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Jerry Calls Audible On Character
September 18, 2007 5:02 PM
You had to know Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones would make the call at some point. When we first told you about rumblings of the club's interest in disgraced ex-Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson, the Cowboys sounded genuinely hurt.
Director of scouting Jeff Ireland told Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway that the Cowboys removed Johnson from their 2004 draft board because of his off-field problems at the University of Washington.
From his palatial estate at Saratoga National Golf Club, you can bet Bill has been keeping close watch on his legacy, and in my mind, it pretty much ends with today's signing of Johnson.
You could find a lot of things to criticize Parcells for during his stay in Dallas, but he was successful at cleaning up the club's tarnished image. Yes, I realize T.O. arrived on his watch, but you can't accuse the mercurial wide receiver of being a criminal.
What's funny is Johnson's rap sheet should've confirmed the Cowboys' draft-day decision in 2004. But now, we'll get to hear Jones talk of redemption and second chances, a number that's not quite accurate if you visit with Bears management.
Jones is by nature a gambler, and he knows how rare it is to find a talented defensive tackle on the street. From a football perspective, Johnson is a perfect fit for coach Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense. His background in a 4-3 defense in Chicago is actually a good foundation because he's familiar with lining up in different spots.
He's a 6-3, 300-pound (pre-prison snacks) man who once ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash. He'll have to wait until Nov. 11 to play unless commissioner Roger Goodell gets a wild hair and reduces the suspension to six weeks, according to my pal Todd Archer, but it's a done deal.
A new era has begun in Cowboys football. One that should look really familiar. In this cutthroat league, bothersome details such as wisdom and integrity are pretty low on the depth chart.
September 18, 2007 5:02 PM
You had to know Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones would make the call at some point. When we first told you about rumblings of the club's interest in disgraced ex-Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson, the Cowboys sounded genuinely hurt.
Director of scouting Jeff Ireland told Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway that the Cowboys removed Johnson from their 2004 draft board because of his off-field problems at the University of Washington.
"Any interest would be pretty minimal right now," Ireland said. "There were a lot of issues coming out of college with this guy, and now it's been compounded by what went on with the Bears. I don't think we'd be interested at all."
What Ireland, a fellow Baylor alum, didn't realize was that Bill Parcells' philosophy of not offering refuge to criminals and other creeps was no longer in place.
From his palatial estate at Saratoga National Golf Club, you can bet Bill has been keeping close watch on his legacy, and in my mind, it pretty much ends with today's signing of Johnson.
You could find a lot of things to criticize Parcells for during his stay in Dallas, but he was successful at cleaning up the club's tarnished image. Yes, I realize T.O. arrived on his watch, but you can't accuse the mercurial wide receiver of being a criminal.
What's funny is Johnson's rap sheet should've confirmed the Cowboys' draft-day decision in 2004. But now, we'll get to hear Jones talk of redemption and second chances, a number that's not quite accurate if you visit with Bears management.
Jones is by nature a gambler, and he knows how rare it is to find a talented defensive tackle on the street. From a football perspective, Johnson is a perfect fit for coach Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense. His background in a 4-3 defense in Chicago is actually a good foundation because he's familiar with lining up in different spots.
He's a 6-3, 300-pound (pre-prison snacks) man who once ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash. He'll have to wait until Nov. 11 to play unless commissioner Roger Goodell gets a wild hair and reduces the suspension to six weeks, according to my pal Todd Archer, but it's a done deal.
A new era has begun in Cowboys football. One that should look really familiar. In this cutthroat league, bothersome details such as wisdom and integrity are pretty low on the depth chart.
