Entitlement

[Stash]

Thanks for stealing my thread topic! I had planned to start one based on this very subject after reading PFT's story on quotes from Stephen Jones (not sure if it was ever posted here?)

Cowboys hoping to change their culture

Posted by Evan Silva on June 6, 2012, 9:25 PM EDT


The Dallas Cowboys have one playoff victory in the past 16 seasons, but you wouldn’t know it by how glorified the franchise has continued to be well beyond its Super Bowl years. They’re not treated like the Bills and Jaguars. The media covers them with even more focus than the Packers and Steelers.

And the Cowboys are well aware that kind of culture can breed problems like the one cornerback Mike Jenkins has become, and the one Terrell Owens once was. Among players, there can be a sense of entitlement. As team COO Stephen Jones explained to NFL.com’s Albert Breer, the Cowboys made it a point this offseason to acquire players capable of “handling Dallas,” and the notoriety that comes with playing there.

“It’s up to us to get the right kind of guys, good character guys that are driven to win championships,” Jones said. “And not just to say, ‘I’ve got a Pro Bowl and I play for the Cowboys, I’m satisfied.’ That’s on us, to avoid those types of players.”

Per Breer, the Cowboys see tight end Jason Witten as “the poster boy” for players they’re now trying to collect. Up-and-coming linebacker Sean Lee is another, and the Cowboys hope new $50 million cornerback Brandon Carr will be one, too.

“Anyone who’s got red blood and plays football knows what the Dallas Cowboys are, and knows what it means to play for them,” Jones said. ‘They know it. … We tell them what a big stage it is. At one time, we had 18 players and coaches with radio shows. People can’t get enough of the Cowboys.

“And it can be something that can be with you for the rest of your life if you go win a championship, because there’s nothing like it when it’s rolling. The lesson is, ‘Go Win.’ You gotta go win a championship. That’s the lesson I take. And then, I’ll worry what happens after that."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/06/cowboys-hoping-to-change-their-culture/

We can give the credit for this change to whomever we want, Garrett, Stephen, or Jerry, but one thing seems clear to me. They are all aware of it and they are all onboard with doing something about changing it.

And that message more than anything is what has me excited.

The days of being satisfied and entitled are over. The coach and the owners aren't satisfied and the players shouldn't be either.

And one key area I haven't seen mentioned that has also had a makeover (although the results are still mixed) is the offensive line.

Make no mistake that many of our recently-departed veterans were key parts of the 'entitlement' group and grew very complacent and were happy with 'good enough'.

It may have really hurt short-term, but replacing Gurode, Davis, and Colombo will pay big dividends in the long-term.

That culture of entrenched starters with no challengers at all really hurt this team. It also made players feel that sense of entitlement and untouchability.

And some folks might disagree, but I'm putting Mike Jenkins in this boat as well. A guy who thought he had 'made it' who won't be here in 2013. The team will have him play out his contract and provide quality depth, but after this season he's gone.

I often complained in years' past about this very issue and I am thrilled that it has been identified and publicly stated as a former issue that is actively being corrected. Shows me that these guys 'get it'.

 

[birdwells1]

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.

First we agree on the importance of a good return guy now this? :laugh2: Seriously, I've been saying this for awhile now, the Cowboys are too Hollywood. What other players have to win SB for our players put the star on thier helmet and recieve and that's a tough problem. We went 8-8 last year and still have the most primetime games in the NFL, in the most recent Harris Poll we're still the most popular team in sports in America.

How do you strip away this sense of entitlement? Like Jimmy did with hard work and an understanding that "if you don't do your job then you won't have one". I felt when Jimmy got here the players at that time had gotten comfortable with losing and collecting a paycheck (thus Irvin's list). What did Jimmy do? He made it uncomfortable because he demanded that you worked hard and punished those who didn't (I think we've all heard stories about the Asthma Fields). For those that felt untouchable he let them know that thier livelyhood could be taken away from them, by releasing veteran players with no remorse (that's how you keep them on thier toes).

When did this sense of entitlement reemerge? I trace it back to the Deion Sanders signing. Although Deion was talented he wasn't much of a hard worker and I think that it affected the less talented players around him. He also brought an attitude of wealth before wins to this organization. You can still hear him on the NFL Network screaming "pay this man" during the highlights show, which tells you where his mind is.

