DeMarcus Ware: Bill Parcells Wanted to Draft Shawne Merriman

[Doomsday101]

DeMarcus Ware appeared on The Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and essentially detailed his NFL origin story. Sports Day Dallas Fort Worth transcribed part of the interview, but most interestingly, Ware detailed just how much Bill Parcells seemed to dislike him early in his career.

"On my visit to the Dallas Cowboys they tell me "We're not interested" so in my mind I'm thinking probably going to Carolina or San Diego and then as soon as the 11th pick in the 2005 draft comes up, the Dallas Cowboys pick me."


Dallas wound up becoming the perfect destination for Ware, but it took some time for him to prove himself to his coach. Parcells was enamored of former Maryland linebacker Shawne Merriman and let Ware know it.

"He was one of the coaches who played the most mind games with me the whole time. Every single day if I didn't hear about Shawne Merriman - "You know Shawne Merriman had three sacks? You didn't have any. Shawne Merriman might be rookie of the year. I don't know if you'll be able to do that."

Ware finished his career with 138.5 sacks, but were it not for Merriman, Parcells may never have given him the chance he needed to become a Hall of Fame pass-rusher.

http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/DeMarcus-Ware-Bill-Parcells-Wanted-to-Draft-Shawne-Merriman-53398744

 

[Aven8]

Yes he did, and for a season or 3 Big Bill looked correct!

 

[CCBoy]

Think that Bill Parcells takes credit for it all, now?

 

[Doomsday101]

Ireland convinced Jerry to take Ware and it was Jerry who overruled BP and took Ware.

 

[TonyS]

Yes he did, and for a season or 3 Big Bill looked correct!

Oh the wonder of PEDs!

 

[big dog cowboy]

Somehow Merriman lasted 8 years but did virtully nothing after year 3. He only played in 33 games his last 5 years. He did leave with one contribution: his lights out dance.

 

[Shinaoi]

I think I even read that parcells preferred using the first pick on marcus spears.

 

[CCBoy]

I think I even read that parcells preferred using the first pick on marcus spears.

Bill felt that defensive end in a 3-4 was more important at their stage of development.

 

[noshame]

IMO Parcells was a really good coach, but not great in all areas. Could have had more success if he relied on others.

 

[gimmesix]

DeMarcus Ware appeared on The Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and essentially detailed his NFL origin story. Sports Day Dallas Fort Worth transcribed part of the interview, but most interestingly, Ware detailed just how much Bill Parcells seemed to dislike him early in his career.

"On my visit to the Dallas Cowboys they tell me "We're not interested" so in my mind I'm thinking probably going to Carolina or San Diego and then as soon as the 11th pick in the 2005 draft comes up, the Dallas Cowboys pick me."


Dallas wound up becoming the perfect destination for Ware, but it took some time for him to prove himself to his coach. Parcells was enamored of former Maryland linebacker Shawne Merriman and let Ware know it.

"He was one of the coaches who played the most mind games with me the whole time. Every single day if I didn't hear about Shawne Merriman - "You know Shawne Merriman had three sacks? You didn't have any. Shawne Merriman might be rookie of the year. I don't know if you'll be able to do that."

Ware finished his career with 138.5 sacks, but were it not for Merriman, Parcells may never have given him the chance he needed to become a Hall of Fame pass-rusher.

http://dal.247sports.com/Bolt/DeMarcus-Ware-Bill-Parcells-Wanted-to-Draft-Shawne-Merriman-53398744

At that time, I wanted Merriman, too. Ware was a late riser while Merriman was always expected to go around where he did. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect from this smaller-school guy with great measurables, and I don't believe there were many here pulling for him to be the pick over Merriman.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Really was only two years in, that was the last time Merriman had more sacks. Also was the year he was busted for PEDs...

 

[Garrettop]

I can absolutely hear the Tuna saying that stuff in that bored voice of his too.

