Keith Brooking stands up to Steve Dennis

[cowboyjoe]

I don't get how this is a players versus the media.

This isn't about the mean media. Frankly, their opinion counts for nothing.

It doesn't validate anything. If they are obsessing about some reporter picking on them, making up rumors etc., they are wasting their time.

What matters is the player's attitudes towards themselves and their situation.

The only thing that really bothers me is that I honestly see more defiance out of Phillips and the players to the media than there is to the opponents on the field. When is the last time we went out and took out frustration on a quality opponent? We act more like victims than anything. Victims of media attacks intended to divide them, victims of "fluke" plays, victims of injuries. That's where the accountability slant comes from. There is just too much denial, starting at the top of the organization. It even spreads down the fanbase who is still trying to convince themselves that everything is okay.

It isn't okay. We are repeating the same pattern again, right down to sparring with the media like it matters. It doesn't.

As much as they say they don't believe a curse, it seems they spend a lot of time defending themselves against the bogeyman. What they have to do is avoid defeating themselves by bracing for what might be inevitable. I just don't see any tangible actions from the management of this team that is addressing it. Sorry, I can't assume they are until we see results otherwise.

The passive-aggressive behavior is what manifests itself nearly each year around this time, from the staff to the players. That is the problem. Not the "distraction" caused by the media. If we don't have a sports psychologist on the payroll, we need one.

Exactly, another great point and post, this is exactly what I am trying to drive home my point. I want the players and wade specifically to get this mad, this upset towards opposing teams, the players when they mess up and fix the problems. Quit waiting a month or 2 months to finally realize its a problem, fix it now.

Heck Fire, when one of our kickers was missing the field goals and told jimmy he lost his confidence, he fired him the next day. I am not saying firing Fok is the solution, but fix the dang problem. Quit hanging around and saying everything is ok and dont worry.

do your job and fix it. I posted that too about the team needing a sports psychologist too. I do think we need one strongly!

one guy posted back about some coach that is great at whatever sport he has been in and the results are always winning.

What if this everything is ok and it doesnt work, what do you have for a backup plan?

 

[MapleLeaf]

The impact of Brooking's effort can only be measured on Sunday after the game. If the Cowboys win, then it will have served a purpose.

...with that.

I believe for some of those players who "get it" they will learn from the Keith Brookings of the NFL and take the lessons learned to heart and shape their careers accordingly.

Others such as the (fill your personal whipping boy name here) will miss the lesson and always be the team cancer, self promoters, quiet corner ornaments whatever who couldn't care less what really happens in a season as long as they are in the NFL.

It's just really refreshing to see a player such as Brooking who is obviously not as talented physically as many other players, but contributes beyond what even many so called "Hall of Famers" have put forward on Sundays.

You can see this is a player who appreciated the elusive nature of the SuperBowl and is prepared to do anything to get there.

All I can say is give this team a bit more of the fired up Keith Brookings of the world and hopefully it will spur on some of the other team members who have not stepped up in the season so far.

The remainder of our year is not only dependent on the performances of the Romos, Wittens and Austins of the team,but also the Hurds, the McQuistans and Watkins on the squad.

We need every player on the roster to focus to take advantage of the opportunities in games to win as oppose to lamenting the "what could have beens".

It the fundamental basis of every team, from Pop Warner to NFL, in my opinion. Everyone contributes to the win and everyone is painfully tattooed with the loss.

Those who are leaders bare their chests for the expected sword slashing that comes after a loss and those who are secondary bit players work to find ways in practice to help this team on the field.

In the end privately the team has to stand up to each other to be counted. 11 starters on offence and 11 on defence is not enough to win in this league.

The faster Dallas becomes a focused team the better the on field results are going to be, but a loss to SD this Sunday would not be Brooking's fault only or a criticism of his response to Dennis..

 

[Alexander]

...with that.

I believe for some of those players who "get it" they will learn from the Keith Brookings of the NFL and take the lessons learned to heart and shape their careers accordingly.

Others such as the (fill your personal whipping boy name here) will miss the lesson and always be the team cancer, self promoters, quiet corner ornaments whatever who couldn't care less what really happens in a season as long as they are in the NFL.

It's just really refreshing to see a player such as Brooking who is obviously not as talented physically as many other players, but contributes beyond what even many so called "Hall of Famers" have put forward on Sundays.

You can see this is a player who appreciated the elusive nature of the SuperBowl and is prepared to do anything to get there.

