Ratliff sez team chemistry is "a whole new feel - everybody's actually getting along"

[jterrell]

There is no doubt all of the *****ing and moaning from Ellis added to the poor chemistry.

I have always defended Ellis but I'd say that is 100% correct.

I don't care what you do, positivity trumps negativity every time.

I do not think Ellis was at the level of some others but his whining was never going to stop so he had to go. I wish he could of taught the rookies some basic pass rush move before he was tossed overboard but he forced the hand there apparently.

 

[Hostile]

I agree. Those two guys make it hard not to have fun as a team.

As for your insider information...I hate you. I really do.

Kills me to know that you know something like that and now I have to sit around here wondering who the heck those people were. UGH!!!! CURSE YOU HOS!!!!

My apologies. There are some things I would love to share but can't. As of right now, this is a can't. I suspect that will change eventually.

Who knows, the players I am speaking about might even disclose it for me.

 

[casmith07]

"The best thing about it, it feels like we have chemistry. It's like a whole new feel. I mean I just sit back and watch it and soak it all up like 'Hm, we're actually getting along and the chemistry's good' and I just think we're on the right track. So I think if we keep that up and take this whole attitude of wanting to win and wanting to do things together into the season I think we're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

- Jay Ratliff (from Ch. 4 / KDFW Dallas sportscast blurb Sat. night)

I was taken aback when I heard the above so I had to transcribe it. His tone was like: he was genuinely surprised and couldn't believe it, team chemistry was actually good for a change (subtext, it was really, really bad before ...)

Makes me think the team was really a mess last year. Was it just Mr. Owens to blame? Sounds like it was a more widespread deal.

This isn't news to anyone who's watched Tashard Choice's videos.

 

[CoCo]

If your beef is with Ellis making his issue public, then I get it. What I dont get is how so many people have a problem with an individual trying to maximize his own income. Everyone here would do the exact same thing. No, he isnt starving, but why not make as much money as he can during his career so it is a non issue afterwards? What is so wrong with that?

I've heard other folks make this claim and its just not true. Money, buy any means, may trump all in some people's lives but I know for a fact that there are many who feel otherwise.

For me, the $ I earn need to be fair and equitable within the organiziation I work, in other words, amongst my teammates. I have turned down an unsolicited pay increase before for that very reason.

Can't say with 100% certainty because I don't necessarily know all the particulars of Ellis' situation but I strongly suspect I wouldn't have done what Greg has done. I wonder if some of what Greg has experienced as a player rep has influenced this for him.

 

[Four]

I've heard other folks make this claim and its just not true. Money, buy any means, may trump all in some people's lives but I know for a fact that there are many who feel otherwise.

For me, the $ I earn need to be fair and equitable within the organiziation I work, in other words, amongst my teammates. I have turned down an unsolicited pay increase before for that very reason.

Can't say with 100% certainty because I don't necessarily know all the particulars of Ellis' situation but I strongly suspect I wouldn't have done what Greg has done. I wonder if some of what Greg has experienced as a player rep has influenced this for him.

I have to call BS on some of this. Not that you are lying but that it's a BS thing to apply to this situation.

Ellis on his way out of the league, he wants to start and he wasn't going to get that chance here.

I think a ton of fans think that Greg should be grateful to be a cowboy and take his lumps for his team. Well I don't agree with that. Ellis needs to make his money because soon that money will be gone and he will never have another chance to come close to this kind of income. No player wants to end his career on the bench.

He has his family and his future to think about, and I don't blame him one bit for wanting to make a decent wage and wanting to start.

It's not right to expect him to play for less money and to accept a lesser role when his career is winding down, that has to be hard on a guy, let him start somewhere else and get his last payday of consequence.

Why hate the guy for doing what is best for him and for his family? When else would you hate a guy for that, other than when he "wronged" the team you root for.

Go get em Greg! And good for you that you landed in a place you can start and make an impact.

and I call shenanigans that greg's OFF SEASON whining effected the team during the season at all.

 

[CoCo]

I have to call BS on some of this. Not that you are lying but that it's a BS thing to apply to this situation.

Ellis on his way out of the league, he wants to start and he wasn't going to get that chance here.

I think a ton of fans think that Greg should be grateful to be a cowboy and take his lumps for his team. Well I don't agree with that. Ellis needs to make his money because soon that money will be gone and he will never have another chance to come close to this kind of income. No player wants to end his career on the bench.

