Audio: Sharpe goes Nicholson on Cowboys - 1/30/09

[dcfanatic]

Have you ever seen 'A Few Good Men' with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson? If you haven't then you missed a good movie and you should pick it up ASAP.

Now onto Shannon Sharpe as Jack Nicholson. In the movie Nicholson plays Colonel Nathan Jessup who is a hard *** marine who is running the military base down at Gitmo.

When Nicholson screams out 'You can't handle the truth' I was floored.

I hadn't thought about that movie in quite a while as it's about 15 years old now.

But when you hear the following interview with Shannon Sharpe with BaD Radio you will know why this famous scene quickly began playing over and over in my head.

Shannon Sharpe tells the truth

Thanks to Bob Sturm of BaD Radio for this clip. He's a fan of my blog and emailed me the clip this morning.

Now if we could get the entire Cowboys organization to sit and listen to this interview and then look around at each other and nod their heads in complete agreement we could start looking at 2009 with some sort of renewed hope.

 

[theebs]

I listened to this on the radio yesterday, I didnt want to bring it up because of all the jerry and owens homers on here.

But sharpe put it best. And it also speaks to the guys on here who wonder what a real nfl guy is. Sharpe said it never works for people when the nfl is a hobby to them.

Very well said. And he said It doesnt mean enough to some of our players, mostly owens.

Again though, the homers and tards will just chime in and tell us how great jerry and owens are.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I listened to this on the radio yesterday, I didnt want to bring it up because of all the jerry and owens homers on here.

But sharpe put it best. And it also speaks to the guys on here who wonder what a real nfl guy is. Sharpe said it never works for people when the nfl is a hobby to them.

Very well said. And he said It doesnt mean enough to some of our players, mostly owens.

Again though, the homers and tards will just chime in and tell us how great jerry and owens are.

Figures that any people who believe it's not just one or two people who've caused all the issues and not having them will suddenly make everything like being at Disney Land that makes them homers or tards.

I actually really, really, really hope they cut Owens at this point and I'd love it if Jerry would just step back and not say a word all year and then when this team still goes 8-8 or 9-7 without a playoff victory I'd love to here what excuses would be made then about how it was still Jerry or Owens.


Jerry and Owen shoulder blame but so does Crayton, Wade, Garrett, Romo, the O-Line, the D-Line, the special teams, and everyone else that didn't do their jobs at one point or another all through out the season.


It's a team game folks. Always has been and always will be. The sooner people realise that 1 or 2 people are not the fault of everything wrong, and not the only reasons for everything good, the sooner they'll realise that just getting rid of Owens will not solve all your issues.

 

[ddh33]

Figures that any people who believe it's not just one or two people who've caused all the issues and not having them will suddenly make everything like being at Disney Land that makes them homers or tards.

I actually really, really, really hope they cut Owens at this point and I'd love it if Jerry would just step back and not say a word all year and then when this team still goes 8-8 or 9-7 without a playoff victory I'd love to here what excuses would be made then about how it was still Jerry or Owens.


Jerry and Owen shoulder blame but so does Crayton, Wade, Garrett, Romo, the O-Line, the D-Line, the special teams, and everyone else that didn't do their jobs at one point or another all through out the season.


It's a team game folks. Always has been and always will be. The sooner people realise that 1 or 2 people are not the fault of everything wrong, and not the only reasons for everything good, the sooner they'll realise that just getting rid of Owens will not solve all your issues.

If that happened, then we could all know beyond all doubts that the problems were with the coaches and players. Wouldn't it be nice to do away with all the excuses?

Let everyone stand or fall on their own. I don't need Jerry or TO to be bringing everyone else down with their antics. I'm tired of the circus. Let's make it about football again, and we can all live with the results.

 

[theebs]

Figures that any people who believe it's not just one or two people who've caused all the issues and not having them will suddenly make everything like being at Disney Land that makes them homers or tards.

I actually really, really, really hope they cut Owens at this point and I'd love it if Jerry would just step back and not say a word all year and then when this team still goes 8-8 or 9-7 without a playoff victory I'd love to here what excuses would be made then about how it was still Jerry or Owens.


Jerry and Owen shoulder blame but so does Crayton, Wade, Garrett, Romo, the O-Line, the D-Line, the special teams, and everyone else that didn't do their jobs at one point or another all through out the season.

Its a team game for sure. But there lies the problem. With owens in your locker room you never have a team.

