Anyone else see the clubhouse eroding away?

[parchy]

Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate here, but these Pacman rumors have me thinking of the legacy Parcells left of which I was most proud: the clubhouse atmosphere. Things were damned good in the locker room, if for no other reason than to spite the evil all seeing eye... BP. Now that he's gone it seems like we're taking on more risks (TO-JJ rumors aside), and I'm getting more nervous. Pacman's a great talent (although his CB skills aren't nearly as good as the media cracks them up to be at times), but is it worth it? Will Tank be worth it?

So I ask you... are these combustive personalities just what it takes to win titles? Do you have to sacrifice the "good names" in order to get playoff wins? Parcells' theory obviously brought great chemistry among teammates, but it didn't bring us playoff wins. But will bringing big name felons into the locker room hinder the team if things break down at any point? We do have a tendency to suck in December, which is when those kinds of things crop up. And despite his toned down demeanor, TO is always a sleeping powderkeg. And he will be until the day he retires.

Just color me nervous about this whole situation. I'd love to see Pacman returning punts so Crayton finally gets off the field, but at what cost? It's easy to say now, "Parch, you're crazy, it's just one guy." That's what we said when Tank and TO were signed and I'm sure that's what we'll say when Mr. Crappy Character X is signed next. Just makes me uneasy, is all. Anybody else feel the same? I'm just not sure I believe Pacman.

 

[ajk23az]

Like it has been said OVER and OVER...these contracts are made very smartly.

One mess up and it doesnt cost the team a thing to cut them.

Thats the good part.

The guys we are taking risks on can be very, very good players and contribute to the team tremendously.

 

[dadymat]

No.....

 

[LowTech]

AJ knows this is it for him. If he screws up, we know he's to stupid to survive. He'll be promptly cut and we will read about him later either going to prison or shot dead.

Or the young man could get his head out of his *** and realize its time to grow up. We have some good guys on this team that could show him there is another way.

 

[DallasEast]

Years ago, the answer may have been yes to the question of adding a player like Adam Jones to the roster. There were only a handful of great teams and one very good or great player could have proven the difference between a Super Bowl and finishing second. Nowadays? No.

A good team with good coaching that executes without suffering major injuries can win championships in today's NFL. Some thought that Terrell Owens, a premier wide receiver, would virtually guarantee a Cowboys' Super Bowl victory.

Nope.

Some thought that Randy Moss would guarantee a Patriots' Super Bowl win.

Nada.

The Giants lost bad influences such as Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey and won a Super Bowl with Plaxico Burress of all people.

That's today's NFL. With that in mind, let's return to the, "Let's get Adam Jones at all costs" show. Only on Cowboyszone/You're in the Zone!

 

[David276]

i think the whole locker room thing youre speaking about is way over rated. he will be fine here or hes gone. does anyone actually think pac man is going to get a no cut clause in his contract haha if there is even anything like that.

 

[Hostile]

I don't yet, but I see the potential for it.

To the players and coaches and management's credit, we have a very clean team who are acting mature.

I'll tell you who the glue is. Tony Romo. He's a superstar. He can relate with the superstars. He's been on the Practice Squad. He can relate with the guys down there. He's played for his life. He can relate with those guys. He can be looked up to by just about everyone on the team.

 

[DallasEast]

I don't yet, but I see the potential for it.

To the players and coaches and management's credit, we have a very clean team who are acting mature.

I'll tell you who the glue is. Tony Romo. He's a superstar. He can relate with the superstars. He's been on the Practice Squad. He can relate with the guys down there. He's played for his life. He can relate with those guys. He can be looked up to by just about everyone on the team.

Good point, Hos, but do you think that Romo and Pacman will mesh well if Jessica Simpson asks his new teammate to make it rain for her?

 

[crazytown41]

You could replace T.O with PacMan on every negative post that was said before the T.O signing and you couldnt tell the difference.

The 90's Boys had more knuckleheads than this team has, even with PacMan.

I'm beginning to wonder if some these Cowboy fans jumped on the bandwagon after Romo came aboard. Because it sure seems like they don't remember the 90's squad.

 

[parchy]

You could replace T.O with PacMan on every negative post that was said before the T.O signing and you couldnt tell the difference.

The 90's Boys had more knuckleheads than this team has, even with PacMan.

