dargonking999
01-31-2005, 07:14 PM
Days In Dallas Likely Over, But George Still Hungry
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jan. 28, 2005, 5:47 p.m. (CST)
IRVING, Texas - - This past season, Cowboys running back Eddie George seemed to experience more changes in one season than he had in his entire eight-year career.
He saw his streak of 128 consecutive starts end in Week Three, and he missed the first game of his career later in the season when he was inactivated for two games in December.
George had career-lows in rushing attempts (132), yards (432) and touchdowns (four) and his opportunities dwindled from slim to barely any once Julius Jones returned to the lineup for the second half of the season.
But despite the disappointment George experienced this past season, the veteran running back told the Tennessean this week he is far from calling it quits, although he knows his days in Dallas are all but over.
George, who was released last summer by the Titans after he refused to take almost a $3 million pay cut, signed just a one-year deal last July, making him an unrestricted free agent on March 2. The Cowboys have made no hints they plan to bring him back, and it doesn't appear George, who did earn $2.2 million this year from the Cowboys, would have much interest in returning to Dallas either, but certainly to another team.
''It's not the end of me at all,'' said George, who stands 16th on the NFL's all-time rushing charts with 10,441 career yards. ''You can argue all day about whether I've got it or not. People can say I'm washed up, that's fine. But give me the opportunity. I just need to land on my feet in the right situation where someone is willing to give me a chance. I just want to be used.''
And that was George's biggest disappointment here in Dallas this past season - not getting enough opportunities - despite being told differently when he signed with the Cowboys on July 23, less than a week before the start of training camp.
''They said they were going to pound the football. That's what was conveyed to me when I got there, and things changed,'' George said. ''I never had the opportunity to play my type of ballgame and it is hard to be productive when you are getting five and eight carries a game. That is not my style.
''I just really wasn't one of (Bill Parcells') guys and he really wasn't working with me, and that's fine. I just wish I would have known that prior to going down there. . . . I had to realize where I was at, who I was with and pretty much they didn't owe me anything. They couldn't care less about my accomplishments, which is OK. That is his program and I understood that.''
And even George should be able to understand the decision to play Jones, who nearly doubled the veteran's output with 819 rushing yards with 65 less carries. Jones averaged 4.2 yards per carry to George's 3.3, and George only received 10 carries in the last seven games once Jones returned from a shoulder injury.
And entering what would be his 10th pro season, George said he doesn't expect to become a full-time starter, but is looking for a better fit than what Dallas turned out to be.
''Wherever I go next year I know I am going to have to share time with somebody else. I am going into my (10th) year and it is definitely going to be a situation where I am going to have to share the load, although I feel I am capable of carrying the load if need be. I am not a situational guy where I just want to come in on third down or goal line. I feel I can bring more to the table with my catching ability and blocking. . . . There are things I can still do.''
And George plans to prove that once again next season, just not with the Cowboys.
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jan. 28, 2005, 5:47 p.m. (CST)
IRVING, Texas - - This past season, Cowboys running back Eddie George seemed to experience more changes in one season than he had in his entire eight-year career.
He saw his streak of 128 consecutive starts end in Week Three, and he missed the first game of his career later in the season when he was inactivated for two games in December.
George had career-lows in rushing attempts (132), yards (432) and touchdowns (four) and his opportunities dwindled from slim to barely any once Julius Jones returned to the lineup for the second half of the season.
But despite the disappointment George experienced this past season, the veteran running back told the Tennessean this week he is far from calling it quits, although he knows his days in Dallas are all but over.
George, who was released last summer by the Titans after he refused to take almost a $3 million pay cut, signed just a one-year deal last July, making him an unrestricted free agent on March 2. The Cowboys have made no hints they plan to bring him back, and it doesn't appear George, who did earn $2.2 million this year from the Cowboys, would have much interest in returning to Dallas either, but certainly to another team.
''It's not the end of me at all,'' said George, who stands 16th on the NFL's all-time rushing charts with 10,441 career yards. ''You can argue all day about whether I've got it or not. People can say I'm washed up, that's fine. But give me the opportunity. I just need to land on my feet in the right situation where someone is willing to give me a chance. I just want to be used.''
And that was George's biggest disappointment here in Dallas this past season - not getting enough opportunities - despite being told differently when he signed with the Cowboys on July 23, less than a week before the start of training camp.
''They said they were going to pound the football. That's what was conveyed to me when I got there, and things changed,'' George said. ''I never had the opportunity to play my type of ballgame and it is hard to be productive when you are getting five and eight carries a game. That is not my style.
''I just really wasn't one of (Bill Parcells') guys and he really wasn't working with me, and that's fine. I just wish I would have known that prior to going down there. . . . I had to realize where I was at, who I was with and pretty much they didn't owe me anything. They couldn't care less about my accomplishments, which is OK. That is his program and I understood that.''
And even George should be able to understand the decision to play Jones, who nearly doubled the veteran's output with 819 rushing yards with 65 less carries. Jones averaged 4.2 yards per carry to George's 3.3, and George only received 10 carries in the last seven games once Jones returned from a shoulder injury.
And entering what would be his 10th pro season, George said he doesn't expect to become a full-time starter, but is looking for a better fit than what Dallas turned out to be.
''Wherever I go next year I know I am going to have to share time with somebody else. I am going into my (10th) year and it is definitely going to be a situation where I am going to have to share the load, although I feel I am capable of carrying the load if need be. I am not a situational guy where I just want to come in on third down or goal line. I feel I can bring more to the table with my catching ability and blocking. . . . There are things I can still do.''
And George plans to prove that once again next season, just not with the Cowboys.