yesfan
04-25-2004, 09:04 AM
Parcells appears to be settling in for the long haul.
by Randy Galloway
Irving- Around here, Bill Parcells once viewed as a short-term coach looking for instant succes and the personal graatification that would come with taking one more team to one more superbowl.
The Cowboys, with thier franchise ornaments, were a perfect fit for one last ride on the glory train. Those of us on the outside looking in, both locally and nationally, viewed the hiring of Parcells as being more about Big Bill than the big picture.
Was this bad?.
Heck, no. But the Cowboyswere. And had been for a long time.
In an NFL era of "win now," it was hoped Parcells could generate just that. Winning right now. By any means possible. The quick fix of last season's 10-6 record and a playoff berth seemed to be a starting point.
But now?
There was certainly more massive confusion Saturday on the Parcells-is-for-the-quick-fix theory. Does this man plan on staying or a while? A long while beyond the three years remaining on his contract?
With the best running backs the NFL Draft had to offfer still on the board, the Cowboys declined the opportunity to take Steven Jackson of Oregon State of Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech or Chris Perry of Michigan.
Instead, Parcells and Jerry Jones accepted a trade offer from the Buffalo Bills, vacated the No. 22 spot in the first round, retreated to the second round, and found an alternative at running back, Julius Jones of Notre Dame.
All this because the Bills were giving up their first round pick in the 2005 draft
It may not be popular method in todays' NFL, or in any bar where Cowboys fans gather, but what we've got at Valley Ranch is an orderly building process. In other words, the slow way. The old way.
Add Saturday's surprise to the off-season signing of quarterback Drew Henson and you can forget all that stuff about Parcells being a short-term coach looking for the one last ego fling instant successwould bring.
It's doubtful there's been any ego reduction, but Big Bill's 14 months of work have certainly changed the once-acceptedpublic perception.
Late Saturday evening at Valley Ranch, followng the first three rounds of the draft, Parcells spoke to the media after 109 days of self-imposed silence.
"In my heart, I have to approach this from a long-range standpoint if I an going to the honest and forthright with the Jones family," he said, and then cited his ecperience as a former general manager in the league, adding, "I have a great apreciation" of the big-picture building process.
Parcells wouldn't comment directly on whether he had plans to stay beyond those three year left on his contract, but based on this off-season, what else needs to be said?
Now, about that Saturday trade.
It was a bold move. An excellent move. Generating future no ls, particulary a No. l owned by a team that will be fortunate to see 8-8 next season, is the smart way to do business.
But, of course, the careers of Steven Jackson, Kevin Jones, etc. will now be closely watched locally. If one of thsoe backs becomes bigtime, the Cowboys will be constantly reminded.
parcells, however, was playing the percentages, as he admitted.
The running back position, in his estimation, produces more first-round draft busts than any position.
"But it's never easy to drop out of the first round," said Parcells.
In the Cowboys' case, however, there was a need at running back, and based on draft evaluation from most everyone, not avast difference in the top five or six candidates.
The surprise was when both Jackson and Kevin Jones were still available at No. 22.
But Parcells said if the Buffalo trade hadn't been made not to assume the Cowboys would have taken a running back. He indicated they probably wouldn't have.
Plus, Parcells said when Julius Jones made his Valley Ranch visist last month, he was told to "stay alert" if he was still available in the second round.
Jackson went to the Rams at No. 24, Perry t o the Bengals at the No. 26 and Kevin Jones to the Lions at No. 30. In the second round, Denver took Tatum Bell of Oklahoma State two picks before the Cowboys picked Julius Jones.
That meant five running backs went within 20 picks at the end of the first round and the start of the second round. It indicates most teams had the RBs rated almost equally, which suggests that trading down, particularly for a first round pick, was easily the right move.
But it was certainly not a win-now decions in a win-now league.
"It's long-range,"said Parcells.
Those might simply be the words of a coach who knows his team is not ready to win in 2004.
But it's certainly not what was once expected from Parcells, which is aloso a possitive.