I'm beginning to wonder if some these Cowboy fans jumped on the bandwagon after Romo came aboard. Because it sure seems like they don't remember the 90's squad.

This has less than nothing to do with the 90's teams. It's a different NFL. It's a different generation of football players. I think the people most reticent to blow off the whole notion aren't really thinking about it. Rather, they're plugging both ears to the mere idea that a guy like Pacman can divide a locker room.

And for those who think the whole 'trust my teammates' thing is overrated, I defy you to go into that room and tell me there aren't factions. You think a guy like Bobby Carpenter and a guy like TO can relate on anything on a personal level? Add a few bristling personalities and you get what the Bengals have been the last few years. And what do you know, CJ is pissing in Marv Lewis' cornflakes already this off-season, something that won't be lost on the players this year. You think the best player on your team calling out the drive of your front office isn't going to affect the way you play on Sundays? Hell yes it will.

I'm not saying this is all a sure thing, but the prospect worries me. I hated Parcells' decisions on Sundays, but he got an A+ from me for the other six days of the week.

 

[BAZ]

PacMAn: Hey, any of you guys wanna go to a club? Have a little fun?

Locker room: ...

...

...

Packman: Anybody? no? ok.


Parcells did install a good believe in yourselve's way with the team, but the way he treated them like children in other ways hurt them. I think Jerry and Wade are doing quite well, seeing TO lead the team as a honorary captin last year was a shock, but great to see. That would of never happened with Parcells.

 

[Woods]

From everything I've read, PacMan is a good locker room guy, and he has always performed on the field.

PacMan's problem is his "extra curricular" activities, notably strip clubs.

I don't think he's going to tear the locker room apart, because simply said, if he isn't listening to Calvin Hill and others in the Cowboys' organization, he will be let go.

We WILL draft another one or two secondary players this year. Heck, we're bringing in every top CB into Valley Ranch over the next month. JJ isn't going to put all his eggs in the PacMan basket.

I'm not sure how this PacMan experiment will work out. Will it be like Tank Johnson (at least so far)? Or will it be a failure? No one knows.

But I think, depending on the contract and draft pick involved, it could definitely be worth the risk.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I defy you to go into that room and tell me there aren't factions. You think a guy like Bobby Carpenter and a guy like TO can relate on anything on a personal level? Add a few bristling personalities and you get what the Bengals have been the last few years. And what do you know, CJ is pissing in Marv Lewis' cornflakes already this off-season, something that won't be lost on the players this year. You think the best player on your team calling out the drive of your front office isn't going to affect the way you play on Sundays? Hell yes it will.

Wow just wow. Carpenter and Owens cannot relate, huh? I suppose Kyle Kosier, Tony Romo, or Jason Witten cannot relate with him either. I am sorry but this has to be one of if not the most small minded things i have ever heard here.

Every guy in that lockerrom has the common bond of having played football isnce they were kids and being on the team trying for a common goal.

Sure the various positions work out together and all that but if you will recall Wade made it such that all players lockers were intermingled with the others. There have been ZERO problems that hhave been reported.

Now im sure it hasnt been all peachy keen. These guy are amped up professional athletes but you hear about Owens taking younger players under his wing and his obviously good relationship with Romo or hear about Ware lauding how Tank is coming along and quite frankly your fearmongering is just dumb.

Who cares what 85 is doing in Cincinatti until we hear him doing it here then who cares.

 

[Hostile]

This has less than nothing to do with the 90's teams. It's a different NFL. It's a different generation of football players. I think the people most reticent to blow off the whole notion aren't really thinking about it. Rather, they're plugging both ears to the mere idea that a guy like Pacman can divide a locker room.

And for those who think the whole 'trust my teammates' thing is overrated, I defy you to go into that room and tell me there aren't factions. You think a guy like Bobby Carpenter and a guy like TO can relate on anything on a personal level? Add a few bristling personalities and you get what the Bengals have been the last few years. And what do you know, CJ is pissing in Marv Lewis' cornflakes already this off-season, something that won't be lost on the players this year. You think the best player on your team calling out the drive of your front office isn't going to affect the way you play on Sundays? Hell yes it will.