He has his family and his future to think about, and I don't blame him one bit for wanting to make a decent wage and wanting to start.

It's not right to expect him to play for less money and to accept a lesser role when his career is winding down, that has to be hard on a guy, let him start somewhere else and get his last payday of consequence.

Why hate the guy for doing what is best for him and for his family? When else would you hate a guy for that, other than when he "wronged" the team you root for.

Go get em Greg! And good for you that you landed in a place you can start and make an impact.

and I call shenanigans that greg's OFF SEASON whining effected the team during the season at all.

I was responding to your contention that "Ellis is doing what anyone else would do." I've refuted that and proved it with my own example. So there is no BS in that.

Now, if you personally have no problem with Ellis point of view, so be it. But not everyone feels that way or conducts themselves that way and just because its your opinion doesn't make it right.

Just pointing out there is legitimacy to the perspective that disagrees with Ellis actions whether you subscribe to it or not.

 

[Four]

I was responding to your contention that "Ellis is doing what anyone else would do." I've refuted that and proved it with my own example. So there is no BS in that.

Now, if you personally have no problem with Ellis point of view, so be it. But not everyone feels that way or conducts themselves that way and just because its your opinion doesn't make it right.

Just pointing out there is legitimacy to the perspective that disagrees with Ellis actions whether you subscribe to it or not.

I don't think the two situations are comparable, you aren't facing then end of your career when you refused unsolicited raises.

Ellis is winding down his career, and of course he should want too earn enough for the future, because unlike you, his future is unclear.

I get your example, but I don't think it's close to the same situation at all.

and I too have refused other job offers before for more money, because I was loyal to the company I was with at the time, of course they ended up laying me off about a year later and I have been kicking myself ever since.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think the two situations are comparable, you aren't facing then end of your career when you refused unsolicited raises.

Ellis is winding down his career, and of course he should want too earn enough for the future, because unlike you, his future is unclear.

I get your example, but I don't think it's close to the same situation at all.

and I too have refused other job offers before for more money, because I was loyal to the company I was with at the time, of course they ended up laying me off about a year later and I have been kicking myself ever since.

He also hasn't anywhere made near the kind of money that Greg has already. He's a millionaire many times over.(double digits I would assume)

 

[Four]

He also hasn't anywhere made near the kind of money that Greg has already. He's a millionaire many times over.(double digits I would assume)

money is one of those relative things.

What is enough for one man may not be for another.

I only have the right to say what is enough for me, it's not my place to question what is enough for another, unless it somehow hurts me or my family.

 

[CoCo]

I don't think the two situations are comparable, you aren't facing then end of your career when you refused unsolicited raises.

Ellis is winding down his career, and of course he should want too earn enough for the future, because unlike you, his future is unclear.

I get your example, but I don't think it's close to the same situation at all.

and I too have refused other job offers before for more money, because I was loyal to the company I was with at the time, of course they ended up laying me off about a year later and I have been kicking myself ever since.

Please... please...

You sound beyond foolish to suggest that I am in a more advantageous position to turn down money than Greg Ellis is. This is a man who has earned
X amount more already than I will ever earn!

Geesh, I have no problem that you don't begrudge Ellis his efforts to make more $$ above team accomplishments. Truly I have no problem with it. What I objected to was your contention that "any of us would do the same thing."

That has been soundly refuted.

But for you to go on and make some of these absurd statements in some attempt to show your original point was correct and mine not applicable... well, put some clothes on man. You're embarrassing yourself.

 

[Four]

Please... please...

You sound beyond foolish to suggest that I am in a more advantageous position to turn down money than Greg Ellis is. This is a man who has earned
X amount more already than I will ever earn!

Geesh, I have no problem that you don't begrudge Ellis his efforts to make more $$ above team accomplishments. Truly I have no problem with it. What I objected to was your contention that "any of us would do the same thing."

That has been soundly refuted.

But for you to go on and make some of these absurd statements in some attempt to show your original point was correct and mine not applicable... well, put some clothes on man. You're embarrassing yourself.

psssst, that wasn't me who said that, he hasn't posted since, I took up the steed.

I agree that it isn't what all of us would do, but a whole heck of a lot would do the very same thing.

as too you being less or more advantageous a position than Ellis, again, that is a subjective matter best left to the individual.