The longer Big Bill plans on being around, the better
by Randy Galloway
Irving- Around here, Bill Parcells once viewed as a short-term coach looking for instant succes and the personal graatification that would come with taking one more team to one more superbowl.
The Cowboys, with thier franchise ornaments, were a perfect fit for one last ride on the glory train. Those of us on the outside looking in, both locally and nationally, viewed the hiring of Parcells as being more about Big Bill than the big picture.
Was this bad?.
Heck, no. But the Cowboyswere. And had been for a long time.
In an NFL era of "win now," it was hoped Parcells could generate just that. Winning right now. By any means possible. The quick fix of last season's 10-6 record and a playoff berth seemed to be a starting point.
But now?
There was certainly more massive confusion Saturday on the Parcells-is-for-the-quick-fix theory. Does this man plan on staying or a while? A long while beyond the three years remaining on his contract?
With the best running backs the NFL Draft had to offfer still on the board, the Cowboys declined the opportunity to take Steven Jackson of Oregon State of Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech or Chris Perry of Michigan.
Instead, Parcells and Jerry Jones accepted a trade offer from the Buffalo Bills, vacated the No. 22 spot in the first round, retreated to the second round, and found an alternative at running back, Julius Jones of Notre Dame.
All this because the Bills were giving up their first round pick in the 2005 draft
It may not be popular method in todays' NFL, or in any bar where Cowboys fans gather, but what we've got at Valley Ranch is an orderly building process. In other words, the slow way. The old way.
Add Saturday's surprise to the off-season signing of quarterback Drew Henson and you can forget all that stuff about Parcells being a short-term coach looking for the one last ego fling instant successwould bring.
It's doubtful there's been any ego reduction, but Big Bill's 14 months of work have certainly changed the once-acceptedpublic perception.
Late Saturday evening at Valley Ranch, followng the first three rounds of the draft, Parcells spoke to the media after 109 days of self-imposed silence.
"In my heart, I have to approach this from a long-range standpoint if I an going to the honest and forthright with the Jones family," he said, and then cited his ecperience as a former general manager in the league, adding, "I have a great apreciation" of the big-picture building process.
Parcells wouldn't comment directly on whether he had plans to stay beyond those three year left on his contract, but based on this off-season, what else needs to be said?
Now, about that Saturday trade.
It was a bold move. An excellent move. Generating future no ls, particulary a No. l owned by a team that will be fortunate to see 8-8 next season, is the smart way to do business.
But, of course, the careers of Steven Jackson, Kevin Jones, etc. will now be closely watched locally. If one of thsoe backs becomes bigtime, the Cowboys will be constantly reminded.
parcells, however, was playing the percentages, as he admitted.
The running back position, in his estimation, produces more first-round draft busts than any position.
"But it's never easy to drop out of the first round," said Parcells.
In the Cowboys' case, however, there was a need at running back, and based on draft evaluation from most everyone, not avast difference in the top five or six candidates.
The surprise was when both Jackson and Kevin Jones were still available at No. 22.
But Parcells said if the Buffalo trade hadn't been made not to assume the Cowboys would have taken a running back. He indicated they probably wouldn't have.
Plus, Parcells said when Julius Jones made his Valley Ranch visist last month, he was told to "stay alert" if he was still available in the second round.
Jackson went to the Rams at No. 24, Perry t o the Bengals at the No. 26 and Kevin Jones to the Lions at No. 30. In the second round, Denver took Tatum Bell of Oklahoma State two picks before the Cowboys picked Julius Jones.
That meant five running backs went within 20 picks at the end of the first round and the start of the second round. It indicates most teams had the RBs rated almost equally, which suggests that trading down, particularly for a first round pick, was easily the right move.
But it was certainly not a win-now decions in a win-now league.
"It's long-range,"said Parcells.
Those might simply be the words of a coach who knows his team is not ready to win in 2004.
But it's certainly not what was once expected from Parcells, which is aloso a possitive.
