The “Garrett Buddy” Problem

[Bobhaze]

Over the last 3-4 years, Jason Garrett would be spotted at basketball games or concerts with a few Cowboys players. I remember some of us on the old Cowboys forum pointing out this was always a bad idea.

Remember seeing Garrett with Romo and Witten at a Duke basketball game? Garrett with some players at a Springsteen concert? Watching the Final Four at the “Stayjum” with Witten, Romo and others?

It’s always a bad idea. Any head coach of a pro sports team who fraternizes with a select group of players is creating a potential locker room issue. Some people at the time poo-pooed it. But when Dez brought up “Garrett’s guys” as a lover room issue, I had a flashback to those moments where Garrett was so public with “his guys”.

It may not end up being a big deal if this team can win a lot this year. But If a losing bug hits this team again, we may hear about this kind of stuff again.

Garrett has always had the smart guy tag from some but hanging out with some of his players can’t be considered a smart thing for a head coach to do.

If Garrett is as smart as Jerry advertises, he won’t be seen at any basketball games with his “buddies” on the team.

Right?

 

[Stash]

Over the last 3-4 years, Jason Garrett would be spotted at basketball games or concerts with a few Cowboys players. I remember some of us on the old Cowboys forum pointing out this was always a bad idea.

Remember seeing Garrett with Romo and Witten at a Duke basketball game? Garrett with some players at a Springsteen concert? Watching the Final Four at the “Stayjum” with Witten, Romo and others?

It’s always a bad idea. Any head coach of a pro sports team who fraternizes with a select group of players is creating a potential locker room issue. Some people at the time poo-pooed it. But when Dez brought up “Garrett’s guys” as a lover room issue, I had a flashback to those moments where Garrett was so public with “his guys”.

It may not end up being a big deal if this team can win a lot this year. But If a losing bug hits this team again, we may hear about this kind of stuff again.

Garrett has always had the smart guy tag from some but hanging out with some of his players can’t be considered a smart thing for a head coach to do.

If Garrett is as smart as Jerry advertises, he won’t be seen at any basketball games with his “buddies” on the team.

Right?

I think it's another lesson learned in a long, long, long (did I mention its long?) list of things for Jason Garrett.

But it's also one that - even at 135-years old - Jerry Jones himself hasn't learned.

That no matter how much you'd like things to be different, at the end of the day, the NFL is a business. Employer and employee.

 

[charron]

I don't think that matters much. I think allowing some players to circumvent the head coach and complain directly to the owner is a bigger issue. If dez or anyone was getting out of line the head coach needs the authority to discipline him. There shouldn't be a discussion, a meeting, nothing. Garret has tried to instill a "my way or the high way" but we know he doesn't have the authority to bench a star player much less trade/cut him. This entire Dez mess falls on the enabling of Jerry Jones and the power struggle of the front office to stop it.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

Garrett is better suited as a college professor or some talking head at a PR firm. When you're an impostor, being believed, taken seriously and respected is paramount than actually doing your job well.

 

[Idgit]

I’d recommend listening to what Phillip Tanner had to say about Garrett Guys in that podcast this week. It’s got some language not allowed on the site, but it’s a good and reasonable take on what it means to be a Garrett Guy in Dallas.

 

[GMO415]

Bob, that's the least of JG's problem.

 

[Haimerej]

I always considered fraternization to be strictly a military problem. It's hard to take an order that might get you killed when it's coming from your friend. Beyond that, I don't see it as an issue.

 

[Whyjerry]

Bob, that's the least of JG's problem.

Post of the Day probably. Simple yet profound. Garrett's problem is that he is just not a good football coach. He has had good QBs to work with nearly his entire coaching life. Yet has produced 2 playoff wins as a HC and 3 as a HC, OC, and QB coach. That is over 13 seasons. He routinely costs the team games. Is overly conservative. Plus I think he does a horrible job adjusting his game plan. Nice guy. Terrible Coach.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Over the last 3-4 years, Jason Garrett would be spotted at basketball games or concerts with a few Cowboys players. I remember some of us on the old Cowboys forum pointing out this was always a bad idea.

