LaTunaNostra
06-25-2004, 12:46 PM
Dale Hansen: Shut up and play
01:45 AM CDT on Friday, June 25, 2004
WFAA-TV (Ch. 8) sports anchor Dale Hansen has been around these parts since 1981, covering sports every weeknight at 6 and 10 p.m. and Sunday nights on Dale Hansen's Sports Special.
Antonio Bryant has found his way to the doghouse already. What were your thoughts on the Antonio Bryant situation and will he have a chance to redeem himself?
I am assuming he is going to have a chance to redeem himself because he is still here. I don't know that we know the full story on this. My reaction was, if he actually did get into a shouting match and throw a jersey in Bill Parcells' face, I don't know why he's still here. I don't know if that's actually what happened but, at the same time, Parcells is the type of guy who gives "talent" a lot of rope. He certainly did it for Lawrence Taylor. He's done it for a lot of players. If Bryant threw a jersey in Parcells' face and he makes the team in September, he must be a helluva a player. To me, I'd throw him out in a heartbeat. But, if he's as good as the Cowboys hope he can be, I am sure Parcells is going to give him a chance to get out of the doghouse. Talent still wins football games and you never have enough of it.
Is there something to be said for Parcells' appreciation for a player's intensity?
There is something to be said for that. I do get tired of guys – especially guys like Antonio Bryant, who had a terrible season last year, whining about not getting enough chances. I understand the argument. I understand the great thing about intensity. But, shut up and play. Parcells has proven, without question that, if you are good enough to play, you're going to play. I think he likes Keyshawn Johnson and has a lot of faith in him. Antonio Bryant doesn't have any skins on the wall. He doesn't have any right to be whining. This isn't Drew Pearson we're talking about here. I would like to think he would be smart enough to shut up. But, it's probably one of the reasons the Cowboys were able to get Bryant so late in the draft. He's a bit of a head case and we've seen that. I like intensity. I like guys who want to get on the field and produce. But, he didn't do that last year.
In some way, could this be a test for someone like Keyshawn Johnson to step up and be a leader?
I don't know how he can be a leader. I am not as sold on him as a lot of people are. Troy Aikman said a while back that any time a player is whining about how much he wants the ball, it's not about helping the team win, it's about wanting the ball more. There are very few team players in sports. Aikman was one of the best at putting his stats aside and being committed to winning. Keyshawn couldn't get along with Jon Gruden after they won a Super Bowl, I've got a lot of reservations as to what kind of a role he can play on this team as a leader. To me, that's a little bit of a problem.
One guy they expect to be a leader is Vinny Testaverde. What do you see as his role and do you think he understands it?
I hope he understands it. And, I think he does. It's a nice signing, but I don't think he's the starter. I think he can be a leader and a conduit between Bill Parcells and the players. The guy is 40 years old and if he's the answer, then what's the question? If he is the answer, then it says more about the league than about Testaverde. But, he is the kind of backup quarterback the Cowboys desperately needed, and they were very lucky that they didn't find themselves exposed last season. I think he can help Quincy Carter or Drew Henson develop. He understands that. If he's better, then he should play and he's entitled to that. He'll get a chance in training camp.
Five weeks to the start of training camp. What do you consider to be the most intriguing story heading to Oxnard?
I like where this team is headed. It's possible that they could be better, yet not win 10 games. I like a lot of things about this team. I am anxious to see if they made the right decision at running back. I am anxious to see if Quincy Carter is as bad as a lot of people seem to think he is. I am anxious to see if Drew Henson is as good as a lot of people think he is. There are a lot of things to watch with this team. It should be a fun season.
01:45 AM CDT on Friday, June 25, 2004
WFAA-TV (Ch. 8) sports anchor Dale Hansen has been around these parts since 1981, covering sports every weeknight at 6 and 10 p.m. and Sunday nights on Dale Hansen's Sports Special.
Antonio Bryant has found his way to the doghouse already. What were your thoughts on the Antonio Bryant situation and will he have a chance to redeem himself?
I am assuming he is going to have a chance to redeem himself because he is still here. I don't know that we know the full story on this. My reaction was, if he actually did get into a shouting match and throw a jersey in Bill Parcells' face, I don't know why he's still here. I don't know if that's actually what happened but, at the same time, Parcells is the type of guy who gives "talent" a lot of rope. He certainly did it for Lawrence Taylor. He's done it for a lot of players. If Bryant threw a jersey in Parcells' face and he makes the team in September, he must be a helluva a player. To me, I'd throw him out in a heartbeat. But, if he's as good as the Cowboys hope he can be, I am sure Parcells is going to give him a chance to get out of the doghouse. Talent still wins football games and you never have enough of it.
Is there something to be said for Parcells' appreciation for a player's intensity?
There is something to be said for that. I do get tired of guys – especially guys like Antonio Bryant, who had a terrible season last year, whining about not getting enough chances. I understand the argument. I understand the great thing about intensity. But, shut up and play. Parcells has proven, without question that, if you are good enough to play, you're going to play. I think he likes Keyshawn Johnson and has a lot of faith in him. Antonio Bryant doesn't have any skins on the wall. He doesn't have any right to be whining. This isn't Drew Pearson we're talking about here. I would like to think he would be smart enough to shut up. But, it's probably one of the reasons the Cowboys were able to get Bryant so late in the draft. He's a bit of a head case and we've seen that. I like intensity. I like guys who want to get on the field and produce. But, he didn't do that last year.
In some way, could this be a test for someone like Keyshawn Johnson to step up and be a leader?
I don't know how he can be a leader. I am not as sold on him as a lot of people are. Troy Aikman said a while back that any time a player is whining about how much he wants the ball, it's not about helping the team win, it's about wanting the ball more. There are very few team players in sports. Aikman was one of the best at putting his stats aside and being committed to winning. Keyshawn couldn't get along with Jon Gruden after they won a Super Bowl, I've got a lot of reservations as to what kind of a role he can play on this team as a leader. To me, that's a little bit of a problem.
One guy they expect to be a leader is Vinny Testaverde. What do you see as his role and do you think he understands it?
I hope he understands it. And, I think he does. It's a nice signing, but I don't think he's the starter. I think he can be a leader and a conduit between Bill Parcells and the players. The guy is 40 years old and if he's the answer, then what's the question? If he is the answer, then it says more about the league than about Testaverde. But, he is the kind of backup quarterback the Cowboys desperately needed, and they were very lucky that they didn't find themselves exposed last season. I think he can help Quincy Carter or Drew Henson develop. He understands that. If he's better, then he should play and he's entitled to that. He'll get a chance in training camp.
Five weeks to the start of training camp. What do you consider to be the most intriguing story heading to Oxnard?
I like where this team is headed. It's possible that they could be better, yet not win 10 games. I like a lot of things about this team. I am anxious to see if they made the right decision at running back. I am anxious to see if Quincy Carter is as bad as a lot of people seem to think he is. I am anxious to see if Drew Henson is as good as a lot of people think he is. There are a lot of things to watch with this team. It should be a fun season.