I'm not saying this is all a sure thing, but the prospect worries me. I hated Parcells' decisions on Sundays, but he got an A+ from me for the other six days of the week.

Walt Garrison in his book Once a Cowboy described how Roger Staubach and one of his WRs (name escapes me right now) argued every single day in front of the whole team about Viet nam. Roger had served and was proud of his service and took it rather personal. The other guy absolutely could not relate.

They won a Super Bowl.

 

[tunahelper]

Like it has been said OVER and OVER...these contracts are made very smartly.

One mess up and it doesnt cost the team a thing to cut them.

Thats the good part.

The guys we are taking risks on can be very, very good players and contribute to the team tremendously.

Good point.

The other legacy Parcells left was December swoons.

Pacman should help with that issue.

 

[Mash]

I dont understand all the panic.

I think we have a great core of guys that will lead this team.

One thing about Wade Phillips is that he has installed a family atmosphere....there is no division between the offence and defence......they are all united

Adding a player like Pacman will not destroy this locker room.....Players like Romo...Ware...Newman...etc will not allow it.

One thing for sure....Wade will make Pacman accountable....

The 90's Cowboys IMHO had much more combustive personalities....Jimmy Johnson didnt really care.....he ran the same program in College.... "just win Baby"

 

[Kangaroo]

The issue is relying on the guy in anyway is the issue

We relied on Leon Lett to stay clean that burned the team way to much. Relying on a knucklehead of the magnitude to make good decisions off the field and not be suspended again is a bit much.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I have often joked that once we got the knuckleheads from the 90's we started losing......maybe there is some truth to that afterall. :laugh2:

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm with you, Parchy.

The irony is that the drill sergeant Parcells demaded the good guys who probably didn't need an iron fist anyway. Now with a more permissive coach, we're accumulating the potential bad guys. It seems backwards, doesn't it?

I know people will say it doesn't matter, and of course in the short term they are right. It's like anything -- systemic changes take a while to show up. If have a meal of pizza, chocolate cake, and beer, you won't get fat the next day. But that doesn't mean that you won't if you do it enough times.

Not everyone has to be a choir boy, but you have to be very careful not to get too many bad apples on your team. This really isn't Madden -- these are real people, not robots, who all have to interact and function as a team.

You need talent to win, and it's okay to have a few bad guys with talent... I just hope Jerry knows where to draw that line.

 

[iceberg]

Maybe I'm playing devil's advocate here, but these Pacman rumors have me thinking of the legacy Parcells left of which I was most proud: the clubhouse atmosphere. Things were damned good in the locker room, if for no other reason than to spite the evil all seeing eye... BP. Now that he's gone it seems like we're taking on more risks (TO-JJ rumors aside), and I'm getting more nervous. Pacman's a great talent (although his CB skills aren't nearly as good as the media cracks them up to be at times), but is it worth it? Will Tank be worth it?

So I ask you... are these combustive personalities just what it takes to win titles? Do you have to sacrifice the "good names" in order to get playoff wins? Parcells' theory obviously brought great chemistry among teammates, but it didn't bring us playoff wins. But will bringing big name felons into the locker room hinder the team if things break down at any point? We do have a tendency to suck in December, which is when those kinds of things crop up. And despite his toned down demeanor, TO is always a sleeping powderkeg. And he will be until the day he retires.

Just color me nervous about this whole situation. I'd love to see Pacman returning punts so Crayton finally gets off the field, but at what cost? It's easy to say now, "Parch, you're crazy, it's just one guy." That's what we said when Tank and TO were signed and I'm sure that's what we'll say when Mr. Crappy Character X is signed next. Just makes me uneasy, is all. Anybody else feel the same? I'm just not sure I believe Pacman.

then it's funny how the clubhouse atmosphere got "fun" after parcells left.

all i really see are fans wringing their hands and crying FOUL when my guess would be during the first 2 superbowl runs we really didn't care what the players did off the field till it got so far out of hand a lie (irvin rape charge) was far too easy to believe and most did.

i think we put more into how happy the clubhouse is than the players.

i'm a spectator in this sport. yes, i can have my opinions but i can also worry for days on end and it makes no difference in the real world, only brings down my own life and happiness. i have no control over what happens so i just watch like the rest and hope for the best.

if pacman screws up he goes. it's not that difficult unless you just make it that way.