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'BOYS WILL BE 'BOYS PDF Print E-mail
by Mike Fisher    Sun, Sep 30, 2007, 10:28 PM
Bill Parcells tried to teach Tony Romo that “a quarterback should be a battlefield warrior and NOT a celebrity.’ Aren’t we happy that Romo now only pretends to pay attention to his personality-squelching former dictator?

 

What does Dallas’ 35-7 victory Sunday over the hapless Rams have to do with InfalliBill? Lots, if you listen to the Network Nitwits who think the Cowboys’ 4-0 record is mostly the culmination of something Parcells built. In fact, while Parcells obviously assembled some of the parts of this potentially record-setting Ferrari, he pretty much kept the car locked in the garage.

No, this has quickly become Tony Romo’s team and Jerry Jones’ team and Wade Phillips’ team. It has taken on the personality of those people. And those people are in direct contrast to what Parcells said he wants in a QB.

Romo and Jones and Phillips are capable of being “battlefield warriors’’ AND “celebrities.’’ In fact, right now, this entire roster appears to be made up of celebrities. In yet another contrast to the pre-Phillips Cowboys, the one guy in the locker room who is least concerned with the trappings of egotism is the coach.

I watched Wade during Dallas’ blowout win, and the man acted as if each of his Cowboys players are also members of his Fantasy team. He’s pumping his fists in the air when T.O. makes a catch, he’s giggling out of control when Romo turns a minus-30-yard play (because of an errant shotgun snap) into a QB-running first down when the kid goes 38 yards back in the right direction, he’s making wry little observations that put stuff in perspective.

“We didn’t guarantee anything,’’ said first-year boss Phillips, subtlely referring to the Rams’ Issac Bruce having promised a St. Louis win. “But we got the win. … 4-0 is nice.’’

See? Wry little observations. Not loud, mean, sarcastic bullying.

Nice, indeed.

These Cowboys feel free to be me. Jerry is Jerry again, laboring furiously at overseeing his empire while uttering sentences with 300 commas tucked into them. Romo is Romo, like he’s never been allowed to be before. Tony is reputed by the Network Nitwits to have been “nurtured’’ by his former coach. Hmm. Maybe. Or did Parcells’ iron reign, his love of “Parcells Guys’’ and his hatred of “Celebrity QBs’’ actually prevent Romo from leading the Cowboys like this a year ago? Or hell, maybe two years ago?!

While I’m getting this off my chest: Isn’t it odd that Bill Parcells despised “Celebrity QBs’’ but very much delights in being a “Celebrity Coach’’? Whose personality, if adopted by a team, is more likely to bring players together for a cause, that Celebrity Coach’s or this Celebrity QB’s? And isn’t it kind of refreshing to have the Cowboys being coached by a guy so unbothered by such silliness that he’ll root like a kooky fan from the sidelines, that he’ll show up to a nationally-televised game appearing rumpled enough to have maybe spent last night sleeping in his car, that the only notes he checks during games seem to have been scribbled on a rolled-up paper bag from Dunkin’ Donuts?

Whatever notes this goofy genius has scribbled are working. His offense, coordinated by go-for-the-throat Jason Garrett, is on a record-setting pace. On a given Sunday (or next Monday, when Dallas will be a big favorite at Buffalo), he can get tight end Jason Witten to go off for six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Or he can get unheralded Patrick Crayton to experience the day of his life, with seven catches and 184 yards, including TD receptions of 59 and 37 yards. Or he can harness the magic of Romo, who is at this moment a leading candidate for NFL Most Valuable Player.

Romo hit on 21 of 33 passes for 339 yards and had three passing TDs and one rushing score. His touchdown on the ground came just before halftime – and just after rescuing that errant-shotgun-snap play.

Parcells, you know, would’ve hated that damn thing. “Damn celebrity quarterback plays,’’ you can imagine him muttering.

What did Wade Phillips think of it? “When that happened, it reminded me of Staubach because it was a miracle play. It jump-started us and the crowd.’’

Wade gets to be Wade. Jerry gets to be Jerry. Tony gets to be Tony. … and he gets to be Roger. And he gets to be a “battlefield warrior.’’ And he gets to be a “Celebrity QB.’’

Comments (1)add comment
...
written by Jasper , October 01, 2007

Romo is playing with the poise and brains of a 10 year veteran. He's a born leader and has what it takes to lead the Cowboys to Superbowl victory! The entire team's playing more relaxed under Wade who's a players coach rather than the intimidating style of Purcells.



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