 

[CoCo]

psssst, that wasn't me who said that, he hasn't posted since, I took up the steed.

I agree that it isn't what all of us would do, but a whole heck of a lot would do the very same thing.

as too you being less or more advantageous a position than Ellis, again, that is a subjective matter best left to the individual.

Thanks for the correction on the OP. You're right. My bad. :

And since we're in agreement that different folks would handle it differently I'll drop that discussion as well.

As for your contention that my financial position vs Greg's is a subjective matter, I certainly wholeheartedly disagree but i don't think it needs further elaboration either. So I'll drop it.

I've long been an Ellis advocate and defender. But his offseason commentary of the last few years has finally changed my opinion of him. In this offseason theme of trying to purge the org of questionable influences I must say that Greg fits that bill for me. I wish it weren't so. And I don't know for a fact whether he's part of the problem or not.

But I do know he's been far more public with concerns about himself than he has about any concerns he has of finding success for the team and that tells me all I need to know.

I think Jerry's and other's positive comments about Ellis are likely well-founded. I think there has been much to admire about Greg's tenure here and that Jerry has worked hard to not lose sight of that. But that is the past and in the present, when we're trying to build unity, Greg's focus is somewhere else.

Like with TO, Greg isn't all bad. Its just that for the present needs of the team neither are the right individual. So be it. Good luck to both.

 

[YosemiteSam]

"The best thing about it, it feels like we have chemistry. It's like a whole new feel. I mean I just sit back and watch it and soak it all up like 'Hm, we're actually getting along and the chemistry's good' and I just think we're on the right track. So I think if we keep that up and take this whole attitude of wanting to win and wanting to do things together into the season I think we're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

- Jay Ratliff (from Ch. 4 / KDFW Dallas sportscast blurb Sat. night)

I was taken aback when I heard the above so I had to transcribe it. His tone was like: he was genuinely surprised and couldn't believe it, team chemistry was actually good for a change (subtext, it was really, really bad before ...)

Makes me think the team was really a mess last year. Was it just Mr. Owens to blame? Sounds like it was a more widespread deal.

Hmm.. Ratliff was one of the guys who visably show dissappointment when TO among others left. Several said they didn't think they should be gone, but Ratliff showed a bit of hostility with it. So did Barber for that matter.

While I believe the chemistry is better. I'm willing to bet he is partially just feeding the birds.

 

[Four]

Thanks for the correction on the OP. You're right. My bad. :

And since we're in agreement that different folks would handle it differently I'll drop that discussion as well.

As for your contention that my financial position vs Greg's is a subjective matter, I certainly wholeheartedly disagree but i don't think it needs further elaboration either. So I'll drop it.

I've long been an Ellis advocate and defender. But his offseason commentary of the last few years has finally changed my opinion of him. In this offseason theme of trying to purge the org of questionable influences I must say that Greg fits that bill for me. I wish it weren't so. And I don't know for a fact whether he's part of the problem or not.

But I do know he's been far more public with concerns about himself than he has about any concerns he has of finding success for the team and that tells me all I need to know.

I think Jerry's and other's positive comments about Ellis are likely well-founded. I think there has been much to admire about Greg's tenure here and that Jerry has worked hard to not lose sight of that. But that is the past and in the present, when we're trying to build unity, Greg's focus is somewhere else.

Like with TO, Greg isn't all bad. Its just that for the present needs of the team neither are the right individual. So be it. Good luck to both.

I was with you right up until you wished TO good luck, I hope he is miserable till the day he retires.

He had a good thing here and was too stupid not to ruin it. He had the fans backing him up, I don't know that he ever had that before for as long as he had it here.

 

[CoCo]

I was with you right up until you wished TO good luck, I hope he is miserable till the day he retires.

He had a good thing here and was too stupid not to ruin it. He had the fans backing him up, I don't know that he ever had that before for as long as he had it here.

I honestly believe that much of TO's downside he is still blind to. His own insecurities, coupled with his believing honesty is always the best policy, and finally his own extraordinary physical talents and tremendous determination is what does him in.

I think he gets it more since being in Dallas, but not yet to the point where he is able to prevent shooting himself in the foot.

I feel sorry for him. I like him. I think he is very well-intentioned. I just think he has trouble getting out of his own way.

