TruBlueCowboy
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While reading Antonio Bryant's interview, it got me to thinking about how mad everyone was on the Zone the day that trade happened. Most of us had already designated AB as the next #88 in Dallas, even before he received the jersey. The fight between Parcells and AB could have involved guns and hypodermic needles, but folks were ready to defend their boy AB to their dying breath.
So what do you think have been the most unpopular personnel moves in Parcells' brief 3-year history with the Cowboys?
Signing Rivera instead of Wahle in 2005 free agency
Both Green Bay guards were talented linemen, no one disagreed with that. Everyone also agreed that the Cowboys were in serious need of help at offensive guard, and the right side of the line in general. It's only that Wahle was much younger and some people were horrified at the huge signing bonus Rivera received when he was only a few years from retirement at best. This is another one of those moves that looks worse as times goes on.
Releasing Quincy Carter
Another ex-Cowboy who still has his fans. Fans wondered what the heck Bill was doing abruptly releasing the young quarterback in training camp, and replacing him with a man over 40 who most thought had been overrated his entire career. Fans wanted the more mobile QB in Quincy, and there was still the faint hope that he would one day take his place in the pantheon of Cowboys quarterbacks. Three years later, it looks like the right move, although it was the start of many rough moves in the 2004 season.
Not bringing Emmitt Smith back
Jerry Jones takes credit for this decision but the writing was on the wall. Bill was not giving anyone a starting position on the house based on their years of service. Emmitt wasn't guaranteed anything, and Bill never spoke up and tried to keep him in Dallas. Emmitt Smith was one of the most popular players in Dallas Cowboys history and you can credit Jerry for trying to deflect all blame on himself because fans might not have taken too well to an outsider running into town and kicking a legend to the curb, even if in their hearts of hearts, most fans knew Emmitt's best days were far behind him.
Trading Antonio Bryant for Quincy Morgan
To this day, Cowboys fans are still pissed about AB being shown the door. Some folks feel Bill didn't show the proper patience. Some feel Bill played favorites too much with his veteran receivers from former teams. Fans still remembered AB's exciting plays in his rookie season and thought he was the next great receiver in Big D, because although quarterback and many other positions receive fame for their rich history in Dallas, there is an equally majestic history of franchise receivers from Bob Hayes to Drew Pearson to Michael Irvin. Quincy Morgan excited no one the day of the trade and hindsight proved him to be a bust.
Keeping defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer after (insert season)
The Cowboys almost always have one of the top ranked defenses in the league, but every year there is a core group of fans who want Zimmer fired. Fans feel he doesn't get the most out of his best players, that he doesn't playcall aggressively enough, and that he isn't one of the smarter coaches in the league in adjusting to other teams. To be fair, it might be said that Zimmer plays under one of the more peculiar shadows in the NFL, the shadow of the former Parcells defensive coordinator, Bill Belichick, who is synonomous with the word genius among NFL fans.
Playing Vinny Testaverde instead of Drew Henson
Fans had fire coming out of their eyes when Parcells continued to tell reporters in his weekly press conferences that he was sticking with Vinny Testaverde in the 2004 season over the next hopeful franchise QB in Dallas, Drew Henson. No matter how mathematically eliminated the Cowboys were from the Playoffs, Parcells refused to call it a season and when he did actually give Henson a shot, fans were ready to jump Parcells when he didn't even give the struggling rookie more than a half to prove his worth.
The Stone Cold 2004 Offseason
After a surprising 10-6 record in Bill's inaugural 2003 season and one of the league's biggest salary cap margains, fans thought Bill (and Jerry) would go crazy in free agency. Need a new corner to finally improve the spot that Mario Edwards had proven unfit for? Instead of Antoine Winfield, rely on an unproven Pete Hunter. Need a quarterback to compete with Quincy Carter and force him to better his game? Say no more, old man V-INT-y Testaverde is in town. Need a new defensive end to help Ellis and Glover out? Instead of Bert Berry, bring in Marcellus Wiley. Need a running back in Dallas? How about the old and highly affordable Eddie George? Yup, there was no 20/20 hindsight during that offseason. A few fans were hyping these acquisitions but most felt Bill had blown it.
Not drafting Kevin Jones or Steven Jackson in the 1st round in 2004
This is one of those moves that is easy to forgive as time goes on. I remember the day of the draft, I replied in a thread on the Zone asking who did ya want: Julius or Steven? While Julius Jones had a disappointing sophomore season, he did open eyes everywhere in his short rookie season. It also allowed the Cowboys to grab DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears in the next year's draft and boost their successful transition to a 3-4 defense. But with the future not certain, there were some PISSED OFF fans when the two highest ranked running backs -- whom several experts had predicted at least one to be gone by the time the Cowboys picked -- were still standing there, just waiting to fill #22's shoes. It hurt even more that the Cowboys traded for the next year's draft pick when many fans felt this was a team that needed immediate improvement.
