The Cowboys and the Media

[Alexander]

It's a sad statement when you have to consider imposing a team-wide "no talking policy" to prevent players from saying something stupid or controversial. I don't remember Staubach, Dorsett, Emmitt, or Aikman being confined like that. Nor would this solve the "internal dissension" problems that have nothing to do with the media.

It is a different environment now.

Imagine back when Duane Thomas was around. You had a few "plastic man" comments that hit the papers but nothing close to the explosion you have now when some "unnamed source within Valley Ranch" decides to talk. Even what seems like an innocent radio appearance can cause a huge uproar. It is just the way the game is now. So, you take whatever steps are necessary to curb it.

It is sad but necessary. That is why you don't hear about things like this from clubs with strict media policies (those from the Parcells/Belichick school are notorious for this). It is an organizational edict. If everyone understands it is not tolerated, a few well placed fines or a cut or two of some players would serve the purpose.

 

[jackrussell]

Something amiss of making America's Team act like good little *****.

Letting people spew is the best way of knowing who and what you have.

Silence keeps you in the dark.

 

[Alexander]

Well no, a real GM and a real Head Coach would do that.

We're trying to stay in the realm of possibility here.

That is a huge part of the problem. Every team has issues. Every team has dirty laundry. Not all of them like to have them disclosed. Apparently we do not have a problem with it. I guess that is part of the freedom associated with not having to walk on egg shells that Jerry Jones appears to enjoy these days. He has to change first.

The key is to keep them under control and address them. Not allow them to be big headlines that do cause a team to get mentally worn out like the team clearly did after each successive Ed Werder expose. And I am not really blaming the media. They are doing what they are paid to do and that is dig up dirt. The thing is keep a clean house, they have a tougher time finding it.

 

[Reality]

We all realize that the team is a lightning rod for the media.

The Cowboys are always at the top of the news. Our season ended three weeks ago and there is still the same amount of media firestorm

My issue is why do we encourage this now? Take some pressure off the players who want to be able to do their jobs without the mental drain. Give them a chance to breathe. If some players enjoy the spotlight too much, end it. Fine them if that's possible. Enough is enough.

If there is one philosophy I appreciated from Coach Parcells (and many of his proteges like Belichick follow it as well) was that the media simply was viewed as the enemy. Even the Cleveland media is panicking now because they will not have nearly as much juicy information now that Mangini is taking charge.

To me, this organization is so scrutinized that there needs to be a clamp down on the amount of media contact and the depth of what is disclosed. And where it is mandatory per league rules, there needs to be even tighter team controls on what is said. There should be no reason a "snitch" causes such problems.

All I can say is that I am tired of reading comments from "sources", apparent or not, named or anonymous. Jerry Jones specifically has to learn to appreciate the value of silence. Our individual stars need to understand what is best for them and it is his job to set the example.

There is no reason why a player should ever be on television or radio airing the team's problems. If that's the case, one of two things are happening. Either the communication is bad on the team (nobody talks) or the player is grandstanding.

Either way it has to be stopped. That is one "change" I would hope is being considered.

Very well said!

It is quite common for a good business owner to attempt to shield or deflect criticism of his employees, staff, etc. by taking the blame or front-lining controversial decisions and announcements.

However, in Jerry Jones case, the media seems to use his comments as bait to lure the more vocal group of Cowboys players into ill advised comments that perpetuate and inflate smaller internal issues into larger more public problems.

The Cowboys and, more specifically, Jerry Jones would be much better served by implementing a black out of interviews and other interactions with the media, both national and local, except when required by NFL policies. In most cases, not saying anything is the best policy, especially when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys.

-Reality

 

[Alexander]

Something amiss of making America's Team act like good little *****.

Letting people spew is the best way of knowing who and what you have.

Silence keeps you in the dark.

If those that matter (the team) don't know what they have and have to find out via the media, there is a serious communication problem in play.

Personally from a fan perspective, I do not think gossip helps. It is mildly entertaining, but if all I read all week was about football and only football, I am sure I could find a way to cope.

 

[Alexander]

Which is why I said as soon as possible, I understand cap consideration is something that can tie a team’s hand then again I'm not sure how much a guy like Crayton would cost us if Dallas felt the need to make an example of a player. I don't think the problem is as big as some suggest I think there may be a few bad apples that we need to move on from but I don't think this is a team wide problem.