Listen to sharpe talk about it. He said owens is stuck in his ways and nothing will change him.

And yes all the parts you said need to play better. Romo, both lines and the special teams.

But that is a statement that needs an asterisk because part of the reason the guys on offense are struggling is because of all the nonsense.

ANd yes the first step to fixing this thing is removing owens. That is a realistic step. The ultimate step would be to make jerry a check signer and marketing guy only. But that wont happen he is an egomaniac who thinks he belongs as a general manager with final decisions on talent.

Keep defending those two. It makes no sense to me and it doesnt make any sense to anyone who has played or covered the nfl at any point.

The problems here are obvious, how to clean them up is obvious. Now does that mean they will win, no of course not but does it mean they will be a football team, yes. Does it mean it will be one team with one goal, yes.

There is no doubt it sure isnt now.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't need TO not here to know that this team isn't as good as advertised on paper.

I don't need TO not here to know that obviously this team is filled with too many people on this team aren't into being part of a team.

If one guy, TO, can cause people to not play like a team then they are too weak to play as a team anyway.

Do you think that if TO had been brought into Dallas in 93 or 94 or 95 that all the sudden him being the way he was would have made those guys, who knew how to be a team, suddenly not be able to be a team?

No.

Some teams are full of players who just get that. They know how to play as a team and for the team.

The Dallas Cowboys don't have that at this time.

 

[theebs]

I don't need TO not here to know that this team isn't as good as advertised on paper.

I don't need TO not here to know that obviously this team is filled with too many people on this team aren't into being part of a team.

If one guy, TO, can cause people to not play like a team then they are too weak to play as a team anyway.

Do you think that if TO had been brought into Dallas in 93 or 94 or 95 that all the sudden him being the way he was would have made those guys, who knew how to be a team, suddenly not be able to be a team?

No.

Some teams are full of players who just get that. They know how to play as a team and for the team.

The Dallas Cowboys don't have that at this time.

T.O. was brought here back then. His name was deion sanders. The guys in the locker room who built this franchise into a winner couldnt stand him, but the rookies and the fringe players loved him, just like owens.

oh and Jerry Jones loved him. Sanders ate away at the fabric of those great teams as much as free agency, poor drafting and crackhead irvin.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

And yet, while Irvin, Aikman, Emmitt, DJ, and company were still here, and still playing, the Cowboys managed to win another Superbowl and stay competitive even with Sanders here.

Once again one guy CAN NOT totally tear down a team and keep them from winning and playing as a team.

This team doesn't have enough guys who know how to play as a team, and get it done, even with a guy like Owens around.


I'll point to the Patriots as a very nice example. They can take in guys like Harrison and Moss, guys who are either considered bad team guys, drama queens, or dirty players, and yet they're still able to win and win a lot. Why? Cause they are filled with players who know how to play as a team and can't be derailed by the rantings of one or 2 selfish players.

This team can't do that and so I completely believe that even if you cut or trade TO this offseason, and that's the only move that's made (other than resigning or own and the draft of course) but that's the one 'big' move you make this team is still no better than 9-7 and nothing more than a first round playoff exit team.


It's more than one guy and until they get that threw their heads they're going nowhere.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

T.O. was brought here back then. His name was deion sanders. The guys in the locker room who built this franchise into a winner couldnt stand him, but the rookies and the fringe players loved him, just like owens.

oh and Jerry Jones loved him. Sanders ate away at the fabric of those great teams as much as free agency, poor drafting and crackhead irvin.

Also I don't believe that is accurate that the players who built this team couldn't stand him. Irvin loved him before he got here, loved him when he was here, and continues to love him till this day.

The difference is that Irvin couldn't be convinced to not work hard, to not take it serious, to not give it all he's got on the practice field simply because Deion didn't.

I've never heard Emmitt Smith say he hated him either. In fact I've never heard of him saying a bad thing about Deion.

Like I said if you're actually a good/great team, and you have that good/great team play in you then one or 2 players can't come in and cause that to suddenly not be there.

If 1 or 2 guys can come in and cause that much mess, that people can't play as a team anymore and they're that easily distracted or divided, then they were never a team to begin with.

 

[dcfanatic]

I don't need TO not here to know that this team isn't as good as advertised on paper.

I don't need TO not here to know that obviously this team is filled with too many people on this team aren't into being part of a team.

If one guy, TO, can cause people to not play like a team then they are too weak to play as a team anyway.

