TruBlueCowboy
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Wow! What a waste of money! I knew I would end up disappointed with this book, but I had to add to my massive football book collection. Even Deion Sanders has a spot on the shelves. 
So.... most of the book is TO defending himself, telling his side of the story. Honestly, the whole thing really seems blown out of proportion by the media. What it boils down to is TO had an amateur agent who could no longer keep up with a bigtime NFL athlete (the botched San Fran free agency, NO advertising money in TO's first year with the Eagles other than standard NFL Player's Union income, the poor contract with the Eagles, and so on...), and Donovan McNabb and TO started developing a feud in the mold of Jimmy Johnson vs. Jerry Jones. Two big egos, and according to TO, mostly egged on by McNabb, but I'm sure McNabb would have a different story to tell.
The only game he really goes into detail about is the Super Bowl. He even admits that Donovan McNabb tried his best to win the game, and dismisses some of the early sensationalism regarding his comments about McNabb. Sadly, not a single detail about the Cowboys games, not even much to say about the game in which he was injured other than a detailed description of what it feels like to have two ankle ligaments torn in half.
Probably the most interesting revelation in the book was about that game two years ago between the Eagles and Steelers. You might remember that game as the battle between the two best teams at the time. The Eagles were 7-0, the Steelers 6-1. I think Pittsburgh went on to beat New England the next week. Anyways, before the game, an offensive coach came up to TO and confessed that Donovan gets tight in big games and can screw up. He told TO to offer his support and try to keep McNabb loose. Well, McNabb had one of his worst days of the year, so there's some fodder for the ongoing argument about McNabb's value.
Regarding his escape from Philly, after Denver lost in the Playoffs, Mike Shanahan personally invited TO and Rosenhaus to his house to weigh the receiver's interest. They all hit it off well. Later on, the Kansas City rumors hit, although TO had not visited with any Chiefs official. It wasn't until three days into his release from the Eagles when Rosenhaus called telling him he had been in contact with teams and the numbers were starting to sound right. Rosenhaus told TO he had talked to Bill Parcells and Stephen Jones on the phone, and it sounded like the best team for TO, plus the contract numbers were staggering.
So Bill and Stephen did their deeds to guage the interest, and THEN, they sent the slickster himself to seal the deal.
This part is directly from TO's book and I had to share it with ya, because it really shows you why Jerry always gets his free agents. A master salesman if I ever saw one.
Now there's a fella who could sell a comb to a bald man.
So.... most of the book is TO defending himself, telling his side of the story. Honestly, the whole thing really seems blown out of proportion by the media. What it boils down to is TO had an amateur agent who could no longer keep up with a bigtime NFL athlete (the botched San Fran free agency, NO advertising money in TO's first year with the Eagles other than standard NFL Player's Union income
, the poor contract with the Eagles, and so on...), and Donovan McNabb and TO started developing a feud in the mold of Jimmy Johnson vs. Jerry Jones. Two big egos, and according to TO, mostly egged on by McNabb, but I'm sure McNabb would have a different story to tell.The only game he really goes into detail about is the Super Bowl. He even admits that Donovan McNabb tried his best to win the game, and dismisses some of the early sensationalism regarding his comments about McNabb. Sadly, not a single detail about the Cowboys games, not even much to say about the game in which he was injured other than a detailed description of what it feels like to have two ankle ligaments torn in half.
Probably the most interesting revelation in the book was about that game two years ago between the Eagles and Steelers. You might remember that game as the battle between the two best teams at the time. The Eagles were 7-0, the Steelers 6-1. I think Pittsburgh went on to beat New England the next week. Anyways, before the game, an offensive coach came up to TO and confessed that Donovan gets tight in big games and can screw up. He told TO to offer his support and try to keep McNabb loose. Well, McNabb had one of his worst days of the year, so there's some fodder for the ongoing argument about McNabb's value.
Regarding his escape from Philly, after Denver lost in the Playoffs, Mike Shanahan personally invited TO and Rosenhaus to his house to weigh the receiver's interest. They all hit it off well. Later on, the Kansas City rumors hit, although TO had not visited with any Chiefs official. It wasn't until three days into his release from the Eagles when Rosenhaus called telling him he had been in contact with teams and the numbers were starting to sound right. Rosenhaus told TO he had talked to Bill Parcells and Stephen Jones on the phone, and it sounded like the best team for TO, plus the contract numbers were staggering.
So Bill and Stephen did their deeds to guage the interest, and THEN, they sent the slickster himself to seal the deal.
This part is directly from TO's book and I had to share it with ya, because it really shows you why Jerry always gets his free agents. A master salesman if I ever saw one.
When Jerry Jones flew into Atlanta and picked me up in his private jet, I was holding back tears. Jerry showed up with his wife, his son Jerry Jr., and a friend of Jerry Jr.'s. I was with my mother, Marilyn; my sister Sharmaine; my nephew Caleb; Kim; my close friend A.J.; and Drew. The jet had a big Cowboys star emblem on it, and was the nicest jet I had ever been in. It was decorated with pictures of the three Super Bowl trophies the team won in the 1990s as well as pictures of the great players on those teams such as Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, and Emmitt Smith. Jerry Jones was returning from a vacation in the Caribbean with his family, and welcomed me and my family with open arms. (some of you may recall our tracking operation during this period.
I couldn't believe and will never forget the sincerity, humility, and kindness he showed me. Here was perhaps the most famous and powerful NFL owner, and he couldn't have been more warm and down to earth.
As we sat across from each other on the jet, I watched this self-made millionaire tell me that this was one of the happiest days of his career. He told me we were both great competitors with a passion to win the Super Bowl this year. He talked about his close relationship with Michael Irvin and how Michael's strong recommendation went a long way in making the decision to sign me. He explained to me that he had had his share of ups and downs in his life; there were times when he first started with the Cowboys that he was villified, and he knew what it was like to be treated like Darth Vader. Then he talked about his impoverished upbringing--how he had to worry about how he was going to pay his bills or make a loan payment--but said that life has a way of working out. He told me how eager he had been to succeed as a student, and that he called numerous successful businesspeople to make appointments to sit down and learn from them.
Jerry then stressed how important it is that I manage my money wisely and build a good foundation off the field in the Dallas community for when I retired. He told me about how his relationships with Michael and Emmitt are special. He then looked me in the eyes, with great emotion, and told me that he wanted that special kind of relationship with me.
Now there's a fella who could sell a comb to a bald man.
