Entitlement

[Hostile]

I am listening to Cowboys Break. Josh Ellis, Nick Eatman, and Derek Eagleton.

Josh Ellis brought up a conversation Albert Breer had with Stephen Jones about entitlement. He is talking at first about Mike Jenkins and how he has no leverage. He has only had one end to end great year, coming off shoulder surgery, and we've had an off season where we added depth and Jenkins thinks he can dictate terms.

He then compares him to following in the footsteps of Greg Ellis, Patrick Crayton, and mentions TO as someone who felt like he was entitled.

Now, this is to set up what I thought was an enlightening quote Breer used from none other than Bill Parcells.

Playing in Dallas "on the main stage. Players can be microwaved into stars, and if they're not careful can inherit a company sense of entitlement."


I don't know about anyone else but I think that statement is so astute as to part of the problem that has existed in Dallas and is what Garrett is looking to erase by his right kinds of guys approach.

Jimmy was someone the players feared. He could take a player who had a sense of entitlement and make him a team first kind of guy because he commanded fear. Jimmy had an aura about him that few coaches have. I think Jimmy was the closest thing to Lombardi as far as someone the players feared as I have ever seen.

I do not see Garrett as someone the players fear. I do see him as someone they respect because of his passion for the game. In that respect he is more like a Landry, but players did fear Landry too.

But Garrett needs guys to buy into the systems and to do that he can't have entitlement in the town where as Parcells noted "the main stage" it can happen so fast. I like that metaphor of microwaved.

To this end I see his staff as probably one of the critical elements of his ultimate success or failure here. The more respect the players have for the coordinators and position coaches the more they will fall in line.

We are seeing a team first crew evolving. I don't think there is any denying that. We still have 2 or 3 superstar players, maybe a few more. The big difference that can happen with this team will be ultimately how many of them don't feel the microwave giving them star status and who keep team first.

I really like that comment by Parcells. I like it a lot.

 

[Vanilla2]

When I heard that comment this morning I thought entitlement was a tad strong, at first. Then after some thought throughout the day it seems most true during the Phillips era. Garrett is doing an excellent job of scrubbing the Wade Phillips from the organization.

I can't wait to see what this season brings.

 

[Hostile]

When I heard that comment it his morning I thought entitlement was a tad strong at first. After some thought throughout the day it seems most true during the Phillips era. Garrett is doing an excellent job of scrubbing the Wade Phillips from the organization.

I can't wait to see what this season brings.

Nicely put.

 

[Frozen700]

I am listening to Cowboys Break. Josh Ellis, Nick Eatman, and Derek Eagleton.

Josh Ellis brought up a conversation Albert Breer had with Stephen Jones about entitlement. He is talking at first about Mike Jenkins and how he has no leverage. He has only had one end to end great year, coming off shoulder surgery, and we've had an off season where we added depth and Jenkins thinks he can dictate terms.

He then compares him to following in the footsteps of Greg Ellis, Patrick Crayton, and mentions TO as someone who felt like he was entitled.

Now, this is to set up what I thought was an enlightening quote Breer used from none other than Bill Parcells.

Playing in Dallas "on the main stage. Players can be microwaved into stars, and if they're not careful can inherit a company sense of entitlement."


I don't know about anyone else but I think that statement is so astute as to part of the problem that has existed in Dallas and is what Garrett is looking to erase by his right kinds of guys approach.

Jimmy was someone the players feared. He could take a player who had a sense of entitlement and make him a team first kind of guy because he commanded fear. Jimmy had an aura about him that few coaches have. I think Jimmy was the closest thing to Lombardi as far as someone the players feared as I have ever seen.

I do not see Garrett as someone the players fear. I do see him as someone they respect because of his passion for the game. In that respect he is more like a Landry, but players did fear Landry too.

But Garrett needs guys to buy into the systems and to do that he can't have entitlement in the town where as Parcells noted "the main stage" it can happen so fast. I like that metaphor of microwaved.

To this end I see his staff as probably one of the critical elements of his ultimate success or failure here. The more respect the players have for the coordinators and position coaches the more they will fall in line.

We are seeing a team first crew evolving. I don't think there is any denying that. We still have 2 or 3 superstar players, maybe a few more. The big difference that can happen with this team will be ultimately how many of them don't feel the microwave giving them star status and who keep team first.

I really like that comment by Parcells. I like it a lot.

It's true once you sit back and think.

Most guys who are starters for us...once they even get a smell of demotion, they want to jump ship...or pout.

Pretty sickening....it's like you have to stick with the guy, or release him.

Demote him..and he cries off into the woods.

 

[DallasInDC]

The one thing that is often overlooked with respect to Jimmy's approach is that for most of his time with Cowboys, he didn't have to contend with FA like coaches do now. it was a lot easier to strike fear in a player when they new their options were limited. I don't think that approach is as effective today when a player knows they can leave when their contract is up. Also, the amount of money players were being paid was much less and not to mention lower signing bonuses and no salary cap to worry about. Coaches/GM's/owners held all the cards and could dictate a players entire career. That's not the case anymore.

