Mike Fisher's weekend notes from Cowboys minicamp - Dallas Cowboys Forum

jlust22 · 05-31-2005

BY MIKE FISHER -- DALLASBASKETBALL.COM

Assorted scribblings from this weekend with the Cowboys:

** Bledsoe said something about Witten being the "best tight end i've had since ben coates.' sounds good, and he's right, but be careful here. That doesn't mean Witten IS ben coates. It means witten ISNT jay riersmawhatshisname, or whoever.

** DL 66 -- turns out to be rookie Jay Ratcliff from Auburn -- has "it.''

** DL Chris Canty has "tude'' -- but we're concerned its the wrong kind. We root for him because of his size and his health issues -- there is the eye surgery thing and the knee thing that needs to get cleared up by camp -- but in 25 years of hanging around in NFL locker rooms, I've nebver before heard a rookie gripe about the media, gripe about being "imposed'' upon, gripe about the redundant answers interviewee teammates were giving. ... until Sunday, when Canty acted like Duane Thomas and Charles Haley rolled into one. Hey kid, maybe you've had a tough life. But you aren't going to make it any easier by being a dick. Maybe you can be a dick AFTER you actually tackle somebody?

**I don't know if Marion Barber can excel at this level. No way to know. but I know he's gotten all he can from his body. The ex-Golden Gopher RB is built like a friggin Mr. America, and Im not exaggerating. In a best-body muscle-mag type contest, nobody in the Dallas room even finishes second.

**Question" "Whos going to be the right tackle''? Answer from our deepthroat: "He might not be here yet.''

** want a tackle to root for? Pitt's Rob Pettiti, a silo of a man who proves the old theory that OL's are the smartest guys on the team. Knows his weaknesses, is honest about them, polite, ... good kid. Root for him. he's the anti-canty.

**Key's different. Rest of the players during lunch are wearing sweaty grays, gym shorts, t-shirts, or barely any clothes at all. Not Keyshswn. He wears his customized Lakers jersey, the No. 19, with KJOHNSON across the back.

**Former DE Eric Ogbogu is an OLB now. He can run, he can rush. Can he cover?

**The A-Train is preparing for something brand new: On Sunday, he worked as a special-teamer. (Can he return kicks? He's never done it before in the NFL). It';s a step down from being a Rookie of the Year four seasons ago, but it beats working at Home Depot.

**I talk to Andre Gurode, I look at Andre Gurode, I watch Andre Gurode at practice -- and I can't figure out why he isn't one of the best OLs on the club. Somebody in scouting told me he hasn't grasped the mental part of the game yet, but. ... geez, talk to him for 5 minutes and you find claims of some mental laspe hard to believe.

**Pr boss Rich Dalrymple was listening to my radio show the other day when I made fun of SI's Peter King's pronouncement that new Dallas scouting boss Jeff Ireland is something special. Rich informs me that King's opinion wasn't just fed to him by buddy InfalliBill, but that a few years ago, King was allowed go get up-close-and-personal with young Jeff, watching his work habits, hearing him make war room arguments, etc. Very well. We''ll continue to hold back judgement, if you please.

**King, by the way, says in his latest SI column that he predicts Parcells' Cowboys will be a wild-card team. Haven't checked on this, but has Peter EVER predicted anything BUT Parcells going to the playoffs?

**For a guy who comes across disgruntled in the newspapers, Pete Hunter sure seems to be president of the Happy To Be Here Club. Even before Pete retracted his statement this weekend, I thought, "Makes you wonder if the "trade-me'' crap was his rep speaking while Pete's mouth moved.''

** Speaking of Hunter: Cowboys staffers say no to our idea of Aaron Glenn becoming the starting FS, and say no to the idea of any of those other young CBs moving over, too. (Except maybe for J Reeves, who Parcells notes played some safety in high school!) Lack of size, they say. Oh, except for Pete. He could do it. And here we go again. ... Maybe Keith Davis wins the job and ends the search?

**Make no mistake: Bledsoe's arm strength is in a different league compared to the other fellas here. A throw nobody even tries in games -- right hash, quick out to the left sideline -- wasn't a problem for Bledsoe this weekend.

**speaking of QBs: Drew Henson has a huge wrap on his right forearm late Sunday. Nothing to be alarmed about, we're told. He'll just half to drink his memorial day beer left-handed.