Do you think that if TO had been brought into Dallas in 93 or 94 or 95 that all the sudden him being the way he was would have made those guys, who knew how to be a team, suddenly not be able to be a team?

No.

Some teams are full of players who just get that. They know how to play as a team and for the team.

The Dallas Cowboys don't have that at this time.

And who brings those type of players here?

His initials are J and J.

Now I get your point that it's never one or two people.

But these two guys sure are a 'more visible' problem.

Jerry has to stop thinking that any pub is good pub.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I don't need TO not here to know that this team isn't as good as advertised on paper.

I don't need TO not here to know that obviously this team is filled with too many people on this team aren't into being part of a team.

If one guy, TO, can cause people to not play like a team then they are too weak to play as a team anyway.

Do you think that if TO had been brought into Dallas in 93 or 94 or 95 that all the sudden him being the way he was would have made those guys, who knew how to be a team, suddenly not be able to be a team?

No.

Some teams are full of players who just get that. They know how to play as a team and for the team.

The Dallas Cowboys don't have that at this time.

Whats funny is that those early 90s teams had several guys that were "me first" guys. I will name a couple.

Deon Sanders.......The ultimate "me first" guy was signed by Jerry and we won a SuperBowl with the guy. For those that dont remember, Sanders started out with Atlanta and the team just sucked back then but that didnt stop "Prime Time" from show boating.

He would high-step down the sideline with his hand to the side of his helmet and the Falcons would be down 3 TDs. Sanders once made the comment that the Georgia Dome was "the house Deon built"...........Doesnt get more "I am bigger than the team" than that fellas.


How bout Charles Haley...........We traded for him and that was considered the move that put us over the top. Why did San Fran trade Haley???

If the reports were true, SF was looking to dump Haley because he was fighting with teammates in the locker room, he was yelling at coaches, and it was reported that on one occassion he went out into the parking lot and started pissing on teammate's cars.


Yet he was the missing piece to our championship run according to alot of people. So this theory that you have to have a bunch of choir boys is just stupid.

Every freaking team in the league has players like this and that doesnt cause the entire team to start losing. So this theory that TO is destroying the whole team when we won championships with prima donnas like Deon and phychos like Haley dont hold water.

It is time for players to start looking at themselves and stop blaming their poor play on TO or Witten or Romo or coaches or whoever.........Each player is responsible for their own play and anything else is just excuses.

 

[dcfanatic]

Whats funny is that those early 90s teams had several guys that were "me first" guys. I will name a couple.

Deon Sanders.......The ultimate "me first" guy was signed by Jerry and we won a SuperBowl with the guy. For those that dont remember, Sanders started out with Atlanta and the team just sucked back then but that didnt stop "Prime Time" from show boating.

He would high-step down the sideline with his hand to the side of his helmet and the Falcons would be down 3 TDs. Sanders once made the comment that the Georgia Dome was "the house Deon built"...........Doesnt get more "I am bigger than the team" than that fellas.


How bout Charles Haley...........We traded for him and that was considered the move that put us over the top. Why did San Fran trade Haley???

If the reports were true, SF was looking to dump Haley because he was fighting with teammates in the locker room, he was yelling at coaches, and it was reported that on one occassion he went out into the parking lot and started pissing on teammate's cars.


Yet he was the missing piece to our championship run according to alot of people. So this theory that you have to have a bunch of choir boys is just stupid.

Every freaking team in the league has players like this and that doesnt cause the entire team to start losing. So this theory that TO is destroying the whole team when we won championships with prima donnas like Deon and phychos like Haley dont hold water.

It is time for players to start looking at themselves and stop blaming their poor play on TO or Witten or Romo or coaches or whoever.........Each player is responsible for their own play and anything else is just excuses.

It's time for the organization to look in the mirror, not just the players.

Allowing these players to run the program once Parcells left was a huge mistake.

The laid back attitude everyone loved wore out it's worth in 2007.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Once again one guy CAN NOT totally tear down a team and keep them from winning and playing as a team.

No, but he can go a long damn way towards it.

What people miss is that Owens is a rare character. Deion was similar, although I believe Deion was much more sinister than TO. But a guy who is a great talent and has put up tremendous numbers in his career, plus has a likable personality, can absolutely draw much of a team to his side. The thing is, you don't see it that often because it takes that combination of great career plus charisma plus lousy attitude, and not many players have that.

