RKG Definition

[Rockport]

So now Jason doesn't care whether or not players fit the RKG mold?

Then who decides what an RKG is? Given a handful of signings, how does anyone know which players were RKGs and which ones weren't?

You really don't know. You take in all the information you can gather, talk to the player in some depth and make your own decision. You never really know what a players mentality is like until bullets start going down range and the **** hits the fan.

 

[Phoenix]

So now Jason doesn't care whether or not players fit the RKG mold?

Then who decides what an RKG is? Given a handful of signings, how does anyone know which players were RKGs and which ones weren't?

Well, you see, it's a process...

 

[jday]

So now Jason doesn't care whether or not players fit the RKG mold?

Then who decides what an RKG is? Given a handful of signings, how does anyone know which players were RKGs and which ones weren't?

Some guys already fit that mold and others are guys who are low-risk acquisitions that could be RKG. This is where I believe the Marinelli-effect will hopefully come into play. As I stated in response to xwalker, Marinelli is the type of coach where you had better do the film study, go balls to the wall in practice, and play like you love it, or you won't play for him. And if McClain get's cut, the Cowboys lose nothing. So at this point, he's a high-profile camp body. If he turns into cancer, he is easily removed. McClain left Alabama an RKG - consider - played with passion, team captain, did film work. So immediately you see RKG potential. He went to the Raiders, got away from the good influences in his life and fell off a proverbial cliff. So again, I'm not saying the guy is an RKG at this point, but with a strong character like Marinelli in his life, he could return to form. The odds are stacked against him, no question - I doubt he appears on anyones list of "most likely to succeed." But again, we lose nothing if he fails. Transversley, he likely loses his chance to ever play in the NFL again if he fails - which could be a strong motivator. But like most topics this offseason, we have to file this under "we will have to wait and see."

 

[AbeBeta]

I remember vaguely reading there were signs about Hernandez in the draft of which they were aware and even before stuff really hit the fan.

Yeah, there was stuff about gang ties. But honestly, that's not uncommon for many college players

 

[VirusX]

RKG = Phrase that needs to go into a wood chipper

 

[Doomsday101]

seem to me it is McClain who is being given the chance to show he is a RKG, Dallas is not locked into him if things do not go as the Cowboys want they can cut him loose at anytime and cost them nothing in doing it. I have little doubt that Saban relationship with Garrett was helpful for McClain getting this chance but again it is his chance he is the one who has to prove it not Dallas

 

[EST_1986]

For this response, I had to bring it back:

Anything in the record since the red headed trainee took over say otherwise? I'll wait for your witty gif....

 

[speedkilz88]

Red's Krazy Guy

 

[Fletch]

It was reported when McClay got the promotion that he would be more tolerant of borderline character players but would be less tolerant of injury risk players.

Also, now that Garrett has had years to purge the non-RKGs and build a roster full of RKGs, it's much easier to add an occasional character risk player.

When Garrett inherited a roster with a horrible locker-room mentality, he had to over-focus on adding RKGs and purging the over-entitled, under-disciplined over paid underachievers that were the definition of the Wade Phillips era.[/quote]

This is one of the better posts in a long time. Nice job xwalker!!!

 

[jday]

Anything in the record since the red headed trainee took over say otherwise? I'll wait for your witty gif....

You simply said: RKG = 8-8.

So, you are jumping to the conclusion that RKG's led to the mediocrity, when there is alot behind those 8-8 seasons that has nothing to do with the RKG philosophy.

First, the cap situation that was created by Jerry Jones/Wade Phillips.
Second, Jerry Jones over-paying veterans for what they had done as opposed to what they were going to do.
Third, injuries. Yes, we drafted players with injury histories, because in the cap era, with the cap situation we have had, the Cowboys hand has been forced to take chances. It is either that or get the wrong kind of guy who doesn't fit the scheme or simply can't play.
Fourth, poor in-game management by Jason Garrett.
Fifth, poor choices by Tony Romo and other players.
Sixth, luck. Yes, luck sometimes has alot to do with it.
Seventh, leftover players from the Wade-era with a sense of entitlement and were not Jason's RKG's.
Eighth, poor draft classes over the last several years.

Perhaps I should have responded this way rather than the face palm, but I honestly felt like if you have been paying attention the last several years, these are things you should have already known. Or were you just trying to be funny?