Trading Joey Galloway for Keyshawn Johnson
Another move that isn't nearly as unpopular as it was at the time of the personnel move. With Keyshawn being relatively free of bad publicity in Dallas, and helping remind fans of the intensity and physical nature Michael Irvin used to bring, it's easy to forget how unpopular of a player he was at the time of the trade. While Joey Galloway had been an injury prone disappointment in his brief Cowboys career, there were many who thought he had still had the blazing speed he flashed in Seattle and would put up some numbers if only he could play with a good quarterback. Last year, he proved his supporters right.
Other
Firing kicking coach Steve Hoffman - There was a long line of "I told ya so" critics when the kicking game was the worst in the league after Hoffman's good-bye in 2005.
Drafting Terence Newman in 2003 instead of Byron Leftwich or Terrell Suggs - Newman had his fans but many still felt Suggs was the best defensive player in the draft, and that Leftwich was the future QB that Dallas needed
Drafting DeMarcus Ware in 2005 instead of Shawn Merriman or Derrick Johnson - For the new 3-4, the question was simply Ware or Merriman. For the Longhorn fans, Derrick Johnson deserved a spot somewhere. Both linebackers were favorites among fans in the draft, but DeMarcus Ware is quickly helping them forget this temporary hatred for Parcells' decision.
Releasing Derek Ross - Another one of the Campo projects who folks felt was the future of the team. An exciting playmaker, he lacked the maturity to be a pro. He had enough raw talent to land several stints on other teams, but he'll quickly be forgotten and another one of those "what might have been players."
Not pursuing Darren Sharper in 2005 free agency - It wasn't that unpopular only because it looked like the Vikings had the inside track the whole time, but Sharper's name was brought up many times in the 2005 season everytime he made a play for the Vikings or Keith Davis didn't make a play for the Cowboys.
Releasing Woody Dantzler - This is one of those moves that the younger fans ten years from now will have no idea what older fans are talking about. "Woody who?" The man won eternal loyalty from Cowboys faithful everywhere after a few ESPN Sportscenter highlight plays. He never received the same loyalty in his return tryouts, but there were plenty of unhappy campers the first time he was released from the team.
Releasing deep snapper Jeff Robinson - It was one of those moves that had fans wondering why Jerry hadn't shown Bill the tape from the year before Robinsons' signing when the Cowboys thought they could get by without their veteran deep snapper. Oops!
Letting go of Coach Joe - (Edit: I probably should have added this to the top ten, but I didn't think about it until after I had posted the poll) Another popular coach from the Jimmy Johnson years and a personal favorite of Jerry Jones. He had his own radio shows, he had the personality the media wants, and some years, he had some damn good special teams units. Some felt Parcells was simply seizing control. Another move that is easier to forgive as time goes on and Coach Joe starts to look like another one of Jimmy's overrated assistants.
So what do you think have been the most unpopular personnel moves in Parcells' brief 3-year history with the Cowboys?
Signing Rivera instead of Wahle in 2005 free agency
Both Green Bay guards were talented linemen, no one disagreed with that. Everyone also agreed that the Cowboys were in serious need of help at offensive guard, and the right side of the line in general. It's only that Wahle was much younger and some people were horrified at the huge signing bonus Rivera received when he was only a few years from retirement at best. This is another one of those moves that looks worse as times goes on.
Releasing Quincy Carter
Another ex-Cowboy who still has his fans. Fans wondered what the heck Bill was doing abruptly releasing the young quarterback in training camp, and replacing him with a man over 40 who most thought had been overrated his entire career. Fans wanted the more mobile QB in Quincy, and there was still the faint hope that he would one day take his place in the pantheon of Cowboys quarterbacks. Three years later, it looks like the right move, although it was the start of many rough moves in the 2004 season.
Not bringing Emmitt Smith back
Jerry Jones takes credit for this decision but the writing was on the wall. Bill was not giving anyone a starting position on the house based on their years of service. Emmitt wasn't guaranteed anything, and Bill never spoke up and tried to keep him in Dallas. Emmitt Smith was one of the most popular players in Dallas Cowboys history and you can credit Jerry for trying to deflect all blame on himself because fans might not have taken too well to an outsider running into town and kicking a legend to the curb, even if in their hearts of hearts, most fans knew Emmitt's best days were far behind him.
Trading Antonio Bryant for Quincy Morgan
To this day, Cowboys fans are still pissed about AB being shown the door. Some folks feel Bill didn't show the proper patience. Some feel Bill played favorites too much with his veteran receivers from former teams. Fans still remembered AB's exciting plays in his rookie season and thought he was the next great receiver in Big D, because although quarterback and many other positions receive fame for their rich history in Dallas, there is an equally majestic history of franchise receivers from Bob Hayes to Drew Pearson to Michael Irvin. Quincy Morgan excited no one the day of the trade and hindsight proved him to be a bust.
Keeping defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer after (insert season)
The Cowboys almost always have one of the top ranked defenses in the league, but every year there is a core group of fans who want Zimmer fired. Fans feel he doesn't get the most out of his best players, that he doesn't playcall aggressively enough, and that he isn't one of the smarter coaches in the league in adjusting to other teams. To be fair, it might be said that Zimmer plays under one of the more peculiar shadows in the NFL, the shadow of the former Parcells defensive coordinator, Bill Belichick, who is synonomous with the word genius among NFL fans.