That is why he is the first true leader we have had on this team since Irvin retired. An excellent player who backs up what he says. He won't be a Cowboy for long, treasure him.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The impact of Brooking's effort can only be measured on Sunday after the game. If the Cowboys win, then it will have served a purpose.

See, that's part of the problem right there. The idea seems to be that if we lose, everything is a disaster. Wade can't coach, Romo can't play QB (depending on how the game goes), etc. As hard as it is to accept, sometimes a good team just beats you.

This attitude that we should beat everyone we play, and if we don't it means we are horribly mismanaged, drives me nuts.

 

[MapleLeaf]

That is why he is the first true leader we have had on this team since Irvin retired. An excellent player who backs up what he says. He won't be a Cowboy for long, treasure him.

...having you put it in those terms makes me fell really sad. I hope it is not true.

 

[theebs]

That is why he is the first true leader we have had on this team since Irvin retired. An excellent player who backs up what he says. He won't be a Cowboy for long, treasure him.

Thats not completely true. Witten and Ware have always had the effort and said and done the right things, same with ratliff and imo romo.

Witten was great on the postgame show after the game.

 

[Phrozen Phil]

See, that's part of the problem right there. The idea seems to be that if we lose, everything is a disaster. Wade can't coach, Romo can't play QB (depending on how the game goes), etc. As hard as it is to accept, sometimes a good team just beats you.

This attitude that we should beat everyone we play, and if we don't it means we are horribly mismanaged, drives me nuts.

Perfectly put. The Giants got the best out of the players they had. Our guys made more mistakes than they did. I didn't see the team quit right up to the final whistle. Our guys have another chance this weekend. If it turns out differently, then we'll see. If we lose again, we'll see. We have a good, but not dominant team. All I expect is their best effort.

 

[Idgit]

See, that's part of the problem right there. The idea seems to be that if we lose, everything is a disaster. Wade can't coach, Romo can't play QB (depending on how the game goes), etc. As hard as it is to accept, sometimes a good team just beats you.

This attitude that we should beat everyone we play, and if we don't it means we are horribly mismanaged, drives me nuts.

:claps:

 

[adbutcher]

...sensible post I have heard in this thread so far.

DC Fanatic, I do agree to some extent that Brooking has pasted a target on his back, but that's what leaders are suppose to do.

It doesn't matter what endeavor a person is involved in from sports teams to work places there will always be team members who are "less than" desirable, but you don't call them out in public.

You don't criticize, you support them and the team so they can hopefully understand that the team is greater than one singular person in not only the losses, but also the wins.

If you don't like the situation then you follow the Zach Thomas platform and quietly leave at the end of the season. No bagging on the team on your way out, just walk away and live with your own decision.

Brooking is a real pro. You can see it. He knows the kids on the team need emotion and leadership and he's willing to take the bull by the horns. He doesn't have many opportunities left and you can't wait for the hanger ons to take the reins.

Good leaders not only stand in front of the crowds to take in adulation and carry the trophies, but they are also the first to stand up front and fall on the sword if necessary to inspire and propel their comrades forward.

These are time honoured rules for leaders and the sooner we has fans can accept that the sooner we can properly view the game of football and Brooking's response to Dennis.

He's not just standing up for Wade Phillips, he's standing up for the Dallas Cowboys and we can't lose sight of that, players and fans, or what Brooking has done is for naught.

BTW, despite Brooking's video I personally have reservations about certain elements of the team, and certain players, but I wholly support a move and response like the one Keith made.

 

[Alexander]

Thats not completely true. Witten and Ware have always had the effort and said and done the right things, same with ratliff and imo romo.

Witten was great on the postgame show after the game.

If these players were great leaders, we wouldn't have had some of the issues we've had the last three seasons.

Leadership is in tiers. Michael Irvin was the Dallas Cowboys in his day. We saw after he left how Aikman and Smith suddenly weren't great leaders anymore. That didn't mean they weren't core players and at the forefront on the leadership front. You always need to have a general, and some good lieutenants. I think some of the names you mentioned fall in that category.

I think there is always a "heart and soul". Then there are the good players who fall in line. Just being a good player doesn't mean you are a leader. We've often got confused by the last decade of identifying people like Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Terence Newman and Roy Williams as "leaders".

Of the Cowboys in the last 20 years or so, only two stick out to me as excellent leaders. Irvin and to a lesser degree Darren Woodson. Brooking is in that echelon. Then you have the others, who are enforcers, followers and the like.