 

[Hostile]

Three one thing that is often overlooked with respect to Jimmy's approach is that for most of his time with Cowboys, he didn't have to contend with FA like coaches do now. it was a lot easier to strike fear in a player when they new there options were limited. I don't think that approach is as effective today when a player knows they can leave when their contract is up. Also, the amount of money players were being paid was much less and not to mention lower signing bonuses and no salary cap to worry about. Coaches/GM's/owners held all the cards and could dictate a players entire career. That's not the case anymore.

That is extremely valid.

 

[RS12]

The culture needs changing. Enabling, excuse making, and under achieving need to be things of the past.

 

[Eskimo]

The problem these days with FA, large signing bonuses and the salary cap is that star players know there is nothing management can do if they are upset about something. The players can't really be "abused" anymore. They can't be released due to dead cap money. They can't be traded due to dead cap money. All that can happen is management has to kiss their *** and make-up with them so that the team can continue to play.

I really think part of the key is that the team has to have strong internal leadership and has to have a preponderance of players with good attitudes or RKGs for lack of a better term. If the teammates want the team to head in a certain direction no one player can stand in their way. That player will conform to the other players due to "peer pressure" which cannot be duplicated by the FO.

I really think the team needs to think twice about extending player's with marginal attitudes. Many players will not handle money well. I truly believe Mike Jenkins fits this mold - he is not a bad guy but I do believe $50M will change him in a negative way. OTOH, that wouldn't happen to guys like Sean Lee, Demarco Murray and even Dez Bryant. They seem to have a great hunger and passion for the game. I give Jenkins credit for toughing it out last year and he showed a ton of guts to do it but I still have lingering doubts about him and when combined with the injury issues I'd rather let some other team roll the dice with him.

I really think this team is both cancer free (i.e. TO, Pacman, Tank) and tumor free (i.e. TNew, Sam Hurd, Choice, MartyB, Bigg) now and they can move forward as a dedicated, motivated and passionate group of football players.

 

[Hostile]

The culture needs changing. Enabling, excuse making, and under achieving need to be things of the past.

Which is what I pointed out the other day about Garrett. Injuries are just an opportunity for someone else. The roster is being churned with high priced, entitled players being jettisoned and young and hungry coming in.

 

[Zordon]

When I heard that comment this morning I thought entitlement was a tad strong, at first. Then after some thought throughout the day it seems most true during the Phillips era. Garrett is doing an excellent job of scrubbing the Wade Phillips from the organization.

I can't wait to see what this season brings.

I agree with you, but I think the entitlement factor has existed before Phillips' tenure.

 

[Hostile]

I agree with you, but I think the entitlement factor has existed before Phillips' tenure.

When Parcells arrived they said 18 players had radio shows. Backup guys had shows.

I don't really have issues with radio shows, but 18 is excessive it seems. Half dozen guys at the most deserve a show. If that.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Has the person allowing the enabling or entitlement departed? If not, then it will continue.

There has to be a chain of command in any organization. For players, it has to be their postion coach, then the head coach, and it stops right there. As long as they have higher access, then the enabling and entitlement is still there.

 

[Zordon]

When Parcells arrived they said 18 players had radio shows. Backup guys had shows.

I don't really have issues with radio shows, but 18 is excessive it seems. Half dozen guys at the most deserve a show. If that.

Wow I did not know it was that many. Do the players get paid for those types of gigs?

 

[Reality]

The best way to reduce or offset a sense of entitlement is to facilitate a cog environment. In sports, a "cog environment" is another way to describe a team-first concept. In a cog environment, you strive for each player (cog) to play a set role so they can be replaced if necessary either due to injury or poor performance.

People who hate Garrett or at least lack faith in him should accept at least one factual truth from his coaching methods. Prior to Garrett, whenever we lost certain players, the game or in some cases, the season was over. Even during the 90s dynasty years, the Cowboys seemed average at best when Aikman, Irvin or Smith was out of the game. As a fan, you found yourself just hoping the team would not fall too far out of the playoff race before the star players returned.

With Garrett, when we lose a guy, even a starter, the players and fans still believe they can win each game. The system he has implemented focuses less on the player and more on the responsibilities. It is great to gameplan to a player's strengths, but when you design schemes too much around a player's strengths and you lose that player, you create holes when those players are injured that their backups, who lack the same strengths even though they have strengths of their own, cannot replace.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Garrett because I believe in his team concept. Some coaches like Parcells preach a "team concept", but their definition of team concept is more focused on eliminating egos and working together rather than building a plug-in-and-replace cog system.