I also blame Jerry for creating this enviroment of "I gotta get mine" because he's all about the dollar also. Jerry wants to be a celebrity, he loves the spotlight, so if his players do then how can you blame them. Does Jerry really need the money from his appearances on Entourage or does he need the celebrity from it? Does he really need to make pizza commercials to make ends meet or those he need the celebrity? Does he really need to have his own press conference after the game or just let Jason speak for the team? If this is going to change it needs to start at the top and that's with our owner/GM.

I have spoke to this topic many of times for the last 3 years or so but I gald Hos is bringing it up because it'll get more legs on this board.

I remember a golf commentator speaking on Phil Mickleson's failures he said "you know, when you make over a 100 million dollars in endorsements a year, it's hard to stay hungry". This organization has to find a way to keep this team on it's toes and hungry.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

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.

You've put your finger on the precise reason that it's so important to populate the team with "RKG"s. The phrase may be getting tiresome at this point, but it does capture a concept that is crucial to team-building these days, in my estimation.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

This organization has to find a way to keep this team on it's toes and hungry.

Bringing in RKGs is the way. Start with guys that are self-motivators and have intense focus and fierce passion for the game. Then you won't have to worry about whether they'll become distracted by all that comes with being stars in the NFL's brightest constellation (also known as the Dallas Cowboys).

 

[Zordon]

I like the comments I've been hearing from Stephen recently.

 

[burmafrd]

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.

and that was on a team that had been 5-11 for three straight years

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

The whole RKG thing isn't unique to Garrett. Parcells brought that to Dallas.

And Belichick showed in NE that a commitment to it can lead to prolonged success.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

No one thinks that Jerry facilitates that sense of entitlement in Dallas?
Hands out money to players who had one good season like no other GM in the league.

Lets players cry at his office door so he can coddle them, or at least used to.

Hopefully that stuff is going out the window as Jerry Hands more control to others.

 

[noshame]

We'll be as good as Jerry allows us to be.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

No one thinks that Jerry facilitates that sense of entitlement in Dallas?
Hands out money to players who had one good season like no other GM in the league.

Lets players cry at his office door so he can coddle them, or at least used to.

Hopefully that stuff is going out the window as Jerry Hands more control to others.

The RW11, Barber and Hamlin contracts were 6 years ago. Carr got big bucks and Asomougha would have gotten more last year but I like to think that the stingier pursestrings are Jones the Younger's doing.

 

[CCBoy]

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

Enjoyed the clarification on positions....

 

[CCBoy]

You've put your finger on the precise reason that it's so important to populate the team with "RKG"s. The phrase may be getting tiresome at this point, but it does capture a concept that is crucial to team-building these days, in my estimation.

This most easily meshes with the old Parcells' principal of being ready at the start of the season...and developing out all aspects that dominate the game.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Yeah, I think there is or was the "entitlement" problem for the Cowboys.

I took this quote from another thread, posted by Cowboyslaw87...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I just wanted to pass a quick little nugget along. I haven't taken the time to read every post in this thread and therefore don't know where everyone stands on this issue (so it's not directed at anyone in particular), but take it for what it's worth...

I have a close family member who occasionally works with Paul Pasqualoni at UConn, where PP is the head coach of the Huskies. As many of you recall, PP was with us on and off from 2005-2010, and served as our interim DC in 2010 after Wade's firing. PP told my family member in casual conversation that Bradie James was the biggest diva he's ever coached. He said that there was an institutional flaw within the Cowboys organization regarding a feeling of entitlement and guys who were mentally weak and didn't want to work. He didn't say that James wasn't a hard worker... but he said he wasn't very well liked and really *****ed and complained a lot. Basically, not a positive influence in the locker room.

Didn't hear anything on Newman but I wouldn't be shocked if it were the same. Normally "tough minded" football players don't make the excuses T-New made year in, year out about being hurt. "

 

[Yakuza Rich]

As I get older in life, I realize how important leverage is. If you want something in life, you better have leverage. Without it, you ain’t got much.

Having watched Parcells in his prime, the thing he was the greatest at was creating leverage for himself. I believe his brother was a hot shot banker, where negotiation is key and you need leverage in order to achieve a successful negotiation.