 

[Bach]

Honestly who cares if a fan is satisfied. The NFL is here to entertain and all the crying the non-satisfied fan does works just as well as cheers to promote the product.

This isn't 1970 NFL where 4 teams have a chance to win a SB every year.

This team needs to go to and win 'A' playoff game.

Anyone looking beyond that is just too dense to breathe. The 1991 Cowboys were a VERY talented group but they weren't ready for a title and no one gave them crap when they didn't win one.

This is relevant how?

In '91 everyone knew we were just two years removed from a 1-15 season. We were just 7-9 in '90. The '91 team jumped to 11-5 and WON a playoff game - and one that was on the road. So yeah, no one gave them crap for going from 1-15 to 11-5 and winning a playoff game in two years time. Why would they?

How that correlates to today is beyond me. The organization now hasn't won a playoff game in 13 years. And despite recent years of being able to enter the final stretch with an 8-3 or 7-4 record, and even 12-1 two years ago, they just continue to fall off at the end instead of rise to the ocassion.

And now we just laid a dud in the Meadowlands giving a game away that should've easily been won and dropping into a tie with the Eagles and just one game ahead of the Giants when a 9-3 record was right within our grasps, not to mention we could've all but ended the Giants season. Throw in the fact we still have three teams left on the schedule with 8 or more wins through 12 games and it's understandable why fans are frustrated and thinking deja vu again.

 

[Alexander]

I honestly don't agree with what I've put in bold. I think it is true with the long-time fans of the Cowboys, but I think the newer fans can't remember the day when the bar was set. At least not very clearly. I think to a large portion of our present fan base, a winning regular season with a chance to make the playoffs each year, is enough to satisfy them.

I can't say I disagree.

I even find myself thinking how satisfied I'd be with even a single playoff win. Sad, really.

 

[utrunner07]

Dallas isn't Cincinnati where simply getting to the playoffs is cause for celebration. Our bar is much higher.

Well said.

 

[DallasEast]

The question from Dennis came as a result of Wade calling the team winners in answering a question from Calvin Hill. He was asking Wade where the team gets confidence...

Wade vs Dennis

I would not have answered the original question like Wade did.

This would have been my answer to Hill...

--------------------------
Where does the confidence from from? Well, it comes from us working hard all season and winning 8 games. We have to keep working hard and getting better each and every week. We have to believe in each other and hold each other accountable that when the game begins on Sunday each man will do his job.

Will we win the last five games? I can't say for sure. But all I can do as their coach is to prepare them the best I can for those games.

We have not accomplished anything just yet. Long way to go. Tough schedule ahead and we do ackowledge the problems we have faced in closing out a season. But this team is different.

These guys are embracing all of that. We want to change that way of thinking around here. We want to make it so the team, the fans and the rest of the NFL knows we love December because it means that it's time to dig in deep and play our best football in hopes of playing some ball in January.
-------------------------

Wade goes into these pressers feeling like he's going to have to defend his honor right from the get go. He's always looking to throw out some 'good stats', but when the media brings up the 'bad stats' then Wade says they are making up stuff.

He is just terrible under pressure.

And he never knows how to defuse the situation. He has no clue.

I asked Bryan Broaddus why we always here about Wade giving up good stuff in the 'walk offs'...

Broaddus on Wade's 'walk offs'

So he's pretty good on the 'Walk off's'.

Brooking says he's great when the cameras are not around.

But he's a train wreck in front the camera which is where the fans get to see him as the leader of this football team.

And we are supposed to think he's some kind of great coach who can lead us to the promised land?

He's bad under pressure.

With December comes pressure.

Bold--> Nicely worded, but truthfully, in the end, your response would have been eaten up just as much as Phillips. The issue is media's reaction and/or acceptance of answers--especially that of Dallas based media.

You wouldn't recognize it - concerning the Cowboys - if it hit you over the head with a hammer.

That can either be defined as an overt deflection or an inability to respond to a simple question. Either equals fail.

 

[DallasEast]

...with that.

I believe for some of those players who "get it" they will learn from the Keith Brookings of the NFL and take the lessons learned to heart and shape their careers accordingly.

Others such as the (fill your personal whipping boy name here) will miss the lesson and always be the team cancer, self promoters, quiet corner ornaments whatever who couldn't care less what really happens in a season as long as they are in the NFL.

It's just really refreshing to see a player such as Brooking who is obviously not as talented physically as many other players, but contributes beyond what even many so called "Hall of Famers" have put forward on Sundays.

You can see this is a player who appreciated the elusive nature of the SuperBowl and is prepared to do anything to get there.

