for 15 years, is calling the shots.
-JC
Good Article. I think, though no one will admit it, stripping Garrett of play calling, getting his brother out of town and firing his Defensive coach choice are ultimately going to be the best things that happened to Garrett. The GM may do plenty of things to make you scratch your head, but he's done a pretty damn good job this off season.
ReplyDelete