Cowboys in rookie's hands - John McClain,

[speedkilz88]

I hope this isn't a repost:

Cowboys in rookie's hands

By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Former Cowboys running back Troy Hambrick was not Bill Parcells' kind of player. Rookie running back Julius Jones is. When the Cowboys waived Hambrick last week, they placed enormous pressure on Jones, a second-round pick from Notre Dame.

Obviously, Jones has something Hambrick didn't, and Cowboys fans should keep this in mind. During his first training camp as the Cowboys' coach last year, Parcells explained why he is tougher on a running back than any player on the team, including the quarterback.

"The quarterback has to manage the game," Parcells said in San Antonio, "but no position can inspire a defense more than a running back."

Parcells went on to explain how coaches and defensive players watch closely to see if the back is getting timid -- if he's not hitting the holes as hard, if he's flinching before he's getting hit, if he's going down easier because of the punishment he's absorbing or if he's not fighting for extra yards as hard.

In other words, Parcells said, a back can make defensive players respond like sharks react to blood.

Even though Hambrick rushed for 189 yards in a 27-0 victory at Washington in December, he failed to convince Parcells he could be the coach's type of back. Now Hambrick is history, clearing the way for Jones to start right away.

Obviously, Parcells believes Jones has the kind of toughness he demands from a back, but gift-wrapping the job for a rookie creates incredibly high expectations. Parcells won't come out and say it, but those closest to him say he believes Jones is special, a Curtis Martin-type with more speed and quickness.

There was something else Parcells didn't like about Hambrick. He has a philosophy that all players must buy in to -- it's his way or the highway. If Parcells doesn't believe a player responds to his demanding style, especially his motivational tactics, he doesn't want the player on his roster.

One reason Parcells acquired veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson is because Johnson can have a positive influence on third-year receiver Antonio Bryant. After showing so much promise as a rookie in 2002 with 44 catches for 733 yards (16.7-yard average) and six touchdowns, Bryant slipped in his first season under Parcells. He had 39 catches for 550 yards (14.1 average) and two touchdowns.

It wasn't so much the numbers that disappointed Parcells. Bryant just didn't respond the way the coach wanted. For all the controversy he creates, Johnson works hard. When he's inspired, as he will be playing for Parcells again, Johnson practices hard, studies film, catches balls over the middle and blocks like a fullback.

Parcells wants Bryant to watch Johnson. Because Johnson respects Parcells so much, he'll be a different player on and off the field in Dallas than he was at Tampa Bay, where he feuded with coach Jon Gruden to a point where he was suspended for much of last season.

Johnson and Jones are the Cowboys' additions who are expected to have the biggest and fastest impacts.

AROUND THE LEAGUE



Saintly performance

-- New Orleans coaches are ecstatic over the offseason performance of receiver Donte' Stallworth. A No. 1 pick in 2002, Stallworth has suffered too many nagging injuries to his legs.



The Saints say Stallworth has worked like a fiend since the end of last season. He changed his diet, reduced his body fat to less than 8 percent, has gotten stronger and has learned new stretching techniques to help him avoid the leg injuries.

"I told him the other day I was proud of him," coach Jim Haslett said. "He's starting to take care of his body and learning what it takes to be a pro. If he keeps it up, he's going to have a big year."

Couch may stay

-- Because they can afford to keep his $9.35 million cap figure, the Browns may keep quarterback Tim Couch rather than waive him June 1. Because backup Kelly Holcomb is coming off shoulder surgery and won't be ready for the start of training camp, coach Butch Davis may want to keep Couch as insurance.



Davis doesn't want to waive Couch and get nothing in return. He also doesn't want to take a chance that Holcomb takes longer than expected to recover and be forced to have fourth-round pick Luke McCown behind starter Jeff Garcia. When Holcomb is healthy, Couch could be traded. If they hang on to Couch long enough, quarterbacks will get injured, and he'll be in demand. Teams that have been waiting for Couch to be available after June 1 better rethink that strategy.

Giant problem

-- Giants coach Tom Coughlin met with Rams quarterback Kurt Warner about backing up rookie Eli Manning this season. Warner is expected to be waived June 1 because the Rams' cap hit will be $4.6 million this year and $6.7 million next year. If he's waived before June 1, that entire amount would come out of this year's cap.



Coughlin, who hired Kevin Gilbride as his quarterbacks coach, is desperate for experience at that position after Kerry Collins was waived. Besides Manning, the Giants have heart-throb bachelor Jesse Palmer, undrafted free agent Jared Lorenzen, NFL Europe star Ryan Van Dyke and street free agent Kevin Thompson.

By the way, the 288-pound Lorenzen has been nicknamed "J-Load" by a New York tabloid.

Missing in action

-- Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress, who is angry that he's in the last year of his contract and hasn't been offered an extension, skipped the mandatory minicamp, claiming he had "personal business" to take care of. It was an unexcused absence.



The Steelers believe Burress, whose base salary this season is a paltry $535,000, is trying to force them to the bargaining table.

"It's not going to work," owner Dan Rooney said.