And that's all it takes to divide a team.

 

[theebs]

No, but he can go a long damn way towards it.

What people miss is that Owens is a rare character. Deion was similar, although I believe Deion was more sinister than TO. But a guy who is a great talent and has put up tremendous numbers in his career, plus has a likable personality, can absolutely much of a team to his side.

And that's all it takes.

Yep, you need all 53. The final 10 guys on the roster should be like dogs drewling at the mouth to be on the field for special teams to get acclimated and get into the game.

Instead we have reports that bruce read had to ask players to play special teams.

and why is that, because the middle of the road players and the fring players follow 81, just like they did 21.

Its a horrible horrible thing to have in your locker room.

 

[chinch]

any recaps for those not wanting to listen to marble mouth?

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Once again one guy CAN NOT totally tear down a team and keep them from winning and playing as a team.

He/She sure the heck can. Normally, it would be extremely difficult but when one guy has all the power, he can very easily destroy the entire operation.

Many players have told us that they think that is great..that they go straight to Jerry when they have a problem.

:bang2:

 

[sonnyboy]

Whats funny is that those early 90s teams had several guys that were "me first" guys. I will name a couple.

Deon Sanders.......The ultimate "me first" guy was signed by Jerry and we won a SuperBowl with the guy. For those that dont remember, Sanders started out with Atlanta and the team just sucked back then but that didnt stop "Prime Time" from show boating.

He would high-step down the sideline with his hand to the side of his helmet and the Falcons would be down 3 TDs. Sanders once made the comment that the Georgia Dome was "the house Deon built"...........Doesnt get more "I am bigger than the team" than that fellas.


How bout Charles Haley...........We traded for him and that was considered the move that put us over the top. Why did San Fran trade Haley???

If the reports were true, SF was looking to dump Haley because he was fighting with teammates in the locker room, he was yelling at coaches, and it was reported that on one occassion he went out into the parking lot and started pissing on teammate's cars.


Yet he was the missing piece to our championship run according to alot of people. So this theory that you have to have a bunch of choir boys is just stupid.

Every freaking team in the league has players like this and that doesnt cause the entire team to start losing. So this theory that TO is destroying the whole team when we won championships with prima donnas like Deon and phychos like Haley dont hold water.

It is time for players to start looking at themselves and stop blaming their poor play on TO or Witten or Romo or coaches or whoever.........Each player is responsible for their own play and anything else is just excuses.

Facts and rational thought will not change the minds of those who have decided that Owens is the root of all evil.

If your big toe is infected, you don't cut it off. You go get a doctor to fix the problem.

Great players are not enough to win a SB.
Great team unity, discipline and work ethic are not enough to win a SB.

YOU NEED BOTH.

Removing great players who are a detriment to team unity, discipline and work ethic will NOT IMPROVE THE TEAM IN THOSE AREAS.

Only coaching can and will do that.

 

[RainMan]

And yet, while Irvin, Aikman, Emmitt, DJ, and company were still here, and still playing, the Cowboys managed to win another Superbowl and stay competitive even with Sanders here.

Once again one guy CAN NOT totally tear down a team and keep them from winning and playing as a team.

This team doesn't have enough guys who know how to play as a team, and get it done, even with a guy like Owens around.


I'll point to the Patriots as a very nice example. They can take in guys like Harrison and Moss, guys who are either considered bad team guys, drama queens, or dirty players, and yet they're still able to win and win a lot. Why? Cause they are filled with players who know how to play as a team and can't be derailed by the rantings of one or 2 selfish players.

This team can't do that and so I completely believe that even if you cut or trade TO this offseason, and that's the only move that's made (other than resigning or own and the draft of course) but that's the one 'big' move you make this team is still no better than 9-7 and nothing more than a first round playoff exit team.


It's more than one guy and until they get that threw their heads they're going nowhere.

I can agree with this. I think Owens is or can become a distraction, but he's also a guy you can win with if you have the right people around him.

Unfortunately, I don't think we have the right people. Even if he were removed, we're still going to have a gossipy locker room full of guys like James, Carpenter, Ellis, Crayton, Roy E. Williams, etc. -- and I'm leaving out several guys, I'm sure -- that air everything out to the media.

Maybe getting rid of Owens is the right thing. But it's just one small step in the right direction. It's not as if we can suddenly start changing "Super Bowl!" if he's cut.