The longer Big Bill plans on being around, the better
by Randy Galloway
Irving- Around here, Bill Parcells once viewed as a short-term coach looking for instant succes and the personal graatification that would come with taking one more team to one more superbowl.
The Cowboys, with thier franchise ornaments, were a perfect fit for one last ride on the glory train. Those of us on the outside looking in, both locally and nationally, viewed the hiring of Parcells as being more about Big Bill than the big picture.
Was this bad?.
Heck, no. But the Cowboyswere. And had been for a long time.
In an NFL era of "win now," it was hoped Parcells could generate just that. Winning right now. By any means possible. The quick fix of last season's 10-6 record and a playoff berth seemed to be a starting point.
But now?
There was certainly more massive confusion Saturday on the Parcells-is-for-the-quick-fix theory. Does this man plan on staying or a while? A long while beyond the three years remaining on his contract?
With the best running backs the NFL Draft had to offfer still on the board, the Cowboys declined the opportunity to take Steven Jackson of Oregon State of Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech or Chris Perry of Michigan.
Instead, Parcells and Jerry Jones accepted a trade offer from the Buffalo Bills, vacated the No. 22 spot in the first round, retreated to the second round, and found an alternative at running back, Julius Jones of Notre Dame.
All this because the Bills were giving up their first round pick in the 2005 draft
It may not be popular method in todays' NFL, or in any bar where Cowboys fans gather, but what we've got at Valley Ranch is an orderly building process. In other words, the slow way. The old way.
Add Saturday's surprise to the off-season signing of quarterback Drew Henson and you can forget all that stuff about Parcells being a short-term coach looking for the one last ego fling instant successwould bring.
It's doubtful there's been any ego reduction, but Big Bill's 14 months of work have certainly changed the once-acceptedpublic perception.
Late Saturday evening at Valley Ranch, followng the first three rounds of the draft, Parcells spoke to the media after 109 days of self-imposed silence.
"In my heart, I have to approach this from a long-range standpoint if I an going to the honest and forthright with the Jones family," he said, and then cited his ecperience as a former general manager in the league, adding, "I have a great apreciation" of the big-picture building process.
Parcells wouldn't comment directly on whether he had plans to stay beyond those three year left on his contract, but based on this off-season, what else needs to be said?
Now, about that Saturday trade.
It was a bold move. An excellent move. Generating future no ls, particulary a No. l owned by a team that will be fortunate to see 8-8 next season, is the smart way to do business.
But, of course, the careers of Steven Jackson, Kevin Jones, etc. will now be closely watched locally. If one of thsoe backs becomes bigtime, the Cowboys will be constantly reminded.
parcells, however, was playing the percentages, as he admitted.
The running back position, in his estimation, produces more first-round draft busts than any position.
"But it's never easy to drop out of the first round," said Parcells.
In the Cowboys' case, however, there was a need at running back, and based on draft evaluation from most everyone, not avast difference in the top five or six candidates.
The surprise was when both Jackson and Kevin Jones were still available at No. 22.
But Parcells said if the Buffalo trade hadn't been made not to assume the Cowboys would have taken a running back. He indicated they probably wouldn't have.
Plus, Parcells said when Julius Jones made his Valley Ranch visist last month, he was told to "stay alert" if he was still available in the second round.
Jackson went to the Rams at No. 24, Perry t o the Bengals at the No. 26 and Kevin Jones to the Lions at No. 30. In the second round, Denver took Tatum Bell of Oklahoma State two picks before the Cowboys picked Julius Jones.
That meant five running backs went within 20 picks at the end of the first round and the start of the second round. It indicates most teams had the RBs rated almost equally, which suggests that trading down, particularly for a first round pick, was easily the right move.
But it was certainly not a win-now decions in a win-now league.
"It's long-range,"said Parcells.
Those might simply be the words of a coach who knows his team is not ready to win in 2004.
But it's certainly not what was once expected from Parcells, which is aloso a possitive.