Remember seeing Garrett with Romo and Witten at a Duke basketball game? Garrett with some players at a Springsteen concert? Watching the Final Four at the “Stayjum” with Witten, Romo and others?

It’s always a bad idea. Any head coach of a pro sports team who fraternizes with a select group of players is creating a potential locker room issue. Some people at the time poo-pooed it. But when Dez brought up “Garrett’s guys” as a lover room issue, I had a flashback to those moments where Garrett was so public with “his guys”.

It may not end up being a big deal if this team can win a lot this year. But If a losing bug hits this team again, we may hear about this kind of stuff again.

Garrett has always had the smart guy tag from some but hanging out with some of his players can’t be considered a smart thing for a head coach to do.

If Garrett is as smart as Jerry advertises, he won’t be seen at any basketball games with his “buddies” on the team.

Right?

Just because Dez says so doesn't make it true! Dez seems to be throwing a lot of stuff against the wall to see if something sticks IMO

 

[Galian Beast]

Didn't help Romo or Murray... He's out for himself. No such thing as a Garrett guy unless you're a Garrett.

 

[CATCH17]

I’d recommend listening to what Phillip Tanner had to say about Garrett Guys in that podcast this week. It’s got some language not allowed on the site, but it’s a good and reasonable take on what it means to be a Garrett Guy in Dallas.

You got a link? sorry.

 

[Zordon]

I’d recommend listening to what Phillip Tanner had to say about Garrett Guys in that podcast this week. It’s got some language not allowed on the site, but it’s a good and reasonable take on what it means to be a Garrett Guy in Dallas.

Recap?

 

[Jake]

The Dallas Cowboys are a dysfunctional organization...stop me if you've seen this speech before.

I don't care if it's a football team or a coffee shop, the boss can't be "friends" with some employees without creating an air of favoritism. It's bad for morale. That starts with Jerry, who fosters that environment. That doesn't mean you can't like your staff, but you don't blur the line - ask Bill Belichik about that. Ask Jimmy, ask Parcells, and look at other HOF coaches as well.

 

[Stash]

You got a link? sorry.

Yeah, I'm curious about it too but can't get to it?

 

[Stash]

The Dallas Cowboys are a dysfunctional organization...stop me if you've seen this speech before.

I don't care if it's a football team or a coffee shop, the boss can't be "friends" with some employees without creating an air of favoritism. It's bad for morale. That starts with Jerry, who fosters that environment. That doesn't mean you can't like your staff, but you don't blur the line - ask Bill Belichik about that. Ask Jimmy, ask Parcells, and look at other HOF coaches as well.

I agree that it goes further up than Garrett. Jerry Nash a long history of surrounding himself with people he feels comfortable and chummy with - to the detriment of the team.

And failure and futility forced him to change that with Parcells, but he couldn't keep it up long term. And as soon as Bill left, he immediately went to guys like Jason Garrett, Larry Lacewell, and Wade Wilson.

And now, because of the personal relationship he has with Jason and the Garrett family, he can't bring himself to make the tough decision to fire the guy.

 

[unionjack8]

It's another example of the gong show in Dallas. It never changes.

 

[jazzcat22]

Over the last 3-4 years, Jason Garrett would be spotted at basketball games or concerts with a few Cowboys players. I remember some of us on the old Cowboys forum pointing out this was always a bad idea.

Remember seeing Garrett with Romo and Witten at a Duke basketball game? Garrett with some players at a Springsteen concert? Watching the Final Four at the “Stayjum” with Witten, Romo and others?

It’s always a bad idea. Any head coach of a pro sports team who fraternizes with a select group of players is creating a potential locker room issue. Some people at the time poo-pooed it. But when Dez brought up “Garrett’s guys” as a lover room issue, I had a flashback to those moments where Garrett was so public with “his guys”.