 

[cowboyjoe]

yes and no.

First let me say I like Jerry Jones and T O. Probably always will till I know for certain what is going on in the locker room and training camp.

Yet, like one guy said, its not all on one player or jerry jones, its like a friend of mine told me, its all of the above,

Jerry Jones it starts with him. Another friend of mine, put it to me this way. How many QBs have the Dallas Cowboys had since 1996. I would say about 11. How many running backs, I would say about 9, but no emmitt smith type player after he retired, how many wrs about 15, etc. Then, he said how many owner/general managers has the cowboys had since 1996, only one and he is still the owner/general manager.


Now,that being said, I am not trying to bash Jerry Jones, I truly believe he wants to win a superbowl. But he is going about it the wrong way, you cant buy championships.

And I admit we all were hyped up, at least most of us, when wade phillips was hired, and jerry paid about 140 million to veteran players in 2007 and 2008. Jerry even listening to advice probably from some of his staff went out and got Roy Williams WR from Texas. So, Jerry has done all that he could to help this team win. Thats where part of the problem is.

This or most of the players on this team, think that with the star on their helmet, they should be entitled to pro bowl honors, stats, etc. Thats not the way championships are won.

Its hard work, sweat, blood, tears, intensity for wanting to be the best, etc.

Next, with all the hoopla from Hard Knocks, where the players were titled super bowl bound, and buying into all of the awards before the season really started. Again, thats not the way championships are won.

Next, you have players that grumbled underneath Parcells for working them too hard. Then coach cupcake comes in, doesnt work them and last year, doesnt allow hitting for the first 25 days in training camp. Biggest saying all year from coach cupcake was i want to save their legs. For what? You were eliminated from the playoffs early so what were the fresh legs for? On top of that, coach wade cupcake gives the players extra days off for even losing some games. Again, that is a bunch of hockey, you know what.

I wouldnt doubt it at some times during that time, coach cupcake took some time off from working too, so he let the players off. Rumor has it from a former buffalo fan, that good ole wade would say on fridays, i am going to have lunch with my wife, at noon, and good ole wade wouldnt come back to practice that day. You cant run a team like that.

If some of that did happen, thats on coach cupcake and jerry jones for allowing that to happen. How many times last year, did coach cupcake say were were outplayed in all aspects, offense, defense, special teams and coaching?

Even the giants players said in the cowboys giants game in new york you could hear players on defense sreaming at each other. Now at same time, that goes back to the players too.

When 2 former great QBs like Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman say that Tony Romo should have never gone to you know were on the eve of the big playoff game against the giants in dallas, then yes, Romo was to blame. Have you ever heard him admit to him being wrong.

Till you admit you were wrong about something, you will continue to do the same problems over and over.

As far as T O, Witten, Romo in the locker room, that shows their is no strong leadership on this team. When a player like bradie james says, we cant beat each other up when the other players dont do their jobs or be accountable. Again, that is hockey you know what. The Cowboy players did that in the early 1970's, the players did that in the early 90's, players like Kevin Gogan, Charles Haley, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Larry Allen, made players accountable. Even Charles Haley said one time about Aikman, if he doesnt do his job properly, he is messing with my money that I can get in the playoffs and in the super bowl.

Even Darren Woodson would make players accountable, he caught roy williams the safety trying to sneak out the back door one day during practice, he grabbed him made him sit down by him in film study and do his job.

Thats the problem on this team, lack of heart, really wanting to win, be champions, paying the price to do that with sacrifice, hard work, sweat,

Finally, when the media swoops down on something, I understand they have to do a job, thats what they get paid for, but when players like the unname sources continue to give material, like the tardiness of players on plane trips, etc, then something is wrong in the locker room, and its not just T O.

Its all of the above. Parcells didnt allow that type of behavior in the locker room, neither did jimmy johnson or tom landry. So, its all of the above, not just one player or jerry jones by themselves.

Next, Garrett doesnt

 

[cowboyjoe]

Next, Jason Garrett, didnt adapt to changes he needed to make, it was very obvious that in 2007, teams had started to figure things out and shut down the cowboys offense. Jason Garrett, didnt adapt. Even Garrett admittd that he should have ran felix jones more in the loss to Commanders in dallas, and ran more instead of pass, thats on Garrett for either being stubborn and wanting to show he could do it his way, or not adapting.

So, this is all of the above, not just one or two people like T O or Jerry Jones. all of the above.