I do think he's learning. But its not going to be fast enough for him to ever be a positive central figure on a SB winning team. That of course is his goal. Its frankly the calling that comes with his rare physical abilities and his extreme dedication to developing it. But his inability to balance all that has been his undoing.

Imagine working well-intentioned with tireless dedication towards your personal and team goals and to ultimately be villified for it by the press, the public and even some of your teammates because you are blind to some of your shortcomings. How painful that must be. I'm not saying its unfair, just that it must be painful.

I know most don't see him that way. But I do and that is why I wish him well. I don't think he seeks selfish gain anymore than most folks. I don't think that was his primary goal in Dallas. I just think he believes so strongly in himself and his efforts that it comes out as selfish. He's still responsible for it, but I feel for him and wish him success on his journey.

 

[Four]

I think Jerry's story about the circle with he and Terrell on the outside with the Dallas cowboys being bigger than them both was most telling.

Owens didn't understand how much bigger the cowboys are than any other team he has been on, On some level the cowboys are the NFL, he tried to treat it like it was just another team, and it bit him in the butt.

his mistake was not realizing that keeping his mouth shut would have earned him a home and fans for life.

So many of our free agent pick ups never leave the area because if you treat the cowboys with respect you are set for life as a player, even in retirement.

Heck, Nate Newton still does very well, because most don't doubt he loves the cowboys, If terrell could have got that he would still be here.

meh, he shot himself in the foot. And has shown he never learns the lessons life has tried very hard to teach him.

I like him too, but someone needs to knock some sense into that melon of his.

 

[CoCo]

I think Jerry's story about the circle with he and Terrell on the outside with the Dallas cowboys being bigger than them both was most telling.

Owens didn't understand how much bigger the cowboys are than any other team he has been on, On some level the cowboys are the NFL, he tried to treat it like it was just another team, and it bit him in the butt.

his mistake was not realizing that keeping his mouth shut would have earned him a home and fans for life.

So many of our free agent pick ups never leave the area because if you treat the cowboys with respect you are set for life as a player, even in retirement.

Heck, Nate Newton still does very well, because most don't doubt he loves the cowboys, If terrell could have got that he would still be here.

meh, he shot himself in the foot. And has shown he never learns the lessons life has tried very hard to teach him.

I like him too, but someone needs to knock some sense into that melon of his.

I generally agree with what you've written. I would just add that I do think that if you compare TO's time in Philly with his time in Dallas, that he did show evidence of growth. Totally different situations so my opinion is certainly just an opinion that is easily debated but I think Irvin, Jerry, and others (?) worked hard to get some of TO's brashness channeled in more productive directions and I think they had some success but not enough.

Its that belief, that he is trying, that causes me to wish him well.

 

[BAT]

I generally agree with what you've written. I would just add that I do think that if you compare TO's time in Philly with his time in Dallas, that he did show evidence of growth. Totally different situations so my opinion is certainly just an opinion that is easily debated but I think Irvin, Jerry, and others (?) worked hard to get some of TO's brashness channeled in more productive directions and I think they had some success but not enough.

Its that belief, that he is trying, that causes me to wish him well.

You know, it would not surprise me at all if Owens retires as a Cowboy (or even goes into the HOF as a Cowboy). His relationship with the Cowboys (Jerry specifically) is much better than his previous teams.

 

[CoCo]

You know, it would not surprise me at all if Owens retires as a Cowboy (or even goes into the HOF as a Cowboy). His relationship with the Cowboys (Jerry specifically) is much better than his previous teams.

To be seen.

But I think the Pro Football HOF doesn't require players to pick which team they are representing if I recall correctly. So when and if TO gets in his allegiance will probably be indicated by who he chooses to speak on his behalf.

On that front I could see Jerry being a contender but not necessarily the favorite at all. I think there was great potential had he finished in Dallas but now its anyone's guess.

 

[BAT]

To be seen.

But I think the Pro Football HOF doesn't require players to pick which team they are representing if I recall correctly. So when and if TO gets in his allegiance will probably be indicated by who he chooses to speak on his behalf.

On that front I could see Jerry being a contender but not necessarily the favorite at all. I think there was great potential had he finished in Dallas but now its anyone's guess.

Garcia? Mooch? Reid? McNabb? Trent Edwards?? :