**Jerry and InfalliBill apparently said something to some media types about this year being one of "urgency.'' (What was last year? 12 months of summer vacation?) So the mob posed the issue to DC Mike Zimmer, who fumbled around with it for a few minutes, wrestling with questions about "pressure'' and whatnot. I know Zim, so trust me, he feels football urgency when he's taking a pee, brushing his teeth and gassing up his car. He doesn't need a higher-up to make him feel "urgent.''

** It was almost all 3-4 this weekend. In case the Cowboys never make an announcement. Meanwhile, it is clear that there is loads of 4-3 stuff in another chapter of the playbook. Which, by the way, is fine. Do pitchers advertise to hitters when they're about to throw a curveball?

**Dan Campbell's presence cannot be overrated. If RT is a problem -- and it is -- Campbells' work alongwise whomever wins the job will be of great assistance. And Witten can lineup on the other side and be a legit receieiving threat, so Dallas doesn't lose much when going with 2 TE's.

**A few of us were talking on the sidelines about "The Longest Yard,'' and it was pointed out that one particular DFW sportswriter, covering the Cowboys and working for a major metro newspaper, had never seen the original. I found that shocking. ... how can a football writer not be interested enough in the sport to seek out a film about football, that happens to star Kapp and Nitchke and Burt Reynolds? Dalrymple replied, "my test for a media person is if they know who threw the only no-hitter in World Series history. If you don't know that, you can't be a sportswriter.'' Good exchange. but then Dalrymple added, "you know, Parcells is into baseball trivia. Deep into it. So I give the Don Larsen question and he says, "who was the losing pitcher in that game. Thats the real test.'' Parcells. A piece of work.'

**Parcells, a Piece of Work II: Why did workouts span Memorial Day? "So Bill could screw with everybody's schedule,'' a Boys staffer says. "He didn't want anybody to go out of town and get in trouble.'' Oh, and about those rumors that the Boys will stay in NoCal during the week between their two Bay Area games? "Same thing,'' our deepthroat says. "He just likes to screw with people, keep them uncomfortable, keep em on their toes. The players don't know what we'll do. The equipment people don't even know.'' Parcells. A piece of work.

**Want more on The Longest Yard? Guess who buddied up to Michael Irvin? None other than Burt Reynolds, who generously offered to do script reading with him, and advised him to "be picky. You're going to get lots of offers. Lots of crap. Just do the good stuff.'' Yeah, Michael, like the remake of "Gator'.'

InmanRoshi · 05-31-2005

Nice read

**trickblue** · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlust22

**Want more on The Longest Yard? Guess who buddied up to Michael Irvin? None other than Burt Reynolds, who generously offered to do script reading with him, and advised him to "be picky. You're going to get lots of offers. Lots of crap. Just do the good stuff.'' Yeah, Michael, like the remake of "Gator'.'

I would rather see Irvin in a remake of "Deliverance"...

scottsp · 05-31-2005

That segment with Fish along with Irvin's was very, very good radio.

Charles · 05-31-2005

That was some great stuff. By far the best mini-camp blurbs I've read.

I don't really care about Canty "attitude". Can the guy play. We have enough Andre Gurode, Lynn Scott and Greg Ellis type players.

Marion Barber takes Tony Dixon crown. He looks like Tarzan hopefully he doesn't play like jan........oops I mean Dixon.

I 've been reading up on most of the rookies on the team, mostly stuff that sports writers don't include in scouting reports. Rob Petitti is Pretty impressive kid. There are only 2 other players on the Cowboy roster who posses the same combination of height and freaky size. Larry Allen and Flozell Adams. If Petitti nails down one of the tackle spots, I think Drew Bledsoe will have a career season.

Sportsbabe · 05-31-2005

This is the kind of stuff I love. Thanks for the low down.

1. Chris Canty can get to stepping or feel the wrath of infalliBill (I love that name). If he's complaining already, he's gonna fold under Bill's constant cussin and fussin. We don't need no fake primadonna's. Doesn't he know that media is 30% of professional sports?

2. His description of Zim was on hysterical (and believable).

3. Also love the way infalliBill uses the schedule to keep the team "in check" and on track ... Bill's way or the highway.

Doomsday101 · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportsbabe

This is the kind of stuff I love. Thanks for the low down.