 

[Doomsay]

It seems like RKG functioned as a counterbalance or substitute for what Jason lacked: experience, success, game time competence and any sense of coaching gravitas. With signings like this, it's just an indefensible acronym.

 

[casmith07]

Who cares? Can he play football or not?

That's the RKG question, which for some reason still needs to be explained.

 

[Tawney88]

Did you read the thread? RKG doesn't mean role model or church attendee - it means they love football, they go about their craft the right way, and they are good team players. So you absolutely should care about RKG, because guy's that don't do those things aren't going to have success on any team, let alone the Cowboys.

Can they help us win games? One question if the answer is yes I don't care about anything you just said or some "RKG" tagline. I'm all aboard for anyone that can help this team win. Bottom line, I don't care about anything else.

 

[Tawney88]

Did you even bother to read Garrett's definition of RKG? It has nothing to do with being a boy scout. It's about being the kind of guy who eats, sleeps and breathes football. Those are the guys who have success in the NFL.

EDIT:Jday beat me to it.

If they can help us win I don't care if they fit into your definition of RKG, Garrett's JDay's it's meaningless. If they help the team win that's all that matters to me. If they stay out all night before a big game and come in on Sunday and play lights out I don't care. RKG is propaganda and nonsense for the fans latch on too.

 

[jday]

Can they help us win games? One question if the answer is yes I don't care about anything you just said or some "RKG" tagline. I'm all aboard for anyone that can help this team win. Bottom line, I don't care about anything else.

I get it. That is all most people care about. It's the coaches and players job to care about all the other stuff. But I noticed all of these responses to the initial thread about McClain, suggesting that he is a contradiction to the RKG agenda and wanted to make sure people understood RKG doesn't have a whole lot to do with moral compass and everything to do with how they go about their business day to day. You can be a mean and nasty player and still be considered an RKG. I suppose my ulterior motive was boredom, but I'm sure that applies to most of us.

 

[jday]

If they can help us win I don't care if they fit into your definition of RKG, Garrett's JDay's it's meaningless. If they help the team win that's all that matters to me. If they stay out all night before a big game and come in on Sunday and play lights out I don't care. RKG is propaganda and nonsense for the fans latch on too.

I disagree about RKG being propaganda for the fans for the simple fact that you see players parroting Garrett in their interactions with the media. That means this is something Garrett preaches on a consistent basis, not just something he spouts off to win over fans.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

IBut I noticed all of these responses to the initial thread about McClain, suggesting that he is a contradiction to the RKG agenda and wanted to make sure people understood RKG doesn't have a whole lot to do with moral compass and everything to do with how they go about their business day to day.

Uh, this guy was suspended by the Raiders for conduct detrimental to the team. Consultant Chuck Smith said he had "the worst attitude of any player I ever met while consulting." And of course he openly admitted he quit because his heart wasn't in football.

So even if you ignore the legal stuff -- and it wasn't all childish mistakes, this guy held a gun to a guy's head before pointing it in a different direction and firing it -- McClain has terrible football character.

Taking a gamble on a player who might have some talent like this isn't the end of the world, but (not necessarily you but others) please don't try to sell us that he's been anything but a lazy, bad guy.

 

[jday]

Uh, this guy was suspended by the Raiders for conduct detrimental to the team. Consultant Chuck Smith said he had "the worst attitude of any player I ever met while consulting." And of course he openly admitted he quit because his heart wasn't in football.

So even if you ignore the legal stuff -- and it wasn't all childish mistakes, this guy held a gun to a guy's head before pointing it in a different direction and firing it -- McClain has terrible football character.

Taking a gamble on a player who might have some talent like this isn't the end of the world, but (not necessarily you but others) please don't try to sell us that he's been anything but a lazy, bad guy.

I'm not trying to sell anything - I have outlined the questions about this player several times throughout this thread. As I said before, the motivation for this thread was to ensure everyone understood what RKG means.

As far as McClain, it's a tale of two players: Team Captain of the Crimson Tide Championship Team - hard worker, studied film and can absolutely lay the wood vs. the player you described. The question is, has he grown up? Has he got his mind right? Can he get back in football shape in time for training camp/preseason/regular season? Will he be worth the coaches patience? These questions remain unanswered.

 

[Wolfpack]

"Anyone we decide to bring in"

I think it is more of "Last person Jerry talked to (or had a drink with)."

 

[Doomsay]

That's the RKG question, which for some reason still needs to be explained.

Yeah, hypocrisy always needs to be addressed.