 

[Doomsday101]

At that time, I wanted Merriman, too. Ware was a late riser while Merriman was always expected to go around where he did. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect from this smaller-school guy with great measurables, and I don't believe there were many here pulling for him to be the pick over Merriman.

Fact is BP wanted Spears over Ware as well

There was a time when people wondered if the Cowboys made the right decision in drafting DeMarcus Ware over Merriman.

For this, you can -- wait for it -- thank Jerry Jones.

It's easy to bash Jones for everything that has gone wrong with the Cowboys, but the decision to draft Ware with the 11th overall pick in 2005 was his. When the Cowboys came to work for the first round of the draft that year, many inside the building thought Merriman would have been the Cowboys' pick.

Bill Parcells always liked guys from bigger schools, and Maryland is just a little bigger than Ware’s Troy.

But Jones went with Ware, even after Parcells said he would rather take Marcus Spears with the 11th pick. Parcells was not exactly pleased at the time, but then the Cowboys got Spears with the 20th pick and the coach’s mood brightened.

This isn’t to say Parcells didn’t want or didn’t like Ware. In his first comments after the selection he compared Ware to Lawrence Taylor, and throwing around compliments was not exactly something Parcells did a lot.

http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/cow...5/another-sign-demarcus-ware-was-right-choice

 

[MichaelWinicki]

IMO Parcells was a really good coach, but not great in all areas. Could have had more success if he relied on others.

That's correct.

I think these guys get a little full of themselves after tasting a little success.

Landry was smart enough to rely on others and that's why he was a superior head coach.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's correct.

I think these guys get a little full of themselves after tasting a little success.

Landry was smart enough to rely on others and that's why he was a superior head coach.

Thing is it is a group effort on every team yet egos of some love to make it out as if they are the only ones who called the shots.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I think I even read that parcells preferred using the first pick on marcus spears.

Correct.

Fortunately everything worked out and honestly this 2005 draft was a HUGE part of whatever success the team had in the next 5 years. Ware, Spears, Burnett, Barber, Canty and Ratliff is a heckuva haul in one draft.

Once Merriman got off the 'roids, it was "Lights Out" for him.

 

[CATCH17]

Merriman was better then Ware for like half of a season.


Wade was using Merriman in a dynamic pass rushing fashion and Mike Zimmer was taking the dinosaur approach to football and also Ware dropped into coverage a lot.


The eye test even at that time showed Ware was better then Merriman. The stat sheet favored Merriman because of how he was used in his scheme.

 

[dfense]

Parcells walks on water for a lot of fans. Truth is, he couldn't draft an offensive lineman to save his life. Every guy he picked was a bust. He passed up so much talent to put together his 3-4 defense that was average at best. Could have had Ware and Aaron Rogers in that draft. Dallas needed a QB. But he takes a 3-4 DE high in the first round. Parcells wanted to shop for all the groceries but he had no idea what isle to start looking.

 

[tyke1doe]

At that time, I wanted Merriman, too. Ware was a late riser while Merriman was always expected to go around where he did. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect from this smaller-school guy with great measurables, and I don't believe there were many here pulling for him to be the pick over Merriman.

If I recall correctly, I knew little about Ware, but I wanted nothing to do with Merriman. I kind of figured he was on steroids.
As for Bill Parcells, he was kind of worn out at the end of his career. When he let Antonio Bryant throw a T-shirt in his face and didn't respond, I kind of knew the fire had gone out.
He was good enough to return the organization back to the basics that it needed (strong defense, use the clock/run game to wear the opponent down), but he was not an innovator or a risk-taker any more. The fact we didn't attack the Seattle Seahawks' secondary when they had signed a guy who was formerly working at the post office, told me all I needed to know about his game-day coaching.
Still, I give him credit for getting the Cowboys back on the right path.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Folks act as though Parcells was infallible! He made his fair share of mistakes that's for sure. Salute to Demarcus Ware for proving the haters/doubters wrong. #Future1BallotHOFer