It may not end up being a big deal if this team can win a lot this year. But If a losing bug hits this team again, we may hear about this kind of stuff again.

Garrett has always had the smart guy tag from some but hanging out with some of his players can’t be considered a smart thing for a head coach to do.

If Garrett is as smart as Jerry advertises, he won’t be seen at any basketball games with his “buddies” on the team.

Right?

Was Garrett clapping at the basketball game? Was he processing the game?
oh, crap those are dumb questions.

 

[Idgit]

Recap?

Im missing a lot, but talked about Garrett Guys a lot. Tanner says he himself is still a Garrett Guy. Byron Jones, Miles Austin.

He suggests Dez doesn't fit the mold of a Garett Guy anymore and that that's why he's not around any more. He says Dez was not a GG at all when he came in, even though it was basically the same front office that drafted him in the first place (even though Garrett was just the OC at that point). He said Dez matured an awful lot, though.

Tony, he says wasn't a Garrett Guy. They butted heads sometimes re: the content of post game interviews. He said it wasn't a bad relationship overall, though. They didn't see game situations the same all the time.

He said Witten and Lee were the presidents of the GG fan club, because of how hard they work year round. He stressed that there's not a negative connotation to be a GG, only that it's an important distinction.

He says Witten had even more pull than Romo did in the locker room.

He says players do actually have a say in who stays and who goes when it comes down to it. Example was watching Romo work Dwayne Harris off the roster by starving him offensively.

He thinks Garrett never really wanted to draft Dez, that he didn't like the showboating all that much, but the their relationship went up and down over the years. He said Dez had 'stepchild' status. Jerry was the father, Jason the mother, and Dez was always the stepchild. Lol.

He said Dez, coming from East Texas, was a country boy coming to the big city. Said he's very competitive. A great locker room guy. He bought everybody Jordon's when he signed the Jordon deal, fed everybody from time to time. When he's worked up or frustrated, he said the players know to just walk away. He hates that he gets criticized for his passion.

 

[Diehardblues]

Over the last 3-4 years, Jason Garrett would be spotted at basketball games or concerts with a few Cowboys players. I remember some of us on the old Cowboys forum pointing out this was always a bad idea.

Remember seeing Garrett with Romo and Witten at a Duke basketball game? Garrett with some players at a Springsteen concert? Watching the Final Four at the “Stayjum” with Witten, Romo and others?

It’s always a bad idea. Any head coach of a pro sports team who fraternizes with a select group of players is creating a potential locker room issue. Some people at the time poo-pooed it. But when Dez brought up “Garrett’s guys” as a lover room issue, I had a flashback to those moments where Garrett was so public with “his guys”.

It may not end up being a big deal if this team can win a lot this year. But If a losing bug hits this team again, we may hear about this kind of stuff again.

Garrett has always had the smart guy tag from some but hanging out with some of his players can’t be considered a smart thing for a head coach to do.

If Garrett is as smart as Jerry advertises, he won’t be seen at any basketball games with his “buddies” on the team.

Right?

I didnt have an issue with Garrett and Romo attending basketball games. I truly think Garrett had an interior motive exposing him to the greatness of Coach K and Duke. It’s not unusual for coaches and or players to follow a proven situation like at Duke.

I attended sporting events, played golf and broke bread with key employees and clients over the years. A personal closeness to your key people usually instills more loyalty and dedication.

 

[kskboys]

I think it's another lesson learned in a long, long, long (did I mention its long?) list of things for Jason Garrett.

But it's also one that - even at 135-years old - Jerry Jones himself hasn't learned.

That no matter how much you'd like things to be different, at the end of the day, the NFL is a business. Employer and employee.

I've seen many many business owners fraternize w/ employees. Although I have seen it work in a very few isolated cases, generally it does not.