#reality

 

[nyc-cowboy]

The one thing that is often overlooked with respect to Jimmy's approach is that for most of his time with Cowboys, he didn't have to contend with FA like coaches do now. it was a lot easier to strike fear in a player when they new their options were limited. I don't think that approach is as effective today when a player knows they can leave when their contract is up. Also, the amount of money players were being paid was much less and not to mention lower signing bonuses and no salary cap to worry about. Coaches/GM's/owners held all the cards and could dictate a players entire career. That's not the case anymore.

I don't know - Bill had to go it it when he came to Dallas and he had no problem laying down the law. I still say there has to be some kind of fear factor involved - not saying you have to be a tyrant now.

I always say what made Tom, Jimmy and Bill great coaches was the ability to make the players play BEYOND what they thought they could and they each were feared in one way or another.

jason IMO is gonna have a tough time changing the culture because he doesn't have the "skins on the wall" or the personality to instill that fear factor.

 

[Hostile]

I don't know - Bill had to go it it when he came to Dallas and he had no problem laying down the law. I still say there has to be some kind of fear factor involved - not saying you have to be a tyrant now.

I always say what made Tom, Jimmy and Bill great coaches was the ability to make the players play BEYOND what they thought they could and they each were feared in one way or another.

jason IMO is gonna have a tough time changing the culture because he doesn't have the "skins on the wall" or the personality to instill that fear factor.

I would like to point out a few successful head coaches in recent years who were not fear factor guys.

Dick Vermeil
Tony Dungy
Andy Reid
Sean Payton
Norv Turner

There are multiple ways to get a team to perform, fear is only one of them. But the one thing no team can avoid if they want success is entitlement. That is why I really don't like big splash moves in Free Agency. Those guys tend to think they are the missing piece of the puzzle and that they are here to save.

Very happy that Brandon Carr does not seem to have that type of attitude. I was worried. CBs can.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

I would like to point out a few successful head coaches in recent years who were not fear factor guys.

Dick Vermeil
Tony Dungy
Andy Reid
Sean Payton
Norv Turner

There are multiple ways to get a team to perform, fear is only one of them. But the one thing no team can avoid if they want success is entitlement. That is why I really don't like big splash moves in Free Agency. Those guys tend to think they are the missing piece of the puzzle and that they are here to save.

Very happy that Brandon Carr does not seem to have that type of attitude. I was worried. CBs can.

Very true there is more than one way to skin a cat - and each one of those guys had something, wether it was like Vermeil who I'm sure the players knew he would jump on a grenade for them or a Norv who does have the skins on the wall ect.

For jason to win them over he has to win obviously and put them in position to succeed - you can't blow 4 or whatever how many 4th qt leads - players will lose confidence, you know how much momentum and emotion plays an important part in this game.

You mentioned something about entitlement - I agree and that another thing he will have to overcome - jerry, he's the one that creates that.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

I would like to point out a few successful head coaches in recent years who were not fear factor guys.

Dick Vermeil
Tony Dungy
Andy Reid
Sean Payton
Norv Turner

There are multiple ways to get a team to perform, fear is only one of them. But the one thing no team can avoid if they want success is entitlement. That is why I really don't like big splash moves in Free Agency. Those guys tend to think they are the missing piece of the puzzle and that they are here to save.

Very happy that Brandon Carr does not seem to have that type of attitude. I was worried. CBs can.

Just to play devil's advocate here... I'd argue the following:

- Vermeil had his success over 10 years ago. He did so with HOFer's at QB, two at WR, and RB. And the game's best LT. Lots of talent on that Rams team, but good job by him. Keep in mind, he was out of football for a very long time (maybe for a reason).

- Dungy was a great coach, but his teams struggled quite a bit in the playoffs. Why? Soft, just like him. Oh and that Peyton guy is pretty good, and probably deserves most of the credit.

- Reid is another great coach. Hasn't won the big one though.

- I'd actually argue that Payton is a "fear factor" coach. Bounty gate not withstanding, his players do fear/respect him a ton and he's very fiery and intense.

- When did Norv have success? Years of inadequacy or underperformance when it counts.

I do see your point though. It's more about a coach's ability to relate to and communicate with the players, and the respect he commands, rather than his mode of delivery and style in doing so.

 

[Frosty]

Which is what I pointed out the other day about Garrett. Injuries are just an opportunity for someone else. The roster is being churned with high priced, entitled players being jettisoned and young and hungry coming in.

You nailed it, having young players hungry for a chance to prove themselves is something this team sorely needs. Vets need to step up or move on.

 

[junk]

The whole RKG thing isn't unique to Garrett. Parcells brought that to Dallas. They lost their way a bit under Phillips, but are moving back in that direction now.

I do think the culture in Dallas leads to a bit of entitlement. More than likely driven by multiple factors including coaching, the media and even the way they've handled contracts and competition.

I think the perennial late season collapses are driven by a couple of factors with the sense of entitlement being one. Sturm's theory on depth being another. Also wish Dallas could get a season with a bye week a bit later in the year too.