The longer Big Bill plans on being around, the better
by Randy Galloway
Irving- Around here, Bill Parcells once viewed as a short-term coach looking for instant succes and the personal graatification that would come with taking one more team to one more superbowl.
The Cowboys, with thier franchise ornaments, were a perfect fit for one last ride on the glory train. Those of us on the outside looking in, both locally and nationally, viewed the hiring of Parcells as being more about Big Bill than the big picture.
Was this bad?.
Heck, no. But the Cowboyswere. And had been for a long time.
In an NFL era of "win now," it was hoped Parcells could generate just that. Winning right now. By any means possible. The quick fix of last season's 10-6 record and a playoff berth seemed to be a starting point.
But now?
There was certainly more massive confusion Saturday on the Parcells-is-for-the-quick-fix theory. Does this man plan on staying or a while? A long while beyond the three years remaining on his contract?
With the best running backs the NFL Draft had to offfer still on the board, the Cowboys declined the opportunity to take Steven Jackson of Oregon State of Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech or Chris Perry of Michigan.
Instead, Parcells and Jerry Jones accepted a trade offer from the Buffalo Bills, vacated the No. 22 spot in the first round, retreated to the second round, and found an alternative at running back, Julius Jones of Notre Dame.
All this because the Bills were giving up their first round pick in the 2005 draft
It may not be popular method in todays' NFL, or in any bar where Cowboys fans gather, but what we've got at Valley Ranch is an orderly building process. In other words, the slow way. The old way.
Add Saturday's surprise to the off-season signing of quarterback Drew Henson and you can forget all that stuff about Parcells being a short-term coach looking for the one last ego fling instant successwould bring.
It's doubtful there's been any ego reduction, but Big Bill's 14 months of work have certainly changed the once-acceptedpublic perception.
Late Saturday evening at Valley Ranch, followng the first three rounds of the draft, Parcells spoke to the media after 109 days of self-imposed silence.
"In my heart, I have to approach this from a long-range standpoint if I an going to the honest and forthright with the Jones family," he said, and then cited his ecperience as a former general manager in the league, adding, "I have a great apreciation" of the big-picture building process.
Parcells wouldn't comment directly on whether he had plans to stay beyond those three year left on his contract, but based on this off-season, what else needs to be said?
Now, about that Saturday trade.
It was a bold move. An excellent move. Generating future no ls, particulary a No. l owned by a team that will be fortunate to see 8-8 next season, is the smart way to do business.
But, of course, the careers of Steven Jackson, Kevin Jones, etc. will now be closely watched locally. If one of thsoe backs becomes bigtime, the Cowboys will be constantly reminded.
parcells, however, was playing the percentages, as he admitted.
The running back position, in his estimation, produces more first-round draft busts than any position.
"But it's never easy to drop out of the first round," said Parcells.
In the Cowboys' case, however, there was a need at running back, and based on draft evaluation from most everyone, not avast difference in the top five or six candidates.
The surprise was when both Jackson and Kevin Jones were still available at No. 22.
But Parcells said if the Buffalo trade hadn't been made not to assume the Cowboys would have taken a running back. He indicated they probably wouldn't have.
Plus, Parcells said when Julius Jones made his Valley Ranch visist last month, he was told to "stay alert" if he was still available in the second round.
Jackson went to the Rams at No. 24, Perry t o the Bengals at the No. 26 and Kevin Jones to the Lions at No. 30. In the second round, Denver took Tatum Bell of Oklahoma State two picks before the Cowboys picked Julius Jones.
That meant five running backs went within 20 picks at the end of the first round and the start of the second round. It indicates most teams had the RBs rated almost equally, which suggests that trading down, particularly for a first round pick, was easily the right move.
But it was certainly not a win-now decions in a win-now league.
"It's long-range,"said Parcells.
Those might simply be the words of a coach who knows his team is not ready to win in 2004.
But it's certainly not what was once expected from Parcells, which is aloso a possitive.
The longer Big Bill plans on being around, the better