1. Chris Canty can get to stepping or feel the wrath of infalliBill (I love that name). If he's complaining already, he's gonna fold under Bill's constant cussin and fussin. We don't need no fake primadonna's. Doesn't he know that media is 30% of professional sports?

2. His description of Zim was on hysterical (and believable).

3. Also love the way infalliBill uses the schedule to keep the team "in check" and on track ... Bill's way or the highway.

Evidently Canty is complaining more about the media people and their question, I don't think that will get him in Bills dog house.

scottsp · 05-31-2005

The thing that excites the hell out of me is the info regarding Ratliff. If we can somehow hit on him, this could be an incredible haul.

As for Canty and the "attitude," there might or might not be something to that. They might have caught him on a bad day, who knows. Hard to say right now. For the time being, not that big a deal to me.

Hopefully, it's nothing significant, but certainly something to keep tabs on.

Overall, very good stuff coming out of VR. Can't wait for training camp to start!

**BrAinPaiNt** · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Evidently Canty is complaining more about the media people and their question, I don't think that will get him in Bills dog house.

Agreed...he is probably just tired of hearing the same questions over and over again and also aggitated because he sees the other guys out there playing and he wants to get out there more.

No big thing at this time to me.

InmanRoshi · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottsp

The thing that excites the hell out of me is the info regarding Ratliff. If we can somehow hit on him, this could be an incredible haul.

Yep, I think Ratliff will turn out to be our best 2nd day pick in years.

chinch · 05-31-2005

did Dale or anyone post minicamp reports? this guy is tries too hard to be witty.

Alexander · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlust22

** DL Chris Canty has "tude'' -- but we're concerned its the wrong kind. We root for him because of his size and his health issues -- there is the eye surgery thing and the knee thing that needs to get cleared up by camp -- but in 25 years of hanging around in NFL locker rooms, I've nebver before heard a rookie gripe about the media, gripe about being "imposed'' upon, gripe about the redundant answers interviewee teammates were giving. ... until Sunday, when Canty acted like Duane Thomas and Charles Haley rolled into one. Hey kid, maybe you've had a tough life. But you aren't going to make it any easier by being a dick. Maybe you can be a dick AFTER you actually tackle somebody?

Interesting take. This is the first time I have heard anyone say anything negative about Canty. As far as this writer of this article is concerned, how about getting to know the young man before you start labelling him a "dick". Coming from a mediot who writes for a basketball site, forgive me if I don't take his assessment seriously.

**trickblue** · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander

Interesting take. This is the first time I have heard anyone say anything negative about Canty. As far as this writer of this article is concerned, how about getting to know the young man before you start labelling him a "dick". Coming from a mediot who writes for a basketball site, forgive me if I don't take his assessment seriously.

Trust me... "The Fish" would NEVER call him a dick to his face...

tyke1doe · 05-31-2005

As a newspaper reporter, I can tell you that reporters get all bothered when subjects don't talk to them. Many take it personally. So I wouldn't put too much in Fisher's report regarding Canty's behavior.

HOWEVER, Canty IS going to have to learn how to deal with the press. It's a necessary "evil." And if he doesn't, the press will make his life a living nightmare, especially when he makes a bonehead play or becomes the scapegoat in a loss.

There are press people who will bait you if they know you lose your cool. They'll criticize you mercilessly if they don't like you and you give them an unnecessary hard time.

Learn to deal with the press and its repetitive questions, and you'll do well, Canty.

Doomsday101 · 05-31-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyke1doe

As a newspaper reporter, I can tell you that reporters get all bothered when subjects don't talk to them. Many take it personally. So I wouldn't put too much in Fisher's reporter.

HOWEVER, Canty IS going to have to learn how to deal with the press. It's a necessary "evil." And if he doesn't, the press will make his life a living nightmare, especially when he makes a bonehead play or becomes the scapegoat in a loss.

There are press people who will bait you if they know you lose your cool. They'll criticize you mercilessly if they don't like you and you give them an unnecessary hard time.

Learn to deal with the press and its repetitive questions, and you'll do well, Canty.

Haley was never very close to the press and was very blunt with them. Canty just needs to play football and not worry what a bunch of writers have to say. I agree you don't want to start a war of words with the press but sometimes your better off not saying much at all to them