Rooney said he couldn't recall the last time a player under contract missed a mandatory minicamp unless he had permission. Burress, the eighth pick in the 2000 draft, signed a five-year contract. Last season, he caught 60 passes for 860 yards and four touchdowns. In 2002, he had 78 catches for 1,325 yards and seven TDs.

Punter under pressure

-- When the Packers traded into the third round to take Ohio State punter B.J. Sander, the move raised a lot of eyebrows around the league. Coach Mike Sherman, who controls personnel decisions, believes Sander is the kind of rare punter who can affect the outcome of a game.



From 1985 through 2004, no team traded up to select a punter. During that period, only two teams -- Cleveland for Jeff Jaeger (1987) and Detroit for Jason Hanson (1993) -- traded up to get kickers.

Dead man walking

-- Packers defensive end Jamal Reynolds has been a colossal bust. A No. 1 pick in 2002, Reynolds has been such a failure that he might as well have never stepped on the field.



The Packers used the 10th pick in the first round on Reynolds. He's been inactive in 29 of 53 games. He's been on the field for 390 plays, and he has three sacks and 11 solo tackles.

Just when the Packers were ready to dump Reynolds, he's registering a pulse. Perhaps because they're trying to sign free agent Tony Brackens to play opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in passing situations, Reynolds has turned it up a notch. He's become more dedicated to the offseason program and impressed the coaches at minicamp.

"Talking about defensive linemen in minicamps is tough," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said, "but you'd still have to say he's looked as good as he's ever looked."

On the Mark

-- No one is happier to be at Carolina's practice facility every day than linebacker Mark Fields, who was sidelined last season with Hodgkin's Disease. Fields has always kept a James Brown doll in his locker. When the doll's button is pushed, a recording of I Feel Good plays. Fields pushes the button a lot these days.



"I'm ready to go now," Fields said. "The Kentucky Derby was just run the other day, and I was like, `I need to be out there running right now,' but I understand what they're saying. `Just sit back and watch things and get the feel back.' "

Saints ticket woes

-- Last year, the Saints sold a record number of season tickets, more than 54,000. They've sold about 5,000 fewer than at this time last year but hope to make up the difference in the summer. ... Seven players who started the Bears' opener last season are no longer with the team: fullback Stanley Pritchett, receiver Dez White, guard Chris Villarial, defensive tackle Keith Traylor, quarterback Kordell Stewart, outside linebacker Warrick Holdman and defensive end Phillip Daniels. ... Packers quarterback Brett Favre on why he continues to play: "There are days I dread coming to practice. After a rough game like the opening game against Minnesota last year, I was ready to pack my bags and go. Look how the season ended up. They were the ones packing. I'd love to win a Super Bowl, and I think we're capable of doing that. I'm still hanging on to see what happens."

[MichaelWinicki]

Nice post.

Thank you.

[big dog cowboy]

I really don't care if Julius is a rookie or not. He will outperform THam by leaps and bounds. With the improved o-line (and improved passing game with the addition of Key) our running game should be light years ahead of last year.

[calico]

I am sorry, but as soon as I saw that it was by John McClain, I decided I would rather eat my **** than read that jerk off's views.

After living in Houston for 12 years and having to take his anti-cowboy crap for so long took its toll.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by calico

I am sorry, but as soon as I saw that it was by John McClain, I decided I would rather eat my **** than read that jerk off's views.

After living in Houston for 12 years and having to take his anti-cowboy crap for so long took its toll.

DAMN. I DIDN'T KNOW!

[calico]

^^don't worry about it.

Just be glad you don't have to hear him on the radio try to speak with that fat face of his. He slobbers on the mic about how bad dallas is and how great the Texans are.

I had the pain of listening to the Cowboys/Texans pre-game on the radio on the way back to Austin. All he could do was trash Dallas and say how Parcells was going to tarnish his legacy in Dallas.

The man is a sorry excuse. He used to pick against Dallas almost every game when they were winning SuperBowls...and when they would win the SB, he looked like he was going to cry afterwards.

Just a typical Houston media player. I loved how after Dallas whooped Houston in the pre-season, Houston decided to re-air the opening day win from the year before.

[TheHustler]

thats an excellent article about how RB play inspires players around him by taking hits and fighting for the tough yards. tham didnt do that.

[HTownCowboysFan]

Originally Posted by calico

I am sorry, but as soon as I saw that it was by John McClain, I decided I would rather eat my **** than read that jerk off's views.

After living in Houston for 12 years and having to take his anti-cowboy crap for so long took its toll.

Living in Houston as well, I agree to an extent. JM is anti-Cowboys, so take anything he writes regarding them with a grain of salt. He also hates Parcells with a passion. Reason: because Parcells doesn't let his assistants talk to the media during the season. The reason Parcells does this is to prevent cliques and divisions w/in his staff and the team--pretty smart IMO.

Actually, on Sports610, I once heard him say "I don't hate the Cowboys, I hate Cowboys fans." Ironically, he grew up a Cowboys fan in Waco.

[Sarge]

[quote=speedkilz88By the way, the 288-pound Lorenzen has been nicknamed "J-Load" by a New York tabloid. ."[/QUOTE]


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