Playing Vinny Testaverde instead of Drew Henson
Fans had fire coming out of their eyes when Parcells continued to tell reporters in his weekly press conferences that he was sticking with Vinny Testaverde in the 2004 season over the next hopeful franchise QB in Dallas, Drew Henson. No matter how mathematically eliminated the Cowboys were from the Playoffs, Parcells refused to call it a season and when he did actually give Henson a shot, fans were ready to jump Parcells when he didn't even give the struggling rookie more than a half to prove his worth.
The Stone Cold 2004 Offseason
After a surprising 10-6 record in Bill's inaugural 2003 season and one of the league's biggest salary cap margains, fans thought Bill (and Jerry) would go crazy in free agency. Need a new corner to finally improve the spot that Mario Edwards had proven unfit for? Instead of Antoine Winfield, rely on an unproven Pete Hunter. Need a quarterback to compete with Quincy Carter and force him to better his game? Say no more, old man V-INT-y Testaverde is in town. Need a new defensive end to help Ellis and Glover out? Instead of Bert Berry, bring in Marcellus Wiley. Need a running back in Dallas? How about the old and highly affordable Eddie George? Yup, there was no 20/20 hindsight during that offseason. A few fans were hyping these acquisitions but most felt Bill had blown it.
Not drafting Kevin Jones or Steven Jackson in the 1st round in 2004
This is one of those moves that is easy to forgive as time goes on. I remember the day of the draft, I replied in a thread on the Zone asking who did ya want: Julius or Steven? While Julius Jones had a disappointing sophomore season, he did open eyes everywhere in his short rookie season. It also allowed the Cowboys to grab DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears in the next year's draft and boost their successful transition to a 3-4 defense. But with the future not certain, there were some PISSED OFF fans when the two highest ranked running backs -- whom several experts had predicted at least one to be gone by the time the Cowboys picked -- were still standing there, just waiting to fill #22's shoes. It hurt even more that the Cowboys traded for the next year's draft pick when many fans felt this was a team that needed immediate improvement.
Trading Joey Galloway for Keyshawn Johnson
Another move that isn't nearly as unpopular as it was at the time of the personnel move. With Keyshawn being relatively free of bad publicity in Dallas, and helping remind fans of the intensity and physical nature Michael Irvin used to bring, it's easy to forget how unpopular of a player he was at the time of the trade. While Joey Galloway had been an injury prone disappointment in his brief Cowboys career, there were many who thought he had still had the blazing speed he flashed in Seattle and would put up some numbers if only he could play with a good quarterback. Last year, he proved his supporters right.
Other
Firing kicking coach Steve Hoffman - There was a long line of "I told ya so" critics when the kicking game was the worst in the league after Hoffman's good-bye in 2005.
Drafting Terence Newman in 2003 instead of Byron Leftwich or Terrell Suggs - Newman had his fans but many still felt Suggs was the best defensive player in the draft, and that Leftwich was the future QB that Dallas needed
Drafting DeMarcus Ware in 2005 instead of Shawn Merriman or Derrick Johnson - For the new 3-4, the question was simply Ware or Merriman. For the Longhorn fans, Derrick Johnson deserved a spot somewhere. Both linebackers were favorites among fans in the draft, but DeMarcus Ware is quickly helping them forget this temporary hatred for Parcells' decision.
Releasing Derek Ross - Another one of the Campo projects who folks felt was the future of the team. An exciting playmaker, he lacked the maturity to be a pro. He had enough raw talent to land several stints on other teams, but he'll quickly be forgotten and another one of those "what might have been players."
Not pursuing Darren Sharper in 2005 free agency - It wasn't that unpopular only because it looked like the Vikings had the inside track the whole time, but Sharper's name was brought up many times in the 2005 season everytime he made a play for the Vikings or Keith Davis didn't make a play for the Cowboys.
Releasing Woody Dantzler - This is one of those moves that the younger fans ten years from now will have no idea what older fans are talking about. "Woody who?" The man won eternal loyalty from Cowboys faithful everywhere after a few ESPN Sportscenter highlight plays. He never received the same loyalty in his return tryouts, but there were plenty of unhappy campers the first time he was released from the team.
Releasing deep snapper Jeff Robinson - It was one of those moves that had fans wondering why Jerry hadn't shown Bill the tape from the year before Robinsons' signing when the Cowboys thought they could get by without their veteran deep snapper. Oops!
Letting go of Coach Joe - (Edit: I probably should have added this to the top ten, but I didn't think about it until after I had posted the poll) Another popular coach from the Jimmy Johnson years and a personal favorite of Jerry Jones. He had his own radio shows, he had the personality the media wants, and some years, he had some damn good special teams units. Some felt Parcells was simply seizing control. Another move that is easier to forgive as time goes on and Coach Joe starts to look like another one of Jimmy's overrated assistants.