Team-wide? Maybe not. You don't hear from a bunch of players. But you do hear from the same chatter boxes constantly. Sadly some are considered team "leaders".

But from an organizational standpoint, it is. When the Owner feels comfortable holding his own press conference and weekly talk shows to air his own personal thoughts about players not fighting through injury (like Barber), it is obvious what direction there is regarding it. The motto is speak your mind, it is okay, no matter how foolish you look.

I am very glad Jerry Jones is quiet right now about this Owens tripe. Unfortunately, he's probably just taking a sabbatical.

 

[jackrussell]

If those that matter (the team) don't know what they have and have to find out via the media, there is a serious communication problem in play.

Personally from a fan perspective, I do not think gossip helps. It is mildly entertaining, but if all I read all week was about football and only football, I am sure I could find a way to cope.

And if those that matter use the media as their excuse, they have even bigger problems.

And football is entertainment. We're not talking national security issues here.

I'll be more precise on my 'knowing what you have'. Nobody knows everything about someone else. Little snippets here and there can give you a little more insight on people. We all experience that everyday.

I can hold you accountable for what I know you say...I can't for what I don't know.

 

[Alexander]

And if those that matter use the media as their excuse, they have even bigger problems.

And football is entertainment. We're not talking national security issues here.

I'll be more precise on my 'knowing what you have'. Nobody knows everything about someone else. Little snippets here and there can give you a little more insight on people. We all experience that everyday.

I can hold you accountable for what I know you say...I can't for what I don't know.

I'd be perfectly fine for letting the players do all their talking on the field. That would be all that matters and in the end is really the end all be all.

The all the excuses, background noise and worthless information could all go away as far as I am concerned.

 

[bbgun]

It is a different environment now.

Imagine back when Duane Thomas was around. You had a few "plastic man" comments that hit the papers but nothing close to the explosion you have now when some "unnamed source within Valley Ranch" decides to talk. Even what seems like an innocent radio appearance can cause a huge uproar. It is just the way the game is now. So, you take whatever steps are necessary to curb it.

It is sad but necessary. That is why you don't hear about things like this from clubs with strict media policies (those from the Parcells/Belichick school are notorious for this). It is an organizational edict. If everyone understands it is not tolerated, a few well placed fines or a cut or two of some players would serve the purpose.

Different environment? Not really. The 1990's championship teams accomplished their goals in the age of ESPN, sports radio shows, and Internet message boards. In short, they navigated the 24-hour news cycle quite nicely. As for Parcells, his "strict media rules" didn't prevent us from learning about the TO-Todd Haley feud. Again, the biggest problem is that certain players/coaches don't like each other, not the fact that it's made public.

 

[jackrussell]

I'd be perfectly fine for letting the players do all their talking on the field. That would be all that matters and in the end is really the end all be all.

The all the excuses, background noise and worthless information could all go away as far as I am concerned.

Oh it could all go away as far as I'm concerned too. It's all pretty easy for me to ignore though. In the end...it's just talk.

And when that talk isn't backed by the walk on the field...that there is telling me exactly what I need to know.

 

[Alexander]

Different environment? Not really. The 1990's championship teams accomplished their goals in the age of ESPN, sports radio shows, and Internet message boards. In short, they navigated the 24-hour news cycle quite nicely. As for Parcells, his "strict media rules" didn't prevent us from learning about the TO-Todd Haley feud. Again, the biggest problem is that certain players/coaches don't like each other, not the fact that it's made public.

I know for a fact the internet was not nearly as huge in 1994 as it is today.

Even the Presidential elections had a different slant than even four years ago because of it.

I am not using that as an excuse, but it was a different era even then.

The T.O.-Haley feud became public, but did you see practically every player lending their two cents in every five minutes?

When I hear "Bobby Carpenter, how would you describe the situation with Terrell Owens and the Cowboys?"---that tells me we have a little bit of a problem.

 

[tyke1doe]

I don't remember all of snitching, anonymous sources and behind the scenes media ambushes when Parcells was clamping everone down.

I say put on the gag order and see who complains the loudest.

Then you will know who cares about winning and who cares about getting their mug on TV.

You don't remember anonymous reports saying Parcells didn't want T.O. but Jerry did?

You don't remember the circus surrounding T.O. and his overdose?

You don't remember players commenting that the offense was too stale and boring?

Parcells didn't let his coaches talk. But he couldn't keep the players from talking.

Even so, players and people within the organization still found time to complain.