Awakened
the Dude abides
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I think it was JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR who wrote an article about the Cowboys losing a lot of leaders. Its true - Dan Campbell, Glover, and Keyshawn were all key leaders on this team (not to mention Dat Nguyen). Add Larry Allen as a key figure on the team who is most likely gone. Remember a few years ago when everyone was talking about how much we needed solid leaders on this team , and Jerry and Bill went out and signed some? Funny how times have changed.
Here are a few of reasons why I think the Cowboys have purposely executed this significant shift:
1) We needed to get younger, and we have. This team was becoming too old, with too many key players being 30+. This puts you at greater risk of injury problems and it obviously doesn't bode well for your future. It also potentially makes your team too, ummm...shall we say, mellow. Young guys bring a recklessness and fire that usually slowly fades over the years (unless their name is Irvin, Emmitt, or Aikman. or, in fairness to the man, Keyshawn).
2) I think the main reason Jerry and Bill felt safe to let so many key older guys go is the Draft of '05. It is a known fact that when there is a leadership void, natural leaders will step in and fill the void. When the spot is already filled, younger leaders will naturally defer to the older guys. I think Bill will privately say to Marcus Spears, DeMarcus Ware, Chris Canty, and perhaps Kevin Burnett (I haven't given up on him as it seems some folks have) to step up and provide leadership on the defense.
3) In addition to the outstanding rookies who will be called on to step it up a notch, there are some others who should be stepping into their prime and providing strong leadership. I'm thinking Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Julius Jones (hopefully), Terence Newman, and perhaps Bradie James.
4) Lastly, there was a significant group of free agents signed last year. I would think that it takes at least a year to "settle in" on a new team and establish relationships with other guys - to basically earn the respect of your teammates. This will be the year that some of those guys will more confidently assert their leadership on the team. For instance, letting Larry Allen go solidifies the reality that this offensive line will be clearly led by Marco Rivera. Here's hoping that he has fully recovered from his injury and plays at his normal level of excellence this year. Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn in the secondary fit into this category, as well as Jason Ferguson on the DL.
In conclusion, when you look at it broadly, you can see that there really is a literal changing of the guard taking place. Out with the old and in with the new. The Cowboys are getting significantly younger, and the personality of the team is going to be significantly different. I believe Parcells has very intentionally put the pieces in place that he feels are needed to get the Cowboys back to the big time. I believe he feels so confident in the culture he has built on this team that he feels the team is able to handle mixing in a very fiery, volatile ingredient (T.O.) to perform at the highest level possible.
Here are a few of reasons why I think the Cowboys have purposely executed this significant shift:
1) We needed to get younger, and we have. This team was becoming too old, with too many key players being 30+. This puts you at greater risk of injury problems and it obviously doesn't bode well for your future. It also potentially makes your team too, ummm...shall we say, mellow. Young guys bring a recklessness and fire that usually slowly fades over the years (unless their name is Irvin, Emmitt, or Aikman. or, in fairness to the man, Keyshawn).
2) I think the main reason Jerry and Bill felt safe to let so many key older guys go is the Draft of '05. It is a known fact that when there is a leadership void, natural leaders will step in and fill the void. When the spot is already filled, younger leaders will naturally defer to the older guys. I think Bill will privately say to Marcus Spears, DeMarcus Ware, Chris Canty, and perhaps Kevin Burnett (I haven't given up on him as it seems some folks have) to step up and provide leadership on the defense.
3) In addition to the outstanding rookies who will be called on to step it up a notch, there are some others who should be stepping into their prime and providing strong leadership. I'm thinking Roy Williams, Jason Witten, Julius Jones (hopefully), Terence Newman, and perhaps Bradie James.
4) Lastly, there was a significant group of free agents signed last year. I would think that it takes at least a year to "settle in" on a new team and establish relationships with other guys - to basically earn the respect of your teammates. This will be the year that some of those guys will more confidently assert their leadership on the team. For instance, letting Larry Allen go solidifies the reality that this offensive line will be clearly led by Marco Rivera. Here's hoping that he has fully recovered from his injury and plays at his normal level of excellence this year. Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn in the secondary fit into this category, as well as Jason Ferguson on the DL.
In conclusion, when you look at it broadly, you can see that there really is a literal changing of the guard taking place. Out with the old and in with the new. The Cowboys are getting significantly younger, and the personality of the team is going to be significantly different. I believe Parcells has very intentionally put the pieces in place that he feels are needed to get the Cowboys back to the big time. I believe he feels so confident in the culture he has built on this team that he feels the team is able to handle mixing in a very fiery, volatile ingredient (T.O.) to perform at the highest level possible.