All I can say is give this team a bit more of the fired up Keith Brookings of the world and hopefully it will spur on some of the other team members who have not stepped up in the season so far.

The remainder of our year is not only dependent on the performances of the Romos, Wittens and Austins of the team,but also the Hurds, the McQuistans and Watkins on the squad.

We need every player on the roster to focus to take advantage of the opportunities in games to win as oppose to lamenting the "what could have beens".

It the fundamental basis of every team, from Pop Warner to NFL, in my opinion. Everyone contributes to the win and everyone is painfully tattooed with the loss.

Those who are leaders bare their chests for the expected sword slashing that comes after a loss and those who are secondary bit players work to find ways in practice to help this team on the field.

In the end privately the team has to stand up to each other to be counted. 11 starters on offence and 11 on defence is not enough to win in this league.

The faster Dallas becomes a focused team the better the on field results are going to be, but a loss to SD this Sunday would not be Brooking's fault only or a criticism of his response to Dennis..

Excellent post, David. Well done. :clap2:

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

Boy, did this thread get crapped up in a hurry.

Keith Brooking, who unlike any of us is actually inside the locker room, said Wade does address December and accountability every day with the team. And yet we still have people arguing that the way he handles press conferences is exactly the way he handles the team behind closed doors.

That is the very definition of ignoring evidence so you can speculate that things are the way you think and hope they are, which in this case is that Wade just rolls the footballs out on the field and says All is Well. Keith sat there and told you otherwise and you still refuse to believe it!

Says a lot about certain posters in this thread.

Well put CL. That's the one thing I never understood from the Wade-bashers. Just because he plays the easygoing, laid back country boy in front of the cameras doesn't mean he doesn't instill accountability behind closed doors. I've always seen him as one who puts the onus on him in the media, but possibly takes his players to task in the locker/meeting rooms. To me, he simply doesn't like to spotlight his players' errors in public for all to see but that damn sure doesn't mean they don't hear about it when the cameras aren't rolling! He's not perfect and definitely not above blame for this team's struggles the past few years, but like KB said it ultimately falls on the players performing on the field.

 

[Monster Heel]

I am getting that gist from you in this post. Particularly the comment in ( ).

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3109668&postcount=18

If we had won I have not one doubt in the world that it would not have been a big win because the Giants were reeling and easy pickings.

So basically you're a mind reader now? Good job.

You had nothing and I knew it. All I said in that post is that it would be good for the players if they won, it contained nothing about how I would feel if they won.

 

[Hostile]

So basically you're a mind reader now? Good job.

You had nothing and I knew it. All I said in that post is that it would be good for the players if they won, it contained nothing about how I would feel if they won.

Mind reader? No.

Habit reader? Yes.

Or have you forgotten your about face before and after the Falcons game? I assure you, I haven't.

 

[jterrell]

This is relevant how?

In '91 everyone knew we were just two years removed from a 1-15 season. We were just 7-9 in '90. The '91 team jumped to 11-5 and WON a playoff game - and one that was on the road. So yeah, no one gave them crap for going from 1-15 to 11-5 and winning a playoff game in two years time. Why would they?

How that correlates to today is beyond me. The organization now hasn't won a playoff game in 13 years. And despite recent years of being able to enter the final stretch with an 8-3 or 7-4 record, and even 12-1 two years ago, they just continue to fall off at the end instead of rise to the ocassion.

And now we just laid a dud in the Meadowlands giving a game away that should've easily been won and dropping into a tie with the Eagles and just one game ahead of the Giants when a 9-3 record was right within our grasps, not to mention we could've all but ended the Giants season. Throw in the fact we still have three teams left on the schedule with 8 or more wins through 12 games and it's understandable why fans are frustrated and thinking deja vu again.

It compares because this team hasn't won a playoff game in how long yet the drought seems to have done zero to put success into perspective.

Once expectations are reasonable they'll be achievable.

Until then good luck and happy misery!

 

[Clarkson]

I just uploaded it.

I think as some were saying here, the media may have actually lit a fuse here....or it may just be brooking defending his personal friend, either way...


Give it a few minutes guys, its transcoding because I just uploaded it.
[youtube]DR1Do11oJ2k[/youtube]

Weird thing about that video. Brooking is firing up the team, and Roy and Bennett are just standing there in the background. Roy has his head down. Not the least bit fired up. Choice, Jenkins, Hurd, and Spears are visibly pumped. Our #1 WR has his head down and is just standing there, seemingly uninterested.