From this and watching other coaches like Jimmy, I’ve found that nothing motivates a player more than a coach that is unafraid to cut just about any player AND can find a replacement that is as good or perhaps better.

It takes more than being unafraid of cutting a player because anybody can cut a player and they may be essentially cutting their nose to spite their face. But, if the coach is good at finding replacements, then the player looks worse in the end because it comes off as the situation being a player problem, not a coaching problem. And it really sends the message to the other players as well.

If Garrett can do that, he will be very successful in Dallas. I don’t have a problem with microwaving stars. In fact, I think Dallas could use it to their advantage. It kind of reminds me of the Yankees…players who play for the Yankees typically don’t want to go elsewhere because they realize that for all of their complaints, the grass isn’t greener on the other side. Go to say, Baltimore and now you’re no longer the celebrated star. If we were smart, we would create that atmosphere as well in order to help motivate players.




YR

 

[ufcrules1]

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.

Like Spencer, Spears, Sesablow, Ogletree, Felix, Jenkins, etc? They under perform year after year, yet we keep them around. Players like these above are content with losing and collecting a check and then that attitude rubs off onto the rookies. Not in all cases but in most. We have too many "leaders/vets" on this team who are content with mediocracy and that shows when the going gets tough and our team folds...and I'm not just talking about the defense. As we continue to purge the team of players like this... Choice, Barber, Williams, Bennett, and those above, we will be getting somewhere with what Garrett and his surrounding staff bring to the table. We are getting the right kind of players on this team... Braynt, Lee, Smith, Murray, Bailey, Claiborne, Carr, etc.

 

[birdwells1]

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 agree, how effective is respect if there's not a certain percentage of fear involved. What do players fear most? Job security.

 

[Vinnie2u]

To Quote Al Davis... Just Win Baby.. I don't care what method. Some players need a kick in the ***... Others a pat on the back.. Sort of like my kids..

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

As I get older in life, I realize how important leverage is. If you want something in life, you better have leverage. Without it, you ain’t got much.

[...]

From this and watching other coaches like Jimmy, I’ve found that nothing motivates a player more than a coach that is unafraid to cut just about any player AND can find a replacement that is as good or perhaps better.

[...]

YR

As I get older in life, I increasingly realize the the value of one of the lessons I learned in my youth from Dale Carnegie in his timeless classic, Win Friends and Influence People. One of Carnegie's core principles, what he calls "the big secret of dealing with people", is that the only way to get anybody to do anything is by making them want to do it.

There are a number of ways to get someone to want to do something. Fear is a good one. But as others have pointed out, it's a lot more difficult to instill that fear through the threat of being cut in this day and age of frequent player movement.

A team can protect itself, as you suggest, by creating leverage for itself. If Player A won't do want you need him to do, fine. Just cut him and let Player B step in to do what's necessary. But, of course, it's not fear that's doing the work in that case: it's that you don't really need Player A.

The trouble I see with your proposal is that it's just so darned hard to implement. It's simply not realistic to expect teams to be able to cut recalcitrant starters, for example, and replace them with equivalent players from further down the depth chart. And what happens if Player B also won't do what you need him to do? Do we really expect that a player third on the depth chart is going to be able to step in seamlessly and provide the kind of impact that Player A could have, were it not for his attitude?

A more effective solution, and a simpler one to implement in the circumstances, is simply to draft the "right kind of guy" when you draft Player A in the first place. Now you face no struggle in getting the player to do what you want him to do, because he's already internally motivated to want to do it.

 

[birdwells1]

Another thing, how can we expect a coddled, content, entitled team to go on the road to play NYG, Philly, or Wash with the division title on the line in freezing temps to suceed? The result we got are what we should have expected. The 90's Cowboys went to the Meadowlands and won an NFC East title and toughness and intestinal fortitude had a lot to do with it.

My suggestion to Garrett? Keep purging, you'll get rid of some of the problems and the others will take notice and either get in line or get gone.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Entitlement.

Yes, this nothing new, it has been going on in Dallas for years.

If you play for the Dallas Cowboys you are a "rock star" in Dallas, in Texas, in America.

Win or lose, you still get in your $75K vehicle and go home to your $500K mansion.

You would think that we have lost so much for so long that they entitilement would be gone, but it's not.

Let's see moving forward.