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1:22 PM Tue, Nov 18, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Barry Horn E-mail News tips
I have always been intrigued by Marion Barber's relative silence. I was reminded of it Sunday night when there was John Madden rightfully slobbering all over Barber and NBC didn't even try for a post-game interview.
The networks have taken to avoiding even asking to talk to Barber because of his reluctance to talk. He doesn't talk on-the-record to the local media.
So I decided to do some snooping. I called three noted Cowboys obervers this morning _ Troy Aikman, Brad Sham and Eddie Werder _ to get their takes on Barber's cone of silence.
Here's Aikman's thoughts:
"Last year I wanted to talk to Marion Barber during a production meeting before a Cowboys game. Rich Dalrymple (the Cowboys PR gatekeeper) said 'OK.' Then word came back that Barber balked. He wouldn't come. But I persisted and in he came.
"He's a nice guy. He's just so shy and worried that he may say something that will come out wrong or be taken out of context. I asked him if it bothered him sharing time with Julius Jones. He didn't want to touch that. He finally said, 'No, no, I'm happy doing my thing.'
"It's kind of a shame. He is such a quality guy. I believe that if a player doesn't talk to the media that at the end of the day, it hurts the player more than it hurts the media...
"I wish he would let people see him as the mild-mannered, bright guy he is...I'll tell you this: He is one of those guys I would have loved to have played with. He's as unselfish and as good a teammates as they come."
We'll hear Sham and Werder's takes tomorrow. I have to get back to writing something for the newspaper.
Barry Horn E-mail News tips
I have always been intrigued by Marion Barber's relative silence. I was reminded of it Sunday night when there was John Madden rightfully slobbering all over Barber and NBC didn't even try for a post-game interview.
The networks have taken to avoiding even asking to talk to Barber because of his reluctance to talk. He doesn't talk on-the-record to the local media.
So I decided to do some snooping. I called three noted Cowboys obervers this morning _ Troy Aikman, Brad Sham and Eddie Werder _ to get their takes on Barber's cone of silence.
Here's Aikman's thoughts:
"Last year I wanted to talk to Marion Barber during a production meeting before a Cowboys game. Rich Dalrymple (the Cowboys PR gatekeeper) said 'OK.' Then word came back that Barber balked. He wouldn't come. But I persisted and in he came.
"He's a nice guy. He's just so shy and worried that he may say something that will come out wrong or be taken out of context. I asked him if it bothered him sharing time with Julius Jones. He didn't want to touch that. He finally said, 'No, no, I'm happy doing my thing.'
"It's kind of a shame. He is such a quality guy. I believe that if a player doesn't talk to the media that at the end of the day, it hurts the player more than it hurts the media...
"I wish he would let people see him as the mild-mannered, bright guy he is...I'll tell you this: He is one of those guys I would have loved to have played with. He's as unselfish and as good a teammates as they come."
We'll hear Sham and Werder's takes tomorrow. I have to get back to writing something for the newspaper.
