InmanRoshi
12-01-2006, 10:57 AM
Good monrning. Doing fine, came into NY last night for a meeting but the team leaves tomorrow.
Read the NY papers yet?
Yes, I read the Times. We have a great piece in USA Today on Romo.
Have they relented on the Giants yet?
I’m worried about this ball game, and should be. They have a lot to play for from what I’ve heard so far down here.
Can you compare Dallas and NY media as far as criticism?
NY is probably the most positive place I go in the country for me. I walk from the hotel to the league office, and look at the street and everywhere is Cowboy fans shouting “Go Cowboys.”
You get recognized in NY?
In a big way. They holler “Go Cowboys” or “Go Bill”. You can’t get 10 feet out the door.
Has anyone asked you to buy the Giants.
(laughs) No.
Your group is playing well and the Giants have fallen on hard times. Wouldn’t this win lock you both in?
I know what it would mean for us to win it, but I wont speculate about what it would mean for the Giants to lose it. If we lose it, it puts us back in the “We’re not as consistent as we need to be” category, but I don’t think its terminal for either team. But they have everything to play for, and they’ll let it all hang out. I can’t help but remember the feeling after the Giants game 5 weeks ago, and how I knew we would have to do some retooling and I was very concerned. Its about as important game for us as we’ve had in a long time.
Was Vanderjagt’s release just on the field or was it part attitude?
No, it was everything about his performance. In practice, preseason and in the games. Mike had no issues with the organization. I was about as frustrated as I’ve been in a long time, because we haven’t made that commitment to that position since I’ve been here and I’ll never do it again. Its too fragile and too many things can go wrong to put that much resources in it.
Would you consider putting a 2nd round pick on the kicker from Colorado?
I doubt it.
What was the decision process about it?
I really had to grapple with this one. I invested a lot in it. But more than anything, I thought I had bought a kicker for 3-4 years and paid up front for it. But the question is where is the upside? Frankly, there is a lot of upside in Vanderjagt. If he get’s his confidence back, he’s got the background to show that he can be the best in the league. And he has a very sound kicking motion, very little range of movement with means fewer things can go wrong. Which is why he’s been so accurate in his career. But we just had concerns about his confidence.
That’s applicable to Gramatica too. “If he gets it back”.
Of course. We don’t know if he’s going to make his next kick. I will say he hasn’t missed one around here yet, but I could make a case that the best upside is still Vanderjagt. But it was effecting our strategy with the game. Bill weighs that a lot. It doesn’t effect my strategy as much, because I always think we should play to score TD’s.
Do you have a backup plan in case of Grammatica fails?
Yes.
How do you divide your time in your days. You’re the most involved owner in the league, and you have golf courses, oil, new stadiums.
Well, it revolves around the Cowboys first and foremost. Then I delegate. Its amazing how much better things have gone when I’ve delegated rather than put my finger in it. But surround yourself with good people. Sam Walton’s favorite answer when asked about his key to success was “If you’re not shorthanded, you’re overstaffed. The heros never get a chance to rise to the top in that enviorment. So we keep a thin crew, and delegate.
Youre unique in that you got your children working for you.
It’s a blessing to be able to work with them. It may not always be smooth water, but I get to spend so much time around them. When we bought this team there were no blue books on how to do this, and they had to learn. They had a blast doing it. They are outstanding in the management of the team and the things we’re involved in.
Read the NY papers yet?
Yes, I read the Times. We have a great piece in USA Today on Romo.
Have they relented on the Giants yet?
I’m worried about this ball game, and should be. They have a lot to play for from what I’ve heard so far down here.
Can you compare Dallas and NY media as far as criticism?
NY is probably the most positive place I go in the country for me. I walk from the hotel to the league office, and look at the street and everywhere is Cowboy fans shouting “Go Cowboys.”
You get recognized in NY?
In a big way. They holler “Go Cowboys” or “Go Bill”. You can’t get 10 feet out the door.
Has anyone asked you to buy the Giants.
(laughs) No.
Your group is playing well and the Giants have fallen on hard times. Wouldn’t this win lock you both in?
I know what it would mean for us to win it, but I wont speculate about what it would mean for the Giants to lose it. If we lose it, it puts us back in the “We’re not as consistent as we need to be” category, but I don’t think its terminal for either team. But they have everything to play for, and they’ll let it all hang out. I can’t help but remember the feeling after the Giants game 5 weeks ago, and how I knew we would have to do some retooling and I was very concerned. Its about as important game for us as we’ve had in a long time.
Was Vanderjagt’s release just on the field or was it part attitude?
No, it was everything about his performance. In practice, preseason and in the games. Mike had no issues with the organization. I was about as frustrated as I’ve been in a long time, because we haven’t made that commitment to that position since I’ve been here and I’ll never do it again. Its too fragile and too many things can go wrong to put that much resources in it.
Would you consider putting a 2nd round pick on the kicker from Colorado?
I doubt it.
What was the decision process about it?
I really had to grapple with this one. I invested a lot in it. But more than anything, I thought I had bought a kicker for 3-4 years and paid up front for it. But the question is where is the upside? Frankly, there is a lot of upside in Vanderjagt. If he get’s his confidence back, he’s got the background to show that he can be the best in the league. And he has a very sound kicking motion, very little range of movement with means fewer things can go wrong. Which is why he’s been so accurate in his career. But we just had concerns about his confidence.
That’s applicable to Gramatica too. “If he gets it back”.
Of course. We don’t know if he’s going to make his next kick. I will say he hasn’t missed one around here yet, but I could make a case that the best upside is still Vanderjagt. But it was effecting our strategy with the game. Bill weighs that a lot. It doesn’t effect my strategy as much, because I always think we should play to score TD’s.
Do you have a backup plan in case of Grammatica fails?
Yes.
How do you divide your time in your days. You’re the most involved owner in the league, and you have golf courses, oil, new stadiums.
Well, it revolves around the Cowboys first and foremost. Then I delegate. Its amazing how much better things have gone when I’ve delegated rather than put my finger in it. But surround yourself with good people. Sam Walton’s favorite answer when asked about his key to success was “If you’re not shorthanded, you’re overstaffed. The heros never get a chance to rise to the top in that enviorment. So we keep a thin crew, and delegate.
Youre unique in that you got your children working for you.
It’s a blessing to be able to work with them. It may not always be smooth water, but I get to spend so much time around them. When we bought this team there were no blue books on how to do this, and they had to learn. They had a blast doing it. They are outstanding in the management of the team and the things we’re involved in.